In September 2017, the City of Niagara Falls proudly unveiled Niagara’s first green burial section named Willow’s Rest, located at Fairview Cemetery in Niagara Falls. Beginning in 2016, the City of Niagara Falls Cemetery Services, with the initial support of the Park in the City Committee, initiated the early stages of development (i.e. grading and planting 75 native trees) of the Region’s first Green Burial Section. Shortly thereafter, Cemetery Services received additional support as interested partners invested in the initiative, including a $25,000 grant through CN’s EcoConnexion and $40,000 from Land Care Niagara. Other sponsors, including Tree Canada, Sassafrass Farms, Yardmasters, the Green Burial Society and Frank Racioppo with Queenston Quarry also contributed to the project.

Willow’s Rest is now a 2 acre naturalized location, with nearly two hundred new native trees which will ultimately create an enclosure for the beautiful wildflower meadow. Seven Monarch Butterfly Polinator Gardens can also be found within Willow’s Rest. The largest sitting centre in the wildflower meadow, serving as the central memorial garden, as well as six gardens situated at the two primary entrances. Willow’s Rest is now available to serve as Niagara’s Green Burial Section. Green, or natural burials are a way of caring for our dead with minimal environmental impact that aids in the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, protection of worker health, and the restoration and/or preservation of habitat. Green burial necessitates the use of non-toxic and biodegradable materials, such as caskets, shrouds, and urns.