FAQs
Why expand the cemetery at all?
The City considers its cemetery operation an essential service to the public. The City is dedicated to providing affordable final resting places for residents, ensuring they remain connected to their friends and family. Many cultural and religious groups depend on municipal cemeteries as a place of interment for their loved ones, creating a place for them to grieve, remember, and connect to their community. To minimize the impact on Surrey taxpayers, the City’s cemeteries operate on a revenue-neutral basis. The revenue generated from selling interment spaces covers the cost of operating the cemetery.
The City is committed to continually improving its practices, including updating its policies on Ministry interments and the current pricing for burial costs. This will be addressed through the extensive master plan that has been initiated.
How much land is needed if the cemetery were to expand?
A recent 3rd party market analysis identified that, based on current interment demand trends, approximately 5 acres of cemetery expansion will be required to service the community over the next 25 years.
Are you planning for more casket burial?
Yes. Casket burial is still a requirement of many cultures and religions. The master plan will seek to provide a diverse range of interment options to serve the community, while creating opportunities for less land intensive interment options, such as scattering gardens and green burial.
What will happen to trees in the 5-acre expansion area?
The design objectives for any expansion would include retaining tree stands where possible. If the 5-acre expansion were to proceed, it would occur in phases guided by the recommendations in the master plan document, budget availability, and interment demand over a 25-year period.
Are there existing alternative locations for a cemetery?
The City does not currently own any properties that are 5 acres or larger that would be suitable for a cemetery operation or that is not already planned for an alternative use.
Will the Semiahmoo Trail be impacted?
No, the master plan will provide a buffer to the trail.
Does the City accept remains from people outside of Surrey?
Yes. The City does not currently restrict cemetery space to only existing or past residents. The master plan will review and provide recommendations on the City’s interment sale policies and rates.
Are you planning for more casket burial?
Yes. Casket burial is still a requirement of many cultures and religions. The master plan will seek to provide a diverse range of interment options to serve the community, while creating opportunities for less land intensive interment options, such as scattering gardens and green burial.
Why can’t cremated remains be scattered in the forest as it exists today?
Cremated remains are highly alkaline and contains high level of sodium (salt), which are toxic to plants. This needs to be managed appropriately. Uncontrolled ash spreading can have significant localized environmental impacts when scattered in certain landscapes. The master plan will seek to provide opportunities for cremated remains to be scattered in a managed area that is both surrounded by and supportive of nature. Some cultural practices are to scatter ashes in moving water, to that end the City is exploring building a pier on the Fraser River for this purpose.