May 4 - 11 is Funeral Professionals Week Across Ontario
TORONTO, May 5, 2014 /CNW/ - Dozens of municipalities have declared May 4-11 Funeral Professionals Week in celebration of the profession's 100 years of service to Ontario families. On May 6, 1914, the Ontario Legislature passed a law creating the province's first regulatory authority to oversee funeral services. While much has changed in the past century, the founding commitment to meet the evolving needs of an ever-changing Ontario society still guides today's Board of Funeral Services and the profession it governs.
"Ontario was a different province 100 years ago," noted Yves Berthiaume, the Chair of the Board of Funeral Services. "But the important role funeral professionals have always played in helping families make it through very difficult times with care, sensitivity and dignity will never change."
The mandate of the Board of Funeral Services is to protect the public interest and to help consumers make informed choices about funeral services. This two-fold mission has been central to funeral service regulation from the very beginning. When provincial oversight of funeral services began back in 1914, a five member Board of Examiners regulated fewer than 200 funeral homes that had applied for what was known then as "Certificates of Qualification."
Today, the Board of Directors comprises thirteen members, of which eight are from the profession, and five represent the public. Currently, there are nearly 2,800 licensed funeral professionals across the province providing services through more than 580 licensed funeral establishments. In addition to consumer protection and public awareness, the Board of Funeral Services also provides a full range of education and continuing education programs to ensure that funeral professionals continue to exceed Ontarians' expectations in the provision of funeral services.
In the coming days, events have been organized across the province as funeral professionals mark this milestone, including a gala dinner in Toronto, and an education day at Humber College.
"Celebrating the profession's first century of service to Ontarians is a measure of the maturity and the success of regulated funeral services in this province," commented Doug Simpson, Registrar of the Board of Funeral Services.
About the Board of Funeral Services
The Board of Funeral Services was enacted by legislation and is the governing body that regulates the practices of funeral directors, funeral service establishments and related services to protect the interest of Ontario consumers. It is an administrative authority of the Ministry of Consumer Services.
SOURCE: Board of Funeral Services
April Gibson
Thornley Fallis Communications
[email protected]
416-515-7517 ext. 323
Vicki McCoy
Board of Funeral Services
[email protected]
416-979-5450 ext. 225
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