Update on Alton Cemetery - Feb. 17, 2021
The Town of Caledon is currently undertaking the detailed design for the replacement of the Alton Cemetery timber retaining wall located at the northeast boundary of the property.
Throughout the process, the Town has been working with the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) to ensure that the Town follows all provincial policies, guidelines, legislation related to any proposed work on the Alton Cemetery Lands. At this time the BAO recommends that the Town complete a Stage 3 Archeological Survey (S3AS) to delineate the grave shafts, and determine if any additional unmarked grave shafts exist within the proposed study area which the limits are set larger to ensure they collect a sufficient amount of data in the field. The S3AS process will involve the following, including approval from the BAO:
The process in place is:
- Publish two (2) consecutive notices in the local newspaper one (1) week apart;
- Post a project notice board at the cemetery entrance;
- Temporarily removing headstones within the study area;
- Removing approximately 300mm of top soil within the area;
- The archeologist(s) will then record the actual grave shaft locations and determine if and where unmarked shafts are located;
- Restore and reinstate the disturbed area to existing, or better conditions which will include resetting of monuments that may currently be fallen, tilted, or sunken; and
- Complete a S3AS report documenting the findings. This information will also benefit the overall operation of the Cemetery as records are limited.
This is very sensitivity work and the Town is approaching this in a very professional, and respectable manner. As mentioned above the study area, and contact names given to us, does not necessarily represent the graves that will be impacted by the proposed retaining wall works, but will assist with this information gathering process and establishing contacts for any further correspondence.
Your AVA has been asked to help to gain contact information (name, address, phone number, and email (optional)) for the next of kin/internment rights holders/descendant of those burials located within the study area. To date we have been successful in forwarding information for a number of families that could be affected.
Contact Person:
Ian Todhunter, P.Eng.
Senior Project Manager Engineering Services Department
Town of Caledon
Email: ian.todhunter@caledon.ca
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