Ottawa’s Heritage Cemetery — Est. c. 1850

A Place of History,
Peace & Remembrance

For over 170 years, the Bells Corners Cemetery Board has honoured the memory of Ottawa’s founding families, served generations of communities, and preserved the irreplaceable heritage of Canada’s capital region.

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170+ Years of Service

3,500+ Families Served

12 ac Grounds Maintained

1 Registered Charity

Our Mission

Caring for the Past,
Serving the Present

The Bells Corners Cemetery Board is dedicated to the respectful stewardship of one of Ottawa’s cherished historic burial grounds. We uphold the dignity of those interred within our grounds, preserve the cultural and genealogical heritage of the Bells Corners community, and provide compassionate, professional services to families during their most difficult times.

As a registered Canadian non-profit organization (CRA Charity No. 118802982RR0001), every decision we make is guided by our duty to the families we serve, the community we represent, and the generations of history entrusted to our care.

“To honour every life with dignity, preserve every story with integrity, and tend every resting place with enduring care.”

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Our Vision

Preserving Heritage for
Generations to Come

We envision a future where the Bells Corners Cemetery endures as a living heritage site — beautifully maintained, meticulously documented, and deeply cherished by the Ottawa community for generations to come.

Our vision is a cemetery where every monument is preserved, every record is accessible, and every visitor feels the weight and the wonder of Ottawa’s rich human history beneath their feet. We are committed to being the trusted guardians of this irreplaceable legacy.

“A community’s character is written in how it honours its dead. We are the custodians of that character.”

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Cemetery grounds with historic monuments and church steeple visible in the background

Ottawa, Ontario

About Us

Rooted in Ottawa’s West End History

Nestled in what was once the quiet village of Bells Corners — today a vibrant community in Ottawa’s west end near Kanata and Nepean — our cemetery has been a place of rest, remembrance, and reflection since the mid-1800s.

The Bells Corners Cemetery Board is an all-volunteer non-profit organization established to govern, maintain, and protect this historic burial ground in perpetuity. Our board members are community leaders, historians, and dedicated citizens who serve out of respect for Ottawa’s heritage.

From early settler families who built the region, to veterans who served Canada in the First and Second World Wars, our grounds hold the stories of the people who shaped Ottawa and the nation.

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What We Offer

Serving Families with Compassion & Care

We provide a full range of dignified burial and cemetery services to families in Ottawa and the surrounding region, guided by respect, professionalism, and over 170 years of experience.

Elegant companion burial monument in polished black granite at Bells Corners Cemetery

Burial & Interment Services

We offer traditional ground burial, companion plots, and cremation interment in a dignified, professionally managed setting. Our staff guides families through every step of the process with compassion and clarity.

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Well-maintained cemetery grounds in spring with colourful flowers among historic headstones

Grounds Care & Maintenance

Our team maintains the cemetery’s grounds year-round — mowing, landscaping, pathway upkeep, and seasonal preparation — ensuring a peaceful and beautiful environment for visitors and families alike.

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Flat grave marker for a U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran at the cemetery

Heritage & Burial Records

We maintain detailed burial records dating back to our founding, available to families and genealogical researchers. Our heritage preservation program protects monuments and documents the lives of all those interred here.

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Silakowski family monument with historic church steeple visible in the lush green cemetery grounds

Heritage Preservation

Protecting Ottawa’s Living History

The Bells Corners Cemetery is more than a burial ground — it is an open-air museum of human experience. Within our 12 acres lie the monuments of early settlers, merchants, clergy, and soldiers who shaped the Bells Corners community and Ottawa as we know it today.

Our Heritage Preservation Program works to restore aging monuments, document every burial with photographic records, and ensure that the stories held within these grounds are never lost to time. We work in partnership with Ottawa heritage organizations to safeguard this irreplaceable cultural asset.

Among our most cherished responsibilities is the recognition of military veterans — men and women who served Canada in the First World War, the Second World War, and beyond — whose final resting place we are honoured to tend.

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What We Stand For

Our Core Values

Compassion

Serving families with empathy and sensitivity during their time of grief.

Respect

Honouring every life with the dignity it deserves, without exception.

Heritage

Preserving Ottawa’s history through careful stewardship of our grounds.

Community

Serving the Bells Corners community and the broader Ottawa region.

Stewardship

Maintaining our grounds to the highest standard, for today and tomorrow.

Integrity

Operating with full transparency as a registered Canadian non-profit.

Latest Updates

News & Upcoming Events

Stay informed about cemetery operations, seasonal notices, community events, and board announcements.

May 2026

Announcement

Spring 2026 Grounds Opening

Following our annual winter closure, the cemetery grounds are now fully open to visitors. New seasonal plantings, pathway grading, and headstone condition reviews have been completed for the 2026 season.

June 18, 2026

Event

Annual General Meeting 2026

The Board invites all interested community members to attend our 2026 Annual General Meeting. The AGM will be held at our administrative office at 123 Slater Street, 3rd Floor, Ottawa.

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September 2026

Heritage

Heritage Walk & Monument Documentation Day

Join our volunteers for a guided heritage walk through the cemetery’s historic sections. We will also be conducting monument photography and documentation as part of our preservation program.

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Genealogy & Research

Looking for Burial Records?

Our burial records date back to the cemetery’s founding in the 19th century. Whether you are researching family history, tracing Ottawa ancestry, or confirming a loved one’s resting place, our office can assist you with a record request.

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Our Grounds