A church in Richmond Hill is facing scrutiny once again regarding the heritage cemetery it manages.
The Bereavement Authority of Ontario, which oversees licensed cemeteries in the province, along with the City of Richmond Hill, has announced that they are looking into the conditions at the Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God, previously known as Headford United Church, located on Leslie Street in Richmond Hill.
At the northern edge of the cemetery, there are four piles of tombstones – some clearly broken – with grass around them removed. Shrubs have been taken out, and mounds of dirt now line the edges of the cemetery. The parking lot has also been dug up and closed off, with a large dumpster positioned at one end.
This excavation work raises concerns for Joyce Horner, a local historian and former member of Richmond Hill’s heritage committee, as she fears that unmarked graves could have been disturbed.
“It’s devastating,” Horner said. “This is part of Richmond Hill’s heritage. These are all my friends and neighbours buried here.”
Richmond Hill Coun. Karen Cilevitz, who chairs the heritage committee, says she was ‘horrified’ when she saw construction happening at this historic site. (Mike Smee/CBC)
Horner was instrumental in securing designation under the Ontario Heritage Act for both the old Headford United Church and its cemetery established in the mid-1800s back in the late 1990s. This designation ensures that a property cannot be demolished or significantly altered without special permission from local authorities.
The Act states that making changes to a heritage site without municipal approval can lead to fines as high as $1 million. Additionally, property owners may be required to restore it to its previous condition.
It’s not clear what prompted the bereavement authority’s involvement at this church right now. Communications director David Brazeau told CBC Toronto only “there are issues with the cemetery’s condition that we are investigating with the municipality.”
City officials from Richmond Hill also shared no details about their investigation.
A representative from the church identified simply as Rev. Pavlo stated in an email to CBC Toronto he was unaware of any ongoing investigation concerning activities on church property.
“In response to your request, the Church is not aware of the facts you alleged in your message and, as such, cannot provide any comment at this time,” he said.
Some tombstones broken and piled near fence
A particular concern for Horner is that approximately 15 years ago; Richmond Hill’s planning committee secured funding aimed at refurbishing some crumbling tombstones within this cemetery.
“We put some in sleeves, pieced them together where we could,” she recalled. It’s unclear if those restorations were impacted by recent activities on church grounds. However, several tombstones do appear broken and stacked near a boundary fence.
Local historian Joyce Horner stands by what used to be Headford United Church. She noticed construction taking place at this heritage site and brought it up to Coun. Cilevitz who then informed city staff about it. (Mike Smee/CBC)
After observing these changes during mid-November, Horner approached Coun. Karen Cilevitz who heads Richmond Hill’s heritage committee.
“I was absolutely horrified by what I saw,” Cilevitz stated. “I couldn’t believe what had been done here – most importantly that those headstones had been removed.”
“This is hallowed ground. This is a cemetery.”
Cilevitz then encouraged city officials to initiate an investigation following her visit.
This isn’t first time church faced criticism over cemetery
This marks yet another controversy since acquiring ownership of this property back in 2020 regarding how they manage their cemetery.
In 2022,
the church obstructed arrangements for burying a man from Toronto who had recently passed away due COVID-19 complications despite his family owning a plot there.
Grass has been removed from parts surrounding these burial grounds causing worries among locals like Horner about potential disturbance caused towards unmarked pauper graves during these alterations.
The bereavement authority also became involved back then too with Louis Tsotsos’ family. After enduring lengthy delays – eventually leading them being able finally inter him properly amongst relatives already resting peacefully nearby.
“It’s been very disheartening and distressing on all us,” expressed Tsotsos’ niece Christina Nastas then.
“We’re unable lay uncle rest after he spent considerable time waiting funeral home limbo.” -[sb]The Tsotsos family had owned their burial plot since 2014 while two others were laid adjacent before new ownership took hold however nobody reached out notifying them whatsoever!
Back then Brazeau criticized management citing repeated orders ignored allowing grieving families go through unnecessary trouble often accompanied great sadness losing loved ones already suffered enough grief!”
‘Shameful’ claimed Brazeau publicly raising serious concerns overall behavior exhibited throughout managing operations regarding traditional practices expected uphold within community standards.”
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