New memorial program to be implemented in Caledon

November 16, 2023 · 0 Comments

By ZACHARY ROMAN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Caledon is updating its program that governs memorials in an effort to provide more affordable options to residents.

At Caledon Council’s November 14 meeting, a staff report recommending that the Town implement a new memorial program was approved on consent.

The memorial program is recommended for formal adoption at Council’s November 28 meeting. The report was submitted by Ryan Giles, the Town’s supervisor of community support and events.

Giles’ report explains the Town of Caledon supports and acknowledges the importance of a formal memorial program to celebrate and honour residents who have made significant contributions to the community.

Caledon’s current memorial program has been in effect since November 2021. In 2022, Town staff reviewed the program, and it led them to create the update and recommendation presented to Council this week.

In reviewing the program, Giles said resident feedback indicated that residents paying the full cost of aluminum park bench memorials was cost-prohibitive.

The new program adds more affordable memorial options for Caledon residents.

Memorial options available to residents will include a tree with a stone marker, which will cost $700 and be paid entirely by the resident; a stone trailway bench, which will cost $2,000 and be paid entirely by the resident; and an aluminum park bench, which will cost $7,000 — $3,500 each to be paid by the Town and resident.

Giles’ report said these prices are in line with what other municipalities charge.

Through its memorial program, the Town maintains an inventory of memorial locations that people can choose from. The Town also manages the installation of memorials and will maintain and repair them throughout their lifespan.

“Memorial applications are intended to honour, commemorate, and celebrate individuals living or deceased,” reads Giles’ report. “Individuals must be a resident of the Town or have spent most of their life residing in the Town; team or group applications must reflect at a minimum, 70 per cent membership from Town residents.”

The Town is placing a limit of 10 new aluminum memorial benches per year to align with its budget. If more than 10 applications are received by April 1 in a given year, the extras will be deferred to the following year.

Giles’ report states the cost of running the Town’s memorial program in 2024 will be about $35,000.