Burial, Cremation, & Green Options in BC
“Planning what happens after death can feel daunting — but it’s also a way to reflect your values, beliefs, and environmental choices.”
1. Traditional Options:
• When planning what happens after death, many people begin with the familiar — burial or cremation. These options can be deeply meaningful when chosen with care and intention.
🌿 Burial
A traditional burial usually involves a casket placed in a cemetery plot, often followed by a service or gathering. Families may choose burial for cultural, spiritual, or personal reasons — sometimes because it allows for a place to visit and reflect. In B.C., you can purchase a plot in advance or your loved ones can arrange it later through a funeral home or cemetery directly.
“A burial can be a way of creating continuity — a place where stories and love continue to be tended.”
🕊️ Cremation
Cremation has become one of the most common choices in British Columbia. It’s flexible, typically more affordable, and allows families time to decide what to do with the remains. Ashes can be placed in an urn, scattered in a special location (with permission), or kept close in jewelry or keepsakes. Some people even combine cremation with a small ceremony at home or outdoors.
“Cremation can bring simplicity and space — a quiet moment to decide how you’d like to be remembered.”
2. Alternative & Eco-Friendly Choices:
• For those seeking a simpler, more earth-honouring approach, there are beautiful alternatives to traditional burial and cremation. These options often focus on sustainability, connection with nature, and gentle environmental impact.
🌱 Green Burial
A green burial returns the body naturally to the earth, without embalming chemicals, metal caskets, or concrete vaults. The body is placed in a biodegradable shroud or simple wooden casket, allowing it to decompose and nourish the soil.
On/near Vancouver Island, there are now two inspiring options: Royal Oak Burial Park in Victoria, and the Denman Island Natural Burial Cemetery — a peaceful forested space cared for by the local community. Each site blends gently with the landscape, offering a living memorial where wildflowers, trees, and birds carry on the story of life.
“Green burial allows us to return to the earth as we came — natural, simple, and full of grace.”
🕊️ Direct Cremation
Direct cremation skips formal services and viewings, focusing purely on cremation itself. Families can later hold a personalized celebration of life, memorial, or scattering ceremony in their own way and time. This option is both economical and flexible, giving loved ones space to grieve and plan meaningfully.
🌊 Home Funerals & Family Care
Some families choose to care for their loved one at home for a short period before burial or cremation. In B.C., this is legal with proper paperwork and support from a licensed funeral director. Families can wash, dress, and spend quiet time with their loved one in the comfort of home — often supported by a death doula or funeral-home partner.
“Home funerals bring care and closure into the heart of the family — a final act of love in familiar light.”
These alternative paths remind us that there are many ways to honour life and say goodbye — gently, personally, and in harmony with the world around us.
3. Personalizing the Farewell:
No matter which option you choose — burial, cremation, or green burial — there are countless ways to weave meaning and beauty into the goodbye. A farewell doesn’t have to follow tradition to be sacred; it simply needs to reflect the heart of the person being honoured.
✨ Create a Ceremony that Feels True
Some families gather at home, on the beach, or in a favourite forest clearing. Others prefer intimate circles with candles, poems, or shared stories. You might invite guests to bring a flower, a stone, or a memory. It can be structured or spontaneous — what matters most is intention.
“A ceremony is not about perfection — it’s about presence.”
📸 Capture the Moments that Matter
Photography can play a gentle role in remembrance. A few quiet images of hands being held, candles glowing, or sunlight on the ocean can later become a cherished keepsake. Ceremony photography doesn’t need to be formal — it’s simply a way of preserving the love that filled the space.
💌 Add Personal Touches
• Favourite music or readings
• A slideshow of life’s joyful moments
• Serving a loved one’s favourite dessert or drink
• Decorating with natural elements like shells, ferns, or sea glass
Small details can transform a simple farewell into something unforgettable — a celebration of who someone was and the light they leave behind.
“A meaningful goodbye isn’t about endings — it’s about continuing to feel connected, even as we let go.”
4. Helpful BC Resources:
• If you’d like to explore or begin making arrangements, the following local resources can offer clarity and support:
• Funeral Services Authority of B.C. (https://www.fsrba.ca/) – verifies licensed funeral providers and explains legal requirements.
• Royal Oak Burial Park – Woodlands Green Burial Area (https://royaloakburialpark.ca/) – Vancouver Island’s first certified green-burial site.
• Denman Island Natural Burial Cemetery (https://www.denmanislandnaturalburial.ca/) – a peaceful, community-managed forest cemetery.
• Green Burial Society of Canada (https://www.greenburialcanada.ca/) – education and listings for sustainable burial options across Canada.
• B.C. Government End-of-Life Guide (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/home-community-care/care-options-and-cost/end-of-life-care) – overview of choices, paperwork, and provincial supports.
5. Closing Thought:
Planning what happens after death is never easy, yet it can be one of the most loving acts we do for ourselves and those we leave behind. Whether you’re drawn to the timelessness of burial, the simplicity of cremation, or the natural return of green burial, the most important thing is that it feels aligned with your values and heart.
“When we choose with intention, every goodbye becomes a continuation of love — not an end, but a gentle return.”