Cemetery By-laws

MPGC Cemetery By-laws

 

Mount Pleasant Group cemeteries are welcoming, safe and inclusive sanctuaries for all GTA residents and visitors. To maintain their serenity and dignity, we have by-laws that all visitors must follow. Effective May 1, 2024, these by-laws include rules for burial and visitation hours, jogging, recreational activities, dog-walking and permitted items at grave sites.

We ask all visitors to respect these by-laws to ensure the safety and care of our cemeteries. Our staff regularly monitor grave sites to uphold these standards. Thank you for helping us preserve the tranquility of Mount Pleasant Group cemeteries.

Which By-Laws Affect Me?

All of our by-laws affect our visitors. If you are visiting our cemeteries or have a loved one laid to rest here, you should be familiar with our by-laws. They ensure the highest standards of health and safety, maintenance, client service and environmental sustainability. Here are some of the common ones that you should know about.

Private Property: All cemeteries are privately owned lands. Interment Rights Holders and public visitors enjoy the use of the Cemetery at their own risk and shall be governed by the following:

•   Damage to Property: Any person found or suspected of damaging, destroying, removing, or defacing any property on Cemetery grounds may be subject to removal from Cemetery grounds and subject to a notice of trespass.

•   Dogs: Dogs on leashes are permitted on Cemetery roadways and hardscape. We ask that all owners respect the sanctity of the Cemetery grounds and pick up after their pets. Service dogs may accompany their owners at all times.

•   Photographing, Filming, or Videotaping: Photographing, filming, or videotaping of any part of the Cemetery may only take place with the prior written approval of the Cemetery.

•   Roller Blades and Skateboards: The use of roller blades and skateboards is strictly prohibited within the Cemetery grounds.

•   Cyclists/Joggers: To ensure the safety of our employees and visitors to the Cemetery, cyclists and joggers must carry themselves in a safe manner that respects the sanctity of the Cemetery and funeral processions. They must keep to the Cemetery roads, single file at a speed less than 20 km/hour. Bicycle speed training and racing are strictly prohibited.

Planting and Care of Graves and Lots: Pruning of dwarf trees and shrubs and maintenance of flowerbeds for graves and lots is not looked after under the general care and maintenance of the Cemetery. Flowerbed maintenance, pruning, fertilizing, watering, etc., are the sole responsibility of the Interment Rights Holder(s).

Articles Placed on Lots and Graves

•    General (6.1): The Cemetery is committed to supporting a broad array of religious and ethnic preferences and strives to create a respectful and dignified resting place for the multicultural communities that we serve.  Permitted articles must be placed within the designated planting area of the lot, or grave, as defined in By-laws 5.2 – 5.8 respectively.

The Cemetery reserves the right to regulate the articles placed on lots or graves that pose a threat to the safety of all Interment Rights Holders, visitors to the Cemetery and cemetery employees, prevent the Cemetery from performing general cemetery operations, or are not in keeping with the dignity and decorum of the Cemetery. Prohibited articles will be removed regularly and disposed of without notification.

To assist Interment Rights Holders, the following is a non-exhaustive list of common types of articles that are prohibited from being placed on lots or graves within the Cemetery:

•    Articles made of hazardous materials such as non-heat resistant glass (excludes glass attached to monuments), ceramics, or corrosive metals
•    Loose stones or sharp objects
•    Trellises or arches
•    Chairs or benches
•    Bird feeders
•    Temporary memorials or signage not approved by the Cemetery

Please contact the Cemetery office for clarification prior to purchasing or placing an article on a grave or lot.

View the Full By-Laws