Timmins could be getting a crematorium this year.
City Council is supporting Lessard-Stephens Funeral Home owner Michel Lessard who is looking to add the service in Timmins.
Lessard says the cremation rate is near 85 per cent and will continue to increases. He says installing and operating a crematorium in Timmins would save a family stress on transporting a loved one to another city and then bringing the remains back to Timmins. He says losing loved one is already difficult enough without that extra step. Lessard says the closest crematorium right now is in Matheson and Kirkland Lake.
The funeral home says there are strict Ministry of Environment rules and regulations that will be followed. Lessard says these rules are very strict around emissions. He says the funeral home is talking with a Stouffville company for a cremator that creates lower and cleaner emissions. He says there is also a monitor system that runs 24/7 which records oxygen and carbon minoxide levels.
All the equipment will be installed in the existing building. Lessard says he has received a lot of local support and all the neighbouring buildings have sent in letters of support for the project.
With council’s support the crematorium could open by the end of summer or early fall.