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
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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
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General
The Fabrique Asks the CSN to Finalize Agreements
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General
The Cemetery Wants to End the Labour Dispute
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Ecology & Biodiversity
The Cemetery Certified as a Haven for Biodiversity by Space for Life
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General
Leftover Ice Storm Damages On-Site
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General
The Cemetery Devastated by the Ice Storm
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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
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Ecology & Biodiversity
The Cemetery Adopts the City of Montréal's Pollinator Protection Plan: 2022-2027 Objective
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General
Activities Continue at the Cemetery Despite the Strike
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Green Plan | Environment
The Green Plan Meet the Needs of Families & Montréal’s Biodiversity Conservation Goals
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Green Plan | Environment
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Green Plan | Environment
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Green Plan | Environment
Leave No Trace
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History & Heritage
The Cemetery Commemorates Canadian Veterans
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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.