After items were removed from gravesites at Canyon View Cemetery earlier this year, the municipality has created a new bylaw governing its cemeteries.
The removal of the items sparked plenty of outrage from the community. The items had been left on the graves as a way for some to remember friends and family members buried there.
The new bylaw sets out the rules for what can be placed at a grave.
For some, placing an object at a grave is an important part of the grieving process. For others, it is not they way they remember a loved one. There are also some who do not visit a grave once a burial has taken place.
Each of us deals with grief in our own way.
While it would be tempting to simply pass a bylaw allowing anyone to place anything at a grave, the regulations are needed for several reasons.
First some items may attract insects or animals, which results in a problem affecting the entire cemetery.
Second, while some items seem to belong at a cemetery, others may simply appear cheap, especially if they fade over time. Other objects may present safety hazards or they may be caught in landscaping and maintenance equipment.
The presence of items on an individual grave must be considered along with the effect of such items on the atmosphere of the entire cemetery.
The incident which led to the cemetery bylaw review was not pleasant. Neither was the review of the old bylaw as the new bylaw was formed. However, the process has forced all of us in Summerland to consider how we choose to grieve and how we choose to remember loved ones.
The new bylaw reflects these differences and allows Summerlanders to deal with grief on our own terms.