Two youths in 2018 toppled 150 monuments in Glenwood Cemetery in Picton, Ontario, a small town near Belleville. Most of the vandalised gravesites dated from the 19th century.
The monument companies estimated it would take about $250,000 to do the repairs — a cost that would have bankrupt the cemetery if the community hadn’t come forward and helped raise money.
About half of the damaged monuments have been repaired, and they hope to have all them restored by the fall of 2021.
To coin a phrase, it’s a monumental task.
Unfortunately, the vandalism in Picton was not a one-time event. It happens in cemeteries across the country.
Ontario Ancestors has decided to step up to help.
The organization, legally known as the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS), will create a fund dedicated to help support community efforts to repair damage to Ontario cemeteries incurred by acts of vandalism and for rehabilitation projects within cemeteries that are considered to have historical or cultural significance.
The society said in an announcement Friday that it has become increasingly difficult for cemetery organizations to come up with the funds required to make the repairs. They sometimes employ the use of volunteers and secondary organizations, such as Scouts Canada, to assist them. Often these other organizations resort to fundraising on their own to support the efforts.
To support the small secondary organizations in their efforts, the cemetery committee of Ontario Ancestors proposed the creation of the Cemetery Vandalism and Rehabilitation Fund.
The fund will be seeded with $5,000 to get it going and will be replenished through a separate donation program run by the society.
The cemetery committee and the OGS board of directors will work to establish guidelines and an approval process whereby organizations in need can submit their requests for review through the society’s website at ogs.on.ca.
According to society President Steve Fulton UE, “OGS is excited to be able to play a role in the preservation of local cemeteries across the province alongside ‘the boots on the ground’ people who are dedicated to our ancestors and their final resting place.”
Joe Wilson, chair of the cemetery committee, also expressed his appreciation for the establishment of this fund. He said, “It’s not the cemetery itself, but what is contained within it that needs to be protected. I am proud to be a member of an organization that is devoted to the advocacy and preservation of Ontario’s cemeteries.”
Anyone who wants to make a donation to the Cemetery Vandalism and Rehabilitation Fund can do so online at https://ogs.on.ca/donate/cemetery-fund.
I certainly hope offenders are brought to bear the weight of their conduct. Financial is one aspect how about a few weeks of serious hard labor. Digging post holes or something to get the message home!!Disgusting lack of respect!