News Release - Town to Expedite Cemetery Report Following Misleading Deputation

September 23, 2026  

The Town of Greater Napanee will call a special meeting to address claims that the Town’s in-town trail construction contravenes provincial laws. 

The claims were made in a deputation at the September 22 Council meeting and were accompanied by a petition claiming the Town has broken provincial laws, which was signed by approximately 300 residents.

During the deputation, Council was told that an employee of the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO), who asked not to be identified, told the petitioners that the Town’s construction of a walking trail adjacent to the Riverside Cemetery contravened provincial legislation. The deputation also stated that the Town contravened BAO rules by permitting recreation next to a cemetery. 

Mayor Richardson asked staff to make public, by the end of the week, a full report outlining the steps taken to ensure the trail complies with all applicable provincial legislation. He also requested that the matter be discussed at a special meeting scheduled for next week.

The report will detail the steps that were taken to ensure the Town was legally authorized to proceed with the project, as well as the steps that were taken to inform the petitioners that the information they were publicly distributing was inaccurate and misleading.  

The facts detailed in the report will include: 

• A timeline of discussions and decisions related to the in-town trail, dating back to March 2025, including Council reports, media releases, and a public presentation delivered by a special citizen committee of Council.
• Documentation from a licensing lead at the BAO from June of 2026 officially authorizing the trail, as well as follow-up correspondence between Town staff and the BAO that confirmed the Town followed the correct process, and that the Trail and its purposes were permitted under BAO rules and provincial legislation. 
• Details on the use of Town cemeteries by residents for walking and cycling, as well as examples of similar trails constructed within cemeteries in several Ontario communities, including Picton, Toronto, and Ottawa.
• Correspondence with the petitioners, where it was confirmed to the Town by the petitioners that they understood that the wording on their petition was not accurate but that the petition should still be considered valid because the individuals who signed the document did so based on what the petitioners told them and not what the petition actually said. 

A detailed report is expected to be posted by the end of the week, with a special meeting scheduled for next week to further discuss the matter.  

“The Town takes transparency and public trust very seriously, and in line with those principles, I have asked that a detailed and accurate report be brought forward to address the serious and misleading allegations made by members of the public at a meeting of Town Council and throughout the community”, said Mayor Terry Richardson. “Having seen the correspondence with the BAO, the petitioners, and the documents authorizing the trail to be constructed, I believe that members of the public deserve a full and complete picture of the issue, which will be provided to them.” 

Media Contact: 

Kylie Huffman  

Community Engagement & Communications Coordinator  

Town of Greater Napanee 

T: 613-776-1116 

E: khuffman@greaternapanee.com  

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