Find your resting place

We have noticed that 2 individuals claiming to be trustees of Churchill Cemetery have been spreading false rumours and allegations

pertaining to Churchill Cemetery, the acquisition, and our motives. We just want to encourage everyone who has any concerns to 

please come and ask us, or reach out to the Bereavement of Ontario for clarity on our operation and intent for the cemetery.

Remember, each story has two sides, and we are here if anyone has anything they would like clarity on. 

There is a reason that multiple governing bodies have dismissed their false claims, including the Bereavement Authority of Ontario.

We also ask for grace in this period, as these two new claimed trustees, who have not followed proper protocol in becoming trustees, have refused to hand over the cemetery operational fund, which is held by CemeCare Inc. on the instruction of the two trustees, despite the Bereavement Authority of Ontario's repeated requests to hand over the operational fund to us. So we continue to operate the cemetery out of our own pockets, because we truly care about the cemetery, and want to keep it well maintained and respected.

 

Here is a direct response (minutes) issued to these 2 individuals as of June 13, 2025 after their meeting with the BAO:

 

Issue #1: New fence

BAO’s response: 

• The main entrance on the south side of the property is always open to foot traffic and the drive-through gate will be opened upon request to those with special needs. We consider this to be reasonable access to the cemetery. As an aside, many cemeteries have fences around the perimeter, which is a good feature that helps to clearly delineate the boundaries of the cemetery and to protect the grounds.

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Issue #2: Video cameras around the home (former church) are infringing on the privacy of those visiting at the cemetery.

BAO’s response:

• The licensee has a right to have the cameras around his home and overlooking the cemetery. As stated during our meeting, many cemeteries deal with issues of vandalism, theft, unauthorized burials and other clandestine activities, and video cameras are a good deterrent against such activities. Many small cemeteries would like to have cameras but do not have the financial/technical means to install them.

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Issue #3: Prices of interment rights are too high

BAO’s response:

• The price of $5500 for a grave is not considered as being excessive. Understandably, it is viewed as a large increase from the former $2495 price (or thereabouts) because the price has increased by about 120%. Notwithstanding, we do not take issue with the new price. As I mentioned during our meeting, quite often we see volunteer-run cemeteries grossly under-pricing interment rights, leaving very little for C&M funds and general operations of the cemetery. We understand the desire to keep interment rights at a low price for the community members; but this benefit often comes at the price of the taxpayers if and when a cemetery is later turned over to the municipality.

• When cemetery volunteers are no longer able to care for the cemetery and no one else is willing or able to step in and do so, the municipality must take it over and often with very little C&M funds. The cemetery then becomes a taxpayer burden. This is currently a big problem in Ontario. Several municipalities have voiced concerns to the provincial government over the costs of maintaining small volunteer-run cemeteries and they are resisting taking them over.

• When all lots are sold, the only guaranteed income to cover operating costs is the interest generated by the C&M fund. In an ideal situation, the interest income will be sufficient to cover the following costs: lawn care equipment, lawn maintenance, grass seeding, snow clearing, tree maintenance and/or removal, repair of unstable marker foundations, resetting of crooked or fallen monuments, raising of sunken flat markers, relevelling of sunken graves, fence repair, parking lot maintenance, liability insurance, and more. Some of the latter costs, while they may not be incurred every year, can be in the $1000’s.

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Issue #4: Operating account (~$40K)

BAO’s response:

• Withholding the operating funds from Churchill Cemetery Inc. by Brian Duff and Ruth Thorne is not appropriate.

• The operating account should be turned over the Churchill Cemetery Inc. as the operator of the cemetery. As it stands, Mr. van der Walt is forced to maintain the cemetery with his personal funds.

• The BAO questions Brian Duff’s and Ruth Thorne’s status as trustees, as they were appointed after we issued the cemetery operator licence to Churchill Cemetery Inc.

• The alternative solution we discussed at our meeting is a viable one, where the funds would be paid into the C&M trust fund. This should proceed without further delay.

• Any legal proceedings taken on by Brian Duff and Ruth Thorne in relation to the title transfer must be covered by them personally, NOT from the operating funds.

• During our meeting, Hamza Majid requested the operating account statements as of March and April 2025. Please provide them by this Wednesday, June 18th.
   

Conclusion:

I recognize that the former trustees are deeply passionate about their community cemetery and are committed to seeing it continue as it has in the past. Although they were aware for several months that Mr. van der Walt was purchasing the property and would need to become licensed to operate it, the transition has understandably felt abrupt. Seeing him officially take on the role and implement several changes at once has been a shock.

 

However, it is now time to recognize Churchill Cemetery Inc. as the new operator and move forward. Mr. van der Walt is young, capable, and committed to its continued care and operation. He has been cooperative with the BAO to date and fully understands his responsibilities under the FBCSA and its regulations. And he is providing reasonable access and burial services, as required by law.

 

The BAO is committed to ensuring that Ontario’s cemeteries are protected in perpetuity by enforcing the FBCSA and its regulations. All cemetery operators are held to the same standard, regardless of who they are. The Ballantrae community can be assured that their deceased loved ones’ resting place is secure. The cemetery will remain in place—undisturbed, accessible to visitors, and maintained in a respectful and orderly manner, as required by law.

 

I respectfully request that you to work collaboratively with Mr. van der Walt to transition all the cemetery’s records and funds to him without further delay. He has relocated his young family from South Africa to Ballantrae to establish new roots, and he is genuinely enthusiastic about becoming part of the community and caring for Churchill Cemetery.

 

Sincerely,

 

Michelle Crognale | Manager, Licensing and Education  (bilingual) (she/her)

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We do not recognize any trust over Churchill Cemetery, as we hold the operational license over Churchill Cemetery, defaulting any trust due to the inability to fulfill any fiduciary duty over the cemetery without an operational license. The two individuals have been notified about numerous FBCSA and Trust Law violations, and continue to refuse to co-operate in handing over money that is designated for operational costs to the cemetery's care. We apologize that your funds that you have donated to maintain this cemetery is being illegally withheld. We are trying our best to retrieve it, but until that happens, our promise to you is to work tirelessly to ensure all operations proceed to the best of our ability. If you are a believer, we would so appreciate prayers over us and our children, as we go through this time.