The Five Rivers Community Services Society, representing members from 13 local Sikh Gurdwara Committees and a local Hindu Mandir, is advocating for a much-needed centrally located funeral home and crematorium to serve our community with dignity and respect.

For years, families have struggled with long travel distances and limited availability when arranging funeral services for their loved ones. There is significant public demand for a facility that is easily accessible, culturally inclusive, and designed to meet the needs of our growing community.

Our proposed funeral home and crematorium located at 9280 168th Street will:
✅ Provide a dignified and accessible space for all families.
✅ Ensure culturally appropriate services for diverse traditions.
✅ Minimize the stress and burden on grieving families by reducing travel times.
✅ Utilize modern, environmentally responsible cremation technology.

 

 

We ask for your support in making this essential facility a reality. Please sign this petition to show your support and help us demonstrate the community’s need for a centrally located funeral home and crematorium.

Together, we can ensure that families have a compassionate and accessible place to honour their loved ones.

Land Use and Zoning Compatibility

Modern crematoriums are often integrated into residential areas without disrupting the community's character. The proposed facility includes both a funeral home and crematorium, designed to provide essential services to local residents in a convenient location. This integration aligns with urban planning practices where such facilities coexist with residential zones, offering accessibility and support during times of need.

 

 

Existing Funeral Homes located Residential Areas

Asmentioned above, many modern funeral homes and crematoriums operate successfully within residential areas, seamlessly integrating into their communities while providing essential services. These facilities are designed with careful consideration for environmental impact, aesthetics, and local regulations to ensure they do not disrupt the surrounding neighborhood. In fact, several well-established funeral homes and crematoriums in our city are located in residential zones, demonstrating that these facilities can coexist peacefully while offering families a convenient, dignified, and accessible place to honour their loved ones. Below is a list of funeral homes and crematoriums currently situated in residential areas, highlighting the precedent for our proposed project.

1. Arbor Cremation Services - Surrey

2. Ocean View Funeral Home - Burnaby

3. Maple Ridge Funeral Chapel and Crematorium - Vancouver

4. Vancouver Memorial Services and Crematorium - Vancouver

5. Victory memorial Park and Crematorium - Surrey

6. West Coast Crematorium - Burnaby

7. Wiebe and Jeske Burial and Cremation Service - Abbotsford

Health and Environmental Safety

Modern crematoriums are small-scale facilities with relatively low emissions compared to other industrial incineration processes. In Canada, crematoria contribute:

• Approximately 5% of total PCDD/Fs (dioxins and furans)
• 6% of total mercury (Hg) emissions
• Only 0.25% of PM 2.5 (fine particulate) emissions

To ensure environmentally responsible operations, the proposed crematorium will implement state-of-the-art filtration and emission control systems, including:
✅ Activated carbon filter systems to capture harmful particles.
✅ High-efficiency burners to ensure complete combustion and minimal emissions.
✅ Compliance with all health and environmental regulations, with oversight from relevant authorities.

Additionally, the facility will have strict wastewater management protocols:

• No industrial wastewater—only domestic wastewater from the building.
• No embalming chemicals will be discharged into the sanitary sewer system.
• A septic field will be installed, with sufficient area and suitable subsurface conditions confirmed through investigations.

To ensure the highest safety and operational standards, the developers have partnered with Matthews Cremation Division, an industry leader in cremation technology for over 70 years, with over 5,000 installations worldwide. Their cremation equipment is:
✅ Designed to operate without smoke or odor.
✅ Approved by environmental authorities at local, provincial, and national levels.
✅ UL-listed for maximum equipment and personnel safety.
✅ Certified by the Canadian Gas Association (CGA) for compliance with Canadian safety standards.

By utilizing best-in-class technology and strict regulatory compliance, this crematorium will operate safely, efficiently, and with minimal environmental impact, ensuring it meets the highest health and safety standards for the surrounding community.

Traffic and Noise Concerns

The proposed funeral home and crematorium have been carefully designed to minimize traffic congestion and noise impacts on the surrounding neighborhood. Key considerations include:

• The existing three access points from 168 Street will be removed and replaced with two new driveways on the east side of 168 Street, ensuring controlled and efficient vehicle flow. All generated trips will be directed north and south along 168 Street, preventing unnecessary traffic within residential side streets.
• Since funeral attendees primarily use personal vehicles, there will be no significant pedestrian, bicycle, or transit-related traffic in the area. Funeral services are standalone events, meaning visitors do not combine these trips with other errands, reducing overall traffic complexity.
• Adequate parking has been planned, with 200 stalls on-site, exceeding by-law requirements. This eliminates the need for overflow parking in nearby streets.
• The highest potential for traffic volume would occur when attendees from one service are arriving as another service concludes. However, two of the three daily services are scheduled outside of peak traffic hours, minimizing any impact on local road congestion.
• To further reduce personal vehicle use, a 40-person private bus service will be available, allowing groups of attendees to be transported directly to and from the funeral home, thereby reducing parking demand and traffic flow during larger services.
• Traffic at key intersections, including 168 Street & 88 Avenue and 168 Street & 96 Avenue, will follow existing travel patterns. Since the funeral home’s additional traffic occurs outside peak commuting hours, no significant impact on network operations is expected.

These measures ensure that the facility operates efficiently, responsibly, and with minimal impact on the surrounding community’s traffic patterns and noise levels.

Environmental Impact on Surrounding Areas

 

 

The proposed funeral home and crematorium have been designed with strict environmental safeguards to ensure minimal impact on the surrounding natural ecosystem. The subject property falls within two Sensitive Ecosystem Development Permit areas: Streamside Areas and Green Infrastructure Areas. The development plan incorporates measures to protect these areas and comply with all environmental regulations.

• Historical Land Use: Farming activity on the site was abandoned several decades ago, and the land has remained largely unused. The proposed development will not disrupt active agricultural operations.
• Watercourse Protection: A 30-meter watercourse setback has been established for the subject site, following Riparian Areas Protection Regulation guidelines. This ensures no construction or significant land alteration occurs within ecologically sensitive riparian zones.
• No New Environmental Impact: According to the City of Surrey’s environmental assessments, the proposed development is not expected to cause detrimental impacts on existing sensitive areas identified near Serpentine River and Bothwell Creek. Additionally, the project is not anticipated to generate new environmentally sensitive sites.

By adhering to these strict environmental guidelines, the project ensures responsible land use while maintaining ecological integrity in the area. The funeral home and crematorium will be developed with environmental sustainability as a priority, ensuring that local watercourses, green spaces, and wildlife habitats remain protected.

 

 

Floodplain and Soil Elevation Issues

The proposed funeral home and crematorium have been carefully planned to minimize flood risks and maintain soil stability while ensuring compliance with all geotechnical and environmental regulations.

• Topographic Stability: The site is relatively flat, with only one to three meters of variation across the fields. This naturally stable terrain reduces the need for extensive land modifications.
• Minimal Land Disturbance: The development will follow the existing topography, ensuring that only minimal cuts and fill are required. This approach preserves the natural land contours and mitigates any risk of soil instability.
• Geotechnical Setback Compliance: Fill placement and hard landscaping structures will not be carried out within the designated geotechnical setback area, ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
• Slope Stability: Hard landscape features that are placed outside the geotechnical setback will have no impact on slope stability, further ensuring the integrity of the site.
• Engineering Oversight: The developers will collaborate closely with relevant geotechnical and environmental consultants to ensure that the construction methods and materials used are the most suitable for the site's conditions.

By respecting the natural topography and implementing responsible construction practices, the development will minimize flood risks, preserve soil stability, and maintain environmental integrity in the area.

Community Engagement and Transparency

The Five Rivers Community Services Society is committed to transparency and community engagement. Public consultations have been and will continue to be held to address concerns, gather feedback, and incorporate community input into the planning process. The goal is to ensure that the facility serves the community's needs while respecting the values and concerns of its residents.​

By addressing these concerns with factual information and a commitment to community well-being, the Five Rivers Community Services Society aims to demonstrate that the proposed funeral home and crematorium will be a safe, respectful, and beneficial addition to the neighborhood.