A public ceremony is being held in Corner Brook today to dedicate the new Columbarium number 3 at Mount Patricia Cemetery.

The new columbarium, a permanent structure with niches in which to hold urns containing cremated remains, is made of Canadian granite and has a significantly smaller carbon footprint than other models made with aluminum or concrete.

The structure was made necessary by the increase in cremations. According to current trends, the Mount Patricia Cemetery Association expects that by 2025 less than 35 per cent of interments at Mount Patricia will be traditional burials while over 65 per cent will be for cremations.

The ceremony is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. this afternoon.