Legal in Quebec since March 2015
Quebec was one of the first Canadian jurisdictions to legalize aquamation, through amendments to the Act Respecting Prearranged Funeral Services and Sepultures (RLRQ, chapter A-23.001) in March 2015. It is recognized as a legal body disposition method alongside cremation and burial. This is not an experimental or marginal practice — it is a fully regulated option under Quebec law.
How aquamation works
1. Preparation. The body is placed in a stainless steel vessel, dressed or wrapped in a biodegradable garment. All non-biodegradable items (implants, metal prostheses, pacemakers) are removed beforehand.
2. The alkaline solution. The vessel is filled with a mixture of water and potassium hydroxide (KOH) — an alkaline substance used in many industrial food processes. The concentration is calculated based on the body's weight.
3. The reaction. The vessel is heated to approximately 150°C and maintained under pressure for 6 to 8 hours. Under these conditions, organic tissue breaks down through hydrolysis — the same chemical process that naturally occurs in the ground, but accelerated. This reaction is entirely chemical, not thermal as in cremation.
4. Results. Two residues remain:
- Bone fragments: identical in appearance and composition to cremation ashes. They are dried and processed to produce a fine powder that the family receives — exactly as after flame cremation.
- An aqueous liquid: sterile, pH-neutral, composed primarily of water, amino acids, and salts. This liquid can be safely discharged into the municipal wastewater system without environmental harm.
Documented environmental advantages
- 90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than flame cremation
- No mercury emissions — in flame cremation, dental amalgams are volatilized, releasing mercury into the atmosphere. Aquamation eliminates this problem.
- No smoke or toxic gases — the process is entirely closed-loop
- Approximately 85% less energy consumption than flame cremation
- No permanent land occupation (unlike burial)
What you receive
You receive processed bone fragments — commonly called "ashes" — in a quantity similar to that from flame cremation. These ashes can be kept in an urn, scattered, interred in a cemetery or columbarium, or buried in a memorial forest. In practice, families see no difference between ashes from aquamation and those from traditional cremation.
Only provider in Quebec: Forêt de la Seconde Vie
To date, Forêt de la Seconde Vie is the only aquamation provider in Quebec. This pioneering Quebec company also offers memorial forest services — enabling a uniquely coherent combination: aquamation followed by burial of ashes in a biodegradable urn at the base of a tree in a protected forest. The forest is accessible to families for visits.
Cost of aquamation in Quebec
Aquamation typically costs between $2,500 and $4,500 in Quebec, depending on the package and whether a ceremony is included. Prices are comparable to cremation with a service, and slightly higher than direct cremation without a ceremony.
Updated: March 2026