Forest Haven Memorial Gardens in Sydney, Nova Scotia, will have its crematorium licence suspended for two months effective Thursday, April 28, for a wrongful cremation that occurred last December. The suspension means the funeral home cannot do cremations during this time.

A hearing was held by the Provincial Registrar of Embalmers and Funeral Directors on March 11. It found Forest Haven Memorial Gardens to be in contravention of the Embalmers and Funeral Directors Act for failing to ensure proper identification requirements are in place and followed. In addition to the licence suspension, the funeral homeowner is required to provide the registrar with Forest Haven’s documented standardized process to ensure the continuous identification of human remains.

Forest Haven Memorial Gardens keeps its Cemetery and Funeral Services licence and is allowed to carry on cemetery activities during this time.

“No family should have to experience what this family is going through,” said Colton LeBlanc, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Internal Services. “Now that the hearing has taken place and the registrar has made her decision, the Department will work with the Board of Registration of Embalmers and Funeral Directors and the Funeral Service Association to see what needs to be done to improve compliance with the current legislative requirements.”

In March, the Nova Scotia Board of Registration of Embalmers and Funeral Directors revoked the licence of the funeral director involved with the wrongful cremation.

The Notice of Decision about Forest Haven Memorial Garden’s Crematorium license can be found here: https://beta.novascotia.ca/hearing-and-enforcement-action-notices-cemeteries-and-funeral-homes .

Quick Facts:
— Service Nova Scotia and Internal Services is responsible for licensing funeral homes and crematoriums under the Embalmers and Funeral Directors Act
— the Nova Scotia Board of Registration of Embalmers and Funeral Directors is responsible for licensing and regulating embalmers and funeral directors; this includes ensuring funeral professionals follow professional standards

Additional Resources:
For more information on consumer rights and how to make a complaint, visit: https://beta.novascotia.ca/programs-and-services/consumer-protection

Source: Release