Cemeteries

Pioneer Cemetery

Pioneer Cemetery is only for persons residing in the Cowichan Valley prior to 1900 and their direct blood descendants. It is located at the end of Pioneer Rd, off Herd Rd.

Mountain View Cemetery

Mountain View Cemetery was founded by the Methodist Church in 1878. It was transferred to the United Church in 1926 and then became the property of the Municipality in 1962. This 14-acre cemetery is located at 6493 Somenos Road (the corner of Drinkwater Rd and Somenos Rd). It has beautiful, expansive views of Mt. Prevost and Mt. Sicker, along with many other surrounding mountains.

North Cowichan strives to maintain our cemetery to create a peaceful resting place for your loved ones. We have established the newest section as a lawn cemetery, where the grounds are enhanced to surround burial places with decorative trees, shrubs, and natural scenery. Beautiful memorial trees and benches add to the serene, quiet atmosphere – a special place for families to visit, reflect, and cherish memories.

Cemetery Map and Internment Search

The Cemetery Map will show Blocks and Plots and of loved ones that were laid to rest. 

Grave Space (plots)

Our cemetery features full sized, in-ground burial plots. For cremation burials, we offer marble columbarium niches and in-ground burial plots.

  • Payment in full must be received before registering the right to reserve or occupy a plot.
  • To secure side-by-side plots, both plots must be purchased at the same time.
  • We will allow up to 5 interments in any one full sized plot; no more than 1 to be a casket burial.
  • We will need permission (in the form of a letter) from family to place cremated remains on someone else’s plot.

Interments

We require 48 hours advance notice for any work to be done at the Cemetery. Guidelines are that interments may be scheduled between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm for full burials or 9:00 am and 3:00 pm for cremation burials. Overtime charges will apply after 4:30 pm on weekdays and at any time on Saturdays or Sundays. We do not have services on statutory holidays.

*A copy of a Burial Permit or Death Certificate must be provided prior to any burial.

Liners

A fiberglass liner is required in the new section of the cemetery. This is because the ground can become waterlogged and the ground will sink. The liner prevents this.

Headstones

All grave markers or memorials must be of the tablet variety made of stone or bronze. Bronze memorials must have a three-inch thick concrete or stone base, and all memorials, whether of stone or bronze, must conform to the following specifications:

Maximum overall size including any border or base
Single (adult or child) 18" x 30" x 3”
Double 22" x 48" x 3”
Cremation Single 12" x 20" x 3”
Cremation Double 16" x 28" x 3”

Tribute Trees/Benches

We offer a variety of trees and benches to honor your family.

Please make an appointment with one of our caretakers to decide the best location to place your tree or bench.  The Municipality will maintain the tree/bench for 10 years from the date of installation. 

Trees

  • Price includes the tree, a bronze plaque with pink granite base, and installation labour.
  • Work with caretaker to determine the best type of tree.

Benches

Pricing

We have 2-tier pricing for residents/non-residents of North Cowichan. All prices include the contribution to the perpetual care fund. Please add GST. 

View the Cemetery Brochure for all prices.

Veterans’ Section

Mountain View Cemetery has a special section set aside as a final resting place for those who served in the military and their family members.

We require a signed letter from the legion before anyone is interred in the designated Veterans’ section.

Decorations

Fresh cut flowers, wreaths, and floral offerings may be placed on graves from March 1 - September 30 each year.  These items may be removed by the caretaker and disposed of when their condition is considered to be detrimental to the appearance, beauty or maintenance of the cemetery.

Artificial flowers or plastic wreaths are permitted between October 1 and February 28 each year.  After these dates, they will be removed and placed in the general pick-up area (for a maximum of 30 days).

For the safety of the public, grounds maintenance crews, as well as the appearance of the cemetery, the following items are not permitted in the cemetery:  glass of any kind, personal mementos, photos, decorative vases, candles, landscape rock, borders, fencing, plant hooks, plants and plantings.  Unauthorized items placed at gravesites will be removed without notice and placed in the general pick-up area (for a maximum of 30 days). 

The following is an excerpt from our Cemeteries Bylawin regards to this.

19 No grave, or grave space shall be defined by a fence, railing, curbing, hedge, or by other marking save by a memorial marker, tablet or monument, as set out in section 18 hereof.
20 (1) Subject to section 16, no person may place any items, other than solar lights, on, around or above a grave in Pioneer or Mountain View Cemetery. [BL3534]
      (2) Despite subsection (1)
           (a) fresh flowers and fresh wreaths may be placed on or above a grave from March 1 through September, and
           (b) artificial flowers and artificial wreaths may be place on or above a grave from October 1 through February.

Cemetery Hours

Cemetery gates are open 7 days a week. Visitation is from dawn to dusk.

Municipal Office Location
7030 Trans Canada Hwy, North Cowichan

Municipal Office Hours
Monday to Friday
Closed Weekends and Holidays

September through March April through June July and August
8:30 am to 4:30 pm 8:00 am to 4:30 pm 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
 

Our bylaw lists all our rules and regulations.

Back to top