Construction has officially begun on a new Pickering green funeral centre designed to provide funeral, cemetery and reception services while meeting ambitious environmental and accessibility standards.
Mount Pleasant Group marked its 200th anniversary on July 28 with a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Duffin Meadows Funeral Centre. The approximately 21,000-square-foot facility will be built at Duffin Meadows Cemetery near Brock Road and William Jackson Drive in Pickering.
The new building will replace The Simple Alternative Funeral Centre currently operating on Brock Road in Pickering. Families will continue receiving services at the existing location until the Duffin Meadows facility opens, which is currently scheduled for 2028. Mount Pleasant Group’s directory confirms that The Simple Alternative continues to operate at 1057 Brock Road, while Duffin Meadows Cemetery is located farther north at 2505 Brock Road North.
Pickering Green Funeral Centre Uses Geothermal Technology
The Pickering green funeral centre is being designed without natural gas combustion. Instead, geothermal technology will provide heating and cooling, helping reduce the building’s operational carbon emissions.
The project is targeting Zero Carbon Design and Zero Carbon Building Performance certifications from the Canada Green Building Council. The construction team also describes the development as a net-zero facility intended to meet annual performance standards after it becomes operational.
Mount Pleasant Group CEO John Monahan said environmental responsibility, accessibility and family comfort were placed at the centre of the building’s design. The company views the project as an investment in the changing needs of families throughout Pickering and the surrounding Durham Region.
The facility is also expected to pursue Gold Certification through the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification program. That system measures meaningful accessibility in buildings and sites, including how effectively people with mobility, hearing and visual disabilities can use a space.
The project has already been nominated for a Durham Region Accessibility Award, according to Mount Pleasant Group.
Funeral and Cemetery Services in One Location
Once completed, the centre will allow families to arrange funeral, cemetery and reception services at one location. Duffin Meadows Cemetery has served Pickering since 1993 and currently provides traditional burial, cremation and natural interment options within a landscape containing ponds, valleys, trees and restored heritage features.
The funeral centre will contain two large gathering areas that can accommodate funerals, visitations, memorial services and receptions. Each area will be flexible enough to divide into smaller rooms, allowing families to organize ceremonies based on their cultural traditions, personal preferences and expected attendance.
Mount Pleasant Group said the design reflects how funeral and memorial practices are changing. The adaptable rooms will be intended to accommodate both traditional services and more personalized gatherings.
The company was founded in 1826 and now operates a network of cemeteries, funeral centres and cremation facilities throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Its current locations include Duffin Meadows Cemetery in Pickering and Thornton Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Centre in Oshawa.
Opening Planned for 2028
Construction will continue over the next two years, with the opening planned for 2028. The existing Pickering funeral location will remain available during the construction period so that services are not interrupted.
The Pickering green funeral centre will become Mount Pleasant Group’s first facility to combine geothermal heating and cooling with zero natural gas combustion. The development is expected to expand local funeral services while establishing higher standards for energy performance, accessibility and family-focused design.
