Housing the dead in a no vacancy city: an analysis of best practices in pursuit of Toronto's cemetery design and planning framework

As Toronto runs out of burial space, there currently lacks a set of guidelines to direct the cemetery planning process. This paper explores the barriers in the cemetery planning process that have manifested in Toronto and the planning ramifications of alternatives to casket burials, such as cremation, green burials, and grave reuse. This analysis aims to examine the specific solutions taken by various cities considering their physical geography and the population’s cultural and religious practices. The purpose of these analyses is to identify which methods of cemetery design and alternative interment, if any, would be feasible in Toronto’s context with regards to environmental sustainability, cultural practices, and affordability. Keywords: cemeteries; Toronto; sustainability; land use