Mission & Promise

The cemetery manages its activities in such a way as to maintain financial integrity and meet its long-term obligations in order to ensure its development and sustainability. Its staff offers a compassionate and professional welcome and support.

As such, it plays an important role as a guardian of the national memory, a role recognized by its status as a National Historic Site of Canada. Located in an incomparable natural environment within the Mount Royal heritage site, Notre-Dame-des-Neiges has over 13,500 trees, including many rare or remarkable specimens. Its collection of funerary art makes it a unique place of contemplation in Montréal and an essential witness to our society’s history. 

Notre-Dame-des-Neiges is the largest cemetery in Canada. Our field teams ensure that managing its 341 acres of land does not interfere with the area's tranquillity, which we are committed to preserving. This causes major challenges daily as we work to ensure a peaceful environment for the loved ones of nearly one million deceased while taking into account our status as a heritage site, our lush wildlife and vegetation, and our development activities to welcome future generations.

To fulfill our mission, we have committed employees who welcome families with respect and compassion. We also have priests who can help you through the difficult stage of grief. Do not hesitate to ask to meet them. After the funeral, we continue to think of you. Accordingly, during memorial masses every first Saturday of the month, we pay tribute to your loved ones in the magnificent Notre-Dame-de-la-Résurrection Chapel.

Welcome to the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery website.

What remains of those we have loved? What remains of those we have known? Perhaps the memory of a given moment. Perhaps the memory of a face. We miss them and need a place to gather and celebrate their lives and their memory. We need something of their individual stories to remain. We need to keep track of them, and to do that we need a place to let our remembrance rest. Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery offers you such a place.

Since its founding in 1854, the history of Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery has been closely linked to that of Montréal and of all those who have gone before us. Our cemetery bears witness to the cultural diversity and Catholic origins of the city’s foundation: the dates and names that have forged our history are engraved on its monuments.

I believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Christ is truly risen. I know that death will transform our bodies, but I believe and hope that our lives will find their fullness in God.

May God Our Father give you grace and peace.

Miguel Castellanos, Pastor, PSS

Chair of the Board of Directors of La Fabrique de la paroisse Notre-Dame de Montréal