Cremation is a process that prepares human remains for final disposition. Through the application
of intense heat and flame human remains, and the container they are in, are reduced to skeletal fragments
and container ash. Commonly referred to as the ‘ashes’, these skeletal remains are further processed
for enclosure into an urn selected or provided by the survivors of the deceased. Following cremation
the survivors must make a decision regarding the final disposition of the cremated remains.
At Royal Oak Burial Park we have numerous options to facilitate the final disposition of cremated remains (click here to see map). The information provided here is general in nature. If you would like to discuss any of
these services in more detail please do not hesitate to contact our office.
While there are no laws in BC that prohibit scattering it is prudent to consider the consequences
of disposing of cremated remains in this manner. Scattering of cremated remains is irreversible.
If not given serious consideration, scattering can deny a family, and it's future generations, of a
permanent memorial where the life lived can be recognized, remembered and honored. For that reason
we have created a number of different scattering memorial options for your consideration.
Situated near to the Garden Chapel in the Garden of Remembrance the Memorial Wall provides for scattering
of the cremated remains in the woods above the wall and a cast bronze memorial plaque with simple inscription
is attached to individual bricks which make up the wall.
Situated adjacent to the Memorial Rose Garden, the Book of Remembrance provides for scattering of
the cremated remains in a secure underground vault at the base of the book and a cast bronze memorial
plaque with a memorial inscription is attached to the granite memorial book.
Located at the Columbarium Grove, the Memorial Woods is a unique setting for cremation memorialization.
Intended to remain in a natural, forested state a path meanders through a large stand of trees. Depending
on the lot selected, lots allow for the memorialization of up to eight (8) persons. Cremated remains
memorialized 
on the path can be scattered beneath the surface of the lot itself, placed into the nearby
underground vault or interred into a private niche. There are many products available for this very
personal form of memorialization, including Boulder Memorials and Granite Niche Benches.
There are numerous interment options for cremated remains. These include; burial into an existing
family plot where a casket interment has taken place; cremation graves situated in various locations
throughout the Burial Park; or a cremation lot in the Garden or Grove of Remembrance.
Unless indicated otherwise there are no minimum urn restrictions for Burial Park cremation interment
options. The Burial Park office has a selection of urns available for purchase, either from those on
display or from catalogues. Urns can be constructed of wood, stone, ceramic, metal or plastic. They
are available in keepsake, individual and companion sizes and can be personalized with memorial plaques,
engravings and photographs. Families are permitted to provide cremation urns purchased from a source
outside of the Burial Park.
The Garden and Grove of Remembrance are areas specially designated for the burial of cremated remains.
The Garden is located adjacent to the Garden Chapel near the Burial Park entrance and the Grove is
located in an older Section (I) of the Burial Park. Cremated remains interred in the Garden or Grove
of Remembrance are placed in a concrete vault. A special tablet with the personalized memorial inscription
forms the lid of the vault and is mortared into place at the time of interment. There are three memorial
tablet options; Gray Granite, Black Granite or Cast Bronze. Interments in the Garden or Grove cannot
be completed until such time as the tablet has been ordered, received and prepared for installation.
Tablet delivery usually takes from 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the type of tablet ordered. When this
option is selected it is important to note that the size of the urn to be interred is limited to the
inside dimensions of the vault.
Individual and companion cremation graves are located in other sections throughout the Burial Park.
Cremation lots of this type allow considerable flexibility for the size and type of marker placed on
the grave and also allow for the optional use of protective burial vaults. Lots designed for casket
burial may also be purchased and used solely for cremation interment. Because these lots are larger
in size they can be used for the interment of up to three (3) persons cremated remains.
Plots already used for a traditional casket interment also allow for the interment of up to two (2)
other persons cremated remains into the same lot and additional markers may be placed on the grave
for each interment. Persons requesting this type of interment are required to provide proof of their
relationship to the existing interred deceased and their right to use these ancillary interment privileges.
The Columbarium Grove consists of niche structures located outdoors near the Book of Remembrance,
Memorial Rose Garden and Memorial Woods. For ease of identification, each columbaria unit is named
for a species of tree.
A niche is the recessed compartment in the columbarium that is designed to accept an urn containing
cremated human remains. Niches are available in different size configurations:
- Individual for one (1) persons cremated remains;
- Companion allows
for the cremated remains of one (1) or (2) persons cremated remains in the same niche, and;
- Family allows
for one (1) to a maximum of four (4) persons cremated remains in the same niche.
Except for size limitations, there are no restrictions on the type of urn that can be placed in the
outdoor niches at the Burial Park. Families also have the option of purchasing a small flower vase
that can be attached to the niche front.
Located inside the Royal Oak Mausoleum are two columbarium rooms. Unique to Victoria, these columbariums
feature glass front niches that will accommodate individual, companion or family groupings of urns
and each niche has a small flower vase attached to its face. The mausoleum is secure, dry and climate
controlled, ensuring families have a comfortable, peaceful environment for visiting on a year round
basis.
Mausoleum niches can be personalized with photographs, engraved plaques and unique urns. Because
urns are visible through the glass niche fronts there are some restrictions on the type and size of
urns that are appropriate for use in the mausoleum.
As required by law, with the purchase of any grave, lot or niche, and any memorial purchased or installed
in the Burial Park, a contribution is made to the Care Fund of the cemetery. The Care Fund portion
of the purchase price is invested into a specially designated, and legally protected, fund that is
established for the long term care of the cemetery. Once invested, under strict investment guidelines
established in the B.C. Cemetery & Funeral Services Act, the principal of the fund can never be
used or removed from the fund for any reason. It is the interest income generated by the Care Fund
that will be used by the Burial Park to provide care and maintenance of the cemetery, ‘in perpetuity’.
All Burial Park products and services may be prearranged and prepaid. When products or services are
fully prepaid the current fee paid is guaranteed to cover future use at no additional cost. Prearrangement
and prepayment ensures that your personal wishes are known and followed by your survivors and that
the cost of those wishes are covered and guaranteed.
In addition to the cost of the grave, niche or lot selected there
are costs associated with the scattering or interment fee, type of marker or memorial inscription and
the Care Fund contribution.
Price lists (if not accompanying this information) are available from the Burial Park and interested
parties are welcome to visit or call the Burial Park to receive firm, itemized price quotations on
specific products. The following list outlines the inclusive costs to be considered when estimating
the final cost for the one of the cremation memorial options (all services and merchandise are subject
to GST):
- MEMORIAL WOODS: The location and size of the lot, the size and type of memorial
marker and any inscriptions, the Care Fund contribution and applicable scattering or interment fees
for each final disposition.
- BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE: The space selected on the face of the book, the bronze plaque with inscription
and installation, the Care Fund contribution and scattering fee.
- MEMORIAL WALL: A pre-assigned space
on the wall, bronze plaque with inscription and installation, Care Fund contribution and the scattering
fee.
- GARDEN or GROVE OF REMEMBRANCE: The location selected, the mandatory memorial vault,
the memorial tablet with inscription and installation, the Care Fund contribution and the interment
fee.
- OTHER CREMATION GRAVES: The location and size of lot selected, the interment fee, the burial vault
(optional), the memorial marker and inscription, the Care Fund contribution and interment fee.
- INTERMENT
INTO AN EXISTING PLOT: The interment fee, the burial vault (optional), the memorial marker and inscription,
the Care Fund contribution and interment fee.
- OUTDOOR COLUMBARIUM GROVE: The location, size and level
of niche selected, the format of niche front inscription, lettering or engraving, the Care Fund contribution
and interment fee.
- INDOOR MAUSOLEUM NICHE: The location, size and level of niche selected, the required
permanent form of urn and any urn inscription, lettering or engraving, the Care Fund contribution
and interment fee.
The use of any lot, all interment services, and the type of and installation of memorials must comply
with the established rules and regulations of the Burial Park. A summary of these rules and regulations
is available at the Burial Park office.
CREMATION FAQS
Cremation Pricelist
Columbaria Pricelist
Cremation Areas Map
PERPETUAL CARE
