Natural Burial in Canada

2010 Annual General Meeting

Natural Burial Co-operative — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:42:18 +0000

We would like to invite you to join us for a review of the past year’s activities at our 3nd Annual General Meeting:

June 27, 2010 at 2 pm
10 Carden St., Guelph Ontario

Since we last updated you, we have been evaluating our progress to date in terms of finding an ideal location on which to develop Canada’s first natural burial cemetery. Over the last couple of years, in spite of our tireless efforts, the truth is that we have assessed many potential properties, but for various reasons, none have proved to be realistically viable.

As we continue to source and follow up on property leads, we have decided to take a parallel approach in our efforts to offer natural burial solutions.

A new subsidiary is born: Tribute Caskets

Over the last few months, we have undertaken a great deal of research and development and are pleased to let you know that we have developed and built a product strategy that responds to the growing need for natural burial options - within the traditional funeral industry.

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2009 Annual General Meeting

Natural Burial Co-operative — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:18:54 +0000

We would like to invite you to join us for a review of the past year’s activities at our 2nd Annual General Meeting:

April 25th, 2009 - 2:00 pm
10 Carden St., Guelph Ontario

The Natural Burial Co-operative continues to steadily build its membership and we are now widely recognized as leaders in the development and promotion of the natural burial movement in Canada.

This year’s AGM will be an opportunity for us to meet and share thoughts and the chance for you to ask questions of the founding members. Several initiatives have been undertaken by the founding members this year in developing a range of natural burial products and services in addition to a number of twists and turns in our continuing efforts to establish natural burial cemeteries across Canada. We look forward to discussing these in greater detail at the meeting.

Thank you for your interest and confidence in natural burial, your membership is key to bringing our dream to reality. We hope to see you at the AGM….we will continue to keep you informed thorough our newsletter…watch for the next issue to arrive late May.

We look forward to seeing you on the 25th, and thank you again for your continued support.

2008 Annual General Meeting

Christopher Roy — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:52:04 +0000

Dear Co-operative Members,

In the last year, much has taken place to advance natural burial in Canada. Since our incorporation in June 2006, this co-operative has steadily built its membership and we are now widely recognized as leaders in the movement to launch Canada’s first natural burial site.

We are writing to you to give you a high level update on our progress in 2007, share our short and long term strategic vision, and request your continued support.

First, you are invited to attend our first Annual General Meeting. It will be an opportunity for us to get to know each other and offer you a chance to ask any questions you might have. Please confirm your attendance OR your regrets by emailing Michael Salisbury at msalisbury@naturalburial.ca. Proxies for non-attendees can be assigned to one of the Board/Founding members as shown at the end of this letter.

Date: March 1, 2008
Time: 2 PM
Location: Evergreen Seniors Centre, 683 Woolwich Street, Guelph, ON. Canada (Click for Google Maps link and Driving Directions)

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Members Newsletter – Fall 2007

Natural Burial Co-operative — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 18:43:45 +0000

Message from the President

A warm welcome to all our new members! We are currently working with a number of landowners across the country to establish Canada’s first natural burial ground. Progress is, of course… slow, however we are optimistic that we will have something to show for our efforts in the new year.

I am greatly encouraged by all your support and would like to say thank you for joining the co-operative.

Many members have asked how they can get involved and the answer is simple; share YOUR vision, talk to your friends and neighbors about natural burial (you would be surprised at how many people are fascinated by this movement).

A growing membership is exactly what we need to help win over hesitant landowners and legislators, nothing motivates people more than a proven demand; encourage others to join us.

Yours in service,

Mike Salisbury
President, and Co-founding Member
The Natural Burial Co-operative, Inc.

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Natural Burial Featured in Toronto Star

Natural Burial Co-operative — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 18:07:59 +0000

The Toronto Star is running an article on natural burial today by Nancy J. White, life writer for the newspaper. The article features interviews from two Natural Burial Co-operative co-founders, Michael Salisbury and Michael Driscoll as well as other members of the natural burial movement in North America.”It’s a way to finance environmental restoration of land, to make sure a Wal-Mart never grows on the old family farm,” says Salisbury, 40, a landscape architect and Guelph city councillor. One of the founders of the co-op, Driscoll, 51, is helping the group plan a line of benign burial products “pine boxes without toxic glues, baskets by Maritime weavers” for members. “No one will get rich on this,” he says.”

Read the full article on the Toronto Star’s website: The Green Goodbye The article also features a nice visual comparison of natural burial options which can also be found online at the Toronto Star’s site: Ways to Go - How the Options Compare.

We need more people who want to help make natural burial possible in all areas of Canada. Get involved in making the vision a reality.

Join Online: Become a Member Now!

Seeking Landowners in the Globe and Mail

Natural Burial Co-operative — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 18:06:16 +0000

Protect Your Land from Development Forever - The Natural Burial Co-operative is seeking landowners who are interested in using their land for environmentally sustainable funeral services.

Included in the ‘Welcome to the New Climate’, environmentally focused weekend edition of the Globe and Mail, the Natural Burial Co-operative ran a listing seeking land owners and investors. If you’re interested in using your land as a potential natural burial funeral services cemetery, or know someone who might be, contact us to discuss the opportunity and options.

Co-operative Becomes Member of GET

Natural Burial Co-operative — Sun, 06 May 2007 18:03:54 +0000

The co-founding members of the natural burial co-operative are pleased to announce that the co-operative has become a business member of Green Enterprise Toronto (GET).Founded by Chris Lowry, GET helps local independent businesses to thrive while building an economy that values people, planet, and profit. We encourage consumers and businesses to buy goods and services from our members based on their shared commitment to these values. GET is supported by the volunteer efforts of a group of local entrepreneurs.

The Natural Burial Co-operative is the first natural funeral services and products business to become members of the co-operative. We’re looking forward to participating in future GET initiatives with members in the Southern Ontario area. Check out our listing in the GET directory, where you can also find many other local sustainability businesses working together to build social and environmental value.

Natural Burial Featured in Harrowsmith Magazine

Natural Burial Co-operative — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 18:00:35 +0000

“What a Way to Go” an article on natural burial by Bridget Wayland which appears in this April’s Harrowsmith Country Life magazine, features insights from Natural Burial Co-operative president, Michael Salisbury. Pick it up at the news stand this month and share it with your friends. Help us make natural burial possible in Canada by becoming a member of the co-operative today.”It may surprise you, but unless you specify in advance, your own burial could be an environmental nightmare. The alternative, a so-called “green” burial, is really catching on. Especially among environmentally aware baby boomers…

At first glance, cremation does seem like a more earth-friendly option than embalming. Like most modern natural-gas devices, the technology is becoming more efficient, but cremation still burns a non-renewable fossil fuel, produces greenhouse-gas emissions and, if your teeth are in rough shape, releases significant amounts of mercury vapor…

The idea of an eco-funeral (natural burial) is one that involves less consumption, less waste and far less pollution than the typical option, which puts toxic formaldehyde, precious hardwood, metals and a whack of reinforced concrete into the earth, and treats your grave site to the grounds keeping of the decidedly non-organic kind.”

Natural Burial Co-operative By-laws Updated

Natural Burial Co-operative — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 18:33:33 +0000

The co-operative management team updated the co-operative bylaws today in response to membership inquiry regarding consumer members of the co-operative. We adjusted the language to clearly state the requirements of consumer members who are forming the bulk our membership community.The language change, which is now up front and centre within section 2.0 Who Is Allowed to Be a Member states;

The board of directors will admit as consumer members in the Co-operative people who meet the following requirements:

(a) support the objects of the Co-operative given in the Articles of Incorporation;

(b) agree to purchase their funeral interment products and services, and interment plots (when available) from the Co-operative.

The complete by-laws can be found in our Resources section.

We need more people who want to help make natural burial possible in all areas of Canada. Get involved in making the vision a reality.

Join Online: Become a Member Now!

Natural Burial Co-operative Launches www.naturalburial.ca

Natural Burial Co-operative — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 04:00:24 +0000

The founding member team of the Natural Burial Co-operative is pleased to announce the launch of their new Internet site at www.naturalburial.ca. The new site will be home to information about natural burial in Canada, co-operative management, news, events and membership management. (more…)