Sands Funeral Chapel - Nanaimo
In 1933, George Chapman built Chapman Funeral Chapel at 1 Newcastle Avenue. In May of 1937, Chapman sold his facility to James Dyson Hirst and Earle Cathers Westwood; the name was changed to Westwood/Hirst Chapel of Flowers. Hirst later sold his interest in the funeral home, and it became Westwood Chapel of Flowers.
Laverne Sands of Victoria purchased Westwood Chapel of Flowers in 1971. Sands at that time had extensive south Island exposure and this acquisition made Sands truly an Island firm.
In 1986, Sands Nanaimo was acquired by Arbor Memorial Inc., which is a Canadian company engaged in providing interment rights, cremations, funerals and associated merchandise and services to thousands of families each year across Canada.
