Source: Vancouver Sun
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, August 19, 2002: Hindus and Sikhs in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, can now rest assured that their loved ones will have their last rites performed according to tradition. Riverside Funeral Home and Crematorium located near the Fraser River at 7410 Hopcott Road is operated by a non-profit society. Mourners are able to bathe the body of the deceased person with water and yogurt in a specially-built room. The actual crematorium will accommodate up to a 1,000 people who can witness the cremation through a large glass window, similar to the customary funeral pyre in India. Also, the eldest son of the deceased person is able to start the fire of cremation himself by pressing a black button surrounded by a red circle which starts the blue gas flames. Amrik Nijjar, president of the non-profit society, hopes to obtain permission from the government in the future to drop small boxes of ashes in the Fraser River. Right now, because of environmental laws, it is illegal to do so. As a result many Indo-Canadians fly their loved ones’ ashes back to India where the remains are distributed into a sacred river.