The History of the Galiano Cemetery
Galiano Cemetery is on land that has had Indigenous significance and history for more than 3,000 years. The two-acre area was donated by the Georgeson family (Henry “Scotty” Georgeson) “for the purpose of a cemetery” and has been used as a burial ground since 1863.
“We had our first Christian burial on Friday, September 25th (1891) - little Jessie Georgeson, of East Point Lighthouse. … She was buried on her uncle’s ranch on Galiano Island.”
The land was granted to the Anglican Synod of the Diocese of British Columbia on 9th July 1928. The Georgeson family made two requests - that there were to be no charges for burying a Galiano resident, and that a plot was to be set aside for the Georgeson family.
The Lych Gate, made by Jordan Hartman, was donated by Donald New. Bill Stevens made the “Galiano Cemetery” sign that hangs over it. The Bronze Plaque commemorating the gift of land was given by the “Ladies’ Service Club, St Margaret of Scotland Church and many friends”. The chain fence surrounding the Georgeson plot was placed in 1973 by the Cemetery committee ”to honor the family by whom the land was given”.
In the early 1970s, the Anglican Synod requested official rules and regulations. At a public meeting in 1981, these were officially accepted.
* some information came from an article written by Clara “Dimples” Stevens (2003)