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Why Cremation is Becoming Increasingly Common in Vancouver

• December 9, 2024

While traditional funeral services will always hold a place of significance, more and more Canadians are opting to forgo customary burials in favour of cremation. In Vancouver and across the country, this shift reflects both changing attitudes toward conventional funeral services as well as personal feelings about how, when, and where to say goodbye to a loved one.

Why More Families Are Choosing Cremation

The average cost of a funeral in Vancouver has increased considerably over the last several years and this has played a significant role in the move towards cremation. With very limited land availability, a single burial plot in the Lower Mainland can now cost anywhere from $5,000 to over $25,000. The increasing cost of caskets as well as preparing the body for a funeral service has also made cremation a more affordable alternative for many families while still honoring the deceased.

But beyond the financial factors, there has also been a cultural shift, with a notable decrease in conventional funerals and religious services and a growing emphasis on celebrating the departed’s life. While burials often require immediate action, cremation provides flexibility not only in where memorial services are held gives families more time to make arrangements and plan a tribute that feels right.

For many families, though, the most compelling reason for choosing cremation in Vancouver is the ability to keep or scatter their loved one’s remains in a place that has deep personal meaning. People have chosen to scatter ashes in exotic destinations, or closer to home at a favourite fishing hole; some even have their loved one’s ashes forever memorialized in custom jewellery.

Understanding the Cremation Process

The cremation process itself is straightforward and performed with the utmost respect and care for your loved one. The body is usually prepared at the funeral home which includes cleaning, and if requested, dressing the body. The cremation takes place in a cremation chamber, a dedicated furnace designed specifically for the process. The chamber is lined with fire-resistant brick and can reach temperatures of up to up to 980 degrees Celsius, leaving behind only ashes.

After the cremation, the ashes are further processed before being placed in an urn or container chosen by the deceased or the family. Families can then choose the most appropriate final resting place for their loved ones. Many hold a private scattering ceremony with close family at a place of personal significance, while others choose to keep the ashes in a decorative urn at home or at a memorial garden.

Holding a Memorial

While traditional funeral services are uncommon with cremation —although if this is your wish the body can be prepared for viewing prior to cremation— most families do hold a memorial service to honour their loved one.

Memorial services do not take place at the funeral home, instead, they are generally more informal type gatherings held at home or outside the venue. The service is typically less structured than a funeral and will often focus on celebrating the life of the loved one, sharing stories and reflecting on memories over food and drinks. But there are no rules for this type of service, and they can often take place weeks or even months after your loved one’s passing. Some families choose to host an intimate gathering of friends and family while others choose a more adventurous approach, travelling to a place of significance to scatter ashes. Some families choose both.

The unique advantage of cremation is the flexibility to honour a loved one in the way they would have wanted, no matter how traditional or unconventional. In Vancouver, where diversity and individuality are celebrated, cremation has become more than just an alternative to traditional burials—it’s a way to honour lives with creativity, intention, and respect for both personal and environmental values.