Cemetery clean-up will take place on July 31. Residents are urged to take part.

 

The Town of Whitecourt has recently announced that it will be cleaning up the Whitecourt Cemetery. Bylaw 1470 states that items can be removed by the town when their condition is considered detrimental to the aesthetics of the cemetery and that notice does not need to be given prior to removal. However, they have decided to give several months notice and hope that residents will work with them to help fix things up.

“Many residents are very supportive, and they understand that it takes time and effort for us to maintain the area and we don’t want to disturb anything while we are there. By keeping a clean environment, we can provide proper care for the cemetery grounds,” explained Kamruz Zaman, Director of Infrastructure Services with the town.

Some of the different issues that have been brought to their attention include plants and shrubbery that were planted by residents. Several were planted outside the purchased plot and over the years have grown significantly. Bylaw 1470 (17.2) already clearly states that plants and shrubs cannot be planted within the cemetery grounds. One of the plants that was placed years ago has now grown to well over 10 ft. high and six feet wide. Several others are encroaching on other plots. The plants also make maintenance difficult.

It takes a long time for town employees to maneuver around the plots especially when there are many decorative pieces surrounding them. Broken and displaced pieces of older tombstones are also an issue. One such plot has an area dug underneath it and residents have complained that a fox has been using it. Twenty-five notices were sent to residents to let them know about the clean up as those plots will be focused on. Residents now have until July 31 to remove the plants and items before they are removed. Décor items that are removed will be kept by the town until December 31 of this year. If there is no claim by that time, they will be discarded.

One of the local groups that regularly spends time cleaning areas of the cemetery is the Whitecourt Legion. Past Legion President Kyle Scott said doing the upkeep is something he would love to see more residents take part in. “This is a place of respect and a place people come to spend time with their loved ones that have moved on. Quite often people do things out of respect and love but over time those trinkets and items left behind end up anywhere but where their loved one is.”

He said it’s in the best interest of the cemetery and everyone who is resting there to keep it clean and easy to maintain. “For us at the Legion, we have really stepped up our commitment and our desire to care for our veterans who are buried here, and we would like to keep it as simple as possible. By following the bylaws, it makes it that much simpler. If we all do our part to keep it clean and tidy, then it makes it easier on the town and the employees that put in the effort to keep it clean.”

There are 1,380 plots in the Whitecourt Cemetery and, though the sites can vary in size a bit, they are generally six feet wide by 10 feet long. Providing that keepsakes stay within the space and follow the bylaw, residents are able to have special mementos placed for their loved ones. An idea that Legion members recently came up with has kept things very clean for past vets. “We took it upon ourselves last year to make some lovely, steel markers that Bullet Proof Welding cut for us. They are just a simple red maple leaf that says veteran.”

He and fellow executive Legionnaire Tom Pickard were out in the rain on Wednesday, May 16 placing them on graves of veterans who are not currently marked. “If you have a loved one buried in the Whitecourt Cemetery who does not have his or her military service recognized on the tombstone, let us know and we will get one placed there.”

Pickard can regularly be seen at the cemetery as he weeds, edges, mows, and cleans up veteran plots. “He really cares about these people and I think it’s the service in his family and his years of service in uniform, too, that it strikes a cord with him. He does it for no recognition and I’m super proud to call him my friend,” said Kyle.

To read Bylaw 1470 and find out what is and isn’t allowed visit the town website www.whitecourt.ca. You can also call the town for more information. A copy of the bylaw is also on display at the cemetery.