The members of our board are a diverse group who are all actively involved in the Haliburton County community. Here is what drew them to become more involved in the Haliburton Green Burial Society Board.
Terry Moore, President
I’m intensely interested in finding ways for humans to live in harmony with the non-human natural world. But my interest in “Green Burial Movement” only began after my son, Kyle, died at the age of 36, in February of 2019.
My family and I were unable to secure the green burial we wanted for Kyle, in honour of his life-long commitment to environmental stewardship. In addition, we discovered that burial of any kind within Haliburton is not available due to the county-wide prohibition on winter burial from when the frost sets in November through to when it leaves the ground in May.
I helped form the the Haliburton Highlands Green Burial Society (HHGBS) as one way to help other individuals and families avoid the barriers we faced in making environmentally responsible end-of-life choices.
Jenny Rieger, Vice-President
My parents pre-planned their funerals and discussed their options and preferences with me when I was a teenager. I love the idea of being buried in a meadow and giving back to the earth.
Carolyn Langdon, Director
Growing up in Haliburton, I have canoed and widely roamed the county. I am a member of the Haliburton County Master Gardeners, a director of Wild Edibles Haliburton with a keen interest in re-wilding public and private spaces. Green burial is a logical extension of my passion for the environment and if our departed bodies will help preserve and nurture an ecosystem that supports all life then we may dare hope for a future for all.
Sheila Ziman, Director
I am a retired English as a Second Language teacher. I also taught basketry at the Haliburton School of Art and Design, specializing in baskets made from natural materials gathered sustainably in Haliburton County. Inspired by the beauty and significant biodiversity of the County and recognizing the need to protect it, I became one of the founding members of the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust and am a board director. My love of nature and my belief in sustainable land use practices led me to explore and support the concept of green burial.
Jenn Watt, Director
I've lived in Haliburton County since 2007, most of those years working for local media. During that time I was introduced to the green burial movement in the community and felt an affinity for the work being done by the HHGBS. For me, green burial advocacy is about providing people with options, encouraging conversation about death and dying, and attempting to make one's last actions on earth as gentle as possible.
Ross Peacock, Director
I am a retired tech sector manager and college instructor. I'm also the Haliburton resident volunteer responder for the Canadian Red Cross, with experience ranging from large scale evacuations to individual disaster support. My commitment to greening the burial process is a personal response to the challenge of leaving our county the wonderful natural place that it is.