During the April 9 council meeting, the costs and responsibilities associated with cemetery maintenance took center stage as officials addressed the pressing needs of the St. Dominic Cemetery Society. Facing a critical shortage of burial plots for parishioners, the society sought financial support to address the issue.
Responding to the plea for assistance, council approved a grant of $70,000 to be allocated toward concrete work for headstones and curbs at two cemeteries overseen by the St. Dominic Cemetery Society: Assumption Roman Catholic Cemetery and Saint Dominic Roman Catholic Cemetery. The funding, which can be divided between the two cemeteries as deemed necessary by the society, aims to bolster their infrastructure and ensure continued functionality.
Mayor Craig Copeland underscored the significance of supporting cemetery maintenance efforts, acknowledging the substantial volunteer efforts required to keep these sacred spaces in proper condition. “A lot of work goes into keeping cemeteries up and running,” Copeland remarked. “There’s a lot of sweat equity that volunteers put in to maintaining these areas of community of which they are looking for a helping hand.”
The infusion of funds is projected to secure a 10-year plot supply and sale for the cemeteries, effectively extending their operational lifespan for the foreseeable future.
While the St. Dominic Cemetery Society oversees specific cemeteries, the City of Cold Lake owns and operates two additional cemeteries within the community: The Lakeland Cemetery and the Grand Centre Memorial Park Cemetery. Residents seeking more information on these municipal cemeteries can visit www.coldlake.com/cemeteries.