How do you deliver to Manitoulin Island?

By road over the swing bridge at Little Current.

Can a headstone include Anishinaabemowin?

Yes, ideally with guidance from Elders; check the spelling carefully.

When are headstones installed on the island?

Usually late spring to early autumn.

Headstones on Manitoulin Island, Ontario | Granite

Manitoulin Island — the world's largest island in a freshwater lake — is home to Little Current, Gore Bay, Mindemoya, Manitowaning and several First Nations, including the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory. Township, church and First Nations cemeteries dot the island.

How Ontario regulates cemeteries

In Ontario, cemeteries operate under the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002, administered by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO). A few practical consequences for families:

Every cemetery has by-laws. They cover memorial sizes, materials, foundations and installation, and the cemetery must make them available to you. Ask for them before you choose a design.
You can buy from an independent supplier. Families may buy a monument from the cemetery or from an independent retailer or manufacturer; either way, it has to meet the cemetery's by-laws.
Care and maintenance contributions. Ontario cemeteries collect a regulated contribution to their care and maintenance fund when larger markers and monuments are installed. Ask for the amount in writing alongside foundation and installation fees.

Our cemetery headstone rules guide has a checklist of questions to bring.

Getting the stone to the island

Manitoulin is reached by the swing bridge at Little Current on Highway 6, and in summer by the Chi-Cheemaun ferry from Tobermory. We plan deliveries around road access and the bridge.

First Nations communities

First Nations cemeteries follow their own community practices. Families may wish to include words in Anishinaabemowin or Ojibwe symbols, guided by Elders and community knowledge keepers.

Northern winters and timing

Frost goes deep in the island, and many cemeteries only install monuments from late spring to early autumn, once the ground has thawed and settled. Order over the winter so the stone is ready when the season opens, and make sure the foundation follows the cemetery's specification. See winter headstone installation and protecting a headstone in winter.

Factory-direct to Manitoulin

Marwaa Memorials manufactures in our own factory and keeps finished monuments at our Pickering warehouse (visits by appointment). We deliver door-to-door across Ontario under DAP terms, with freight, customs and duties included. Plan the design in our Design Studio, request a quote, or call our Canada team via the contact page.

See the Manitoulin service-area page, our Greater Sudbury and Bruce County guides and all Ontario service areas.