Oh mannnn! Why can't Council just get together on one little item? Let Christians put up crosses and satanic folks can put up whatever they want. What the hell? Who cares about offending someone? If the graveyard offends you, don't go there. This council is even afraid they're going to offend someone in death. I think I'm gonna be sick.

Could not agree with you more supertech. It is a very sad situation that our Council lacks the wisdom to come to a reasonable decision and do so very quickly.

You have got to be kidding! What is up with City Council. What is wrong with a marker honoring their loved ones. Any type of marker is something that should be there especially to the ones that can't afford the expensive over priced markers. Have you taken a look at the cemetery grounds? Take some of your paychecks and pay some respect, and fix some of the other old gravemarkers that are fallen down or damaged and paint the fence around it. I agree with the others you can't even agree on something like this, what do the people want instead of you guys deciding for everyone...

These people are "educated."

I am among those who is saving money to purchase a permanent marker, but it will be a few years before we have the money, not six months. Where does City Hall think they live? Perhaps they are not aware there is a recession going on.

Currently I have fake flowers on our grave and I had supported them with an invisible wire frame. Can you believe that the city workers, who else would have done it?...took the time to disentangle the frame from the flowers, then sloppily replaced the flowers? Absolutely amazing, then lenghts they will go to to support the new bylaw.....and I thought it was rewritten to reduce workload.

Typical city behaviour. You pay a lot of money for a plot, take care to plan for your loved ones when you are gone, and yet for the amount of money you pay, you are still told what to do when you die.

Is this soviet Russia?

Mayor Dan Rogers says this indeed a challenging issue,
Everything is a challenging issue for our Mayor. Can you imagine paying $4000.00 ($2000 for the plot and $2000.00 for a grave liner) for a burial plot and they cant spare the time to cut the grass around a raised grave marker? There was also talk of increasing the cemetery fees. So heaven knows what they are at the present time,
Cheers

you can't get a temp; grave marker,but you can get more pub seating pretty damm easy!!!

This is Canada,and in Canada the cross itself symbolizes many aspects of death and the loss of a loved one.
It is a traditional symbol of mourning,and it really isn't about any particular faith,as such.
That applies to many countries,not just here.
If anyone finds a cross offensive next to their own personal marker for a loved one,I really don't give a damn.
And yes,it can be said that it is indeed a christian symbol.
Who really cares?
In a cemetary,every one is equal, just as there are no athiests in foxholes.
Whatever a family chooses to mark a grave with, is for the living,not the dead.
As long as it is done properly and in good taste,who cares?
This is a ridiculous debate that defies all logic.

Gus, I watched City Council last night and they did come to a reasonable decision by a vote of 5 to 4.

And the decision means that people will not be allowed to have temporary markers? Have temporary markers been considered by staff before it was brought up by councillors?

I have read the Council agenda and see no mention of that issue. One Councillor raised the issue and it appears that 4 agreed with it.

What exactly is the harm in exploring the issue if it has not been addressed before?

I take the view that the city cemetery is a service oriented `business`. It is a monopoly. There are no other choices if your choice is to bury someone in a grave.

I know, it is not everyone that looks at it from that point of view, but I do and 4 of 9 on Council seem to agree with that. So do the majority on here.

Sorry you feel that way bustedbetty. No compassion from you it seems. No interest in the notion that the ``customer is always right``.

Just stating the facts Gus.