Mountain View Cemetery perimeter plans
What is this project about?
Mountain View Cemetery (MVC) is developing a plan for changes and improvements to its entrances, hedges and fences over the next several years. The objective of this initiative is to preserve the culture of Vancouver’s only cemetery while considering the relationship with the surrounding community. The changes to the entrances, hedges, and fences will be designed to allow public access, while protecting the existing graves.
Background
The MVC is situated west of Fraser Street, between 31st and 43rd Avenues. The cemetery comprises 106 acres of land and has over 92,000 grave sites and more than 145,000 interred remains. MVC is an essential part of the Vancouver landscape, serving as a memorial spaces space for the past, present, and future. The cemetery requires continuous maintenance and attention to ensure its beauty, longevity, and continued viability.
This public engagement aimed to gather public feedback on enhancing the cemetery's entrances, fences, and hedges while preserving the cemetery's cultural heritage.
Process
The project was guided by the Mountain View Cemetery Master Plan. A team of landscape architects, consultants, cemetery staff and leadership worked on plans to determine what changes could be considered.
A public engagement process to gather public feedback on enhancing the cemetery's entrances, fences, and hedges while preserving the cemetery's cultural heritage closed on March 17, 2023. What we heard is available in the Mountain View cemetery perimeter plan engagement summary (PDF, 1.6 MB).
Perimeter improvement projects completed since the engagement include:
- Removal of unhealthy hedges
- Upgrading the Horne Field of Honour, commemorating Canadian veterans
Proposed changes and perimeter plans will be available in 2025. The scope, scale and timing of perimeter plans are dependent on funding, operational considerations and other related work within and around the cemetery.