First Muslim-only cemetery opens in Ottawa

“We wanted to create a cemetery that would meet the needs of our growing Muslim community and also be affordable,” says Kamal Ally, Treasurer of Ottawa Muslim Cemetery (OMC).

Taking on the task of developing a cemetery was not easy. It required learning about the Funeral, Burial, and Cremation Services Act of Ontario and zoning By-Laws. It also required finding a site that met the environmental requirements of a cemetery. This meant soil conditions needed to be tested.

It was only in 2005 that an appropriate location was found at 1668 Manotick Station Road in the south end of Ottawa.  The site is only about 30 minutes' drive from the Ottawa Muslim Association Masjid and Masjid Jami Omar. It is an even shorter drive away from Masjid Assunnah and Masjid Assalaam.

Despite having identified an ideal location, the non-profit project was held back by lack of funds. Thanks to the efforts of the committed individuals like Dr. Solly Gardee, development on the cemetery eventually made headway.

When Dr. Gardee's mother, Hawa, died on Thanksgiving Sunday in 2010, her family was shocked to learn that she could not be buried in the double plot that had been bought for herself and her husband at the Pinecrest Cemetery which has a special section for Muslims.

Pinecrest's strict business hours meant that no one could be buried on Sundays or holidays so Hawa would not be buried until Tuesday.

As Muslim religious requirements demand that a person be buried within 24 hours, her family had to scramble to find a cemetery that would be able to bury her within 24 hours. They were able to find one in Montreal.

The story drew national media attention and Dr. Gardee was interviewed by the Ottawa Citizen and the Globe and Mail. The experience made him realize that there was a need for a cemetery for Muslims in Ottawa.

“It woke me up,” he said.

Dr. Gardee made it his personal business to make Ottawa Muslims aware of the need to invest in this initiative.

“Whenever I saw Muslim patients, I told them, they needed to think about buying a plot in the Ottawa Muslim Cemetery.”

People listened. Mr. Ally credits Dr. Gardee's efforts with enabling the cemetery to finally open its doors.

Nevertheless, a great deal of work remains. Although the cemetery is 30 acres, only 13 acres are under development, and that too in phases.

Mr. Ally encourages community members to pre-purchase plots, which can be paid for in installments. To book your plot, visit: www.muslimcemetery.ca