General
A Reopening of the Grounds
Following the end of the labour dispute which led to the closure of the Cemetery, La Fabrique announces that the near-entirety of the Cemetery will once again be made accessible to the general public, as well as the site’s three entrances, starting on September 11th, 2023.
September 7, 2023
The Cemetery Will Undertake A Massive Cleanup
The vast majority of the site having now been secured, the Cemetery's three entrances will be publicly accessible.
Maintenance Services employees have been working tirelessly and section by section, since the strike ended in July, in order to secure the site by cleaning up the grounds and removing weakened tree branches which had fallen to the ground over last winter and during storms, or that were showing signs of probable collapse. The paths have also been cleared of debris, which had accumulated as the months went by.
Areas representing a potential hazard to visitors will be clearly indicated in order to avoid risks leading to falls and/or injuries. Maintenance Operations teams will have marked areas where clean-up work is not entirely completed. That being said, there remains little work to be done on the Cemetery’s grounds, as La Fabrique estimates that only 2% of the site will not yet be available to the public in time for the September 11 reopening.
Update on postponed burial services
Cremation as well as crypt and ground burial services have resumed at Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery, however, the schedule aiming to make up for the time lost will likely extend to December, if not January. La Fabrique is working closely with the bereaved families in order to respect the order of priority of the services that were postponed due to the strike, although some external factors or logistical issues, unrelated to La Fabrique, are sometimes raised by the families and result in changes being brought to the order of priority. The Cemetery’s management team continues to proactively work with the families to facilitate burial arrangements.
La Fabrique invites the public to consult the website and the social media channels of the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery in order to obtain updates on the progress of burial services.
“We are very close to a complete return to normal in terms of the public’s access to the Cemetery’s grounds, which greatly delights us”, stated Michel St-Amour, volunteer administrator of La Fabrique. “The work remaining to be finalized on the site will be carried out over the next few weeks, and fortunately, this will not prevent the reopening. Regarding the scheduling that we are organizing with the families, they can count on us to ensure that each burial will take place with the greatest respect and within the shortest delays, in accordance with the capacity of our services and the availability of the families concerned. In regards to the reopening on September 11, we are very pleased to be in a position to confirm this date. Our mission will always be to offer a serene and contemplative environment to the population, respecting all the generations that came before us and those that will follow.”
Latest News
General
The Cemetery Remains Operational and Services Continue Despite the Labour Dispute
La Fabrique, l’organisme sans but lucratif chargée de gérer le site historique du Cimetière Notre-Dame-des-Neiges, souhaite à nouveau souligner que les services considérés essentiels, notamment les inhumations, sont offerts malgré le conflit de travail du personnel administratif.
General
The Cemetery Announces the Near-Complete Reopening of the Site to the General Public
Following the end of the labour dispute which led to the closure of the Cemetery, La Fabrique announces that the near-entirety of the Cemetery will once again be made accessible to the general public, as well as the site’s three entrances, starting on September 11, 2023.
General
Consensus Reached with the Operations Union Until 2027
Many families have suffered for several months because they’ve been unable to complete their mourning or access the Cemetery to visit a loved one. We’re well aware of this and sincerely apologize for this situation.
General
The Fabrique Thanks the Minister of Labour for his Proposal to End the Labour Dispute
Representatives of the Fabrique met today with the Minister of Labour, Jean Boulet, to review the current labour dispute and the status of discussions underway between the parties, in collaboration with the chief mediator-conciliator, since June 29th.
General
The Fabrique Asks the CSN to Finalize Agreements
Un protocole de retour au travail, contenant les dispositions usuelles, a aussi été soumis aux syndicats le 15 juin 2023.
General
The Cemetery Wants to End the Labour Dispute
The Fabrique's negotiating team met with representatives of the unions representing its operations and office employees on June 2, in the presence of the head conciliator. The Fabrique presented them with a global settlement offer, which the two cemetery unions rejected.
Ecology & Biodiversity
The Cemetery Certified as a Haven for Biodiversity by Space for Life
Montreal's Botanical Garden, part of Canada's largest natural science museum complex, Space for Life, has officially recognized the Cemetery as a biodiverse haven.
General
Leftover Ice Storm Damages On-Site
Despite our work to repair the damages and clean the site, trees and branches still block many of the cemetery's 33 kilometres of roads.
General
The Cemetery Devastated by the Ice Storm
Following yesterday's major ice storm, on April 5th, the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery is devastated, as are many other areas of Montréal.
General
The Cemetery Soon to be Opened to Families of the Deceased
The Fabrique announces that Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery will soon be open to the families of the deceased.
General
Negotiating Reasonably to Remain an Employer of Choice
Since the beginning of negotiations with the union, the Cemetery has sought to reach a reasonable agreement to continue to treat its employees well.
General
Minimizing impacts and focusing on negotiation
The Fabrique has learned of the decision of the union representing its operations employees to call an unlimited general strike while negotiations are still underway.
Ecology & Biodiversity
The Cemetery Adopts the City of Montréal's Pollinator Protection Plan: 2022-2027 Objective
Our green actions have contributed to a significant increase in the number and variety of insects and butterflies, including the return of the Monarch butterfly, Montreal's emblematic pollinator.
General
Activities Continue at the Cemetery Despite the Strike
While negotiations for the renewal of the collective agreement continue, the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery Office Employees Union has announced that its members will be on strike as of September 20th.
Green Plan | Environment
The Green Plan Meet the Needs of Families & Montréal’s Biodiversity Conservation Goals
Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery is attracting an increased number of families this year. Since January 2022, more than 2,410 families have chosen the cemetery as the burial place for their loved ones, an increase of 11% compared to 2021. In addition, the number of families who have acquired a lot at the Cemetery has increased by 23%, and the total area of lots acquired is up by 48%.
Green Plan | Environment
The Artists' Union Associates Itself with the Cemetery's Green Plan
For the second year of implementation of the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery's green plan, the Artists' Union and Foundation announce their support for and association with the cemetery’s objectives of reducing its impact on the environment and maximizing its contribution to the development of biodiversity on Mount Royal.
General
Accepted Flowers During The Holidays
Read our regulations concerning the placement of natural flowers during the holiday season in our mausoleums.
Green Plan | Environment
A Look Back on the First Year of our Green Plan and Next Steps
We try our best to keep our clientele informed about the Green plan as well as present the ongoing challenges the cemetery faces.
History & Heritage
Mount Royal's Discovery Stopovers
Located on the Mount Royal Heritage Site, the Cemetery has the privilege of hosting a portion of the Escales découvertes, an initiative of the City of Montréal in celebration of its 375th anniversary.
Green Plan | Environment
Leave No Trace
We are proud to announce that we are proud partners with the nonprofit Leave No Trace Canada, an organization dedicated to promoting and inspiring responsible use of natural areas.
History & Heritage
The Cemetery Commemorates Canadian Veterans
Every year on the first Sunday of June, the Last Post Fund visits Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery in order to pay tribute to the deceased who died honourably for our freedom.
Ecology & Biodiversity
Groundhog Season
The cemetery, like the rest of Mount Royal, is home to many animal species, such as groundhogs (Marmota monax), also known as woodchucks.
Green Plan | Environment
Remembrance Grove Welcomes Its First Resident
Today, we pay tribute to Mrs. Ana S.L., who was interred yesterday afternoon under the first tree of Remembrance Grove. She thus inaugurates a new chapter at Notre Dame des Neiges, a chapter in her image: in harmony with nature.