"It's quite devastating." Whitehorse residents are sifting through piles of flowers and keepsakes at the cemetery to find the items that belong on their loved ones' graves.
The City of Whitehorse has launched an internal investigation regarding the removal of personal items from individual grave sites at Gray Mountain Cemetery.
Following the City of Whitehorse’s annual fall maintenance, residents visiting Gray Mountain Cemetery found that keepsakes placed on graves had been damaged, removed, or discarded entirely.
The City of Whitehorse wrote a post on Facebook to apologize for what it called an “internal miscommunication,” that led to “several” damaged items.
But many residents weren’t satisfied with that post’s message. Several commenters called the situation disrespectful, and suggested that the City was attempting to downplay the damage that was done. Other commenters described the cemetery as having piles of broken and discarded items at every row (pictured below), and Bibles that had been run over by lawn mowers.
Linda Priestley went to Gray Mountain Cemetery to find keepsakes she had left on her friend’s grave. She said she was saddened and confused by what had happened.
“I was just sick when I found out that this had happened,” said Priestley, standing next to tables full of flowers, wreathes, and other keepsakes on Tuesday. “You know, I can’t figure out how it happened.”
“I feel disgusted sometimes, but I just feel sad. Look at the mess! Look at the flowers!”
For another Whitehorse resident, who asked to remain anonymous, returning flowers and wreathes brought back the pain of a recent loss.
“When you drive up, it is extremely distressing, and it makes me feel very emotional, actually,” said the anonymous resident, looking over the bare graves past piles of items sitting under trees.
“My husband and my father are both buried here. My dad just passed in August and, to see his wreathes just sort of, you know, taken from his grave site and plopped on the side – along with all of the other things that are laying here; angels, and windmills for children, obviously, [and] all the flowers – it’s quite devastating.”
Following the concerns raised by Whitehorse residents last week, the City took to social media to announce that an internal investigation had been launched and offer apologies to those affected.
Gray Mountain Cemetery will remain open until October 6, giving residents a few more days to claim personal items. The City says that unclaimed items will be catalogued and stored until the cemetery reopens in the spring.
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