Statement from Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries

August 27, 2025

To our clients, families, communities, and all those who visit our cemeteries:

We want to begin by expressing our heartfelt apology for the pain, distress, and frustration caused by our recent removal of articles at gravesites. We acknowledge that our actions—though rooted in safety concerns—have hurt many families and disrupted moments of remembrance and reflection.

Over the past six months, we worked to communicate changes to our cemetery by-laws, which were approved by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario. These changes were intended to protect the health and safety of all who visit our cemeteries, including family members, staff, and volunteers. However, we acknowledge that our messages did not reach everyone, and we could have done better—particularly in communicating with faith-based and culturally diverse communities, including members of Orthodox Christian communities.

We are pausing the articles removal program while we take the time to listen, learn, and understand community concerns. Our goal is to balance the need for safety and compliance with a deep respect for the traditions, beliefs, and grief journeys of the families we serve.

We are also reviewing our Operating By-Laws in light of these concerns and will work with families to restore meaningful items, including the “holy houses” that were removed from gravesites beginning tomorrow. Additionally, we are exploring better options for storing items currently placed in bags within the contained area, to ensure they are preserved with dignity and care.

We are listening. We are learning. And we are committed to doing better.

The Mount Pleasant Group