Unregistered Cemeteries

Inactive and Unregistered Cemeteries

The Ontario Funeral, Burial & Cremation Act was consolidated in 2012. This Act precedes all previous Acts. The Act encompasses all aspects of the funeral and burial industry. There are an estimated 66,000 known burial sites or cemeteries in Ontario. Approximately 20% of these known sites are not registered under the Funeral, Burial & Cremation Act. These unregistered sites have no protection under the Act and can be closed and moved with minimum notice and no input from descendants or other interested parties.

Read the OGS Position Paper on Cemeteries.

Ontario/Counties are listed below. To look at a list of known unregistered cemeteries click on the County/District. If a cemetery is of interest, please write to your MPP asking why it is not registered. Tell your MPP that OGS and The Ontario Historical Society have attempted to have these cemeteries registered, without success. To access of list of MPPs Google. Send a copy of your letter and to:

The Hon. Todd Smith
Minister of Government and Consumer Services
6th Floor, Mowat Block
900 Bay Street
Toronto ON M7A 1L2

The Hon. Sylvia Jones
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport
Hearst Block, 9th Floor
900 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario M7A 2E1

Please also send a copy of your letter to:

The Ontario Genealogical Society
202-2100 Steeles Avenue West
Concord, ON L4K 2V1

Unregistered Cemeteries by County/District

Note:
Included in our lists are cemeteries which have been described as “moved”. It is only in recent years that removal of all human remains can be considered thorough and complete. Unmarked burials or unknown cemeteries are discovered quite regularly throughout Ontario.