Minutes from the Annual General Meeting of the Green Burial Society of Canada held on June 9th, 2020

Location: By Zoom (hosted from Vancouver, BC)

Call to Order: 12:00 – 12:30 pm PDST

Chair: Erik Lees, Vancouver BC

Present: Catriona Hearn (President), Stephen Olson (Vice President), Erik Lees (Past President), Ray Mattholie, Emily Bootle, Lorraine Fracy, Godwyn Young, Glen Hodges, Mark Richardson, Lacee Barr, Richard Rosin

Regrets: Ellen Newman

Part 1- Business Meeting:

Total participants (via Zoom) ranged from 68 – 80 attendees over the duration of the meeting.

Topic

1. Welcome

GBSC President, Catriona Hearn, (CH) opened the meeting at 12:00 pm PDT, acknowledging that this event was being hosted from Vancouver Canada, the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples–Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.

· CH) introduced the Board and co-host Emily Bootle (EB), who has been managing Communications and Public Outreach on behalf of the GBSC.

· CH turned the meeting over to Vice President Stephen Olson (SO) to appoint the meeting chair.

2. Appointment of Meeting Chair

· V.P. SO extended greetings from Victoria BC and thanked everyone for participating.

· SO stated that he will lead the first (business meeting) part of this session and asked Past President Erik Lees to Chair the AGM; EL accepted.

3. Call to Order

· EL and SO called the meeting to order.

4. Confirmation of: Circulation Notice, Quorum and Adoption of Agenda

· SO confirmed that Notice of the AGM was circulated 30 days in advance of the meeting via email, website posting, and social media (Facebook and Instagram).

· SO stated that the number of those attending the meeting via Zoom satisfied the requirements for a quorum.

· SO confirmed that the AGM agenda had been circulated. EL reviewed the Agenda, and there being no changes requested, moved that the Agenda be adopted. Godwyn Young (GY) seconded, and the motion to adopt the GBSC Agenda for the 2020 AGM as circulated was approved unanimously.

5. Motion to Accept as Filed

· SO confirmed that 2019 AGM minutes were circulated to members and posted on the GBSC website.

· SO moved that the minutes be adopted as circulated. Ray Mattholie (RM) seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

6. Financial Statement

· SO reviewed GBSC Financial Statements for the year ending December 31, 2019. Reports were circulated to members and posted on the GBSC website.

· SO moved that the financial report and financial statement be adopted as circulated. EL seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

7. Presentation of Board Membership and Affirmation of New Director(s)

· SO acknowledged past GBSC Secretary-Treasurer, Gordan Ropchan, had left the board for personal reasons. SO, EL and CH thanked him for his contributions over the years.

· SO stated that the Board Executive for the next year would include the following officers:

Officers:

President: Catriona Hearn, Vancouver, BC

Vice President: Stephen Olson, Victoria, BC

Past President: Erik Lees, Vancouver, BC

(Note: the above are entering the 3rd year of a three-year term, expiring on or before June 9, 2021)

Secretary-Treasurer: position remains vacant but Board can at any time elect a sitting board member to fill the vacancy till the end of the current term, now entering the 3rd year of a three-year term, ending on or before June 9, 2021.)

Directors:

Godwyn Young, Vancouver, BC (entering 3rd year of a three-year term ending on or before June 9, 2021).

Ray Mattholie, Halifax, NS (entering 2nd year of a three-year term ending on or before June 9, 2022).

Lorraine Fracy, Victoria, BC (entering 2nd year of a three-year term ending on or before June 9, 2022).

Election of new board members or reappointment of existing members

SO noted that the GBSC is not accepting any further nominations to the board at this AGM. The following members were confirmed:

Ellen Newman, Brandon, ON – Re-elected

Mark Richardson, Niagara Falls, ON – Re-elected

Emily Bootle, Vancouver, BC – Newly Appointed

Lacee Barr, Vancouver, BC – Newly Appointed

Glen Hodges, Vancouver, BC – Newly Appointed

Richard Rosin, Winnipeg MB – Newly Appointed

All members will serve a three-year term, ending on or before June 9, 2023

· SO recognized that the current Board of Directors is west coast-dominated but stated that the GBSC continues to work to find and attract representatives from across the country to create a pan-Canadian board. SO encouraged interested participants to reach out the GBSC if they are interested in volunteering to be on the board, especially if from provinces other than BC.

· SO moved the adoption for the nominated report as presented and circulated. Lorraine Fracy (LF) seconded the motion; passed unanimously.

8. Motion to Renew Banking Resolution

· SO read the banking resolution and moved resolution be adopted as presented. GY seconded the motion; passed unanimously.

9. Conclusion of Business Meeting

· EL thanked everyone for their patience through the business meeting and reiterated the need for people from other provinces to volunteer to serve on the board of directors.

Part 2- Info Session: Everything you always wanted to know about Green Burial but were afraid to ask
Discussion Part One: Action

1. Welcome Comments

· EL thanked SO and introduced Ray Mattholie (RM) to kick off provincial updates.

2. Report of NS

RM introduced Green Burial Novia Scotia (GBNS)

· Started over 3 years ago as diverse group. Gained support from the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax, with mission of increasing green burial awareness and availability for all Nova Scotians.

· Last year’s meeting was held in NS and coincided with the certification of the first green burial cemetery in NS (Sunrise Park Interfaith Cemetery in Hatchet Lake).

· RM introduced Dawn Carson (DC) from GBNS to present current projects:

Creating a brochure and info pieces to education the public on what green burial is and how talk to a cemetery/funeral director about arranging for a green burial.

Creating a “how-to” guide for creating a green burial cemetery in NS.

Other initiatives – creating an information program to present to Funeral Directors on Green Burial and setting up engagement events (currently on hold due to COVID 19).

· EL thanked RM and DC for the NS update.

In the chat: Requests for contact info and compliments on the GBNS logo.

· EL requested the ON update; CH called on Mark Richardson (MR) to present a report.

3. Report from Ontario

MR:

2019 was a busy year. Major achievements and growth in interest across Ontario.

New Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) publication, A Guide to Death Care in Ontario now includes information for consumers about green burial.

MR has been working closely with environmental groups in Haliburton to help them move forward on a potential green burial site. Also assisting St. Mary’s Cemetery in St Mary’s ON to establish a green burial section.

Ontario has seen an increased acceptance and encouragement of green burial coming from Funeral directors over the past few years.

Willow’s Rest, Fairview Cemetery, Niagara Falls – GBSC-certified and actively conducting burials.

Green Burial area at Glenwood Cemetery, in Picton ON: wooded location with meandering pathway, increasingly successful.

Other green burial areas not GBSC-certified include – Cobourg and Pickering

MR encouraged people to reach out to him and/or Ellen Newman (EN) if they have questions about green burial in Ontario.

MR added his contact info the Zoom chat bar.

EL invited questions from participants.

Question – Has there been interest in starting a green burial cemetery in London? Answer: Yes; one local funeral home willing and interested in supporting the development of a site for green burial.

Question – Has there been any interest in Toronto? Answer: Significant interest in Toronto and outlying areas. Several people have contacted MR at Niagara Falls to ask about the closest cemetery where they could arrange for a green burial. EL noted that Woodlawn Cemetery, Guelph, and at least one other cemetery in York Region have shown an interest in offering green burial, though all of these are still in the planning stage. At least one private landowner in the London-Niagara area is working on developing a GB area on her property.

EL- requested moving on to discussing the situation in the prairie provinces.

4. Prairie Provinces

CH stated that the GBSC Board has not had a representative from Alberta or Saskatchewan but is pleased that Richard Rosin (RR) from Winnipeg, MB has joined the Board. Darcee Richardson (DR) from Lethbridge, AB is also in attendance.

CH called on RR to introduce himself and give his perspective on the state of green burial in Manitoba

Richard Ryan, Winnipeg, MB

RR stated that he has been in the Funeral Service sector for the past 36 years. Trained at a family-owned company that worked on behalf of the client rather than the industry, he now operates his own business, Has established a Green Burial Working group, has been working with a Doula in Kimly, MB, and is in the process of becoming Green Funeral service though a US association.

Has done 4 green burials in past 3 ½ months. 3 of is casket products are “green.”

Environmental organizations in Winnipeg have offered huge support.

“When your heart stops, that is not when your stewardship of the environment stops.”

Richard thanked everyone and said he looks forward to serving on the board

Darcee Richardson, Lethbridge, AB

DR reported that she represents the City of Lethbridge’s Royal View Cemetery, which is pleased to have just opened its new GBSC-certified “Grasslands” Green Burial area. First interment was 1 ½ weeks ago. Family “very happy” for loved one to be the first. Have now sold a few preneed plots in green burial section. Noted that people in Lethbridge are generally conservative and so are slow in showing interest but expects this to change over time.

Erik Lees

Cold Lake and Fort Mac have green burial – but not yet certified.

Stated belief shared by GBSC that green burial is not a fad but a trend.

EL requested moving on to BC report.

5. BC Report

Catriona Hearn

CH reviewed green burial cemeteries currently certified in BC: the Woodlands, at Royal Oak Burial Park, in Victoria; Nature Grove Green Burial, at Yates Memorial Cemetery in Parksville, and the Green Burial Garden at Heritage Gardens, in Surrey

Noted that the green burial cemetery on Denman Island is not GBSC-certified and is not intending to apply because it is for residents only. The site is a conservation level of cemetery, for green burials only. It will be restored for habitat and minimal access.

CH confirmed that since the founding of the GBSC, an increasing number of cemeteries are now offering green burial or moving towards offering it. As an advocacy organization, the GBSC wants to support green burial at every level. Certification is intended to show that sites offer green burial as approved to us, so consumers can be confident that GBSC-certified sites offer true green burial.

Discussion Part Two
1. What makes a Burial Green?

What makes a burial “green” and the challenges of greenwashing

SO addressed “greenwashing” – stated that the GBSC is founded on “the 5 pillars of credibility,” which are the core principles of green burial. A big challenge of promoting something as “ecofriendly” is that many people will say they are part of the movement and promote their products or services as environmentally sustainable; however, they when you drill down, they are trying to ride on the coat tails of the green movement simply to benefit their business. We are about the consumer first. Transparent language is key to making a green burial green.

Example – Embalming chemical business created “green” embalming fluids, but core to green burial is allowing a body to decompose naturally in the grave with no preservatives and unnecessary, invasive procedures.

EL noted that manufactured products used in conventional burials, such as steel and concrete, are resources and energy-intensive to produce. Green Burial seeks to reduce the carbon footprint and energy footprint of the death care industry; for example, using local/native stone instead of shipping stone from overseas to reduce the use of fossil fuels

CH noted that “greenwashing” can impact all three pillars of sustainability – social, environmental, and financial.

2. How accessible is green burial in Canada today?

CH – needs to be more cemeteries to support the needs and wishes of people who would like a true green burial, not just a green funeral. Would also like to see more burial areas become GBSC-certified, which will provide credibility to consumer.

LF – in 2019 – three people were brought from Alberta to Royal Oak for burial – happy to now see that Alberta is offering GB.

EL – answering questions from the chat – possible for inter provincial transfer?

3. How can we encourage funeral service providers to support the green burial movement?

CH – we hope to bring the funeral director into the mix over the next few years and potentially offer some form of certification to funeral homes to further promote green burial. As a progressive organization, the GBSC needs to work with service providers as allies.

RR – In Winnipeg, green burial is GB is not at the forefront of awareness. People working in the Funeral industry need credit hours to satisfy licensing. Feels that the GBSC could be one of the resources to provide information. One issue is that funeral directors think “green burial is cheap, and we won’t make money”- so it’s a matter of shifting thinking within the industry. There’s an education component – buy-in is important – through credit hours.

EL poses same question to GY

Godwyn – more clients are researching and pushing. The community has driven how the funeral profession moves forward in the past. Need to encourage more community interaction – community interaction and workshops, and encourage more participation from funeral directors

Joe O’Neil, of O’Neil Funeral Home in London. His funeral home stocks a large number of burial caskets and is not worried about losing money. Sees it as a money-making opportunity, a way to bring people back from cremation. Biggest barrier at the moment is the lack of local cemeteries that allow for a green burial. A wicker casket can cost almost as much as an oak casket but as soon as you say something is green/organic, the price comes up. He is finding that people want an environmentally friendly funeral but not necessary the full-on green burial.

Brian Hirtle from NS –His cemetery is currently discussing whether to become certified or not. When first started talking – Local funeral director ask, “what shade of green do you want to be”. His site has had made one green burial.

CH want so to emphasize that we support all greening and the greening of the end of death process. Expense of green burial – is it cheaper? it is what it is. It’s not about saving money but allowing people the opportunity to fulfill their values.

4. Q+A from Attendees

Pet burials in Cemeteries? MR – In Ontario it is illegal to inter pet on property designated as cemetery. Some communities are starting to develop their own pet cemeteries. EL-understanding that is the same situation across Canada.

Transport across provincial boarders: EL called upon Joe O’Neil: It is cheaper and easier to move a body across the US border than across a provincial border. Cremated remains okay. But other bodies need to be embalmed. If someone wants a green burial in another province you must drive the body, which is costly and uses fuel. LF – Not to expensive. A biobag is used by airline carriers. EL- knows that with proper paperwork, a family can transport a body from AB to BC.

Development of Land: EL- It can be just as expensive to develop a green burial area as traditional burial area. Pricing structure should remain affordable as possible but be comparable to traditional burial re the perpetual care fund. Some cost savings due to the lack of or minimal memorial.

How much change can be done till we get the big players like Arbor on board? They should start to come on board as demand increases. Antje – LA designer for Arbor: has been trying hard to get Senior management on-board. Needs numbers to present a case. EB – As a funeral director, knows that people need to come into the funeral home knowing what they want and be able to get it. IF someone comes in wanting a green burial, we are lucky in BC/Vancouver area because there are a few options.

EB noted that people are willing to travel around to get a green burial. From the funeral side – public needs to know what to ask for because it (the green burial option) is not being taught by funeral directors in funeral school.

EL: one compelling argument: seems that families that are wanting green burial are also great planners, based on the ratio of pre-need to at-need sales exceeding the traditional preneed ratio of 2:1.

LF: for the first time getting 30 years old’s that are prearranging. 7/10 green burials were pre-arranged cremation families.

Antje- baby boomers not asking for it in her area, probably because they are not seeing it. People don’t ask for things they don’t see or know about. Needs stats!

EL- “If a baker doesn’t bake rye bread, she is not going to sell rye bread.”

Reuse of graves: EL asked Glen Hodges from Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, to explain their recent bylaw changes.

GH stated that current rules allow two caskets in a grave within a 40-year period. Mountain View Cemetery has been allowing families to re-use graves for over 100 years. It IS possible and it works well. There are families who bought a grave 100 years ago and continue to use it. Recently modified bylaw – in the next couple months, Mtn. View will be selling shared grave space – grave space used by people who are not family/relatives. Truly sustainable interment space – burial with stranger plus allowing the grave to be reused after 30-40 years.

Cremated Remains in a Green Burial Cemetery: LF from Royal Oak– in traditional green burial area – 1 body and three ashes. In order to not disturb root structure, in the green burial area, there is no set pattern of where the ashes go- the soil is opened where possible and ashes are poured in. They have been getting many inquiries of scattering – have done over 600 ash scatterings in the Woodlands green burial section because it is so beautiful.

EL- This is testament to the fact if you create a meaningful space people will come. EL cautions that cremated remains are toxic to plants so need to avoid over -concentration of scattering in any one area.

Communal memorial/individual memorials. CH-suggested that memorialization can be made from materials that do not last forever, such as wood: could be great for a site. Need to allow the industry to respond to a new type of memorials using sustainable materials. GH- in sustainable areas -there is interest in biodegradable and temporary – meant to mark the spot for a certain amount of time. EL- use of native stove – small river stone with name on it.

GH-infants in common graves that were not sufficient for individual memorials. It is important to allow for memorialization. Dawn Carson – had two people walk away from green burial because they thought they could not have a memorial. They wanted a space that their families could go. EL- trend of Memorization without Interment – happening because ashes were scattered and now people want a spot to commemorate that they can identify and come back to.

EL- as a society we have tried to not to be too dogmatic in the certification process. Example – if you need to dig the grave with a backhoe, it has to be done. Each site will be different.

GPS Coordinates – this is one way to connect with a spot. Question – do we need a physical marker or is the GPS good enough? CH clarified that with a green burial the body is not just buried anywhere. There is still a record of the location.

EL- Comments about GB in Quebec. If anyone knows of who and how we can connect there, please send info.

EL- calls on Nicole Mary Swanson – because she is one of the younger attendees to explain her interest in green burial. Replied that she is an artist and activist with an interest in death and the disposition process.

How to establish a green cemetery – best to collaborate with an established cemetery. Joe Oo’Neil: one thing that has be done is to find affordable land. Has realized that a good solution might be to take over an abandoned old pioneer cemetery and reactivate it. Buckstein, Ontario is an example of where a cemetery has been reactivated

EL- Poses question. Have we met our objectives today?

CH would like to touch on the COVID situation. COVID has taught us that people want to get outside and get into green spaces. They are therapeutic and important to our physical and mental health. We need to make our green spaces meaningful, and it is especially important that we make our cemeteries meaningful. COVID has taught us the importance of connecting with the land

EL motion to adjourn; motion approved

Meeting adjourned at 2:05 pm PDT.