We tried...
The Memorial Woodland has determined that our cooperative relationship with Green Cemetery of Winnipeg to develop the Wildlands Natural Cemetery is not sustainable. Our organization does not possess the financial resources on our own to develop a treeincarnation project or to be able to guarantee it’s perpetual maintenance.
It is Wildland’s intention to proceed with the Tyndall property on their own. As such, feel free to undertake your own due diligence in investigating their offering. Note that we cannot and will not endorse or recommend their organization or project.
For all intents and purposes, our project is now dormant. It would take a lottery win or a very generous benefactor to allow us to consider rekindling our dream.
We tried. In the words of Kenny Rogers: You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, know when to walk away, and know when to run.
However….we will continue to make enquiries with previous contacts.
The City of Winnipeg advises that they will allow for the planting of memorial trees at their municipal cemeteries, but will not allow for a marker placed by the tree. They do not contemplate allowing for a green burial with tree on top (not out of the question, but a few years away from them to consider this). Nor do they contemplate allowing the scattering of cremains around or under the memorial tree.
In speaking with Glen Eden, they no longer allow for the planting of memorial trees (which they had been doing for a few years). They have concerns about the maintenance of the trees. In their case they did allow for memorial markers, but not cremains or burial with tree. This rule now applies to all the Arbor Corporation cemeteries.
We await responses from other commercial cemeteries.
We have also rekindled a conversation we had with Manitoba Provincial Parks in early 2020 to see if they might have had a change of heart on the issue.
Likewise, I we are contacting rural church cemeteries that we have dealt with in the past. The challenge with church cemeteries is that contact information isn’t always readily available. If you are aware of a private/church cemetery close by and have their contact information, we would be happy to pursue the topic with them.
As a consumer, it is critical that you let your funeral directors and cemeteries know that you desire these options that they do not allow. At some point, the market might dictate availability of these greener options.
You do have the option of contacting Wildlands Natural Cemetery. As noted, we cannot in good faith endorse their project. They have also advised that under their latest business plan they are proposing to charge new clients in the range of $8000-16,000 per tree.
So we haven’t completely given up, we just have nothing concrete in place, and no delusions that something will come up any time soon. If you are a billionaire with a vision and aren’t risk adverse, we’d love to hear from you.
Rendering prepared by Tiana Swintak
What is the Memorial Woodland of Manitoba?
The Memorial Woodland of Manitoba Inc. is a charitable organization, registered with the Canada Revenue Agency. It has been created to facilitate an ambitious and creative “green” project. Namely, to develop and maintain a forest where the cremated/aquamated remains of deceased individuals will be mingled with the root systems of new and existing trees, suitable for the Manitoba climate. Another option to be considered is
green burial with tree planted above. The public will also be invited to plant trees in memory of individuals and The Woodland will also facilitate the optional placement of a small memorial marker to serve as a lasting legacy. You will be encouraged to plant your tree and watch it grow before you choose to “join” it when you are completed your earthly adventure. The tree can also serve as a communal resting place for multiple individuals and/or pets. If you are inspired by our project, you can make a CRA tax receiptable donation to our organization.
We invite you to join our forest.
There are likely families that are currently in possession of the cremated remains of loved ones, and have not yet determined what will be done with the cremains. We invite them to consider the Memorial Woodland as a prime option for all, or a portion of, the cremains.
Got Land?
Our project is currently dormant. If you have a suitable acreage that you might consider donating (in exchange for a tax receipt), please let us know.
Professionally designed and maintained, The Woodland will be an interactive gathering place. The extent of amenities will depend directly on how successful the project becomes. Ideally, the finished forest will contain picnic sites, water features and pathways.
The "Science"
In proposing cremation or alkaline hydrolysis – “water cremation” or human composting), followed by the remains being incorporated into the root system of a tree, we acknowledge that some may question what is actually left of a person to be co-mingled with the tree. At the very least there will be a sharing of your essence at the molecular level, as well as a contribution of nutrients from your cremains. It is our view, that at the very least, your essence will be incorporated into the life of the tree. We are well aware of the necessity to treat the cremains to allow them to properly nourish the tree, as undiluted cremains can be toxic to greenery due to their PH level.
In Manitoba, there is now one company (see our links page) that will perform “liquid” cremation that will present another option for becoming one with the tree. Advocates for this type of water cremation note that it is significantly less environmentally impactful than fire cremation. One Manitoba company has now been licensed to undertake aquamation. There are at least two companies in Manitoba that undertake aquamation for pets. In some US jurisdictions, they are also moving forward with “human composting”. If and when human composting becomes an option in Manitoba it will likely be quite expensive (in the range of $7000-10,000). Anything we’ve come across so far suggests that there is indeed identifiable molecular content that remains after cremation/aquamation that will become one with the tree. As such, we are facilitating a form of treeincarnation.
We hope to offer the option of a true green burial with a tree planted above. We are happy to provide all of these different options!