Farr wants city staff to look at green burials

A councillor wants city staff to investigate the community interest and feasibility of offering green burials in Hamilton.

Ward 2 Coun. Jason Farr said he plans to put forward a motion at a Jan. 24 city council meeting after reading a story about the endof-life option in The Spectator.

“I’ve heard the green burial concept before but I had no idea anyone in the community up until today was interested in pursuing it,” Farr said Friday, noting he received a few emails from residents after the story ran.

It featured downtown Hamilton resident Rochelle Martin, a nurse by trade and a “community death-care educator” by vocation, who is an advocate for green burials.

Green burials consist of a body being placed in the ground in a cotton shroud or wooden box, without using embalming chemicals. Graves are marked with a tree, a natural stone marker or left unmarked and located with a GPS number.

Proponents say green burials avoid the costly and environmentally damaging effects of traditional burials.

Martin — who had been lobbying the city to designate a green burial site — said she was “thrilled” about Farr’s motion.

“I think it’s awesome that Jason just got right on it,” she said. “I think the onus is on the city to lead in this way.”

Kara Bunn, Hamilton’s manager of parks and cemeteries, previously told The Spectator the city isn’t necessarily opposed to the idea — it’s just not convinced people are interested.

Farr said the city’s public works department has been researching provincial legislation and does have an interest in pursuing it.

If his motion is passed, he would like to see staff look to municipalities already embracing the idea and hear from the public through an online campaign.