It’s been said that you can always tell how progressive and caring a community is by how it keeps its cemetery. The grass at the Canora Cemetery is well-cut by town employees. The main concern of many, however, are the fallen and badly-leaning monuments.
There are approximately 40 monuments that have fallen and have been down for longer than 10 years. Hundreds of monuments are leaning badly and many are on the verge of going down as well.
Canora town policy is that problems with monuments are the responsibility of the family that had purchased the plot(s). The problem with that is many of the families are no longer here, may not exist or may be generationally distant from the graves to not even be aware of their existence.
Canora has started straight run monument foundations in the newest sections of the cemetery. Years prior to the straight run foundations, a burial vault policy was put in place to alleviate grave settling, which would eliminate monument leaning on the surface.
Having had personal experience as a monument provider and having been in contact with numerous cemeteries for over 40 years, I know that there are many ways other communities have dealt with these problems.
It is my hope and the hope of other Canora and area residents that our town council acts on this issue and concern.
Glen Leson
Canora, SK
