We’d like to preserve and protect Ontario’s natural landscape. We also want, for ourselves and others, an end-of-life option that helps, not harms, the earth.
The Natural Burial Association is a non-profit organization, independent of the funeral industry. It’s run by a group of nature-loving volunteers who really want to see natural burial grounds in Ontario. We’re grateful to the donors who help us with our efforts, and to Small Change Fund, the extraordinary charity that provides support for grassroots organizations such as ours.
Susan worked for years in marketing, at Toronto's top ad agencies, and with Gravity Inc, a wonderful design agency that does work for the non-profit sector. (Thank you Gravity for all the pro-bono work you do for NBA!). Susan served on the board of the Green Burial Council (US) and is a member of the Conservation Burial Alliance. She runs the Natural Burial Association.
For many years Mary has been an invaluable volunteer for NBA, bringing her experience having worked at funeral homes (including on Manitoulin Island), and as a former cemetery sales rep. She’s a member of the Red Rock Indian Band, and today, NBA has engaged Mary as our Indigenous Liaison. She views natural burial as a practice aligned with an Indigenous worldview that honours the interconnectedness of all life and the importance of returning to the Earth in a way that is gentle, respectful, and in harmony with nature.
Ariadne is a lifelong nature lover who has been extraordinarily fortunate to dedicate most of her professional life as a trained biologist to the conservation of biodiversity, with a special focus on amphibians and their conservation globally. Ariadne is keen to help raise awareness of the importance of natural burial in conservation, and of putting humans firmly back into the food web.
Rebecca is a professional singer whose experiences singing at funerals inspired her to become a hospice volunteer and a certified funeral celebrant, working with families to create meaningful ceremonies that acknowledge death and honour life. She sees natural burial as a practice that reconnects human beings with the web of life, creating healthier relationships with death, the earth, the broader-than-human world, and those who come after us.
Heather is an occupational therapist who has worked in hospitals and in the community with many palliative care patients. Her years of patient engagement and her concern for the future of our planet have combined into a desire to ensure that each of us has the opportunity, when we reach the end of our lives, to be buried in a manner which preserves an ancient and restorative ecological process.
Kristy is happiest outdoors, and tries to live her life as naturally as possible. She homeschools and shares her love of nature with her children, especially within their seven acre Muskoka home, where they forage, photograph, and propagate only native trees. Everyone at NBA loves nature, but Kristy helps us deepen our appreciation by defining and providing insights into the flora and fauna.
Hayden is a Field Biologist. Through his work to conserve sensitive habitats he has seen the degradation of natural areas and wants to contribute to the growing movement of protecting our native species and spaces through environmentally responsible end of life options. As a volunteer with NBA, Hayden’s our scientific go-to, providing research into how natural burial can strengthen the local ecosystem.
Michael was founder and chairman of Key Publishers which published Toronto Life, Canadian Geographic, Canadian Business, Owl and Chickadee. He was also co-founder and director Investeco Capital, one of Canada’s first environmental investment companies. Honoured with the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada, he always sought ways to improve the planet, including co-founding the Highway of Heroes Tribute, an initiative to plant two million trees in honour of Canadians who died or served in our wars. Many know him as "the tree guy".
Mary Anne Brinckman was an exceptionally knowledgeable and passionate environmentalist. An extraordinary practical result of her environmental mission was her creative role in establishing three green magazines: she was the co-founding editor of Owl and Chickadee, the co-founding editor of Toronto Life Gardens (subsequently Gardening Life) and the founding editor of Green Living magazine. Her belief in Green Burial led to the formation of this Association.