Some new features are coming to the Altona Cemetery, including its first columbarium.
Altona is one of the few communities in southern Manitoba that doesn't have one, according to Councilor Tammy Braun, who also serves on the town's Recreation and Culture committee that's been hard at work making improvements at the cemetery.
"As you know, we have a new portion of the cemetery, a clean slate, and now is the time to be able to put different things in there that we thought necessary and one was a columbarium for people to make different choices in burial," she explained.
Not having that choice in burial is something Braun has personally encountered.
"In the last couple of years, I've had quite a few losses and, being in charge of burial procedures or the wishes of the death of a loved one, I also realized there was no columbarium in Altona. There was no choice for that."
The solid granite columbarium will be located in the new expansion of the cemetery. It will stand about 7 feet high by 3.5 feet wide and contain 48 niches measuring 12"x12"x12".
As well, a courtyard will be added to the new section of the cemetery, designed with input from Erin Sawatzky, a local landscape architect.
"Some nice trees, decorative grass. A nice place for people to come and sit and think about their loved ones," noted Braun.
"I think it's important to sit some place quiet and think about your loved ones, just to sit and relax and enjoy your surroundings," she added.
Braun says the columbarium will be installed once some groundwork is completed.