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Deeply disappointed to see @cityofvancouver.bsky.social terminated the All Souls Nights at Mountainview Cemetery. This event has been a tradition for us for the last 6 years, and the event has been going for 20. I’ll quote the statement from nightforallsouls.com In a thread:

“From 2005 – 2024, Mountain View Cemetery invited the public to come and remember their dead, in an atmosphere of contemplative beauty, whether buried at Cemetery or not. “

“As a non-denominational sacred event, All Souls offered an opportunity for people to share their own customs and experiences, and create their own traditions.”

“After 20 years, Mountain View Cemetery – under the direction of the City of Vancouver – has decided to end its relationship with All Souls and the founding artists. In a statement they pledged to “ take time to review our protocols for supporting artist-led sacred events.”

“This ending has not been our decision. We are sad and disappointed, specifically on behalf of the many people for whom All Souls at Mountain View Cemetery has been a cornerstone in their personal grief journey.”

“All Souls has become an important tradition for so many of us in the honouring of family and friends and feeling connected to community. Together we reclaimed and reimagined a part of our human culture, creating a container that held us all in community and common purpose. A temporary village.”

“We sincerely hope that people for whom it has become an important annual ceremony will keep their traditions alive in their own way, and continue to visit the Cemetery, especially at this time of year, to remember their beloved dead.”

“We hope the Cemetery will be responsive to future initiatives from artists and members of the public who value the importance of ceremony in our daily lives.”

“All Souls at Mountain View Cemetery was conceived by artists Paula Jardine & Marina Szijarto. Over the years, they have been joined by others who have shared their love and regard for their dead.”

“The events that occurred during All Souls at Mountain View Cemetery included music, art, poetry and other creative expressions and the opportunity for the creation of personal shrines and memorials.”

I don’t know what to say… this event has been a cornerstone of our family’s journey of grief and remembrance, and it feels terrible it’s been stripped away through some bureaucratic process. I leave it there, and I guess we’ll do our own version.