The group that operates several cemeteries throughout the Greater Toronto Area has issued a public apology after religious gravesite items at Pine Hills Cemetery in Scarborough were removed, sparking outrage amongst family members of the deceased.

Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries, which operates the Pine Hills site, posted the apology on Wednesday and says it is pausing its articles removal program.

“We want to begin by expressing our heartfelt apology for the pain, distress, and frustration caused by our recent removal of articles at gravesites,” the group wrote. “We acknowledge that our actions — though rooted in safety concerns — have hurt many families and disrupted moments of remembrance and reflection.”

The group says it tried to contact families about the item removals “over th

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