Town of Banff

Cemeteries and Burials

What cemeteries are available in Banff?

• New burial plots/graves are available at the Mountainview Cemetery, at the east highway entrance to the townsite. There is also a Field of Honour at Mountainview.  Burial in the Field of Honour must be arranged through the Royal Canadian Legion.

• The Old Banff Cemetery on Buffalo Street in the downtown area no longer has burial plots/graves available for sale.

Who is eligible to be buried in Banff?

Burial plots/graves are available only to those who are eligible for burial in a national park, according to the National Parks Cemetery Regulations. Briefly, this means a person who was a permanent resident of Banff at the time of death, or who had previously been a resident of Banff National Park for 25 years or more.

Can a plot be pre-purchased?

A plot/grave may only be purchased at the time of death, when burial arrangements are made.
A plot measures 7' x 10' and holds 2 single graves, each grave measuring 3'6" x 10'.  Each grave can accomodate 1 full burial and 2 cremains or 3 cremains.  These measurements and placements are in accordance with the National Parks Cemetery Regulations (section 16 - a, b, & c).  A family member or representative attends to these details at the time burial arrangements are made.

How is a burial arranged?

• A burial may be arranged by the next of kin or by a personal representative of either the deceased or the next of kin.
• Complete a burial application and a monument application (available for download below) and forward them to the Town of Banff Operations office by fax at 403.762.1263, or in person at the Town of Banff Operations building at 120 Hawk Avenue (in the industrial compound).  Applications must be received two working days prior to the interment.
• Any special requests or arrangements should be included with the Burial Application.
• Plots/graves are purchased at the time burial arrangements are made. In certain circumstances, most commonly when the deceased has been pre-deceased by a family member, a plot/grave may already be owned.  The Town will require proof of ownership.
• There are fees involved, both for the plot/grave, interment services and monument application.  An invoice will be sent to the applicant following the burial. 

• Burial Application ( PDF - 56kb)
• Monument Application ( PDF - 20 kb)
• Cemetery Fees ( PDF - 12 kb)
• Cemetery Procedures ( PDF - 14 kb)
  

Other things to know

• Funeral parties and processions must reach the cemetery by 3 p.m. on the day of the burial.
• Burials are not typically performed on Sundays or statutory holidays.  Alternate arrangements may be made upon approval of the Town and involve additional fees.
• The applicant is responsible for providing a grave vault for any full burial.  Vaults can be purchased through a funeral home.
  
• On the day of the burial, Town of Banff staff will prepare the plot/grave and direct the family or representative to the grave/plot site.  Once the private service has concluded and the urn or casket has been placed in the ground, Town staff will return to close the grave.
  

For more information, contact the Operations Department at 403.762.1240, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.