Walking tours
Take a walking tour through Victoria Lawn Cemetery and learn about the history and legacy of our community through the contributions of important individuals. Pick up our Walking Tour Brochure for a map and complete list of grave sites from the cemetery office.
The self-guided walking tour takes you past the graves of Dr. Theophilus Mack, William Hamilton Merritt, Reverend Anthony Burns and Fonce Val (Jack) Haney.
About Victoria Lawn Cemetery
Established in 1856 in the east end of the City beside the Welland Canal, Victoria Lawn Cemetery consists of 170 acres of grave sites today, with more than 86,000 people interred and 155 years of history.
The Town hired renowned landscape gardener Robert Mundy to plan the cemetery and plant the flower beds and trees. Originally named the St. Catharines Cemetery, Victoria Lawn Cemetery took its current name in honour of Queen Victoria of England at the turn of the twentieth century.
In 1918, the Cullinen Mausoleum on Queenston Street was constructed to include about 300 crypts. By the 1920s the original cemetery was running out of space, and the farm across Queenston Street was purchased and became the new cemetery. By the 1960s the new cemetery was again short of space, so additional land was purchased at the south end of the cemetery.
In the 1980s a few mausoleums were built to meet with the demands for entombment. In 2000, the Garden of Memories Mausoleum was established. Other buildings such as the Carillon Bell Tower, the Chinese Pagoda and Mountainview Homes Gazebo have been donated to make the cemetery more enjoyable and comforting.
Bereavement Authority of Ontario
The City of St. Catharines is a licensee of the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO). Visit the BAO for information about bereavement and death care in Ontario. Cemetery Operator Number: 32889221.
View the BAO’s Consumer Information Guide: A Guide to Death Care in Ontario.