Official opening of natural/green burial section at St. Stephen's Cemetery

The community is invited to the official opening ceremony for the new natural/green burial section of St. Stephen’s Cemetery on Sunday, October 19 at 1 p.m.

There will be speeches, a commemorative tree-planting with the Haliburton County Master Gardeners, and an opportunity to view the space.

“It’s going to be a very special day in the Township of Algonquin Highlands,” says Mayor Liz Danielsen. “This is the first site of its kind in the County of Haliburton, and the Township is pleased to be able to offer this form of burial to those seeking an environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional methods. This project has been years in the making, and I’d like to thank the Algonquin Highlands Green Burial Ad Hoc Committee, Township staff and the community partners who have helped make this vision a reality.”

A natural/green burial is a method of laying a body to rest that strives to be as environmentally gentle as possible. The body is placed directly into the earth in a biodegradable casket, without embalming fluids or synthetic materials. Burials are available year-round.

“To make this happen required a huge amount of energy and support on the part of AH Councillors and staff, as well as the membership of the Haliburton Highlands Green Burial Society (HHGBS),” says Terry Moore, President of HHGBS and member of the Green Burial Ad Hoc Committee.

St. Stephen’s Cemetery is located at 2072 Buckslide Road.