The Town of Saugeen Shores says it is saddened to learn of the human remains found at its compost facility this week.
Police were contacted on Thursday after the bones were found at the Southampton leaf and yard waste compost site on Concession 14 in Saugeen Shores.
Police were able to confirm the bones were human, but as an anthropologist determined the remains are historic in nature, they will not be part of a criminal investigation.
Grey Bruce OPP Constable Krista Linthorne tells Bayshore Broadcasting News in an email, a landscaping company was working in Sauble Beach, excavating a property. They were depositing their landscaping materials at the Southampton compost site. Linthorne says the company was not aware the human remains were in their load because they were using larger machinery.
Mayor Luke Charbonneau says in a statment, “Because the remains were not originally located in Saugeen Shores, we can only imagine the pain this discovery has caused the people of Saugeen Ojibway Nation.”
The town is working with Saugeen Ojibway Nation along with police and relevant agencies to make sure the remains are properly returned in a respectful and reverential way.
Saugeen First Nation Chief Conrad Ritchie adds, “we appreciate that the discovery of ancestral remains is a challenging time for members of First Nation communities, and supportively, we extend empathy and healing energy to those who may require comfort during this time.”