Chris Clegg
South Peace News
High Prairie town council is standing firm on its decision to not build a columbarium at its cemetery.
A motion to set aside money and build the columbarium in the 2025 capital budget was denied 6-1 at council’s Jan. 13 meeting with only Mayor Brian Panasiuk voting in favour.
A columbarium is a room or building with niches and shelves for urns to be stored, i.e. the ashes of loved ones.
“It’s not a need, it’s a want,” said Councillor Judy Stenhouse in opening debate.
“Maybe down the road we can look at it,” added Councillor John Dunn.
One suggestion was to bring it back in about five years.
Panasiuk persisted saying no one had a columbarium in town.
“It’s an option that we don’t have in our town,” he added. “In the long run it will pay for itself.”
However, Councillor Donna Deynaka pointed out that columbariums already existed at the Catholic and Anglican cemeteries but added burial locations did depend on faith. She agreed with Dunn and replied she was not sure one was needed at the current time.
Dunn also added urns can be buried near tombstones.
Stenhouse added the Chapel of Memories could advise potential clients on options of placing ashes.
Council identified the cost of a columbarium was $50,000 in its 2024 capital budget.
However, the number could change depending on the size of the columbarium council chooses when it decides to build one.
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