Sara Marsden-Ille 
A comprehensive guide to help families understand green burial options, costs, and locations across the Provinces. Organizations that help with home funerals and natural burial services. FAQs to help inform.
A compassionate guide to grief support resources available in Canada — including national helplines, online communities, provincial programs, and guidance for bereaved children and families.
Complete guide to cremation costs, services, legal aspects, & FAQs for families in Toronto, ON.
A complete guide to choosing a cremation urn in Canada — covering materials, styles, sizes, prices, and what to consider when selecting a lasting tribute for a loved one’s cremated remains.
A guide to understanding the differences in cost between burial and cremation services. Quick chart comparisons & key info to help compare and benefit to save on funeral prices in Canada.
An introduction to the diversity of Indigenous funeral and memorial traditions across Canada — exploring the cultural significance of death, mourning, and honouring the deceased in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities.
A comprehensive funeral pre-planning checklist for Canadians — covering everything from recording your wishes to choosing a provider, pre-funding options, and leaving instructions your family can follow.
A compassionate guide to funeral and memorial etiquette in Canada — covering dress codes, what to say to the bereaved, appropriate behaviour at services, and gift giving.
Learn what human composting (natural organic reduction) is, whether it is legal in Canada, and how it compares to other eco-friendly funeral options like aquamation and green burial.
Find out what aquamation is, how it works, where it’s available in Canada, and how its costs and environmental impact compare to traditional cremation and burial.
A complete guide for Canadian families on the options for cremated remains — from columbariums and scattering gardens to keeping ashes at home or transforming them into memorial keepsakes.
Everything Canadian families need to know about obtaining a death certificate — including who issues them, how many you need, and the process in each province and territory.
A comprehensive, up-to-date guide to average funeral costs across Canada in 2026 — covering traditional funerals, cremation, green burial, and the key factors that affect what you pay.
A practical step-by-step guide for Canadian families on what to do immediately after a death — from notifying authorities to arranging the funeral or cremation.
A practical guide for Canadian families on how to plan a meaningful, family-led memorial service after direct cremation — without the high cost of a traditional funeral.
Learn about how to scatter ashes with Drone Memorials. A new & unique way to say farewell amid serene beauty.
Best-Value Direct Cremation in the Greater Toronto Area For many families in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), cremation is the preferred option — but rising funeral prices in Ontario can make even a simple arrangement feel financially overwhelming. That’s where Sensible Choice Affordable Cremation stands apart. Direct Cremation $1,450 Complete | Call (437) 886-4318 | … Read more
When a loved one is in the final stages of life, your focus is naturally on comfort, legacy, and saying goodbye. Most Canadian families have a general plan in mind—perhaps a quiet service and a preference for affordable cremation. It seems straightforward enough. You imagine that when the time comes, you’ll have a few days … Read more
When a loved one dies, families are often required to make important decisions quickly and under emotional strain. Finding a funeral home that is professional, transparent, and genuinely supportive can make a meaningful difference. For families across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Chapel Ridge Funeral Home & Cremation Centre is recognized for providing … Read more
Direct cremation is a cremation-only service — the deceased is collected from the place of death, all required legal paperwork is completed, and the cremation takes place without any formal viewing, service, or ceremony arranged by the funeral provider. The cremated remains are then returned to the family. It is the most straightforward and affordable … Read more
A Guide for Families Losing a loved one is one of life’s most profound challenges, often leaving families to navigate a complex web of emotional and financial decisions in a very short window of time. In the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), where the cost of living is a frequent topic of conversation, the “cost of dying” … Read more
The Law, Ethics, and the Ongoing National Conversation Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) has become one of the most significant and debated developments in Canadian healthcare, law, and ethics over the past decade. Introduced to provide an option for individuals suffering intolerably at the end of life, MAID has since expanded in scope and complexity, … Read more
Cremation is now the most popular choice for final disposition in Canada, with a national cremation rate exceeding 75%. For many families, the decision comes down to one practical question: how much does cremation actually cost? The answer depends on the type of service, the province, and the provider — and the differences can be … Read more
What exactly is Aquamation? Aquamation essentially does exactly what it says on the tin. It is a method of disposition that uses water to dispose of a body in place of fire, as with a flame cremation. This eliminates the use of gas and the omissions cremation produces. For this reason, it is deemed a more … Read more
We get asked this a lot here at Canadian Funerals. A funeral can be a big expense, especially if you are not prepared for it. However, it is important to remember that a dignified funeral does not have to cost you a fortune. How much you pay for funeral services does not reflect how much … Read more
To apply for a protection plan complete this form Do you travel 75 miles or further away from your home residence on an occasional basis? Most of us travel these days, be it for pleasure, work, sport, or to visifamily. In fact, every year 80% of adults take a trip that takes them over 75 … Read more
Cremation services accounted for 73.1% of dispositions in Canada in 2019. The percent of Canadians choosing cremation is still growing. Families still have questions about cremation. Questions about cremation prices, legal aspects about cremation authorization, and what happens through the whole funeral home cremation process. What cremation service options are offered? There are basically 3 … Read more
The business of caskets in Canada may be a ‘dying’ or declining business in the funeral sector. The Canadian cremation rate is now just over 73%, and although some families still opt to have a traditional funeral service prior to cremation, others are opting for a simple direct cremation with no service. How much does … Read more
Funeral Service Association of Canada6-14845 Yonge Street, Suite 192Aurora, ONL4G 6H8Tel: 1-866-841-7779Fax: (905) 841-0997 Corporation des Thanatologues du Quebec3340, rue de la Perade, Bureau 200Sainte-Foy, QuebecG1X 2L7Tel: (418) 653-9102Fax: (418) 653-3580 British Columbia Funeral Service Association1551 Pandora AvenueVictoria, British ColumbiaV8R 6P9Tel: (604) 592-3213Fax: (604) 592-4362Toll Free: 1-800-665-3899 New Brunswick Funeral Directors & Embalmers Association515 Everard … Read more
First call: Contacting a funeral home One of the first steps the legal next of kin, or personal representative of the deceased (executor named in the Will) must take is to contact the funeral home. Remember, most funeral homes are available to take your calls 24 hours a day and are there to answer any … Read more
The Canadian Funeral Industry is an industry still in a state of flux following new legislation and combating new trends in consumer choices. As a global industry – the bereavement industry is witnessing a move towards integrated services. And Canada is no different from many other nations where cremation is on the increase. Canadians are … Read more
To some extent, the public does not always understand or appreciate the many tasks associated with arranging for the final disposition of human remains and coordinating a meaningful ceremony for the deceased. A funeral director can complete numerous tasks that can occupy up to 80 hours. The services and human resources of a funeral home … Read more
Why have a funeral? What’s the point. It is ultimately more difficult to avoid the topic as difficult as it can be to discuss death, grief, and funerals. For thousands of years, funerals have been a means of expressing our beliefs, thoughts, and feelings about the death of someone we love. What is the purpose … Read more
Can you do your own post-death care and funeral arrangements? In the simplest words, ‘yes’. Before the 20th century, it was common for people or communities to take care of their own dead — both before and after death. Most people died at home, supported by friends, faith communities, or the local midwife (who often … Read more
Sending flowers to a funeral, or sending sympathy flowers to the bereaved, is a timeless expression of compassion and condolences. This guide covers everything you need to know about ordering funeral and sympathy flowers in Canada — from what flowers are most appropriate to how much to spend, when to send them, and eco-friendly alternatives. … Read more