Thank you to everyone who participated in the engagement process.

This page provides a summary of feedback received during the Envisioning a Memorial Garden engagement process that took place in May and June 2025.

Participants attended an open houses, participated in a workshop, completed the survey and shared valuable feedback.

For a complete summary of engagement results, visit:

  • Document Library to download the What We Heard Summary
  • Links for the Report to Council.

Participation highlights include

Participation highlights

Response Highlights

  • 66% of respondents expressed support for the City offering a memorial garden, while 25% opposed it and 9% were neutral.
  • If a memorial garden were developed, 65% said they would likely use its services, while 23% said they would unlikely use the services, 11% were unsure.
  • If a loved one were memorialized in Richmond, 47% said they would visit several times a year, 17% said they would visit at least monthly and 3% said they would only attend the internment or service.


Concerns Raised

  • Availability of suitable land and appropriate locations.
  • Differing opinions on whether interment or memorialization should be offered, including burials and ash scattering.
  • Whether a memorial garden is a priority relative to other community needs.
  • Suitability of a memorial garden given Richmond's high water table and potential flood risks.
  • Questions about the City's role, including costs and budget implications.
  • Site security and management, including concerns related to vandalism and safety.

Emerging Themes

Common themes that emerged throughout the engagement process included:

Emerging Themes