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Number of cremation burials tripled traditional burials in 2022, data says

Data about burials was part of a fourth-quarter report presented during the recent council meeting.
Rosedale Cem 3
The Rosedale Cemetery offers four columbaria in which urns with cremated ashes can be stored. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Cremation burials continue to be more popular in Moose Jaw than regular casket burials, as there were nearly three times as many cremations last year as there were regular funerals, data shows.

The number of traditional burials has hovered around the same for the last few years, with 52 such events in 2019, 46 in 2020, 37 in 2021 and 59 last year. 

In comparison, with cremation burials, there were 125 such events in 2019, 101 in 2020, 136 in 2021 and 173 last year. 

The data was part of a report about city department’s fourth-quarter activities that city council received during its recent meeting. Information about burials was part of the overall activities of the parks and recreation department.

Requests for service

Parks and rec received 1,402 total requests for service last year and resolved 1,066 incidents for a 76-per-cent success rate. The two biggest areas of concern for residents were forestry problems (899 requests) and parks and green spaces (244). 

In comparison, the department received 1,013 total service requests in 2021 and resolved 925 for a 91-per-cent success rate.

Attendance numbers

The fourth-quarter report showed 106,908 people attended the Kinsmen Sportsplex pool last year, compared to 78,111 two years ago, 51,441 in 2020 and 125,146 in 2019. 

The total number of aquatic memberships last year was 343, compared to 343 two years ago, 112 in 2020 and 140 in 2019.

Furthermore, there were 864 total recreation pass memberships last year, compared to 656 two years ago, 527 in 2020 and 682 in 2019. 

Also, there were 1,081 Yara Centre memberships taken out last year, compared to 941 in 2021, 613 in 2020 and 1,442 in 2019. 

Hockey teams booked a total of 4,327.25 hours across all three arenas — Bert Hunt, Wally Boschuk and Kinsmen — last year, compared to 2,921.50 hours in 2021, 3,200.50 in 2020 and 4,051 in 2019, the report said. 

Also, teams and groups booked a total of 4,253 hours for the Yara Centre turf, compared to 891 hours two years ago, 1,295 three years ago and 2,782 hours in 2019.

Meanwhile, the total drop-in attendance at Yara Centre last year was 52,095, compared to 48,249 two years ago, 17,476 three years ago and 17,332 people in 2019. 

The next regular council meeting is Monday, March 27. 

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