Permanent memorial caught by new Vernon, B.C. cemetery rules | 24CA News
More than 2,000 individuals have signed an on-line petition elevating considerations concerning the new City of Vernon guidelines limiting what sort of tributes may be left at gravesites.
Now it appears the laws are impacting not simply non permanent tributes but in addition everlasting memorials on the city-operated Pleasant Valley Cemetery.
When Kevin Taylor died in 2017, his household determined a carpentry helmet could be a becoming tribute.
“His passion was building things and carpentry and the helmet was kind of his trademark at all the job sites he was at and all his friends knew him with the black helmet,” mentioned Kevin’s mom Cory Taylor.
The household mentioned it bought the go-ahead for the helmet memorial after reaching out to the City of Vernon.
“She said I am sure it is fine just go talk to the groundskeeper,” mentioned Taylor. “So, my daughter and her husband went and talked to [the groundskeeper], got the specs from him how it should be built…then put the helmet on it and got his approval and it was not in the way of any of their landscaping duties.”
For years the helmet, which was completely hooked up to a tribute holder, served as a consolation.
“It just made me feel more like I was coming to see my son. It just meant something to me. To me it was my monument,” Taylor mentioned.
However, earlier this 12 months the town began imposing the brand new guidelines about what gadgets may be left at grave websites — no non-floral choices — and the household says the helmet was eliminated.
“To see it gone…it really hurts, and it feels like, kind of, he is gone again,” mentioned Taylor.
In the face of earlier criticism of the brand new cemetery laws, the town’s mayor defended the principles saying they’re meant to guard these doing the landscaping.
“There are some safety risks on the machine operators and people that are trying to maintain the cemetery when there is broken piece of plastic and glass,” mentioned Victor Cumming in March.
On Friday, the town mentioned it was not in a position to present an interview or a press release responding to Taylor’s particular considerations that day as “the staff who are familiar with this specific situation are unavailable.”
Taylor argues the helmet isn’t posing any security danger and he or she has been urgent officers to vary their minds.
“This was something my daughter wanted to do…one last thing for her brother. I said, ‘I know it seems like a little thing, but to us, it means the world,’” Taylor mentioned, recounting her advocacy for the memorial’s return.
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