Notice to the Consumer: Alert to families with burial rights at Headford Cemetery in Richmond Hill

Headford Cemetery update — Oct. 19, 2022

On Oct. 1 the body of Louis Tsotsos was buried at Headford Cemetery in Richmond Hill.

It was a burial nine months in the making.

On the Saturday afternoon, it came to pass that his body was interred with a dozen family members, friends, grave diggers, church onlookers and Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) staff witnessing the burial.

The burial ended his family’s ordeal that began in January of this year.

Rev. Art Lambert (aka Artem Litvinov), of the Nativity of the Mother of God Orthodox Church, had ignored a BAO order in January and an Aug. 17 Ontario Court of Justice order for the burial to proceed at the family’s plot in the cemetery, where they have interment (burial) rights.

The church and Headford Cemetery are on the same property. Rev. Lambert and lawyer Tanya Lambert (aka Tetiana Litvinova) are the contacts for a company called September 21 Inc., which owns the property.

…………………………………………………………………….

Feb. 8, 2022 — Families with interment (burial) rights at Headford Cemetery in Richmond Hill are advised to contact the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO).

A family is currently having difficulty burying their loved one at the cemetery, as the current owner has interfered with burial preparations.  

The cemetery owner is not currently licensed and has been ordered to comply with the law by the BAO. (See timeline notes.)

The cemetery, once known as Headford United Church Cemetery, is located at 9550 Leslie St., Richmond Hill, Ontario.

“If you have interment rights at this cemetery, please get in touch with us to make sure your rights are honoured by the cemetery owner. A grieving family has recently been prevented from burying their loved one. This is an unprecedented, shameful situation that we are alerting families about to ensure the law and the rights of families’ are respected,” says Carey Smith, CEO and Registrar, BAO.

Families are asked to contact the BAO at Inspections@TheBAO.ca, or by calling 647-483-2645 (toll-free +1 844-493-6356), ask for Inspector Kate Dafoe.

About The BAO

The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) is a government delegated authority administering provisions of the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002 (FBCSA) on behalf of the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services. Responsible for protection of the public interest, the BAO regulates and supports licensed: funeral establishment operators, directors and preplanners; cemetery, crematorium and alternative disposition operators; transfer service operators; and bereavement sector sales representatives across Ontario. The BAO is wholly funded by licensee fees (not tax dollars).

Media contact
David.Brazeau@TheBAO.ca
Manager, Communications, BAO