WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR ASH?

WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR ASH?

It is always very heartwarming to know that our provincial government is working overtime to address important issues of concern to Albertans. Recently, they have announced that cremated ashes may now be scattered on unoccupied provincial government-owned Crown land or water, including provincial parks, without official government approval. But the new guidelines suggest that, “Care must be taken to ensure that ashes are not scattered near water treatment intakes and facilities or places where recreational water activities occur.” The changes come after months of consultation with various community groups. I am sure that we can now all breathe a sight of relief with this new knowledge. 

I am just a little concerned that we need government regulation and guidelines on the issue of scattering ashes. I think that the disposal of the ashes of a deceased loved one is personal and not a government issue. We are talking about a litre of ash, not a truck load of refuse! The vast majority of people usually either bury an urn containing the ashes or keep them at home or in a columbarium. Basically ashes can be spread on any private property with the owner’s permission. Not much more needs to be said. 

There are however, interestingly enough, dozens of other ways in disposing of cremated ashes that most of us are not aware of. Some more common methods are casting the ashes on to the water of lakes, streams or the ocean, if these locations had some meaning to the deceased. Some are scattered into the air or soil of favourite places that were important to the family. 

If you really want to be creative there are many other less common practices. The ashes can be combined into a fireworks package that can be exploded into the sky or into the ink that can be used to tattoo a family member. Ashes can also be mixed with clay to mould ceramic mugs or plates or into oil paints that might be used to paint a portrait of the deceased. The cremated remains can be molded into jewellery or, if money is no object, they can be compressed into a stone that looks similar to a diamond! Off the coast of Florida is a reef that is being constructed of a mixture of cement and human ash that will be the home to sea life forever. Ashes can be ceremoniously shot into the sky from a special cannon or they can be included in the container for a young tree sapling that can be planted as a memorial tribute. It appears that alternative use for cremated ashes is a growing industry!

Lastly, it is comforting to know that the government spared no expense to “spend months consulting community groups throughout the province.” How many other “non critical” consultations are underway? And at what cost? It just seems to me that there are a lot more important issues in the areas of health care, education, employment, and the oil and gas sector that need to be resolved, instead of ash spreading guidelines! I don’t need the government looking out for my ash!