Wawa's updated cemetery by-law is now in effect.
Wawa Municipal Council approved the new by-law during last night's regular meeting, more than four months after the by-law was presented to the previous Council - it had since received approval from the provincial regulator that oversees the cemetery sector, the Bereavement Authority of Ontario.
It includes language allowing headstones with room for one or more urn of cremated remains - with the director of Infrastructure's approval on the design - that's in addition to four cremated remains already allowed on a plot, placed on a coffin.
Beverages are not banned - though littering by-laws remain - and dogs will be allowed in the cemetery, though they must be leashed and owners must clean up after them.
Speaking before the by-law was passed, Mayor Ron Rody noted the by-law addresses issues that had come up during the previous Council term - such as the allowance for columbariums and headstones with room for an urn - and commended the Cemetery Committee and everyone who had a hand in writing the policy, emphasizing it's good when developing policy to have input and discussion, which he says definitely happened for this by-law.
Infrastructure Services Director Cory Stainthorpe had warned Council that the by-law needed to be updated, as the previous one was outdated and not in compliance with other regulations.