Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery — Attraction in Montreal

I want to rate it with zero stars Shame on all of them because there is no respect for the families and souls resting there.

The cemetery is in a constant state of disgrace. I have complained year after year and the excuses are plentiful. (Photos are from 2019-2022. Before the strike). I have to bring a gas-powered weed trimmer to get to the gravesite every year

The management blames the unions, and the unions blame the management. Every year, we’re told something different. In 2022, we were told that the grass was not cut before June 1st because it would help the bees! Someone is not being honest. As a Catholic institution, it should practice what it preaches.

If you want to change a headstone, you require a permit from them. HOWEVER, if it is not purchased from them, your request will languish for months.

All of the other cemeteries manage to keep the graves in order as well as issue permits in a timely manner. (I know because I have called the area cemeteries.) I'm completely baffled.

Take your money elsewhere; it will save you much heartache and aggravation!

May, 2024 Yet again, the level of service is bargain basement. I have requested information on changing the stone on the site. I used the "Write to us" link and after two weeks received very little information. For example, I was told that a permit would cost between $250.00 & $300.00. (No other info). I of course wrote back wanting to know if there is a form to complete, how is the cost determined and if there is a link with the information. I wrote this on April 12, 2024 and as of May 14, 2024, I have not received a response.

If you call, there are several choices, but if you need information that is not on the menu option, I was put on hold for approx. 35 minutes. I was then transferred and it rang for approx 20-25 times and I was disconnected!

Photos were taken on May 13, 2024. The site looks abandoned. The Fabrique de Notre Dames should be ashamed to have let it get this way, but on one cares. Sadly, the bereaved have nothing to do with the grievances, and yet, we take the brunt of pain and...

Neglected Graves: A Call for Dignity and Respect on Mother's Day

As we gather on this Mother's Day to honour our loved ones, my sisters and I embarked on a solemn pilgrimage to visit our parents' final resting place. What we encountered was not the solace and tranquility one expects from this visit, but rather a scene of neglect and desolation that left us physically ill. Just under six months since our mother's passing, and exactly eight years since we bid farewell to our father, we were confronted with the appalling state of their gravesite. The once sacred grounds, meant to offer a sense of peace and homage to those who have departed, lay in complete disarray. Despite our repeated pleas to the management at Notre Dame des Neiges cemetery, our appeals for maintenance and repair have fallen on deaf ears. As daughters grieving the loss of our parents, our only request is for them to rest together in a place that reflects the dignity and kindness they embodied in life. Yet, the very institution entrusted with preserving their memory has failed us time and time again. Notre Dame des Neiges, a cemetery older than our nation itself, holds the designation of a National Historic Site of Canada. Yet, this important institution has been allowed to decay into a state of disgraceful neglect. As proud Montrealers, we are appalled by the lack of oversight from both our city and the Notre Dame Parish, who own the cemetery. Excuses of past strikes cannot justify the neglect that has persisted for years. Our pleas for intervention began in 2016, long before any labour disputes arose. It is unacceptable that the final resting places of our loved ones are treated with such indifference. On this day of reverence for mothers, we call for action to rectify this injustice. It is not only a matter of respect for the departed, but a reflection of our shared humanity. Let’s restore dignity to these sacred grounds and honour the memory of those who rest...

Cote des neiges Notre Dame Cemetery

Dear administration of the Cote des Neiges Cemetery,

I am writing to express my profound sadness and disappointment regarding the current condition of cote des neiges Cemetery. As someone with two loved ones resting there, it is heart-wrenching to witness the cemetery's deplorable state. The grass has grown past thigh height, making it nearly impossible to reach certain areas, and in some parts, the grass is waist-high. The cemetery looks abandoned and neglected, which is a tremendous disrespect to the families of those buried there.

Cote des NeigesCemetery has always been known for its serene and beautiful location up in the mountains, but the current neglect has tarnished that reputation. It is unacceptable that despite the significant fees we pay for burials, the cemetery is allowed to fall into such disrepair. The excuse of Covid-19 for this neglect is no longer valid, and it is high time action is taken to restore the cemetery to its former dignity.

I urge you to address this issue immediately. Hire additional staff or even students to maintain the grounds. The city and Cote des Neiges Cemetery must take responsibility and ensure the cemetery is a place of respect and peace for the families who come to visit their loved ones.

This situation is deeply disappointing and unacceptable in 2024. I hope you will take swift action to restore the cemetery to a respectful state. Families deserve to have a well-maintained place to remember and honor their loved ones.

I beg you for your prompt attention to this...