Community Articles (listed by posting date)
General News · 26th April 2025
Margaret Verschuur
When someone dies suddenly, especially here on Cortes, it can be difficult to know what to expect. Unless there’s a Notification of Expected Home Death or No CPR form already in place, all deaths are treated as unexpected, and the first step is to call 911. This connects you with BC Emergency Health Services, who coordinate the response from ambulance, police, and fire.
Firefighters are often the first to arrive on the scene. They manage the situation and provide first aid, CPR, and other life-saving interventions while waiting for paramedics. When paramedics arrive, they assess the person's condition, offer emergency care, and, if needed, arrange transport to a medical facility. If the person is clearly deceased or resuscitation efforts are unsuccessful, they’ll notify the RCMP, who will travel to the scene—often by ferry or private boat, depending on the time of day. When possible, the paramedics will remain with the body until the RCMP arrive.
When the RCMP arrive, they’ll contact the local coroner and begin gathering medical and background information from family or others at the scene. The coroner will then determine whether they need to travel to the island to conduct an in-person investigation, or if the situation can be assessed remotely with support from the RCMP.
If the death appears to be natural and someone is present to take responsibility for the body, the coroner will recommend the family contact a funeral home, and the RCMP will step back.
If the circumstances are unclear, suspicious, or more complex, the case is handed over to an investigative coroner. In consultation with the person’s doctor and other healthcare providers, and through a review of medical records, they’ll work to determine or confirm the cause of death. Again, if the cause of death becomes apparent and someone is available to take responsibility, the coroner will direct the family to contact a funeral home, and the RCMP, if still present, will leave the scene.
However, if the cause of death remains unclear, or if no one is available to take responsibility for the body, the coroner will take possession. They will arrange for the body to be transported to the nearest hospital morgue with available space—which may be as far away as Nanaimo. In the meantime, the RCMP may remain until the transport team has removed the body. In some cases, the RCMP will secure the home and leave the body unattended, maintaining contact with the transfer team.
If the coroner determines an autopsy is required, they will arrange for it—typically in Victoria, though sometimes in Vancouver or the Lower Mainland. Once the procedure is complete, the body will be returned to the hospital morgue it was originally taken from. This process can take some time. If the cause of death is clearly identified during the autopsy, the family will be informed relatively quickly of the cause of death. However, if the initial findings are inconclusive, it may take a year or two for the final report to be completed and shared with the family.
Autopsies are medical procedures focused on discovering the cause of death, and as such, they can be quite invasive. The priority is understanding what happened, rather than preserving the appearance of the body. Incisions are made, and while the body is respectfully handled, it is often not restored with the level of care a family might hope for.
If there will be a viewing, involving a funeral home can make a significant difference. They can take the time to gently clean and care for the body, re-stitch incisions more carefully, and, if appropriate, offer embalming. They can also help prepare the family for what to expect. A compassionate funeral home can help ensure this part of the journey feels as dignified and supported as possible. When deaths are sudden, spending time with the body of the deceased can be particularly helpful.
While each procedure follows standard provincial protocols and can be difficult no matter where you are, they can feel especially hard in a rural setting like ours, where services are limited and response times can be long. It may take hours for the RCMP to arrive, and longer still for a transport team to reach the island. Saying goodbye as a loved one is taken away in a body bag can be deeply painful. When no one is present to take responsibility for the body, communication may be delayed—both in understanding what has happened and in learning where your loved one has been taken. In some cases, a body may need to remain in the home overnight, which can be distressing, until a funeral home is able to attend.
The BC Emergency Health Services, RCMP, and BC Coroner Service all do their best to carry out their roles with care. But these systems are stretched, and families are often bewildered and caught in the gaps. This article is based on the best information I’ve been able to gather as it currently relates to Cortes, in an ever changing landscape.
Most importantly, know that you don’t have to go through this alone. These situations are not ones a grieving family should have to navigate without support. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the DeathCare Collective—we’re here to help.
Firefighters are often the first to arrive on the scene. They manage the situation and provide first aid, CPR, and other life-saving interventions while waiting for paramedics. When paramedics arrive, they assess the person's condition, offer emergency care, and, if needed, arrange transport to a medical facility. If the person is clearly deceased or resuscitation efforts are unsuccessful, they’ll notify the RCMP, who will travel to the scene—often by ferry or private boat, depending on the time of day. When possible, the paramedics will remain with the body until the RCMP arrive.
When the RCMP arrive, they’ll contact the local coroner and begin gathering medical and background information from family or others at the scene. The coroner will then determine whether they need to travel to the island to conduct an in-person investigation, or if the situation can be assessed remotely with support from the RCMP.
If the death appears to be natural and someone is present to take responsibility for the body, the coroner will recommend the family contact a funeral home, and the RCMP will step back.
If the circumstances are unclear, suspicious, or more complex, the case is handed over to an investigative coroner. In consultation with the person’s doctor and other healthcare providers, and through a review of medical records, they’ll work to determine or confirm the cause of death. Again, if the cause of death becomes apparent and someone is available to take responsibility, the coroner will direct the family to contact a funeral home, and the RCMP, if still present, will leave the scene.
However, if the cause of death remains unclear, or if no one is available to take responsibility for the body, the coroner will take possession. They will arrange for the body to be transported to the nearest hospital morgue with available space—which may be as far away as Nanaimo. In the meantime, the RCMP may remain until the transport team has removed the body. In some cases, the RCMP will secure the home and leave the body unattended, maintaining contact with the transfer team.
If the coroner determines an autopsy is required, they will arrange for it—typically in Victoria, though sometimes in Vancouver or the Lower Mainland. Once the procedure is complete, the body will be returned to the hospital morgue it was originally taken from. This process can take some time. If the cause of death is clearly identified during the autopsy, the family will be informed relatively quickly of the cause of death. However, if the initial findings are inconclusive, it may take a year or two for the final report to be completed and shared with the family.
Autopsies are medical procedures focused on discovering the cause of death, and as such, they can be quite invasive. The priority is understanding what happened, rather than preserving the appearance of the body. Incisions are made, and while the body is respectfully handled, it is often not restored with the level of care a family might hope for.
If there will be a viewing, involving a funeral home can make a significant difference. They can take the time to gently clean and care for the body, re-stitch incisions more carefully, and, if appropriate, offer embalming. They can also help prepare the family for what to expect. A compassionate funeral home can help ensure this part of the journey feels as dignified and supported as possible. When deaths are sudden, spending time with the body of the deceased can be particularly helpful.
While each procedure follows standard provincial protocols and can be difficult no matter where you are, they can feel especially hard in a rural setting like ours, where services are limited and response times can be long. It may take hours for the RCMP to arrive, and longer still for a transport team to reach the island. Saying goodbye as a loved one is taken away in a body bag can be deeply painful. When no one is present to take responsibility for the body, communication may be delayed—both in understanding what has happened and in learning where your loved one has been taken. In some cases, a body may need to remain in the home overnight, which can be distressing, until a funeral home is able to attend.
The BC Emergency Health Services, RCMP, and BC Coroner Service all do their best to carry out their roles with care. But these systems are stretched, and families are often bewildered and caught in the gaps. This article is based on the best information I’ve been able to gather as it currently relates to Cortes, in an ever changing landscape.
Most importantly, know that you don’t have to go through this alone. These situations are not ones a grieving family should have to navigate without support. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the DeathCare Collective—we’re here to help.