Ontario city proposes ban on photography in municipal cemeteries

Posted on August 6, 2017 by Gail Dever

The City of Waterloo, Ontario has proposed a bylaw that would ban photography in all municipal cemeteries.

The proposed bylaw states: “Photography: No person shall cause or permit the taking of any photographic or video imaging within any Cemetery except with the prior permission of the Manager.”

According to CanadaGenWeb’s Cemetery Project, the bylaw changes were submitted to the Bereavement Authority of Ontario for approval.

Is this possible? Apparently, it is.

In her book, Genealogy and the Law in Canada, Dr. Margaret Ann Wilkinson, wrote: “In Canada, provinces have the authority to enact laws concerning cemeteries. … Under the Ontario Cemeteries Act, abandoned cemeteries also become the responsibility of the municipalities in which they are situated.” (1)

CanadaGenWeb’s Cemetery Project is asking people to send a “polite written message” to the Bereavement Authority of Ontario before September 1 to let them know what you think about this bylaw and how it would impact you personally.

You can read more about this proposed bylaw and where to send your message expressing your concern in the CanadaGenWeb’s Cemetery Project blog post, Cause for Concern…

1. Wilkinson, Dr. Margaret Ann Wilkinson. Genealogy and the Law in Canada. Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2010: page 50.
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5 Responses to Ontario city proposes ban on photography in municipal cemeteries

  1. Diane Tibert says:
    August 6, 2017 at 12:10 pm

    That’s an insane law. There’s no good reason to ban anyone from taking a picture of a headstone. Does this mean if you have relatives buried there, you’d still not be able to take the picture? What if you paid for the headstone?

  2. Debbie Thayer says:
    August 6, 2017 at 1:57 pm

    I live in Waterloo and this is the first I’ve heard of this.
    Just plain dumb….
    I’ll be sure to register my disagreement!

  3. Brenda Turner says:
    August 7, 2017 at 9:36 am

    I have written as requested. I pointed out that I often take pics of headstones for family members through the international organization Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness, or RAOGK, where the cemetery is question is close to my home, but very distant from a family member of the person buried there. Such a pic allows a sense of bonding, of closeness to that family member, which can be achieved in no other way. And there is no reason for it, as taking a photograph involves no trespassing, damages no property, and adds so greatly to the family experience. The proposal is foolish and pointless. Cheers, BT

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