Am I legally bound to purchase an urn from a funeral home?

The Funeral Rule as set forth by the Canadian Government ensures that consumers have the right to provide a casket or urn by their own means, without penalty. This means that:

Funeral homes in Ontario (and across North America) cannot force you to buy an urn from them, nor can they refuse to use an urn you've purchased elsewhere.

Funeral providers cannot refuse to use a casket or urn you bought online, or put unreasonable restrictions on when it must be delivered or who must receive delivery.

You cannot be charged an additional fee if you supply the casket or urn – federal Canadian  law prohibits funeral directors from charging “casket-handling” or other fees for people who purchase online.

You cannot be required to purchase any goods or services that are not required by law - funeral homes are allowed to charge one non-declinable “basic” fee, but only one, and this should be for basic or required goods and services. For more information, feel free to read or download your free copy of the Bereavement Authority of Ontario's Consumer Information Guide.

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What are cremains?

The blended words 'cremated' and 'remains', used to describe ashes.

 

What size urn do I need?

The easiest way to work out what volume (or size) of urn you need is to plan on 1 cubic inch per 1 lb. Average cremations range between 130-180 cubic inches. Please refer to our Size Selector page for details. If you are unsure of what size urn is best suited for your needs, please don't hesitate to contact us for assistance.

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How will I receive the cremains from the crematorium or funeral home?

Once cremation is complete, the crematorium will further reduce the cremains to a crushed fine gravelly powder, and seal them in a plastic bag within a cardboard box.

 

Who puts the ashes into the urn?

The choice is up to you, depending on your level of comfort. You can choose to do it yourself - our Accessories page provides the supplies you may need to transfer the cremains yourself. Or, you can ask the funeral home or crematorium to transfer the ashes. Only family or trained funeral professionals are licensed to handle cremains. For green burials, consider having the crematorium remove the ashes from the plastic bag before transferring them to your urn.

 

How is the urn sealed?

All of our urns can be sealed with clear adhesive glue that can be ordered along with your urn from our Accessories page. It is necessary to permanently seal the urn when it will remain on display within the home or within a columbarium.

 

Options for a Final Resting Place

Display at home

Consider displaying your work-of-art urn on a mantel or special shelf in the home. Decorative shelf lighting can enhance the honoured display of your loved one. Any of our urns - apart from Basketry - are a suitable option.

Burial in a Cemetery 

You may also choose to inter (bury) the urn in a grave, family plot or urn space within a cemetery. All of our urns are suitable for this choice.

Green Burial

While all of our urns are made from natural materials, some are more biodegradable than others. For those considering an environmentally-conscious purchase, our Basketry or Turned Wood urns are the best options.

Placement in a Columbarium

If you are considering interring your loved one's remains in a columbarium (unit containing multiple niches, found in cemeteries, churches or mausoleums), you must confirm the size of the columbarium before making your urn purchase, as these niches vary in size from location to location. Look for the Columbarium icon for urns that may be suitable.

Scattering

You may choose to do a complete or a ceremonial scattering (using just a portion of cremains), either within a designated scattering property or in a locale that holds meaning to you and your loved one. For this you will require an urn that is not easily breakable, allows easy access to and pouring of the cremains. Look for the Scattering icon that identifies suitable scattering urns.

Accepted Scattering locations

• Private Property: You may bury or scatter remains on private land, provided you have the consent of the landowner.

• Crown Land/Water: Scattering on unoccupied Crown land, including provincial parks and the Great Lakes, is generally allowed unless signs specifically prohibit it.

• Municipal Land: For scattering in municipal parks or waterways, you must contact the local municipality to inquire about specific by-laws and obtain necessary permissions. 

 

What are Keepsake Urns?

Keepsake Urns are smaller versions of memorial urns and are appropriate when only a portion of cremains are being scattered or when you choose to divide the cremains among multiple family members. They are also very suitable as infant or pet urns.