The cost of being interred at Westbank Cemetery is set to rise significantly.

At its meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 11), West Kelowna council voted 6-1 to increase rates to better align with other Okanagan municipalities, fund a full-time administrative position, and add maintenance staff.

A 2023 review by Lees and Associates found that Westbank Cemetery fees were significantly lower than those of other cemeteries in the Central Okanagan. The consultant recommended benchmark fees, to which the city added an additional 25 per cent.

Proposed new fee structure for Westbank Cemetery | City of West Keowna

The cost of traditional casket burial is going up from $2,795 to $5,920 -- a 112 per cent increase.The cost of in ground cremation is rising 73 per cent, from $1,064 to $1,844.

In September 2024, council expressed its intention to raise fees to ensure the cemetery could be self-funded while maintaining the necessary staffing levels.

Parks Manager Mark Roberts told council that the revised fee structure would support the administrative position and the equivalent of 1.8 full-time maintenance staff.

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Roberts added that the proposed fees would be in line with Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 rates and slightly higher than those of other municipalities in the region but still reasonable.

Coun. Rick de Jong supported the increase. 香蕉视频直播淚t needs to be fully self-sustaining, and this is how we do it,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Mayor Gord Milsom favoured the consultant香蕉视频直播檚 recommended fee increases and the addition of two full-time positions.

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Staff香蕉视频直播檚 report also recommended changing the name from Westbank Cemetery to West Kelowna Cemetery.