As Trish Penner walks through a traditional cemetery, she contemplates death, burials, and how to make the somber topic more bearable. “I believe we need more discussions about death, what we expect, and how to adopt a more death-positive and proactive mindset,” Penner remarked. “For many individuals, it is an exceptionally vulnerable period in life.”
Penner, a physician and former hospital chaplain, frequently encountered death and began exploring environmentally conscious burial options around five years ago. “We’re attempting to revert to practices prevalent 100 to 150 years ago,” Penner explained.
With this in mind, Penner founded the Green Cemetery Project Winnipeg with the goal of establishing Manitoba’s first green cemetery, joining provinces like British Columbia that already have them.
“You’ll see a beautiful field where you know people are buried, but it will also be a lovely area to picnic or spend time with your family,” Penner explained.
A green cemetery is one that preserves its natural ecosystem. Bodies are interred without embalming, in biodegradable containers, and without headstones.
“Our environmental legacy is being extended to encompass our final resting place,” stated Richard Rosin. Rosin, the president of the Green Burial Society of Canada and a funeral director, manages all aspects of after-life care, from traditional funerals to cremations.
He has observed a rise in the popularity of green cemeteries in recent years, acknowledging the compelling environmental benefits. “In conventional burials, we embalm the body. Our industry employs this technique for preservation and disinfection. However, it also results in the release of chemicals into the soil, including formaldehyde and other potentially harmful substances,” Rosin explained.
Rosin also highlighted the environmental impact of cremation, which requires fossil fuels and electricity.
“So, is cremation more environmentally friendly? Perhaps not,” Rosin remarked.
Currently, Winnipeg provides hybrid green burial choices at three cemeteries: Brookside, Transcona, and St. Vital.
However, Rosin and Penner advocate for the establishment of a cemetery dedicated exclusively to green burials. Their immediate priority is to secure a suitable parcel of land.
“The budget is one factor, but the willingness of rural municipalities (RMs) to embrace this concept is another,” Penner stated. “Furthermore, particularly in the Winnipeg area, water availability and flood risks must be considered.”
Penner is dedicated to finding the ideal location where people can be laid to rest in direct contact with the earth.
