KAMSACK — The Town of Kamsack is starting a large project within the Riverview Cemetery, which includes the construction of a bank of columbaria in a park-like environment with seating areas and a new memorial wall.
Town council approved the proposal submitted by its administration during its regular meeting of July 28.
The use of a columbarium for cremated remains is gaining in popularity, said Barry Hvidston, town administrator. Families increasingly want remains of deceased relatives cremated and placed in either a columbarium or buried.
“We are requesting donations for benches, trees, bushes, signage and other items,” said a “call for donations” letter that was released by Hvidston July 30.
Currently, there are three columbaria at the Riverview Cemetery, the letter states. The centre one has 12 niches, while the two outside have 24 niches each. Two are full, with the last one having 21 niches unspoken for at this time.
The original columbarium was placed at the cemetery in approximately 2007. Between 2019 and 2023, the second columbarium was filled or reserved. In the last six months, there have been three more reserved or occupied.
“We anticipate that by mid-2027, the Town will require more columbaria,” the letter says. “Therefore, we wanted to make a long-term plan for the cemetery so people can get excited about it.”
The location for the new site is the northwest corner of the cemetery.
By choosing this area, it will give the Town ample space for lots of growth around the columbaria. It will also allow the Town to establish this area as a beautiful setting, almost a focal point, for the future of the cemetery.
Each area will encompass a 40-foot by 40-foot section. Included will be four 48-inch curved columbaria, two one-ton benches in the middle and four to eight kidney benches around the outside. The colours are yet to be determined.
Four 48-niche columbaria would allow 192 niches per area, which could be up to 384 people if each niche has the remains of two people, it states.
The one-ton benches would be placed in the middle so people can sit and talk to their loved ones, no matter which direction the columbarium is situated. By having two benches back-to-back, there could be more than one person/family at a time. Curved benches on the outside of the columbarium would be required for families who have loved ones on the outer side of the columbarium. There could be one or two benches at each columbarium.
By having a larger footprint this would allow walkers and wheelchairs easy access to the area.
The long-term plan is to place eight areas in a circle with a sidewalk in each area. The sidewalk would allow ease of movement for walkers and wheelchairs to go between the various areas. Along the paths, there would be potential to place a small two- to three-foot-high hedge along it. In the centre, a Memorial Garden would be created.
“We will start with one area,” the letter states. “Once it is completed, and largely occupied, the next area would be built and so forth. The entire project will take decades to complete. By selling the niches, it would fund the next area.
A Memorial Garden would be placed in the centre. This garden would have some trees and benches for people to sit on after funerals if they desire. A Memorial Wall, which is a place where people who grew up and lived in or around Kamsack could purchase a plaque, even though they were buried elsewhere, or had their ashes spread in another location. The plaque would have the person’s name, birth and death dates, and possibly some other information, like the years they lived within the community.
Currently, there are two benches located at the columbarium and some around the Veteran Cross in the Veterans’ Section. They should be spread throughout the cemetery, where people can sit while strolling through the Cemetery. The locations would be determined by the town’s Public Works department.
The estimated cost for each area is $158,847 plus taxes, and would provide 192 niches. The additional benches and Memorial Gardens would be extra.
Riverview Cemetery in Kamsack is a beautiful cemetery in which Public Works takes great pride in maintaining. Unfortunately, the signage at the cemetery is very outdated and fading. Not all areas have proper signage.
The main sign should be a metal sign that does not rust, have paint peel off, or fade. There are many different versions of signage, the letter says, and includes photos of such signs at other communities’ cemeteries.
As for the smaller sectional signs, they could be smaller versions of the main sign, or could be altered and have “golf style” signs.
The cost for the signage has not been determined because there are a lot of different options. This can be a Phase Two of the project. As long as it is consistent, that is the goal. How quickly this phase will be completed partially depends on the donations that are received.
The proposed timeline for the project starts this year or early in 2026 with the pouring of the concrete for a pad on which two columbaria could be purchased during the ‘spring specials” to be delivered by late 2026.
“Benches will be ordered either at the time of the spring special or as we receive donations to complete the project,” it says.
In 2027/2028, the remaining two columbaria will be ordered to complete the first area. With enough donations, these could be ordered immediately, but if not, the other two could be brought in once enough niches and plots are sold.
Between 2026 and 2028, work would begin on the Memorial Gardens. Once the space is fully mapped out and the first columbarium is installed, a more detailed plan would be created for the Memorial Gardens area. There is going to be more research into the types of trees that should be planted, the type and style of a Memorial Wall, and the general setup.
It is expected that during 2026 and 2027, the type of signage desired will be finalized and installed. The goal would be a uniform and long-lasting signage that will make the cemetery a place of pride for decades to come.
The Town of Kamsack is seeking donations for the Riverview Cemetery to complete this project. Each area will cost approximately $158,847, with eight areas in total. Each additional bench will cost between $1,300 and $1,700, depending on the style. In addition, there are plans for a Memorial Gardens and replacing the signage throughout the cemetery.
To accomplish this in a timely fashion, the Town needs assistance, the letter states. The Town of Kamsack can issue tax receipts for each donation dedicated to the Cemetery.
Persons with questions are encouraged to contact the Town Office at 306 542-2155.
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