Battleford town council approved a tender May 6 from Rose City Memorials of Cut Knife to build a columbarium at the Battleford cemetery.
At a cost of $22,500 plus taxes, and an additional $1,600 for the foundation, a 28-niche columbarium will not really amount to any residual cost to the taxpayer, said Town Administrator Sheryl Ballendine, as the niches are to be sold, resulting in something more like a "user fee."
A columbarium is an above ground permanent structure containing niches or spaces for the placement of cremated human remains. The town decided to add the structure in response to requests from the public for such a facility.
It will fit into the centre of the cemetery, said Randy Redding, parks and recreation director, and there will be ample room for expansion if needed.
Users will purchase their own niche covers, known as "shutters," from whatever supplier they choose, but the Town may put a policy into place as to a font or letter size common to all shutters.
