Canadian Funeral Director

08/08/2025

Representing the Funeral Profession in Ontario since 1883

08/05/2025

There’s a renewed conversation happening in our profession about unity, regulation, and the importance of ensuring the bereavement sector in Ontario is guided by those who live the work every day. At the Ontario Association of Cemetery and Funeral Professionals (OACFP), this is not a new conversation—it’s one our members had years ago.

We recognized early that internal divisions—between funeral and cemetery, between operators large and small—were holding us back from shaping the future we all care about. That’s why OACFP has worked steadily and intentionally to bring the sector together not just in words, but in structure, programs, and strategic advocacy.

Today, we are the only provincial bereavement association that represents every aspect of the sector. We’ve built that unity because we believe it’s essential—not just for influencing regulation, but for serving our communities with the compassion, cultural understanding, and professionalism they deserve.

Now, as others in the sector revisit this conversation, we welcome the momentum—but we also offer a challenge: join the work that’s already in motion.

OACFP members have:

• Created a collaborative platform that brings funeral, cemetery, cremation, transfer, and supplier professionals together.
• Advocated consistently for regulatory leadership that includes professionals with lived experience and sector-specific insight.
• Supported qualified candidates in seeking appointments to regulatory bodies and advisory committees.
• Advanced a vision of the profession that is inclusive, forward-thinking, and rooted in shared purpose.

The message is clear: the sector can be unified—and in many ways, it already is. But it’s time to expand that unity and align our voices with even greater coordination.

We’re inviting our colleagues to help us finish what we’ve started.

• Support coordinated advocacy. Fragmented messaging will not move the government. A united, strategic approach will.
• Engage with the unified work already being done.
• Encourage qualified professionals to lead.
• Focus on our shared future. The diversity of our roles should be our strength, not our dividing line.

OACFP members have led the way in building a collaborative future for Ontario’s bereavement sector. We invite all sector professionals to join us in pushing that future forward.

07/30/2025

We're bringing the profession together for two unforgettable days!

September 15 – Kick things off with a night of laughter at a private sector Comedy Bar with your peers & colleagues.

September 16 – Earn continuing education credits, teambuild with like-minded professionals, and find out what's trending in funeral service.

Don't miss this opportunity to recharge, reconnect, and re-energize with colleagues from across Ontario.

DETAILS & REGISTRATION https://ofsaeducation.org/2025-ontario-funeral.../

07/28/2025

CFD Employment Opportunity
Advance Your Career!
Westminster Funeral & Reception Centre
Is Hiring a Funeral Director
(July 28, 2025)

Job Details
DescriptionWhy Work for Westminster Funeral and Reception Centre?

Service -
• At every level, our dedicated team members display a strong work ethic and commitment to our core values, respect for the family, the profession, and the individual.• Work with leading experts in the funeral and cemetery profession.

Benefits -
• Balanced work schedule
• Secure Employment with fully paid benefits
• Pension plan
• Uniform and dry-cleaning programs
• Professional advancement opportunities
• We value honesty, courage, integrity, ethical behavior and the development of personal growth.
• We are rooted in the communities to provide a personal touch to every family we serve.
• We believe in the value of funeral and cemetery service, drawing on decades of experience to create the best experience for our families.

Summary/Objective -
The Funeral Director is accountable for performing a variety of tasks during the preparation, planning, and ex*****on of the funeral and memorialization process to ensure services run smoothly and that the expectations of our client families and their guests are exceeded.

Essential Functions -
• Consults with client families or legal representative of the deceased to create services designed to meet their end-of-life memorialization expectations.
• Ensures that client families are presented with all merchandising and service options available.
• Obtains information needed to complete required documents such as obituaries, death certificates, burial permits, and insurance.
• Coordinates all service arrangements and details with clergy, other presiding persons, fraternal or military organizations, and others who may participate in conducting the funeral service.
• Utilizes systems to record merchandise selections, enter contracts, and complete necessary forms.
• Plans, schedules, and conducts visitations and services.
• Oversees all employees participating in services, ensuring that each member of the team understands their individual role and is professionally representing the location.
• Places casket or remains in visitation area, setting up the area to comply with client family wishes, including adjusting light fixtures, and arrangement of flowers or plants.
• Directs and ushers families and services attendees to and from the location of the funeral service.
• Supervises and assists in the transportation of client families to ensure a timely departure and arrival.
• Arranges and coordinates shipment of remains to and from other cities and locations.
• Instructs and oversees work of Apprentice Funeral Directors on services and paperwork.
• Performs other duties, as assigned.

Competencies -
• Communication Proficiency.
• Teamwork Orientation.
• Detail Orientation.
• Thoroughness
• Customer Service Orientation.
• Social Perceptiveness.
• Time Management.

Required Education, Experience, Certifications and Licensure -
• Active Funeral Director’s license in good standing
• Possess a valid driver’s license and clean driver’s abstract
• Exceptional active listening, verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and keen attention to detail
• Proficient using MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and funeral software
• The successful candidate will be required to undergo a background check

Additional Eligibility Qualifications -
• Ability to read, write, and speak English fluently. Bilingual is a plus.
• High degree of overall computer proficiency.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to effectively present information to client families, co-workers, and leadership.
• Demonstrated willingness to participate in growing market share through active, personal participation in complimentary, community based organizations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers, community leaders, and grieving client families.
• Ability to empathize with client families and their guests and demonstrate tact and patience in emotionally charged situations.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude and working environment through organization and communication.
• Ability to actively listen to the needs of client families.
• Attention to detail, follow-through and ability to work in a team setting.
• Tactful and professional behavior when dealing with complaints or dissatisfaction with services or merchandise.
• Ability to work independently with little or no supervision.
Supervisory Responsibility -This position may be responsible for supervising Funeral Directors on Internship.

Other Duties -
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Please submit resume to Jay Wilson jhwilson@plcorp.com

07/25/2025

BAO change in leadership

Leadership Update at the
Bereavement Authority of Ontario
July 25, 2025

Dear Professionals/Licensees:

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am writing to inform you of an update at the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO).

On July 9, 2025, Jim Cassimatis concluded his tenure as Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of the BAO. The Board of Directors expresses its gratitude to Mr. Cassimatis for his four years of service with the organization, including his leadership as CEO and Registrar from December 2022 to July 2025.

To support the organization through this transition, the Board has appointed Jay Blair as Interim CEO and Registrar, effective July 9, 2025. Mr. Blair has more than ten years of legal and regulatory experience. His appointment provides leadership continuity and operational stability.

A formal search process for a permanent CEO and Registrar is now underway. In the meantime, the organization remains focused on its mandate to protect and inform consumers and to maintain public confidence in Ontario’s bereavement sector.

Under Mr. Blair’s interim leadership, the BAO is working to strengthen how it delivers on that mandate by strengthening oversight, providing clearer guidance, and maintaining effective communication with licensees and sector partners. The organization remains committed to a regulatory approach that is fair, transparent, and responsive.

Maintaining open communication remains a priority during this transition. In the days and weeks ahead, Mr. Blair will be reaching out to sector partners to connect directly and support continued engagement.

Thank you for your ongoing engagement and commitment. If you have any questions about this transition, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,


Leith R.A. Coghlin
Chair of the Board of Directors
Bereavement Authority of Ontario

07/22/2025

An Open Letter to Our Colleagues in the Bereavement Sector of Ontario

To my fellow bereavement professionals across Ontario,

We are the stewards of Ontario's most sacred rituals. In moments of profound loss, we are the steady hands, the compassionate voices, and the trusted guides for families in our communities. The work we do is not merely a job; it is a calling, demanding the highest levels of empathy, integrity, and professionalism. It is from this place of shared purpose and deep respect for our profession that I write to you today.

We must be honest with ourselves about our recent history. For too long, we have allowed our internal disagreements—whether between cemeteries and funeral homes, large corporate operators and small independents, or differing philosophies of service—to overshadow our common goals. And while we were busy arguing amongst ourselves, a critical shift occurred, one that affects every single one of us. The government, seeing a fractured and disjointed sector, proceeded to appoint non-bereavement professionals to regulate our profession.

Since the new legislation took effect in 2012, we have been living with the consequences. We are now guided, licensed, and overseen by individuals who, however well-intentioned, do not possess the lived, day-in-day-out experience of serving the bereaved. They have not stood in a quiet arrangement room, comforted a grieving family, or managed the complex logistics of a service under immense emotional pressure. Decisions are being made for us, not by us, and this disconnect threatens the very future and integrity of our profession.

We have been working together in this new reality for over fifteen years, navigating challenges and serving our communities. The time has come to definitively leave the past in the past. The old divisions no longer serve us. The luxury of internal debate is one we can no longer afford. Our future depends on our ability to unite now.

Our unity cannot be passive. It must be active, vocal, and strategic. We must come together to ensure that our regulatory body is composed of leaders from within our own ranks. We need to:

Engage with our professional associations and demand a unified strategy for government advocacy.
Communicate with one another as colleagues with a shared destiny, not as competitors.
Actively identify, encourage, and support qualified bereavement professionals to seek appointments to the regulatory board.
Present a united and powerful voice to the government, making it clear that self-regulation led by sector experts is the only acceptable path forward.
The future of our profession in Ontario is at a crossroads. Will we continue to be a sector governed by outsiders, or will we rise together to reclaim our voice and guide our own destiny? Let us choose unity. Let us choose to work as one, ensuring that the future of bereavement care is shaped by the wisdom, experience, and dedication of those who know it best—us.

With respect and a firm belief in our collective future,

A Fellow Bereavement Professional

Scott B. Miller, Funeral Director

Former, Board Member & Secretary (2016-2023) of the Bereavement Authority of Ontario
Past Chair of the Funeral and Transfer Service Advisory Committee (2017-2023, BAO
Past President of the Ontario Funeral Services Association (2012-2013), Cornerstone Award Recipient
Former Co-Chair of the OFSA Legislative Committee (2008-2017)
Past Chair of the Licensing Committee (1999-2003), Ontario Board of Funeral Services
Former Board Member (1998-2003), Ontario Board of Funeral Services

07/09/2025

𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 & 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞⁣
⁣
We’re honoured to share that McKenzie Blundy Funeral Home & Cremation Centre will officially become part of Smith Funeral Home & Family Centre as of August 29th, 2025.⁣
⁣
After nearly three decades of service to the Sarnia community, Katherine Scimmi has announced her retirement and the transition of ownership of McKenzie & Blundy Funeral Home & Cremation Centre to Smith Funeral Home & Family Centre, another long-standing, locally owned funeral provider.⁣
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McKenzie & Blundy Funeral Home was founded in 1946 by Donald McKenzie and Paul Blundy, both Royal Canadian Navy veterans who returned from service with a shared commitment to helping families through some of life’s most difficult moments. The firm has operated continuously from its stately Victorian-era home on Christina Street, serving generations of local families with dignity, respect, and compassion.⁣
⁣
Katherine began her career with McKenzie & Blundy in 1997 as secretary. She later became General Manager and ultimately acquired the business from Grant McKenzie, son of co-founder Donald McKenzie. Under her leadership, the funeral home remained rooted in its founding values while evolving to meet the changing needs of the community.⁣
⁣
“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside a dedicated team and serving families during some of their most difficult moments,” said Scimmi. “It has been an honour to uphold the values this firm was built on and to carry forward the legacy established by the McKenzie and Blundy families.”⁣
⁣
Effective August 29th, 2025, ownership of McKenzie & Blundy will transition to Smith Funeral Home & Family Centre. Smith Funeral Home was founded in 1980 by the Smith Family, fully taken over by Don, Laurene, and Scott Smith in 2001 and proudly owned and operated today by Scott Smith and Emily Whitely. Smith Funeral Home remains deeply committed to serving the Sarnia-Lambton community with compassion, dignity, and personalized care for every family served.⁣
⁣
“We are honoured to carry on the tradition of excellence that Katherine and her team have maintained at McKenzie & Blundy,” said Scott Smith. “Our shared values and strong community roots make this a natural fit, and we look forward to supporting families with the same trusted care.” ⁣
⁣
The McKenzie & Blundy location will remain in operation as Smith Funeral Home & Family Centre - McKenzie Blundy Chapel, ensuring ongoing continuity of service and care for the community.⁣
⁣
For any inquiries, please contact either:⁣
⁣
Scott Smith, Managing Director & Owner⁣
Smith Funeral Home & Family Centre⁣
info@smithfuneralhome.ca⁣
⁣
London Line Chapel - 1576 London Line, Sarnia⁣
McKenzie Blundy Chapel - 431 Christina Street North, Sarnia - EFFECTIVE August 29, 2025⁣
⁣
or ⁣
⁣
Katherine Scimmi, President & Owner⁣
McKenzie Blundy Funeral Home⁣
info@mckenzieblundy.com

07/07/2025

Looking for a CEU this summer? Join us next week with The Notary Group to learn about how death impacts real estate property in BC. Approved for 1 FD CEU credit. Register here: https://beeid.org/34440945db5c

07/04/2025

CFD Employment Opportunity
We're Hiring: Funeral Director & Embalmer (2 Positions)
Wiseman's Funeral Homes
(July 4, 2025)

WE'RE HIRING: FUNERAL DIRECTOR & EMBALMER (2 Positions)Join the Caring Team at Wiseman’s Funeral HomesLocation: Marystown and the surrounding Burin Peninsula, Newfoundland, Canada
Start Date: July 21, 2025Type: Permanent Full-Time

Make a Difference Every Day

Wiseman’s Funeral Homes is seeking a compassionate and professional Funeral Director and Embalmer to join our dedicated team. With five locations across the Burin Peninsula, we take pride in serving our communities with dignity and care — and we’re looking for someone who shares our values.

What You’ll Do
✔ Guide families with sensitivity through funeral arrangements
✔ Perform embalming and preparation duties
✔ Coordinate services and manage logistics
✔ Represent Wiseman’s with compassion and professionalism
✔ Participate in weekend & holiday rotations with scheduled time off

Your Schedule
Monday–Friday | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM | 35 hours/week
On-call every second weekend with 2 days off the following week
Alternating holiday coverage (Christmas/New Year’s)

What You Bring
✔ Valid Funeral Director & Embalmer License (NL)
✔ Strong communication and interpersonal skills
✔ Dedication to compassionate care and service
✔ Valid driver’s license
✔ Flexibility to work across multiple locations

What We Offer
- Competitive Salary
- Commission Opportunities
- Health, Dental, Life & LTD Insurance
- Relocation Allowance
- Licensing Exam & Annual Fees Covered
- 3 Weeks Paid Vacation
- Annual Salary Review After First Year

Wiseman’s Funeral Homes is an equal opportunity employer. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Apply Today!
Send your resume and licensing documentation to:jobs@wisemansfh.ca

Questions? Contact us via email only.
Serve families. Make an impact.

06/14/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EtN9JWcnR/?mibextid=wwXIfr

What began as a summer job in June 1965, has become a lifetime dedicated to funeral service.

As Allison Swan marks 60 years of service in his chosen profession, we are thankful for all who have shaped his experiences and contributed to his development as a pillar in funeral service.

It was Easter weekend when he crossed the threshold to MacLean Funeral Home. The owner was away that day, but Allison returned and spoke with James Allen, who offered him a job. This began a mentorship and friendship that continues to this day.

His duties were washing vehicles, preparing for services, meeting the public during visitation, assisting on ambulance calls, as well as other tasks.

When he graduated from Charlottetown Rural High School in 1969, he became employed full-time and started his apprenticeship training. He became a licensed embalmer in 1971.

Throughout the years, he has been actively involved in his community as a member of Rotary Club of Charlottetown, St. John’s Victoria Masonic Lodge, and as a member of the board of stewards at Trinity United Church.

He has also served his profession as chairperson of the Atlantic Provinces Funeral Directors & Service Convention, President of the PEI Funeral Directors & Embalmers Association, and President of the Funeral Service Association of Canada.

Allison has been supported along the way by his family, including his late wife Gail who worked beside him full-time beginning in 1979 when they purchased the funeral home.

He is indebted to the families who have placed their loved ones in his care.

06/03/2025

Stewart Windrum

We are saddened to announce the death of Stewart Windrum, founder of the Western School of Mortuary Practice, on Friday, May 30, 2025 in Red Deer Alberta.

Stewarts wide Donna posted the following on Instagram:

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Stewart Windrum. He was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, papa, and friend who will be deeply missed.
Stewart had many professional careers over his lifetime, beginning with being a Pastor. He shared this message near the time of his death. “Heaven is a place where we have knowledge and oneness with our God in a state of perfect harmony. This means we have reached a true relationship with our saviour. In our today, we are often governed by our selfish wants, needs, and motivation. However in harmony with God, we will have reached the perfection that God wants for us. There is no right or wrong - just the love and peace that we strive for on earth, but do not always achieve in our human state.” Perhaps the message here is - “Once a Pastor, always a Pastor!”

We invite you to share your memories and condolences on this post. When arrangements are finalized, I will share the official obituary, as well as the date and time for the funeral at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Red Deer. Please share this post to inform others who may not be on Facebook or Instagram.

We honour Stewart’s lasting impact on our profession through his many years of educating funeral directors and embalmers in Western Canada. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues during this time.

05/21/2025

Rosemarie Roduck
Comox Valley Funeral Home and Crematorium

Rosemarie Roduck died unexpectedly at North Island Hospital, Courtenay, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

She and her husband Kent founded Comox Valley Funeral Home and Crematorium on Ryan Road in April of 1993, as the Valley’s only locally owned, Canadian Independent Funeral and Cremation service. Over time they expanded to Campbell River and Comox, serving families from 4 locations.

Over the past 32 years Rosemarie not only cared for countless families with her natural ability to make people feel at ease during a most difficult time but contributed so much to her community. She was instrumental in the development of the Comox Valley Community foundation, served on both the local and national Board of Directors of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada. She had been a Soroptimist and an active member of the Comox Rotary Club and was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship. The Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” exemplified Rosemarie’s life. She will be remembered throughout the Valley as an exceptional event planner, raising thousands of dollars for local charities, producing countless fundraisers at the Filberg Centre.

Rosemarie is survived by her husband Kent, son Michael (Sarah), sister Adelaide, sister-in-law Ruth and many nieces and nephews across Canada.

Friends are invited to share in the story of a remarkable person’s life at her legacy, Comox Valley Funeral Home and Crematorium, 1101 Ryan Road on Saturday May 31 at 1:00 p.m. followed by refreshments in the garden room and patio of the funeral home.
Placement of her urn in the niche wall at Courtenay Civic Cemetery will take place privately.

For those wishing to honour Rosemarie’s memory with a charitable donation, consideration to a local animal rescue organization would be appreciated.