• Full, in-ground burial
• In-ground burial of cremated remains (cremains)
• Inurnment of cremains in a columbaria wall
• Ash scattering along the Forest Trail

• Boardwalks or trails
• Drinking fountains, playground equipment, other park features
• Memorial benches with plaque
• Public art project sponsorship
• Plaque on Memory Wall

To purchase an interment permit or arrange a service, you can arrange a meeting with staff in the Legislative Services Department at municipal hall by calling 604-932-5535. Staff will provide a plot plan that will indicate the grave spaces that are available for purchase and will also be able to advise you about the required license, fees and service procedures.

Information packages with plot location plans are available at municipal hall the reception desk. Plot plans and further details on cemetery and interment procedures are contained in Whistler's Cemetery Regulation Bylaw No. 1788, 2006.

Back to top

Memorial Benchs

Finding an Appropriate Location
The donor may have some preferred locations in mind. If these sites are in parks, along trails, or in other areas managed by the Resort Experience, staff will check the suitability of these locations. If the preferred sites are not managed by the municipality, staff may be able to refer the donor to other contacts or other sites. If the donor does not have a preferred site, staff can suggest locations that are suited to a particular interest. Also, it is beneficial for the donor to meet with staff at the potential sites to review conditions.

Creating the Memorial
The municipality uses a Village Standard wood bench with a bronze plaque mounted to the top rail of the bench backrest. This bench/plaque memorial has proven to be attractive and durable. The current cost to supply, install and maintain this form of memorial is $1,500.00.

The process to create the plaque involves the following steps:

1. The donor proposes text for the memorial plaque;
2. Staff forward the text to the plaque supplier for formatting;
3. The supplier provides a couple of plaque layouts for proofing;
4. The donor accepts a proof and provides a cheque for the plaque and bench;
5. Staff places an order with the supplier.
   

The plaque dimension is approximately 5 x 24 centimetres, and typically features the person’s name, key dates and three or four lines of text. Samples from recent projects can be provided for review.

The process to plan, supply and install the bench / plaque memorial may take approximately three months.

 Download a Memorial Application Form

Caring for the Memorial
Memorial projects installed in parks or along the Valley Trail are owned and maintained by the municipality. Depending on park development or operational requirements, the memorial may need to be relocated or altered in some form. The municipality will seek to reinstate memorial projects that have been altered, and will seek to contact the donor if relocation or substantial change to the memorial project is required.

Back to top

Frequently Asked Questions

What interment options does Whistler offer?
The 3.27 acre (1.324 hectare) Whistler Cemetery offers the following interment options:

• In-ground burial
• In-ground burial of cremated remains
• Inurnment of cremated remains within an urn in a columbarium wall
• Scattering Garden for the scattering of cremated remains which are not contained within a receptacle

What memorialization options do I have other than grave spaces?
The following memorialization options are available:

• Boardwalks or trails
• Tree or groves of trees
• Drinking fountains, playground equipment, other park features
• Memorial benches with plaque
• Public art project sponsorship
• Plaque on Memory Wall

How do I obtain a plot in the Whistler Cemetery?
We recommend the following steps:

1. Obtain a Plot Plan from municipal hall. The Plot Plan will indicate those plots available for purchase.
2. Visit the cemetery and locate the plot you wish to purchase.
3. Apply for a Cemetery License and make payment of fees at municipal hall

Your plot will be reserved for you and you will be given copies of the license for your personal files. The following information is available from municipal hall:

• Cemetery Licenses and Interment Permits issued by the municipality>
• Plot Plans: layout of cemetery plots and service
• Fee Schedule for cemetery services 

How much notice do I need to give for a burial or interment of ashes?
Prior to any interment, the municipality requires the following notice:

• For an in ground burials and in-ground burials of cremated remains, a minimum of five working days notice
• For above-ground interment of cremated remains in a columbarium niche a minimum of two  working days notice
• For cremated remains to be scattered in the Scattering Garden a minimum of two working days notice 

Note: In accordance with the cemetery regulation bylaw, there are additional fees for all interments performed on Saturdays, Sundays and Statutory holidays.

What are the maximum sizes of coffins, caskets, urns and other containers for interment?

What is involved in the interment process?
For interment in the cemetery you must:

1. Choose a grave space
2. Pay all required fees to municipal hall
3. Obtain a Cemetery License from municipal hall
4. Provide a copy of the Death Certificate or Certificate of Cremation to municipal hall
5. Make arrangements with the municipality for the date and time of the funeral
6. Obtain an Interment Permit from municipal hall
7. Provide a copy of the written authorization from the person who has the right to control the disposition of the human remains to municipal hall
8. Provide memorial marker information, as indicated in the cemetery regulation bylaw, to municipal hall

May I put flowers on a grave?
Cut flowers, wreaths and floral offerings may be placed on grave spaces, but may be removed by the caretaker when their condition is considered to be detrimental to the beauty of the cemetery.

Please contact the Legal Services Coordinator for further information: lschimek at whistler.ca, 604-935-8110, Fax 604-935-8109.