Preserving Our Past. Honouring Our Ancestors. Protecting Our Heritage.

The South Stormont Cemetery Preservation Association (SSCPA) is a community-based organization dedicated to preserving, restoring, documenting, and protecting the historic cemeteries of South Stormont, Ontario.

Our cemeteries are much more than burial grounds. They are irreplaceable historical records, preserving the stories of the pioneers, United Empire Loyalists, military veterans, families, and community leaders who helped shape our region.

Through historical research, gravestone conservation, digital archiving, and community partnerships, we are working to ensure that these important places, and the people buried within them, are remembered for generations to come.

Our Association brings together cemetery representatives, historians, genealogists, and concerned residents who share a common commitment to protecting South Stormont’s cemetery heritage.

Our Establishment and Incorporation

The South Stormont Cemetery Preservation Association was established in response to growing concerns about the condition and long-term preservation of historic cemeteries throughout South Stormont.

Recognizing that many cemetery boards face similar challenges, including aging gravestones, limited financial resources, declining volunteer participation, and the need to preserve historical burial records, community representatives came together to explore a more coordinated approach.

At a meeting held on March 5, 2026, participants agreed to pursue the establishment of a township-wide association dedicated to supporting cemetery preservation, sharing resources, securing funding, and encouraging cooperation among cemetery boards.

The South Stormont Cemetery Preservation Association was formally incorporated in the Province of Ontario on April 17, 2026, under Ontario Corporation Number 1001553325.

The Association is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors committed to responsible stewardship, historical preservation, financial accountability, and community service.

Application for Charitable Registration

The Association has submitted an application to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for registration as a charitable organization. The application remains under review, and the Association is working to satisfy the applicable registration requirements.

Charitable registration would strengthen our ability to secure financial support for cemetery restoration, historical documentation, and long-term preservation initiatives.

Until registration is approved, the Association is not a CRA-registered charity and cannot issue official donation receipts for income tax purposes.

We will update our website when our charitable registration status is confirmed.

Our Mission

The mission of the South Stormont Cemetery Preservation Association is to preserve, protect, restore, and document the historic cemeteries of South Stormont for the benefit of present and future generations.

We believe that cemeteries are an essential part of our community’s cultural and historical heritage. Their gravestones, burial records, and landscapes provide lasting connections to the individuals and families who helped establish and develop our region.

Working collaboratively with cemetery boards, municipal authorities, historians, genealogists, descendants, and community volunteers, we seek to promote responsible cemetery conservation, improve access to historical burial information, and secure the resources necessary for long-term preservation.

Our Association recognizes and respects the independence of individual cemetery boards. Our purpose is not to replace their responsibilities, but to support their efforts through cooperation, shared expertise, fundraising, and coordinated preservation initiatives.

Every cemetery has a history. Every gravestone tells a story. Every life deserves to be remembered.

What We Do

The South Stormont Cemetery Preservation Association undertakes and supports a range of activities designed to protect our cemetery heritage and make its history accessible to future generations.

Cemetery Preservation and Gravestone Restoration

We identify deteriorating and damaged gravestones, assess their conservation needs, and work with cemetery boards and qualified restoration specialists to preserve historically significant monuments. Our objective is to protect original materials and inscriptions while respecting accepted cemetery conservation practices.

Digital Cemetery Mapping and Archiving

We are working to develop comprehensive digital records of South Stormont’s cemeteries, including gravestone photographs, inscriptions, burial information, and mapped grave locations. These records will eventually provide valuable resources for descendants, genealogists, historians, and cemetery administrators.

Historical Research and Documentation

We research and document the histories of individual cemeteries, the communities they served, and the people buried within them. By combining historical documents, cemetery records, photographs, and genealogical research, we seek to preserve information that might otherwise be lost.

Funding, Grants, and Community Partnerships

We pursue grants, donations, sponsorships, and partnerships to help finance cemetery restoration and preservation projects. By coordinating efforts among cemetery boards and community organizations, we aim to make the most effective use of available resources.

Recognizing Military Veterans

We are developing an initiative to identify the graves of Canadian military veterans buried in South Stormont cemeteries and explore the placement of appropriate commemorative markers. This project will help ensure that their service and sacrifices remain visible and remembered.

Community Education and Volunteer Participation

We encourage residents, descendants, students, historians, and community organizations to participate in cemetery preservation. Through volunteer opportunities, historical research, and public education, we hope to strengthen appreciation for the important role cemeteries play in preserving our shared heritage.

The Cemeteries We Serve

The South Stormont Cemetery Preservation Association is committed to supporting the preservation and documentation of cemeteries throughout the Township of South Stormont, encompassing the former Townships of Cornwall and Osnabruck.

Our preliminary cemetery inventory currently identifies 19 cemeteries, ranging from active community burial grounds to small, historic family cemeteries that have not received new burials for many years.

Each cemetery represents an important part of our shared heritage. Some contain the graves of United Empire Loyalists and early settlers, while others preserve the histories of military veterans, farming families, religious congregations, and generations of residents who helped build our communities.

Our initial historical documentation and digital archiving efforts have focused on Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Dixon Cemetery, and St. George’s Anglican Cemetery at Gallingertown.

These three cemeteries represent the beginning of our work, not the limits of our commitment.

As additional resources, funding, and volunteers become available, we intend to expand our preservation initiatives and historical documentation to other cemeteries throughout South Stormont.

We recognize that individual cemeteries have different ownership arrangements, governing bodies, financial circumstances, and preservation needs. Our Association works collaboratively with cemetery boards and other responsible authorities, respecting their independence while encouraging cooperation and shared solutions.

Our long-term objective is to help ensure that no historic cemetery in South Stormont is forgotten or overlooked.

Our Vision for the Future

The South Stormont Cemetery Preservation Association envisions a future in which every historic cemetery in our community is respected, properly documented, and protected for generations to come.

Our long-term vision is to create a coordinated approach to cemetery preservation that combines traditional historical research and conservation practices with modern technology, community involvement, and sustainable funding.

Our priorities for the years ahead include:

• Comprehensive Cemetery Inventory: Establishing and maintaining an accurate inventory of all known cemeteries and historic burial grounds throughout South Stormont.
• Digital Burial Records: Developing searchable cemetery databases containing gravestone photographs, inscriptions, burial information, and mapped grave locations.
• Gravestone Conservation: Identifying monuments at risk and supporting professional restoration and preservation projects.
• Historical Documentation: Researching and publishing the histories of individual cemeteries and the communities they served.
• Veterans’ Recognition: Identifying the graves of Canadian military veterans and developing appropriate commemorative initiatives to honour their service.
• Sustainable Funding: Securing grants, donations, sponsorships, and other financial resources to support long-term preservation.
• Community Engagement: Encouraging volunteer participation, partnerships, educational opportunities, and the sharing of family and historical records.

We recognize that these objectives will require time, resources, and sustained cooperation among cemetery boards, community organizations, municipal authorities, and volunteers.

Our goal is to build an organization that will continue serving South Stormont long into the future, providing the leadership, coordination, and resources necessary to protect our cemetery heritage.

Preserving our cemeteries is not simply about protecting the past. It is about ensuring that future generations can discover, understand, and appreciate the lives of those who came before them.

Working Together to Preserve Our Heritage

The success of the South Stormont Cemetery Preservation Association depends upon the generosity, knowledge, and commitment of people who care about preserving our community’s history.

We welcome the participation of cemetery boards, descendants, genealogists, historians, local businesses, service organizations, and residents who share our commitment to protecting South Stormont’s cemetery heritage.

There are many ways to contribute. Volunteers can assist with historical research, cemetery documentation, gravestone photography, fundraising, and community awareness activities. Families and descendants can help by sharing historical photographs, burial records, genealogical information, and personal stories that might otherwise be lost.

Financial contributions and sponsorships are equally important. They help support the specialized work required to restore deteriorating gravestones, document burial grounds, and develop digital records that will remain accessible to future generations.

We are particularly grateful to the individuals, cemetery boards, businesses, and community organizations whose generosity and cooperation are helping establish the foundations of our Association.

We Invite You to Become Involved

Whether you have historical information to share, time to volunteer, professional expertise to contribute, or an interest in supporting a restoration project, we would be pleased to hear from you.

Please contact the South Stormont Cemetery Preservation Association through our website to learn more about our activities and opportunities to participate.

Our ancestors helped build our communities. Together, we can ensure that their stories are never forgotten.

Our Current Restoration Project

One of the preservation initiatives currently being supported by the South Stormont Cemetery Preservation Association is the restoration of the historic gravestone of Guy Edwin Sheek (1802–1865) and the creation of a companion memorial honouring his wife, Mary Grant (1811–1899), at Pleasant Valley Cemetery.

Guy Edwin Sheek served with the Cornwall Troop of Volunteer Cavalry during the Upper Canada Rebellions of 1838–1839. His original gravestone, recovered in numerous broken pieces, is being carefully reconstructed and preserved as part of this important heritage project.

The fundraising goal of $6,215 will help cover the specialized restoration and memorial work required to preserve the original monument and honour both individuals.

We invite descendants, local historians, heritage supporters, and members of the community to learn more about the project and consider contributing to its completion.

Support the Guy Edwin Sheek and Mary Grant Gravestone Restoration Project