Several Canadian provinces have experienced a notable increase in the number of unclaimed dead bodies in recent years, with high funeral costs frequently cited by next of kin as a primary reason for not claiming the remains of loved ones.
In response to this trend, at least one province has decided to build a new storage facility. Additionally, there has been a significant rise in demand for memorial fundraisers. The cost of a top-end funeral in Canada has escalated to approximately $8,800, up from about $6,000 in 1998, according to industry estimates.
Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, saw the number of unclaimed bodies rise from 242 in 2013 to 1,183 in 2023, as reported by Dirk Huyer, the province’s chief coroner. Although next of kin were identified in most cases, they often could not claim the body due to financial constraints. The percentage of unclaimed bodies due to financial reasons increased from 20% in 2022 to 24% in 2023.
“It’s distressing because it’s a person who has passed and there’s nobody – family, friends, or others – that are in a position to be able to provide instructions or plans for that person after their death,” Huyer said.
In Ontario, a body is officially deemed unclaimed after 24 hours. However, the coroner’s office may spend weeks attempting to locate next of kin. If the relatives confirm their inability to claim the body, the local municipality arranges for a simple burial with a funeral home. Meanwhile, the body is stored in a morgue or temperature-controlled facility.
Allan Cole, owner of the Toronto-based funeral home MacKinnon and Bowes, noted, “There’s always been families that are in need of additional assistance. (But) I’ve never seen the number of unclaimed remains that currently exist.”
In Quebec, the number of unclaimed bodies increased from 66 in 2013 to 183 in 2023. In Alberta, the number of unclaimed bodies rose from 80 in 2016 to 200 in 2023.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Health Sciences Centre in St. John’s historically had not needed long-term storage for unclaimed remains. However, following concerns over unclaimed bodies stored in freezers outside the hospital, the province is now constructing a permanent storage unit.
Jim Dinn, leader of the province’s opposition New Democratic Party, stated, “People weren’t claiming bodies because they realized they couldn’t afford to bury them. It’s not about building a bigger storage unit: It’s about addressing the underlying cause causing the accumulation of bodies and removing the barriers so people can have a dignified burial.”
The cost of an adult single grave with the Mount Pleasant Group averages $2,800, but in midtown Toronto, it can reach $34,000, excluding additional fees. Funeral costs range from C$2,000 to C$12,000, a significant increase from C$1,800 to C$8,000 in 1998, according to Jeff Weafer, President of the Funeral Services Association of Canada.
The number of memorial fundraisers on GoFundMe has surged, with 10,257 fundraisers in 2023 compared to just 36 in 2013. Advocates argue that government support for funerals has not kept up with rising costs. The federal government announced a C$2,500 increase to the existing C$2,500 death benefit in the Canada Pension Plan in the April budget.
“Losing your life partner or spouse is devastating for a senior. It can also be an immense financial burden after a lifetime of hard work,” wrote Katherine Cuplinskas, press secretary for Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. “That is why we are strengthening the Canada Pension Plan to provide a top-up to the death benefit.”
Weafer, however, believes this is insufficient. “This is not a respectful end for Canadians,” he said. “The reason deceased individuals are going unclaimed by their families is about affordability.”