An historic cemetery near Christina Lake is getting some love from volunteers.
The Cascade cemetery, which dates to 1897, has gone through periods of both neglect and diligent care over the past 20 years, but was starting to look forlorn again.
Sue Adrain of the Boundary Museum and Archives said local regional district director Grace McGregor approached her about spearheading another revitalization effort. She has since found many other volunteers.
“It’s a community effort for sure,” Adrain said. “I’d like to thank everybody that has taken interest in the project. I think it’s really important.”
Adrain said they have been working on blocking off the existing access from Highway 395, which is in a dangerous location, as well as the entrance from Stewart Creek Road, which is steep and goes through the cemetery reserve.
A new laneway and parking area will be put in from Stewart Creek Road, which will likely be gated. They are also removing large danger trees and have removed most of a broken vinyl fence that surrounded the main part of the cemetery. Adrain said the fence went overtop some graves and excluded others.
She has secured a grant from FortisBC to sponsor a living fence, consisting of bushes or shrubbery, similar to one at the Sion cemetery in Grand Forks.
Adrain and her group have been entering the known and probable graves into findagrave.com. While only a few original grave markers exist, there are 22 known burials, nine other probable burials, and at least 15 possible burials. However, ground-penetrating radar conducted a few years ago didn’t detect any previously unknown grave sites. Adrain, who has been visiting the cemetery since the 1970s, recalls there used to be a couple more headstones that have since vanished.
Adrain said the Boundary Woodworkers Guild has made a kiosk that will be installed this spring listing those interred in the cemetery. You’ll be able to scan a QR code to read more about the history of the area and the people who are buried there. Volunteers also plan to put in walking paths and non-invasive bushes. Picnic tables and memorial benches are on their wish-list as well.
Previous efforts were made in the 2000s and around 2012-13 to rescue the cemetery from overgrowth, but Adrain said it had since fallen back into disarray.
Adrain said students from Christina Lake elementary school have agreed to clean up branches and brush. Highways contractor YRB has donated some equipment, and other organizations have also offered help.
The mild winter has allowed them to get a head start. They hope to have the groundwork completed in April or May and then move on to setting up pathways and planting the bushes.
