Clearwater County Highlights October/November | Page 12

12 | NOV. 2016 Cemeteries in Clearwater County Council recognizes that residents within churches and community groups have cared for area cemeteries for generations. This longstanding and valuable contribution demonstrates respect and recognition to those who came before us and helped build community faith and pride. The County holds titles for five of the 16 registered cemeteries within Clearwater County. Upon budget approval in 2016, County staff began the initial work of gathering information on the status of all registered cemeteries. County departments, including the Community & Protective Services (CPS), Agricultural Services, Public Works GIS and Information Technology Services are all working together to collect, confirm, map and store cemetery information. www.clearwatercounty.ca “Completing the initial step of a cemetery census helps us evaluate the total occupied space and forecast areas for future use,” said Ted Hickey, Director of CPS. “When you consider 16 cemeteries throughout the County, collecting all the information and planning for the future – it is a rather large project that will take some time to complete”. The census will utilize information gathered from cemetery caretakers, relatives, local knowledge and records, as well as working with the Province. County staff have been in contact with cemetery caregivers to determine current levels of service and to discuss future collaborations to provide continued cemetery care. For information regarding the County’s cemetery responsibilities, see the Government of Alberta – Cemeteries Act.