JCANA recently held our 9th annual conference in Vancouver B. C., and members from around North America gathered to hear presentations about matters that are important to cemeteries everywhere:  security, mapping software, grounds maintenance, historic preservation, green burial and more.  And we were privileged to visit some of the local Jewish cemeteries and see new and different ways to run a cemetery.  Every conference JCANA has put on over the past 9 years has been an opportunity for our members to pick up information and to see how other cemeteries handle the issues that we all face in our day-to-day operations. And each time we all get together, it's an occasion to renew old acquaintances and to make new friends.  We have built a sizable network of friends and colleagues in the short time that JCANA has been in existence.

The Jewish Cemetery Association of North America (JCANA), in conjunction with the Schara Tzedeck Cemetery Board, held its 9th Annual Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada May 21st – 24th 2017.  The 3-day conference is a coming together of cemetery and Chevra Kadisha Directors to share innovative ideas, discuss controversial issues and plan strategies for fiscal responsibility in cemetery management.

The conference kicked off with a Gala Dinner catering to 70 guests and featuring keynote speaker Michael Geller, local architect, planner and real estate developer. 

Topics covered over the 3 days included Cemetery Security, Green Burial, Cemetery Restoration, Chevra Kadisha and the Community, Cemetery Mapping, Ethical Wills, and Autopsy and Medical Dissection.

Speakers included local Vancouver experts as well as other prtofessionals from Seattle and New Jersey.

Two afternoons were spent visiting local Jewish cemeteries, one of which, Mountain View Cemetery, dates back to 1892 and has been entirely restored and refurbished with new amenities. An unveiling of five baby headstones was solemnly observed along with a walking tour of this historical cemetery. Another, Schara Tzedeck Cemetery, has had its chapel renovated including a new area for “kohanim”, “tahara” room, “shomrim” room and family room. The third, Temple Sholom Cemetery, is a very unique concept with graves intermingled among gardens and trees. Its architect, world-renowned Cornelia Oberlander, treated delegates to an insightful talk.

The conference took a thematic approach, which incorporated panel discussions and fostered interaction among attendees.

Howard Jampolsky, Executive Director of the Schara Tzedeck Cemetery Board was happy to host this conference in Vancouver along with Dan Brodsky, Chairman of JCANA.