Family in Limbo as Father’s Ashes Remain Stuck in B.C. Postal Facility Amid Strike

Emily Walstrom was prepared to honor her father’s final wishes and lay him to rest in Manitoba this month. Instead, her family finds itself in limbo as her father’s cremated remains remain stuck in a Canada Post facility in Richmond, B.C., delayed by a nationwide postal strike.

Dennis Walstrom passed away suddenly on Oct. 23 in Surrey, B.C., at the age of 65 due to complications from a lung condition. His daughter, who lives in Île Perrot, a suburb of Montreal, had arranged for his ashes to be shipped via Canada Post — the only courier service in the country authorized to transport cremated remains.

“It’s heartbreaking not knowing where my father’s remains are or when we’ll finally receive them,” said Walstrom.

Delayed Ashes and a Disrupted Burial

The ashes were shipped from Amherst Funeral and Cremation Services in Vancouver on Nov. 12. According to a tracking update, the package remains in a Richmond facility, where it has been since Nov. 15 — the day more than 55,000 postal workers walked off the job, citing issues including wages, job security, and working conditions.

Walstrom had hoped to receive her father’s ashes by Nov. 20, allowing her family to hold a burial in Manitoba, where Dennis grew up and where his extended family lives.

“We wanted to honor his wishes by burying him near his family in Manitoba,” said Walstrom. “Now, with winter setting in and the ground frozen, we may have to delay the burial until spring.”

The delay has also created financial strain, as holiday airfare costs continue to rise, complicating plans for a memorial service.

Grieving Family Calls for Change

Walstrom is urging Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to classify human remains as an essential service during labor disruptions.

“There are certain items that Canada Post continues to deliver during strikes, like government benefit cheques,” said Walstrom. “I believe human remains should be added to that list. This situation has been incredibly undignified.”

Canada Post has said that all items in its network are secure and will be delivered on a “first-in, first-out basis” when operations resume. However, it warns of delays as it works through the backlog.

In a statement, Canada Post expressed sympathy for those affected, saying it remains committed to resolving the strike. The union has not yet responded to calls to include human remains in essential services.

A Painful Journey

Walstrom said the journey to bring her father’s ashes home has already been an emotional challenge.

“When I found out my father had passed, I was in the Philippines and had to rush back to Canada,” she said. “The paperwork and coordination with the crematorium went smoothly, but this delivery delay has made the grieving process so much harder.”

Walstrom checks the Canada Post tracking system daily for updates but says the uncertainty is taking a toll.

“It’s devastating to think of my father’s ashes sitting in a warehouse, collecting dust,” she said. “This entire experience has been a nightmare, and I hope no one else has to go through it.”

As the strike enters its second week, Walstrom continues to hope for resolution and a dignified end to her father’s journey home.