Identification of the deceased shall be made prior to the delivery of the deceased to the crematorium.

St. John’s hours of operation for the crematorium are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with access for the public between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Before cremation can take place, the following documents must be completed, delivered to the office or crematorium, signed by the proper authority, and approved:  a cremation contract, a cremation application, a coroner’s certificate, and a burial permit.

A deceased person shall only be received for cremation in a fully combustible casket or container deemed appropriate and with a top, four sides and a solid bottom allowing the casket/container encasing the human remains to be moved by using a set of rollers.

Once received by the crematorium personnel, the casket/container will remain closed unless permission is given by the purchaser or a judge allowing a licensed funeral director to open the casket or container.  Under no circumstances will crematorium staff be allowed to open the casket or container.  The deceased will be cremated in the funeral home or transfer service delivered casket or container, which must be made of readily combustible materials.  All non-combustible parts on the outside of the casket/container will be removed prior to cremation, if possible.

The crematorium will not cremate a casket/container constructed of non-flammable or hazardous material or a material prescribed by the regulations under the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002 of Ontario Regulation 30/11, nor will the crematorium cremate a body in which a pacemaker or other prescribed device is present.  This does not limit the right to refuse to cremate, in any instance, and without assigning reason.

The crematorium will not under any circumstances cremate an individual with a radioactive implant, or an individual who has received microscopic radioactive treatment such as thera-seed. An implant heart pacemaker or other implant radioactive devices could explode during the cremation process and are to be removed by the funeral establishment or transfer service operator, or others, before the deceased is delivered to the crematorium for cremation.  The purchaser of the cremation services will be liable for any damages caused to the crematorium or for the injury/exposure to crematorium staff for the failure to notify the funeral establishment or transfer service, or any other personnel responsible for the removal of such device or the existence of such radioactive implants.

Twelve (12) working hours notice is required before a cremation can take place.

Twelve (12) working hours notice is required if relatives and friends wish to view the cremation process (loading and starting). A limited number of observers will be allowed in the crematorium for the starting of the cremation process (6).  Access can be denied by crematorium staff.

Stainless steel identification tags must be placed with the remains throughout all stages of the cremation process.

If a request is made to cremate surgically removed body parts (medical waste) from a living person, the applicant must arrange transportation and delivery of said medical waste to the crematorium through the services of a funeral home. The crematorium will only accept the medical waste if accompanied by an official document from the hospital, signed by a doctor stating what type of body part/medical waste was removed with dates of procedure