City considers new policy for community-initiated memorials

Many Burnaby residents are familiar with the sight of flowers, wreaths, and other items in some public places. Many of these memorial sites are well-maintained, with fresh flowers added regularly, the surrounding area maintained and kept clean, and any damage from the elements promptly repaired. 

Often, these sites are places where a tragedy occurred; whether it was an accident or a violent crime that claimed someone’s life, surviving family and friends often create a makeshift memorial in the same area where the tragic event occurred to commemorate their loved ones. 

However, not all residents approve of such memorials; according to a report submitted to the council’s public safety committee, some community members complain that memorials obstruct their daily lives. The report identifies six types of memorials that cause issues in the community.

• Unsafe memorials, for example, those that may cause a visual distraction for drivers

• Abandoned or derelict memorials

• Memorials that obstruct public use of the space

• Those considered incompatible with adjacent uses, such as memorials near schools

• Violating personal information or privacy

• Memorials infringing on private property 

To address this delicate issue, city staff are proposing a new policy for removing community-initiated memorials. According to the report submitted to the public safety committee on Feb. 28, “The policy integrates trauma-informed processes sensitive to the needs of diverse stakeholder groups. This includes dealings with surviving families, the broader community, as well as our staff who undertake this difficult work to manage the memorials as required.”

Dawn Virginillo, general manager of crime reduction and intervention with the city, presented the proposed policy to the committee, saying there are diverse stakeholder groups when it comes to memorials, including surviving family members and other community members who may be “deeply upset” about the memorials and ask the city to remove them. 

“I’d suggest that this proposed policy is really about enhanced customer service for both those diverse stakeholders,” she said. 

Virginillo added the final decision to remove a memorial will remain with the general manager of community safety. She also said, “On occasion, it has been raised to me that city staff will become aware of a memorial prior to receiving complaints about it,” adding that the criteria outlined in the policy would be used in the proactive removal of memorials that may cause issues down the line.

This piece was made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.

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