Tree, garden and water memorials in London

London, Ontario

What an eco memorial looks like in London

Canada has a high cremation rate, and in London keeping ashes at home feels natural to many families. For a pet, that could be a carved wooden box, a glass keepsake, a paw print in clay, or a necklace holding a few ashes. Freeze-thaw cycles crack cheap outdoor markers, so if you choose one for the garden, granite or slate is worth the extra cost.

London's reputation as the Forest City makes tree memorials a natural choice. A biodegradable urn under a young maple or oak, or a memorial shrub in the garden, fits a city known for its canopy. Renters can plant in a large pot and take the memorial with them. A winter loss simply means waiting to plant until the April thaw, with the ashes kept safe indoors.

Dogs and some cats will dig into fresh soil, and a planting that holds bone ash smells interesting to them. For the first few months in London, cover the planted area with a ring of flat stones, a piece of wire mesh under the mulch or a short temporary fence. Once the ground settles and the smell fades, most pets lose interest.

With roughly 422,000 residents, London is the 6th-largest of the 15 Ontario communities we cover. The nearest larger centre is Hamilton, about 72 miles (116 km) away, which is where some providers serving London are based.

For a second opinion on price, Guelph (63 miles), Hamilton (72 miles) and Burlington (77 miles) are close enough that their providers cover London routinely. Two written quotes tell you more than any price list.

None of the figures on this this page are ours alone: they rest on Embrace Pet Insurance and The Living Urn.

Choosing the right month to plant in London

Whatever London's weather, the soil step is the same. Mix the ashes through a generous amount of compost and soil, let the mix rest if you can, and test the pH before planting. Hot, dry places need more dilution and deeper watering; cold places may need to wait for thawed ground. A local gardener can tell you which applies.

Rules worth knowing in Ontario before you scatter

Carrying ashes from one place to another is usually simple, but keep the paperwork. The certificate or letter from the crematory shows what's in the container, which helps if you're crossing borders, flying out of Ontario or handing the ashes to a cemetery. Keep a copy with the ashes and another somewhere safe at home.

In Canada, human water cremation is legal in several provinces, with Saskatchewan the first to approve it in 2012^[8], while others have no legislation. Pet aquamation follows its own path, so ask local crematories. Hardy natives such as serviceberry, bur oak or white spruce suit much of the country, and frozen ground means many memorial plantings wait for spring.

The Ontario page sets out who oversees pet cremation and what the state says about burial and scattering. London's own bylaws can sit on top of that, so ask before you dig.

Remembering your pet, in London and wherever you go next

The Thames River runs through the heart of London, and many families connect their pets' memory with Springbank Park and the riverside paths. Scattering near moving water works most gently from the bank on a calm day, and some families keep a small amount at home too. Check city park rules, and ask permission before using private land. Autumn, when the city's trees turn, is a popular time for a small ceremony.

the planning tools turn your pet's details into figures, read our guides and latest articles, or see what other families chose in the poll results, For a plain comparison of the choices, open services. You can also browse every city in Canada. Nearby, we also cover Mississauga, Markham, Brampton and Hamilton, and every city in Ontario.