Hillside Cemetery
Hillside Cemetery is a peaceful, quiet sanctuary surrounded by trees. The site is made up of 80 acres of land and has been in existence since 1886.
Commemorative items are not allowed on the turf from April 1 to October 31, and are never allowed on columbarium niches, vessels, scattering gardens, trees or benches. This includes stickers, artificial flowers, stuffed articles, etc. Glass items such as vases, solar lights, or jars are not permitted in the cemetery at any time.
A clean turf area allows staff to maintain Hillside Cemetery to the high standards our community has come
to expect. All commemorative items found on the turf during the summer season will be removed and stored
for thirty days. Please contact the cemetery to retrieve these commemorative items. Items placed in approved flowerbeds will not be removed.
Flowerbed regulations are in place to ensure flowerbeds are consistent and meet specifications. If you wish to
install a flowerbed in front of a monument, you must receive permission to do so. Flowerbeds are installed by
cemetery staff and include a hard plastic edging and soil amendments. Mulch must be soft material; no rocks
are permitted. Cemetery staff will not be responsible for upkeep of flowerbeds.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
| How can I find where someone is buried? |
| Please check out our online database. This database is ongoing and subject to change. Due to the cemetery’s age, historic records may be incomplete or inaccurate. Hillside Cemetery does not guarantee the accuracy of information in our online database. |
| What are interment rights? |
| Interment rights for a lot or niche give the rights holder the right to say who can be interred or disinterred, as well as the right to memorialization. The land remains the property and responsibility of the cemetery. |
| Do I have to use a funeral home? |
| If you choose to arrange a burial without the assistance of a funeral home, please contact our office as early as possible so we can walk you through our requirements. You will also be required to apply for a Burial Permit through the Government of Alberta, as required by law. |
| How much notice is needed to have a burial or open a grave? |
| We require all applicable documents to be completed and provided a minimum of two full business days in advance of the intended interment date. This allows us to help you get all the proper documents and arrangements in place in time for the burial to occur. |
| Why is a vault or liner required? |
| These structures stop the grave from sinking and stops the weight of the earth from damaging the interred casket or urn. |
| Do you allow for disinterment? |
| A disinterment can be done upon request but requires a permit from the Province of Alberta. To learn more about the process for disinterment, visit alberta.ca/permit-exhume-body. |
| Can someone else in my family use the grave/niche I purchased? |
| Yes, but conditions apply. Please contact the cemetery administrator for assistance. |
| When will the grave have grass again? |
| Lots will have grass seeded after they have settled. Typically, this happens each spring and fall. |
| Do you offer payment plans and how can I pay? |
| If you are unable to pay the full amount, you will be charged an interest at a rate of 1.5% per month (18% per year) on all amounts unpaid after 30 days from the date of the purchaser’s signature. You can pay in person at the Hillside Cemetery office, at City Hall, or with your bank. |
| What are green burials and do you allow them? |
| At this time we do not allow green burials in Hillside Cemetery. Green burials are a growing burial offering seen in many municipalities, designed to reduce environmental impact and ensure a legacy of protecting the land, with an emphasis on sustainability and simplicity. |
| What’s the difference between a ‘plot’ and a ‘lot’? |
| A lot is a single grave site which has been designated for interment of human remains or cremated human remains.
A plot contains a group of four to six lots. There are only a few areas on the cemetery with plots, and the remaining areas are outfitted only with lots. |
| Do you allow pet burials? |
| Hillside Cemetery does not currently accommodate pet burials. |
| Why isn’t the ground level in the cemetery? |
| In years past, burials occurred without the use of grave liners. Over time, burial materials disintegrate, and each year spring and summer rains cause settling of the ground around lots. New soil is added to level older lots whenever significant settling is seen to be a safety hazard. |
| Can I clean an old monument? |
| Headstones and footstones are private property and are under the purview of the rights holder. Any additions, alterations, or potential damage causing activities must be approved by the rights holder. |
| What is perpetual care? |
| Perpetual care is a fund put together to help maintain cemetery grounds, graves, crypts, mausoleums, or other parts of the cemetery. A percentage of the sale price is directed towards the perpetual care fund, which helps ensure the cemetery remains clean, well-maintained and secure. |
| What is a cremation garden? |
| The cremation garden at Hillside Cemetery is a designated area that provides a variety of options for both above ground and in-ground interments of cremated human remains. |
Irrigation replacement project
Irrigation upgrades to replace aging infrastructure at Hillside Cemetery are continuing this year.
The project, which first began in 2020, has been divided into several phases to best accommodate visitors.
Please be mindful of area signs and areas which may be cordoned off. Cemetery staff are available for assistance during office hours. For more information, visit the project page.
History
The original Hillside Cemetery is in Kin Coulee Park. This cemetery is an eight-acre site incorporated by the Church of England in 1892. In 1945, the site was turned over to the City of Medicine Hat and the last interment in the old Hillside Cemetery was in 1947. The cemetery is no longer active and is maintained as a passive green space by the Parks and Recreation department.
St. John's Presbyterian Church in Medicine Hat owned a parcel of land described as SE quarter of Sec. 26, Township 12, Range 6, west of the 4th, comprising approximately 40 acres. In 1908 – 1909 the Presbyterian Church released 20 acres to the City of Medicine Hat for the purpose of establishing Hillside Cemetery. In April 1914, they released to the City the balance of the land which is now completely within the Hillside Cemetery. The new Hillside Cemetery is located at the intersection of Gershaw Drive and 10 Avenue SW.
The first burial, in what is now Hillside Cemetery, was a baby by the name of Cecil Hargrave on November 7, 1886.