Resources for Families
You are invited to visit our resource centre at 6348 -168th Street, Surrey BC for informational literature. Hours of operation are 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday to Friday.
RESOURCE LINKS
Monument Companies in the BC Lower Mainland
Funeral Homes in the BC Lower Mainland
Is the memorial I ordered installed yet?
Financial Benefits and Assistance
Survivor and Other Death Benefits
GRIEF SUPPORT
The BC Bereavement Helpline is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the health and wholesome recovery of individuals experiencing grief. They provide the public, and particularly the bereaved, with information on how to seek help for themselves or individuals known to them who are in need of assistance through their grief, including a helpline for referral and support, community network of support and information, brochure of available support in BC, and a quarterly newsletter.
P 604-738-9950
TF 877-779-2223
Monday to Friday 9:30 am – 3:00 pm
BC Children's Hospital Grief and Loss
BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre Grief and Loss
Listing of BC Hospice Palliative Care Members select 'Our Members'
GENEALOGY
City of Surrey Cemeteries – Locate A Loved One
This page is scheduled for update and improvement. Currently, you will be able to view alphabetical listings, by SURNAME, of those interred in the cemeteries owned and operated by the City of Surrey. The current list only contains interment records up to June 2010. These records have been transcribed from our official records. If mistakes or missing information is noted we would appreciate your help in correcting this data. Please contact us or phone 604-598-5770. We welcome any additional information about your loved one. Our new database has the capability of adding photos, biographies, or obituaries, etc. and we would be honoured to add this information for future generations.
Surrey Public Library – Genealogy
British Columbia Genealogical Society
BC Cemetery Finding Aid (Find A Grave)
BC Archives - A record of the deaths occurring in British Columbia.
New Westminster Heritage Web Site
Provides links to many genealogy websites and features a database of the records of Bowell Funeral Home (one of the first in BC), and currently includes the years between 1932 and 1956. The New Westminster Public Library has the Bowell records in print as well, up to 1960.
FINANCIAL BENEFITS AND ASSISTANCE
Ministry of Housing & Social Development (866) 866-0800
A supplement may be provided to pay necessary services and costs of any person who dies in BC if the family unit or the estate of the deceased person has no immediate resources to meet these costs. There is no requirement that the deceased person, or the person’s family, must be income assistance recipients to qualify for the supplement. Costs are to be recovered whenever possible. This supplement is available under the Employment and Assistance Regulation.
When a death occurs, a legal representative for the deceased must be determined. Section 5 of the Cemetery, Interment and Funeral Services Act explains the guidelines for establishing legal representatives. Legal representation is most often a relative, but in cases where there are no relatives or they are unable to assume this responsibility, the ministry may make arrangements for services and payment to the funeral home. Once the legal representative has determined that there are no resources for funeral expenses through the deceased’s estate or family unit, they may apply to the ministry for assistance.
To establish eligibility, the Ministry requires:
- Name and address of the deceased
- Name of the next of kin
- A statement of the deceased’s income and assets
- A request to the ministry to cover funeral costs
A ministry supplement paid to assist with funeral costs is a debt due to the government and may be recovered from the deceased’s estate.
Making Arrangements
If ministry assistance has been requested, funeral arrangements can be made as soon as eligibility has been established. Costs covered by the ministry are based on a set rate and include the Funeral Provider’s Service Fee, casket or urn, and cemetery or crematorium fees. Additional items and services to honour the deceased and to pay respect to the individual’s personal, cultural and religious beliefs may be purchased by families at their own expense.
For more information contact the Ministry of Housing and Social Development by calling: 1-888-866-0800 or your local funeral home.
Public Guardian & Trustee of BC
The Public Trustee of BC is a division of the Ministry of Attorney General for the Province of BC. The Public Trustee has a legal responsibility to protect the rights of mentally incapable persons, minors, and the estates of missing persons and deceased persons where there is no named executor, or where there is no one willing or able to act as executor. The Public Trustee’s Estate Administration Division secures assets, settles debts and claims against the estate, and then identifies and locates the estate’s heirs and beneficiaries.
#700 - 808 West Hastings Street Vancouver BC V6C 3L3
T (604) 660-4444
F 604-660-0374
E estates@trustee.bc.ca
WorkSafeBC (formerly the Workers' Compensation Board) will provide a funeral allowance following a death arising out of employment. Other survivor benefits may also be available. Contact WorkSafeBC for more information.
WorkSafeBC, Claims Adjudicator
Sensitive Claims Section, Compensation Services Division
6951 Westminster Hwy. Richmond BC V7C 1C6
T 604-273-2266
F 604-279-7408
TF 800-661-2112 within BC
A guide for families coping with a work related death or terminal illness
WorkSafeBC Permanent Disability & Death Benefits
Crime Victim Assistance Program
The Crime Victim Assistance Program is a program administered by the Victim Services Division of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. The program, which came into force June 30, 2002, replaces the Criminal Injury Compensation Program previously operated by the Workers’ Compensation Board. The program is governed by the Crime Victim Assistance Act and the Regulations. Under the Act, victims injured as a result of certain crimes, immediate family members of an injured or deceased victim and some witnesses may be eligible for financial assistance or benefits. The Criminal Injury Compensation Act of B.C. provides compensation, within certain limitations, for personal injury or death resulting from a crime within the province. If you are an immediate family member of a person who was killed due to a crime, you may be entitled to compensation which will include funeral and burial or cremation expenses. You may also be entitled if you were injured while helping a law enforcement officer or while trying to prevent a crime from occurring. In order to apply for compensation there is no need for the offender to have been caught, but there must be a report to the police. You must apply for compensation within one year of injury or death. These services include a toll-free, province-wide telephone service at 1-800-563-0808. See the Victims Services website for more information and application forms.
Victim Services
302 – 815 Hornby Street Vancouver, BC V6Z 2E6
(604) 660-5199
Motor Vehicle Accident (800) 663-3051
Description of Benefits
The Last Post Fund / Veteran Affairs Canada
Effective March 16, 1998, the BC Branch of the Last Post Fund has assumed responsibilities from Veterans Affairs Canada to action all funerals and burials for qualified war veterans, Merchant Mariners and certain other qualified persons. All notifications of veteran's deaths are now being passed to this office by the various VAC District offices, as well as the Pacific Region office. The grant is means tested and estate and spousal assets must be declared on the grant form. In some cases, depending on the assets declared, a partial grant may be awarded. The surviving spouse or other responsible person should obtain the deceased’s regimental number then contact the Last Post Fund, B.C. Branch, Suite 203, 7337 137 Street, Surrey, B.C. V3W 1A4. Telephone: (604) 572-3242 or call toll-free 1-800-268-0248 or visit their website at http://www.lastpostfund.ca/
Last Post Fund, BC Branch
Suite 203, 7337 137 Street, Surrey, BC V3W 1A4
(604) 572-3242
(800) 268-0248
lastpost@telus.netDepartment of National Defence
Description of Benefits through Department of National Defence
SURVIVOR & OTHER DEATH BENEFITS
CPP – Government of Canada Pension Plan Information & Benefits
Human Resources Development Canada provides for survivor benefits through the Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security.
Canada Pension Plan survivor benefits are paid to a deceased contributor’s estate, surviving spouse or common-law partner and dependent children. There are three types of benefits.
- The death benefit is a one-time payment to, or on behalf of, the estate of a deceased Canada Pension Plan contributor;
- The survivor’s pension is a monthly pension paid to the surviving spouse or common-law partner of a deceased contributor;
- The children’s benefit is a monthly benefit for dependent children of a deceased contributor
You must complete an application. Application kits are available from Human Resources Development Canada and from many funeral homes. The kit contains the information and instructions as well as a list of documents you will need to apply. You may ask for a kit or assistance from Human Resources Development Canada by calling free of charge at 1-800-277-9914. If you have a hearing or speech impairment and you use a TDD/TTY device please call 1-800-255-4786.
COMPLAINTS
If you have a complaint or concern with a cemetery operator or funeral provider, the suggested first step of action is to try and resolve the concern directly with the provider. In the event the concern cannot be resolved in this manner, you may wish to contact the provincial associations:
Cemetery & Crematorium Association of BC
PO Box 10082, Aldergrove BC V4W 3Z5
P 604-866-7292
TF 866-587-3213
F 604-530-1174
E info@ccabc.orgFuneral Service Association of BC
Suite 211 – 2187 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria BC V8R 1G1
P 250-592-3213
TF 800-665-3899
If the concern is still not resolved, put it in writing and send it to Consumer Protection BC, who will investigate the issue for you. Consumer Protection BC is the Authority responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act and the Cremation Interment and Funeral Services Act provincial legislation. All cemetery operators and funeral providers are required to be registered with Consumer Protection BC and are required to operate according to the provincial legislation.
Consumer Protection BC
PO Box 9244, Victoria BC V8W 9J2
P 604-320-1667
F 250-920-7181
TF 888-564-9963
E operations@consumerprotectionbc.caCremation Interment and Funeral Services Act
Cremation Interment and Funeral Services Regulation
Contact Us:
City of Surrey Cemeteries - Administration Office
6348 - 168th Street, Surrey, BC V3S 3Y1
Phone: (604) 598-5770
Fax: (604) 598-5880
Email cemeteryinfo@surrey.ca