The group operating several cemeteries in the Greater Toronto region released a public apology after the objects of the religious cemetery in the Pine Hills cemetery in Scarborough expressed displeasure among the family members of the deceased.
Mount Placent Group of the cemetery operating the Pine Hills site, posts an apology on Wednesday and states that it is stopping the program of removing his articles.
The group wrote, “We want to start by expressing their heartfelt apology for pain, crisis and frustration due to the removal of articles in gravisites,” the group wrote. “We admit that our tasks – although safety lies in concerns – have hurt many families and disrupted moments of remembrance and reflection.”
we hear you. we are listening. We are committed to better. MPG has stopped our Gravite article removal schedule and released a public apology. Read full details: https://t.co/yi4jdjrut2 pic.twitter.com/yablyujl7c
– Mount Point Group (@MPGC_GTA) August 27, 2025
The group says that it “tried to contact families about the removal of the item in the last six months, but some family members told Citynuse that they had only learned about it when they reached the cemetery, who arrived in the cemetery, who said that one person said,” like a garbage. “
Joanna Nikiforos told Citynuse, “The families of the loved ones were not informed about this change in any way, a obscure signal outside the cemetery outside the cemetery, seeing that they were trying to maintain ‘security, beauty and inclusion’ in the cemetery.”
He said, “Many members of the Greek community are angry with the lack of respect and lack of care that were handled by these religious objects,” he said. “It is a terrible feeling to see objects that are very valuable for you who are considered garbage by those who do not understand it. The monument boxes and candles are lit as a way to symbolize the entry of the deceased in the light of Christ and as a method.”
The indication that he has said that the item “is carefully removed and you are kept to pick up. The item is kept for 60 days, after which it will be dealt with.”
In his apology, the Mount Point Group of the cemetery stated that the policy changes were approved by the condolence authority of Ontario and its purpose was “to protect the health and safety of all those who visited our cemetery including family members, employees and volunteers.”
Despite this, it admits that the rollout of the new rule was not well handled.
“We admit that our messages did not reach everyone, and we could do better-especially confidence-based and culturally communicating with diverse communities, including members of the Greek and Greek conservative communities.”
A video posted on Instagram featured rows of bags with items filling a section of the cemetery.
The video stated in a voice:
“It is expensive to bury someone in this country, it is not cheap, and not to take someone’s marker down and not allow it, it creates obstacles. When you think about the word that it is to make everyone feel comfortable, but many Greek people do not feel comfortable.”
“My mind is frightening to watch this video.”
In response to backlash and hurt, the mount pleasure group of the cemetery says that it is reviewing its operating by-sasural and will work with families, including “holy houses” to restore meaningful objects, which were removed from the tombs starting yesterday.
“Additionally, we are looking for a better option to store items placed in bags within the currently vested area, to ensure that they are preserved with dignity and care.”
