Memories aren’t just these intangible things that we’re not able to touch; they’re a collective of visual images, a combination of nostalgic smells and emotional sensations we can’t forget. However, some memories are so great that we wish to preserve them and share them with others, so they can know the story behind our reminiscence and cherish it as we do.
In some cases, we preserve memories in photo albums, gravestones, social media posts, and artwork … in others, we create long-lasting pieces of site furniture that serve the public while actively keeping that memory alive.
If you’ve ever taken a stroll on a public trail or through a park, you may have walked past an intricate bench with a plaque on it. If you paused to look, you may see the date and name of a person long passed.
Their stories often differ, but what usually stays the same is this: They impacted their communities, while the people who loved them made sure they were remembered.
Even if you’re not a writer, you can tell a story. Let Classic Displays be the paper to your pen by introducing you to the long-lasting world of memorial benches. We’ll help you tell tales about the most influential people to grace your community while exploring the impact they had upon it.
According to a comprehensive study conducted by MD Katherine Shear of Columbia University, the way people grieve loss is dependent on varying factors. This includes the circumstances surrounding the loss, the personality traits we bring into it, the nature of the relationship, the timing, the context, and, lastly, the loss associated with it.
For some of us, having silent moments alone is enough to help us process our grief. For others, friends and family are what we need. In other cases, immortalizing our loved ones gives us that sense of peace we need, knowing that a small part of them is forever preserved.
It’s never easy to lose the people you care about. However, there’s a way you can honour their memory so that the whole community can appreciate their memorial benches.
Memorial benches are designed to honour loved ones, create shared spaces with the community, and provide a comfortable place of reflection. Not only this, but memorial benches provide an opportunity to preserve the legacy of your cherished family members.
Memorial benches are designed for those who have had a profound impact on their communities, families, and loved ones. They’re designed to be a memorial to the great pillars of the community at large, reminding everyone of their legacy, sacrifice, and compassion for those around them.
These monuments of memorial aren’t simply tokens to show how much you cared for those they honour; rather, they’re created to tell a story. Whether it's a reminder to the local community who cherished the individual immortalized, or new faces learning about them for the first time; memorial benches are a time capsule that captures a fraction of their life story.
Memorial benches are more than beautiful pieces of site furniture – they’re also designed to truly encapsulate the individual they represent. These benches can have completely customized styles and inscriptions, providing details about the person in question:
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Classic Displays have memorial benches suitable for everyone. See our classic Heritage Bench and our Riverside Bench. These models can be customized to suit your dearly departed.
Memorial benches aren’t just landmarks; they can be placed in areas that meant something truly special to those they honour. Say, for example, the person in question loved nature – erecting a memorial bench along their favourite park or creek side trail would be a beautiful way to remember them. Or, if the person you’re honouring was a teacher, professor, or the like, placing a bench on a campus or school yard makes perfect sense.
This way, those who knew them and or would like to know them are likely to come across the bench. Even if this person had zero knowledge or connection to them, a specially designed bench with a plaque inscription could provide insight into who they were.
Writer Carl Alviani once said about the human connection to storytelling:
Memorial benches do exactly that; they provide that tangible element of a person’s story that exists in the physical world while the abstract concept of their life lives on in a memory.
You can truly honour a person by commemorating them with a stylized bench with a few personal touches, including unique colours, designs, inscriptions, and location.
Check out our Traditional Bench and our Victorian Bench.
Before you move forward with choosing a memorial bench and a location, you’ll need to get permission from the local municipality or park authority. Before you try to work with a company, you’ll want to make sure you’ve begun these processes already. The last thing you want is to put forth a bunch of thought and effort into getting a product made before you’re assured it can be placed in your desired location.
Generally, multiple Ontario cities tend to prohibit the placing of ashes and certain memorial items under, near, or around a commemorative tree or bench – but it’s still important to check ahead of time. Each municipality may have differing rules or regulations. Benches are also usually required to abide by the respective city’s accessibility standards.
Using the city of Toronto as a general example, many cities will reach capacity and subsequently not open their commemorative bench or tree programs to reopen until the following season. It’s important to reach out ahead of time to see if there are vacant locations where a memorial bench can be placed promptly. If not, you may be put on a wait list.
Memorial benches often also come with a several-year warranty program, ensuring they can be repaired. However, this is largely dependent on your city, municipality, and agreement. Make sure you go through these finer details before you make the decision to place a memorial bench.
Fees and pricing for placing a bench are completely dependent on your location. Contact your local park authority or municipality for more details.
How do you choose the right design for a memorial bench? Well, you’ll want it to match the surroundings and the spirit of the person you’re honouring. A more classic person who enjoys the quiet of a college campus may have appreciated a more Victorian-esque style; while someone who enjoyed the lakeside few at sunrise would prefer a waterfront bench.
There are plenty of classic colours to choose from, ranging from sand brown, green, black, etc. However, Classic Displays has plenty of “out of the box” colours to match the taste and uniqueness of your honoured loved one. Whether that’s rainbow, blue, green, etc.
You can also choose a bench based on the material. Perhaps a sturdy steel bench is more your style, or the person you’re remembering may have been more partial to recycled plastic. You can also keep it classic with a stunning ashwood finish.
See our Contour Bench and our Ergo Bench.
Once you’ve gotten the necessary permissions, chosen the location, style, and material, inscription, etc., it’s time to unveil the memorial bench.
Make sure you craft a guest list and ensure you have the go-ahead to have a gathering at the location of the bench. From there, you can create a schedule that includes a eulogy, speech, and unveiling of the beautiful bench.
You can also permit patrons to spend personal time or submit donations to a chosen charity or cause in the name of the person being remembered. If the individual was an active part of the community, you can also invite local pillars to make an appearance and offer words of inspiration on behalf of your loved one.
Classic Displays has been in the business of serving our community for more than 46 years. In that time, we've served over 360+ municipalities, ensuring these communities have access to holiday displays, decor, site furniture, and more, making local spaces that are much more unique and memorable. If you're looking for a customizable memorial bench, contact us today.
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