In this article, we explore what happens when a death occurs at home under different circumstances. Unexpected Home Death When a death occurs suddenly and unexpectedly at home, the typical procedure is to call emergency services (9-1-1). Police and ambulance services will attend the scene. There is also the option to call BC Coroners Services directly > Once the authorities arrive, the deceased comes under the care of the Coroner, who is responsible for determining the cause of death. After determination, the body will be released to the family. At this point, the funeral provider of choice can proceed with the funeral services as requested by the deceased and family.  (The family can start working with a funeral provider prior to the body being released by the Coroner.) Expected/Planned Home Death The province of British Columbia developed the Joint Protocol For Expected/Planned Home Deaths in British Columbia to support individuals to...

We are grateful to Nicola Finch for her enlightening article on green burials. Photo credited to ‘Cathy Valentine, Salt Spring island Natural Cemetery’   It is not going to be everyone's choice, nor should it be. What happens to our bodies once we're dead is personal. Conventional burial and flame cremation have been the disposition of choice in BC for just a few generations. With almost 90% of our population currently choosing flame cremation, it’s important to note that it’s not the greenest alternative to conventional burial. It is however, still the most affordable option and it gives families the opportunity to memorialize their people (and their pets) in myriad ways and in their own time. Conventional burial with hardwood caskets, concrete or fibreglass grave liners, and embalmed bodies is becoming less common as the cost of a burial plot is out of reach for many and as we grow...