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Stopping crematorium ‘impossible’: Cardinal
Ryan Bergen
The Gazette
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
City councillors and the owners of Lakeshore Cardinal Funeral Home weathered another volley of criticism Monday night from Dorval residents who demanded a halt to the ongoing construction of a crematory in the town’s village centre.
Many of those at the council’s April meeting who spoke out against the project asked the council to rescind the construction permit the city granted to the funeral home. Some questioned the lack of transparency that allowed the project to begin without any apparent public scrutiny.
“I’ve got the (construction) permits,” funeral home owner Jean-Charles Cardinal insisted. “The project is half constructed.”
Cardinal told the crowd of about 50 that stopping the $1.2-million project that will also include a chapel, reception rooms and a columbarium – a vault containing ashes – was “impossible.”
Dorval Mayor Edgar Rouleau conceded the crematory, which is only
metres from residential property, is not ideal, but explained that the zoning for the funeral home allows the crematory to be built as an accessory to the business.
Nevertheless, Jean Clément, a member of Citizens of Dorval for Democracy, was encouraged by what he saw as a softening of Cardinal’s heretofore hard line.
“Good judgment and cool heads will prevail,” said Clément, who would like to see the crematory relocated. “I think they are going to do the right thing.”
Cardinal confirmed Tuesday that construction on the project continues.