Family in ‘limbo’ with father’s ashes stuck in B.C. postal facility

Emily Walstrom was expecting to lay her father to rest this month, but instead, she says his cremated remains are stuck in a Canada Post facility in B.C., delayed by the ongoing national postal strike.

She says her father, Dennis Walstrom, died suddenly on Oct. 23 in Surrey, B.C., from complications of a lung disease. He had just turned 65. 

“It’s kind of being left in limbo, not knowing where my father’s remains have ended up and when I will actually receive them.”

Walstrom, who lives in Île Perrot, a suburb of Montreal, says Canada Post is the only courier service that ships cremated remains. 

She says her father’s ashes were shipped by the Amherst Funeral and Cremation Services in Vancouver on Nov. 12. A screenshot provided by Walstrom indicates that the cremated remains and a package containing the death certificate were handled by the funeral service. CBC News has reached out to Amherst for confirmation.

The Quebec resident says her father spent most of his life in Vancouver but grew up in Manitoba, where his two brothers and extended family still live.

“We were hoping to receive his ashes sooner rather than later so that we could have a burial for his ashes out in Manitoba, where he wanted to be laid to rest,” she said. 

With Manitoba’s ground now frozen for the winter, Walstrom says the family may have to postpone the burial until spring. Additionally, rising airfare costs around the holidays are making it increasingly difficult to plan travel for the service. 

“I was told that he would arrive on Nov. 20th.”

The last tracking update shows the remains are in a facility in Richmond, B.C.

More than 55,000 postal workers across the country walked off the job on Nov. 15, citing concerns over wages, contract work, job security, benefits and working conditions.

In a statement to CBC News, Canada Post acknowledged the issue and expressed sympathy for those affected.

The Crown corporation stated that all items in its network are secured and will be delivered on a “first-in, first-out basis” once the strike ends. However, it has warned of significant delays even after the strike comes to an end as it deals with a backlog.

“We remain committed to reaching new agreements at the bargaining table, and talks will continue with the support of the special mediator,” Canada Post spokesperson Lisa Liu said in the statement.

Human remains should be essential service: Walstrom 

The journey to bring her father’s remains home was already a challenging one for Walstrom.

“When I found out my father had passed away, I was actually in the Philippines at the time,” she said. “I had to try to get home as fast as possible.”

From overseas, Walstrom had to navigate extensive paperwork, providing proof of her relationship with her father and co-ordinating with the crematorium. While that part of the process went smoothly, the delivery — what she says should have been the simplest step — has been derailed by the strike.

WATCH | Canada Post strike leaves foreign nationals stuck waiting for critical documents: 

Canada Post strike leaves foreign nationals stuck waiting for critical documents

Foreign nationals from the U.S. are stuck in Canada as they wait to receive their passports with newly-granted work visas. The documents are being held up in Canada Post facilities as the postal strike enters its second week. Pinki Wong spoke with some of the affected people, who say they are losing hundreds of dollars a day staying in B.C.

Watson is calling on Canada Post and the postal union to treat human remains as an essential service. 

Canada Post and the union have agreed to continue delivering government benefit cheques — including Old Age Security, the Canada Child Benefit and the Canada Pension Plan — during the labour disruption.

“Seeing as there are certain things that are shipped solely by Canada Post, I would like that list to include human remains,” she said.

CBC News contacted Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to ask if they would consider extending essential services to include human remains but did not receive a response by time of publication.

As the strike stretches into its second week, Watson says she checks the tracking system daily, hoping for updates. 

“I find it very undignified for someone we love to be in a warehouse somewhere, collecting dust,” she said. “Dealing with the uncertainty of this, along with grieving, has been a nightmare.”