Improved winter access to cemetery sought
The city is being asked to consider opening the Grey Mountain Cemetery one day a week during the winter for vehicle access.
The city is being asked to consider opening the Grey Mountain Cemetery one day a week during the winter for vehicle access.
Whitehorse resident Marney Paradis made the request to council at its meeting Monday.
Paradis said having it open one day a week would increase the consistency of access.
Currently, anyone interested in visiting a gravesite in the winter can call the city 48 hours ahead of time to give a crew time to plow snow to provide vehicle access.
The cemetery is not staffed in the winter, except for burial requests. Access is open seven days a week during the other seasons, when there are staff on-site.
The city receives an average of six requests for access per winter.
Paradis said it’s difficult for people like her mom, with disabilities, to know if pain will prevent them from attending on the day they requested.
If they are not able to visit, they’ll at least know there is still that regular day for visitations, she said, and they’ll take comfort in that.
“We are looking to increase the service by adding one day a week in addition to what is currently offered,” she said.
Paradis told council she spoke with the president of the Whitehorse branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. He agrees with increased access to the cemetery, and it was the president who suggested opening it one day a week.
The issue of vehicle access to the cemetery in the winter was on council’s agenda for discussion Monday.
Administration is recommending maintaining the current requirement of calling 48 hours ahead of time.
The administrative report notes maintaining winter access one day per week would cost an additional $56,000 annually.
There are approximately 1.8 kilometres of road in the cemetery that would have to be plowed, and there would have to be staff onsite, the report points out.
The snow would have to be hauled away, as there is no place to put it at the cemetery.
Comments (5)
Up 9 Down 1
YD on Mar 25, 2022 at 1:37 pm
$56,000/winter for the six visitors = $9333.33/visit. This should be a no brainer.
I suppose more people would visit the cemetery if the snow was consistently plowed. Even if the average winter visitation increased by 50, this would still be costing the city $1000/visit.
Up 6 Down 6
Mitch Holder on Mar 25, 2022 at 1:01 pm
Instead of disliking all my comments, why don't you prove you are a human being of any worth and counter my points with viable counterpoints? What are you, a 12 year old Liberal?
Up 17 Down 3
Yukoner on Mar 25, 2022 at 10:29 am
Until the city can keep up other required plowing this should not be a priority.
Up 19 Down 3
Mitch Holder on Mar 25, 2022 at 10:17 am
My mother rests in that cemetery, but I would not ask the municipality for this, I feel the appointment system is adequate, I have never found the need to spontaneously visit my late matriarch in the dead of winter, though I can understand how some might. Needless to say, there are myriad issues plaguing this municipality that present challenges to those who yet survive - such as the need for sidewalks in large portions of town, better policing and mental health supports. So I say no to more bike trails, pay for them yourself, and between the cemetery operators and patrons I imagine something can be worked out short of maintaining the lane ways of the dead while the living can't get in or out of their driveways.
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Wilf Carter on Mar 24, 2022 at 3:07 pm
This sound great but what about the streets so people can get to their houses safely and kids who have no support at all.