Ontario is home to more green burial options than any other Canadian province. And yet — if you're searching for a cemetery that will accept shroud burial, require no vault, and restore your grave with native wildflowers rather than a mown lawn — the list is still remarkably short. Ontario leads the country not because the options are plentiful, but because the rest of Canada has so few.
That gap between what people want and what exists is closing. New sites are opening, and established cemeteries are dedicating sections to natural burial with genuine commitment. But the landscape is uneven. Here is an honest look at what Ontario currently offers.
What Makes an Ontario Cemetery Truly Green
Ontario cemeteries are regulated under the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, which gives cemetery operators significant flexibility in setting their own requirements. This means that two cemeteries can both claim to offer "green burial" while having very different standards. One may accept shroud burial with no embalming and restore graves with native plants; another may require a "biodegradable" vault and permit only certain container types.
The sites listed below have been verified against the core criteria: no embalming required, no vault or grave liner required, shroud burial accepted, and the burial section maintained as a living natural landscape.
The Sites
Taylor's Meadow at Woodlawn is one of Ontario's most established and well-regarded natural burial sections. The meadow is managed to support native plants and wildflowers, graves are marked simply, and the cemetery has years of experience facilitating both shroud burials and simple container burials. Staff are knowledgeable and genuinely supportive of family involvement.
A nature-filled heritage cemetery 15 minutes east of Toronto. The natural burial section occupies rolling meadows with mature trees and is managed with minimal intervention. The 19th-century farmhouse on site gives Duffin Meadows a character distinct from most suburban cemeteries. A strong option for Greater Toronto Area families.
Set within a 62-acre heritage cemetery in Prince Edward County, Glenwood's natural burial section occupies a quiet forested area with winding paths. One of eastern Ontario's only true green burial sites, and worth the drive from Kingston or the surrounding region for families who want a genuinely wooded setting.
A two-acre natural burial section set in a wildflower meadow surrounded by nearly 200 native trees and six Monarch Butterfly pollinator gardens. Opened in 2017, Willow's Rest has become one of the most ecologically thoughtful burial sections in the province, with a clear commitment to habitat restoration alongside burial practice.
One of Canada's earliest dedicated green burial sections, occupying a natural meadow overlooking Cobourg Creek. Union Cemetery's eco burial section requires advance arrangement — it does not accommodate at-need burials — which is worth knowing early. For those who plan ahead, it is a historically significant and genuinely lovely option.
Ontario leads Canada not because its options are many, but because everywhere else has fewer still.
A Note for Ottawa and Eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario — including Ottawa, Kingston, and the surrounding region — has historically had very limited access to green burial. The closest established sites are Glenwood Cemetery in Picton and Union Cemetery in Cobourg, both approximately two hours from Ottawa. For families in the capital region, this gap has been a genuine obstacle. That is beginning to change. Watch this space.
Browse all Ontario green burial sites — and sites across Canada — in the full directory.
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