The earthwork has started at the construction site of Birchwood Funeral Chapel in Steinbach.
    
Chair Elbert Toews says the 15,000 square foot structure will go up off Highway #52, east of Southland Church (right inset).

Toews notes they need a larger facility to keep up with growth they've experienced the last number of years. He says five years ago they were doing about 200 funerals per year. In 2012 they are projected to have 300 funerals.

"We had purchased some land a couple of years ago, not necessarily in anticipation of building," says Toews. "If we would be building we thought it would a number of years down the way. But the increase in numbers has simply necessitated that we build at this time."

Birchwood's existing funeral home is 9,500 square feet. The larger space will allow them to run two funerals at the same time. Toews says they continue to add more staff and now have 7.5 positions.

Toews says in the mid-90's large corporations were taking over the funeral industry. He adds the result was that funeral prices were skyrocketing. Then in 1996 a local group got together to begin planning a co-op. Since then, the co-op has grown and today has more than 3000 members. Toews says by forming this co-op they are able to offer funerals at two-thirds the cost.

"This has led to the fact that millions of dollars are being left in the community rather than being sent elsewhere," notes Toews.

If all goes according to plan, Toews says they should be in the new Chapel by October, 2013. He adds the existing facility is in the process of being sold.