Frequently Asked Questions
A Celebrant is a person who is trained and certified to meet the needs of families during their time of loss. A Celebrant serves by providing a funeral service that is personalized to reflect the personality and life-style of the deceased. A Celebrant helps plan and present personalized memorials, celebrations of life, and funeral services. Celebrants are facilitators, attentive and sensitive interviewers, creative writers, professional public speakers, loss and grief educators, and ceremonial leaders. A binding Code of Ethics maintains confidentiality with individuals and families. Celebrants are creative, alternative, ceremonial leaders. They are an excellent choice for those who want to honour the life of a deceased loved one through participatory end-of-life ritual and ceremony. Ceremonies that may or may not be religious in nature, but that are both deeply moving and meaningful for those who are bereaved.
An increasing number of Canadians say they are non-religious and define their spirituality in different ways. A funeral, memorial, or celebration of life service that reflects an individual’s lifestyle and personality, often mirrors his or her spiritual nature. The friends and family of the deceased often wish to participate in the planning and presentation of a personalized end of life ceremony, but are uncertain how to do so. They may be uncomfortable with public speaking and/or speaking publicly about death and loss. This is where the Celebrant can help.
A Celebrant has been specifically trained to design a service for your loved one that is completely personal, incorporating those unique stories, songs and experiences that defined the loved one. A Celebrant will schedule a special Family Time for your family to share memories, anecdotes and special moments in the loved one’s life. The essence of the service will be based upon the remembrances of the family. The Celebrant will consult with you to help design a service that best reflects and memorializes the life of your loved one. The Celebrant can serve at a funeral service, memorial service, graveside service, anniversary tribute, tree planting, bench dedication or any other gathering designed to honor the deceased.
A Celebrant will meet with you in your own home OR at your chosen funeral home. This meeting generally takes one to two hours. During this time, the Celebrant will explore ways of making the service as meaningful and as personalized as possible. Participation by family and community is always encouraged. Once all of the elements of the service are discussed and decided upon, the Celebrant writes an appropriate and customized service, including all of the various ‘parts’. In this way, they can create a smooth-flowing, beautifully crafted tribute for your loved one. As necessary, the Celebrant will assist the various speakers before the event and oversee the ceremony’s design and facilitation. During the event, the Celebrant will facilitate and guide the proceedings, make any necessary announcements, as well as leading individuals through any rituals within the ceremony.
The Celebrant will spend approximately 10 hours in preparation for your service as well as the expense of maintaining a resource library and on-going training. Each Celebrant has established a fee or fee range based upon comparable professional services in the area.
Marriage Commissioners in BC are appointed government officials who can legally perform non-religious marriages and are based specifically, in the demographic area where that official resides.
In short, they can only apply to become commissioners if there area.. There are a maximum numbers- of commissioners appointed per city or specific demographic area. Marriage Commissioners must be retired/semi-retired, mature and active or well known in their own community. It should be noted that no formal training is required for a person who wishes to apply to become a Marriage Commissioner in BC.
Service Content/Time
Marriage Commissioners in BC work from pre-approved ceremony scripted by government which includes mandatory statements that they must say and include in the service.
Generally speaking, there is very little ‘margin’ if any to edit, alter or ‘customize’ the service content.
Also, there can be no religious ‘inclusions’ on any level.
Marriage Commissioners are not required to spend any time with couples they are marrying prior to the service other than to discuss and confirm logistical plans.
In contrast, Officiants are often very generous with professional time towards ensuring that couples they marry are receiving a highly personalized, customized, creative and thoughtful Celebration of Marriage. Any religious, spiritual and/or cultural preferences and inclusions are both welcome and assured.
There appears to be a growing interest and intrigue around the idea of a ‘living funeral’ or ‘living celebration of life’. And likely for good reasons too. One of those reasons is that many people are living longer than in previous generations and often have the luxury of those extra years to face and accept their eventual mortality. As well, I have found through my many years working in the ‘end-of-life profession’ that many are now looking for more uplifting alternatives in terms of celebrating and paying tribute to losing a loved one. A Living Funeral does not have to involve a funeral home, weighty extra costs and can be organized to be very informal if you choose.
Those who may wish to host their own ‘Living Funeral’ or ‘Transition Party’ typically are for a person who is in in their twilight years, concerned about becoming incapacitated or is already terminally ill and have limited life chapters remaining.
There are numerous positive benefits for all involved in having the chance to gather, enjoy, share, say one’s farewells and have precisely the kind of celebratory tribute of your choosing. After all, it’s your life, your story….and ultimately, should be your own ‘Life Celebration’. But more importantly, just being present!!
Eventually, it will certainly be my choice!
“There’s something primal about the end of the road, and the rite of passage that it represents”
-Aaron Schneider
