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About the BAO

About the BAO

Helping the Ontario government and the bereavement industry enhance professionalism, increase consumer protection and provide an effective, efficient and responsive regulatory framework.

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For Consumers

Consumer Information Guide

For families/consumers – The BAO’s free online and printed Consumer Information Guide – A Guide to Death Care in Ontario is designed to help you make informed choices related to prearranging and arranging a funeral, burial, cremation or hydrolysis service.

For bereavement sector businesses to provide to families/consumers – Funeral establishments, transfer services, cemetery, crematorium and alternative disposition operators can order copies of this guide by completing our automated form.

View the Consumer Information Guide

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In accordance with the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002, the information provided on this website is offered as a public service. Although the Bereavement Authority of Ontario endeavors to ensure the information identified is both current and accurate, errors do occasionally occur and therefore complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.

Where possible, visitors to the website are encouraged to verify, by telephone, information with the Bereavement Authority of Ontario before taking further action. The Bereavement Authority of Ontario accepts no legal liability or other responsibility for any errors, omissions or statements on this website to which these pages connect.

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Frequently Asked Questions

See a list of the the most common questions our BAO staff regularly receive in phone calls and emails. Many of the answers to these questions and more are also found in our handy and free BAO Consumer Information Guide.

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Notice to the Consumer

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It’s important that grieving families know about the persistent issue of copied or ‘pirated’ death notices and obituaries. The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) is asking you, as licensed professionals, to share this information with people making funeral or other bereavement care arrangements with you. There are companies continuing to make money by reposting obituaries...
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The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) is advising families with loved ones buried at Headford Cemetery in Richmond Hill to contact us if they have specific concerns with the condition of their loved ones’ gravesites. The BAO is currently conducting an inspection for compliance at the cemetery, located at 9550 Leslie St., Richmond Hill. People...
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Nov. 6, 2024 – UpdatesThe operator licence of Passfield Mortuary Services Inc., in St. Catharines, has been revoked. The Bereavement Authority of Ontario offers its condolences to the family members on their recent loss. On October 21, 2024, the Registrar licensed Wilson Burial and Cremation Inc. as a Transfer Service Operator – Class 1, at...
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The Registrar, Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002, has carried out his Notice of Proposal to revoke the licence of a funeral director, effective today. Andrea H. Bryce, previously of Gatineau, Quebec, has not contested the Registrar’s Notice of Proposal to revoke her Funeral Director – Class 1 licence. Registrar Jim Cassimatis, who is...
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The Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT) has ordered the Registrar, Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002 (FBCSA), to carry out his Notice of Proposal (NOP) to not renew the: The LAT’s Decision and Order, made on Sept. 16, 2024, means that Luann M.H. Jones may not act in the capacity of a licensed funeral director...
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The Registrar, Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002, has issued an immediate suspension order and Notice of Proposal to Revoke the Funeral Director – Class 1 licence of Andrea H. Bryce, previously of Gatineau, Quebec.  Bryce’s licence has been temporarily suspended since Aug. 23, 2024, for breach of her Conditions of Licence. The Conditions...
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Eirene Cremations Inc. (Eirene) voluntarily terminated its Transfer Service Licence Class 1 on July 16, 2024. Consumers who have prepaid cremation or other death care services with Eirene Cremations Inc. are encouraged to contact Bereavement Authority of Ontario Inspector Kate Dafoe at Kate.Dafoe@thebao.ca or 647-952-4170. About the BAO The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) is...
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Consumer FYI By Jim Cassimatis Interim CEO/Registrar Bereavement Authority of Ontario Cemeteries are well maintained in perpetuity thanks to companies, municipalities, religious organizations, and volunteers following the law and serving their communities. Generational maintenance of a cemetery is reinforced by the legally required contributions to a Care and Maintenance Fund or Account by all owners...
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Darul Barzakh Gardens cemetery in Richmond Hill has been required to stop charging and collecting additional interment rights (IR) fees from grieving families. The cemetery’s owners and operators, the Officers of the Board of Muslim Green Cemeteries Corporation (MGCC), received a Registrar’s letter on Friday, June 16, 2023, as its actions are in contravention of...
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A Manitoba-based business has been ordered to cease operating in Ontario or face prosecution. Despite this, the business continues to advertise and may be providing licensed services illegally in this province. The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) has learned that the funeral establishment, Ethical Death Care, 530 St. Mary Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba, continues to advertise...
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Update – June 7, 2023 — Notice to the Consumer – In January of 2023, the Bereavement Authority of Ontario issued a Notice of Proposal to Refuse to Renew the licences of: – Luann M. H. Jones, Funeral Director; – Covenant Funeral Homes Inc., 2505 Eglinton Ave. E., Toronto (Scarborough) The business is no longer...
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For Professionals

Funeral Transfer Service Professionals Licensing

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Cemetery & Crematorium Professionals Forms

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Articles for Professionals

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LifeLine newsletter is emailed to professionals licensed by the BAO in the bereavement sector on an ad hoc basis, averaging about a dozen a year. It is posted here for licensees’ reference and public interest. Note that the navigation in the index on top of each issue is designed for functionality in an email. It...
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The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) has eliminated a business licensing fee charged in relation to stillborn births. In tandem with the provincial government’s announcement in the fall removing the associated cost and simplifying the process of obtaining a certified copy of stillbirth registration, the BAO is eliminating licensing fees associated with death care services...
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Dear Licensee, We’ve received notice that the Ontario Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT) has recently mailed out your care and maintenance trust statement. We’ve updated our informative presentation slides to align with the new format of the statement. The slides will help guide you in filling out your Report on Care and Maintenance (Form 2). If you...
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It’s important that grieving families know about the persistent issue of copied or ‘pirated’ death notices and obituaries. The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) is asking you, as licensed professionals, to share this information with people making funeral or other bereavement care arrangements with you. There are companies continuing to make money by reposting obituaries...
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Year In Review By Jim Cassimatis CEO/Registrar Bereavement Authority of Ontario The year 2024 streamed by at pace with a string of accomplishments in place for consumers, and the continued commitment of professionals licensed by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO). Throughout the year, our BAO Board of Directors, management and staff have been putting...
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Please read this email carefully and keep it for reference.  The BAO reminds Funeral Establishment (FE) and Transfer Service (TS) Operators that your annual licence renewal is due by December 31, 2024. New! For the first time ever, FE and TS Operator licence renewals are now being done online and at the licensed operator level, instead of...
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Please read this email carefully and keep it for reference.  The BAO Licensee portal is now open to renew your personal licence, which must be renewed by the licence expiry date of December 31st. If you hold more than one personal licence: You will have separate profiles for each personal licence. (Sales Representative licences still expire on...
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New commemorative document, elimination of fees and simplified application providing support during a difficult time — Government of Ontario news release …………………….  The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) supports this government initiative and is sharing the news release from the Government of Ontario.  “The provincial government’s recognition of the need to provide support to grieving...
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By Jim Cassimatis, CEO/Registrar, BAO All bereavement facilities should remain peaceful places for families of all faiths, races, and cultures to grieve loved ones. The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) is here to support you, our licensed professionals, on issues of consumer and staff safety and security at your facilities. With the approach of the...
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IMPORTANT REMINDER:Please set up your licensee accounts on BAO Licensee Portal To: personal licensees, funeral establishment (FE) and transfer service operators (TS) This is a reminder to personal licensees and licensed operator main contacts to create your online portal account on the BAO’s Licensee Portal, ASAP. You will need access to this account to submit...
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