Item - 2022.IE29.12

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee received the report (April 7, 2022) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation for information.

At its June 8 and 9, 2021 meeting, City Council directed Parks, Forestry and Recreation to provide an update to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on the results of stakeholder consultations related to the environmentally and culturally sensitive dispersal of funeral ashes at municipal parks and waterways.

By identifying sites that are most suitable for this practice and working with stakeholder groups to provide appropriate visitor education, the City can help ensure the privacy and dignity of bereaved community members, maintain park areas in good condition and limit the risk of user conflict on Toronto's busy waterfront. Such an approach, which supports the public to disperse funeral ashes at particular locations, but does not designate parkland for this exclusive use, is approved by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario and is consistent with practices other Ontario municipalities have implemented.

Through consultations with stakeholders and based on lessons learned from other jurisdictions, 22 considerations have been developed to guide the identification of sites in City of Toronto parks that are suitable for the environmentally and culturally sensitive dispersal of funeral ashes into water.