I live in a region in Northern Canada which does not permit the burial of those who pass away in winter. Instead they are housed in special facilities until the ground is thawed.

My dad passed away in March but he was only just laid to rest in June. Our family waited three months from the time of his funeral to have the burial.

This is not the practice everywhere and our neighbours to the North, the communities of the James Bay coast, who have colder temperatures and deeper frosts than we do, bury their dead in winter.

I find this waiting entirely unnecessary and disrespectful. I’m sure the reasons are wrapped up in liability and red tape but there is no reason to make families wait up to five or six months, at times, to have their loved one laid to rest.

This delays the grief process and puts everyone into a holding pattern. We wait until the local council gives the go ahead to open our cemetery and then are told when we will be allowed to hold an internment service.

When we are finally able to lay our loved one to rest we are no longer allowed to participate in or even witness the lowering of the casket.

Keeping the dead hostage for the sake of policies and procedures is disrespectful and irreverent. Surely a way could be found to ensure burials take place in a timely manner no matter the season.