For full directory of "How to" listings on different topics, see here

Reporting a death, not occurring in hospital

For an unexpected death, call 9-1-1

• emergency personal will respond (Fire, EMS, Police)
• when a death happens outside of the hospital, it is deemed a Coroner's Case
• police will attend, investigate, and "secure" the scene until a Coroner arrives
• Coroner is responsible for determining the cause of death, which sometimes can be done at the scene, but in most cases will require a postmortem for further testing
• Police will call for transfer service to remove the deceased once Coroner releases the scene
• Coroner decides whether the deceased is taken to hospital for postmortem, or to chosen funeral home 

For an expected death, call 9-1-1, or if previous arrangements were made, call the attending physician (usually the Family Doctor)

• Doctor is responsible for pronouncing death
• once death has been pronounced, contact chosen funeral home
• transfer service will attend to remove the deceased and take to their funeral home 

After the death has been reported

• contact chosen funeral home, complete list of licensed providers can be searched for here
• funeral home will assist with paperwork and explain what else needs to be done
• if postmortem is done, once completed the Coroner/Medical Examiner will call the next of kin with preliminary results and to inform that the body is released
• funeral home will arrange to bring the deceased to their location 

Bereavement Resources

Bereavement Authority of Ontario: 1-844-493-6356 

• regulates and supports licensed funeral establishments, cemetery operators, crematorium operators, transfer service operators, funeral directors, funeral preplanners, transfer service sales representatives, cemetery sales representatives, and crematorium sales representatives across Ontario
• A Guide to Death Care in Ontario  

Office of the Chief Coroner: 416-314-4000; After hours emergency 416-314-4100

• Investigates all unnatural, sudden and unexpected deaths 
• orders autopsies and holds inquests when required 
• signs cremation certificates 
• responsible for out of province shipment of bodies 
• reports include public safety recommendations 
• administers donations of bodies for medical education and research 
• supervises and educates investigating coroner and pathologists in Ontario  

Lighthouse for Grieving Children and Families: 905-337-2333, ages 3 and up

• registered charity that offers a community of open-ended, continuous peer support groups for children and teens and their parents/caregivers who have experienced a death in their immediate family

Bereaved Families of Ontario, Halton-Peel: 905-848-4337, ages 6 and up  

Heartache2Hope: 905-599-4673 (HOPE), ages 19 and up 

• provides healing support to adults who have experienced a suicide loss 

Acclaim Health - Hospice and Bereavement Support: 1-800-387-7127 

• one-on-one visits, support groups

For a full listing of bereavement support resources and counselling serving Halton, see here

• the deceased is responsible for funeral service payments
• if previous arrangements were not made, the family can call the Region of Halton at 3-1-1 to apply for financial assistance