Why Buying Canadian Matters in Death Care

With all the talk of tariffs in recent weeks, we wanted to highlight how KORU Cremation | Burial | Ceremony is one of 5 locally owned death care businesses in Vancouver proper, with the rest being owned by an American-run corporation.

We also go the extra mile (or kilometre, we should say) to work with local Canadian partners in all aspects of our death care practice. This is no recent switch in response to the USA’s tariff threats, we’ve been ahead of the game for quite some time now.

It’s A Matter Of Principle

One of our core principles is to be as green as possible in our practice which—due to certain restrictions in BC—is not as eco-friendly as it could be (more on that later). One of the ways in which we do this is by working with as many local partners as possible.

We’d love to give a shoutout to some of these companies who have been our trusted collaborators for years, including:

Canadian-made caskets and shrouds by:

Brownsville Caskets and Urns (Abbotsford)
Mourning Cloak Shrouds (Vancouver Island)
Sanctum Shrouds (Ontario)

We also source a variety of caskets made in Manitoba and Québec.

For personalized cremation jewelry, urns, post-mortem forensics and other services, here are some of our favourite partners:

Eternity’s Touch (Ontario)
Loved Remembered (Ontario)
Pacific Urns (Salmon Arm, BC)
Luxe Design Jewelry (Vancouver)
Touch Wood Rings (off-grid central BC)
Securigene DNA Lab (Vancouver)
RK Urns (Maple Ridge)
ChopValue Bamboo Urn (Vancouver)

We always try our best to refer clients looking for unique, one-of-a-kind urns to local crafters and artisans, like Tannis Seufert of Heart of Fire and Ashes in the Pacific Northwest. She makes incredible commemorative art pieces using the deceased’s ashes.

In fact, they are so beautiful that we even have one of her works hanging up in our Gathering Room here at KORU Cremation | Burial | Ceremony.

We’ve also been early adopters of supporting green burial cemeteries owned and operated by local community members. Our partnership with Tree Canada helps us offset some of the inevitable emissions created by currently available death care methods in BC.

Want more comprehensive and personalized support from us to navigate death care choices? You can still apply the CPP Death Benefit to any of our packages and services. Book a call with us today or take a look at our comprehensive packages.

Advocating for Green Burials in Canada

Beyond our practice, we advocate for legislative changes to death care options to empower Canadians to choose end-of-life care that matches their values. Alternative methods such as Terramation (or NOR—Natural Organic Reduction) and Aquamation (also known as Alkaline Hydrolysis) still aren’t available to us here in Canada.

While we continue to advocate for change, we’ve partnered up with Return Home in Washington to provide Metro Vancouver Residents with that choice. However, the current tariff threats underscore the importance of making these options available in Canada, so that British Columbians don’t have to travel all the way to the USA to receive these services.

Where Are We At With Aquamation And Terramation Being Legal In BC?

Thanks to five years of letter writing, phone calls and emails, a small group of earnest, dedicated retirees has finally caught the provincial government’s attention. They are finally receiving replies to their letters and emails that acknowledge the growing public interest and need for alternative disposition options.

Because of their tireless efforts, the NOR advocacy efforts are benefiting from the momentum these change-making women have garnered. Below is an excerpt of a response Ngaio received from the Justice Services Branch in accordance with the Attorney General (the responsible Minister for the Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act) that gives us hope:

“We are aware that there is increasing interest from the public to allow for alternatives to traditional burial and cremation, including alkaline hydrolysis, as well as natural organic reduction. We are considering these alternative approaches that reduce our environmental footprint and provide people living in British Columbia with more options. Ministry staff have initiated research and consultation on this topic, so we know the full range of implications associated with enabling these methods of disposition in British Columbia.”

We know there is still much work to be done. We must keep the pressure on the BC government, help influence regulations that will need to be written, continue to educate the public, and involve municipal politicians so that they can be prepared with appropriate zoning—just to name a few.

If you feel compelled to get involved, please contact Ngaio directly (ngaio@korucremation.com) or visit norbc.ca to see how to get involved.

Learn more about our services here or book a call with us if you’d like more guidance or even an open-ended discussion about death care options or resources.