Unregistered Cemeteries
The Ontario Genealogical Society is aware of about 1,200 unregistered cemeteries in this province. "Unregistered" means that the provincial government does not recognize it as a cemetery and so it has no legal protection. It can be removed at whim and without notice.
We have been attempting to get them registered but the Registrar, Cemeteries Act (Revised), has informed us that it is up to the owner of the land where the cemetery is located to apply to have it registered. The Registrar will not simply add them to his list as was done by his predecessor in the early 1990s. Leaving this situation in the hands of the land owners is not satisfactory as they have no incentive to register the cemetery. Therefore we are appealing to you for help.
Below is a list of Ontario Counties/Districts. Clicking on one will enable you to see and download a pdf of all the known unregistered cemeteries in that County/District. If you see a cemetery that is of interest to you, will you please write to your MPP asking why it is not registered? You can tell your MPP that the OGS and the Ontario Historical Society have been trying to get these cemeteries registered, without success. Please send a copy of your letter to
- The Honourable Harinder Takhar
Minister of Small Business and Consumer Services
Suite 1306, Whitney Block
Queen's Park
99 Wellesley St. W.
Toronto ON M7A 1W2
- The Honourable Aileen Carroll
Minister of Culture
900 Bay St, 5th Floor
Mowat Buildingg
Toronto ON M7A 1L2
- Ontario Genealogical Society
102 - 40 Orchard View Blvd
Toronto ON M4R 1B9
The number after each cemetery is the OGS number. The few that do not have numbers soon will.
Unregistered Cemeteries by County/District
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