Body Donation

Please note that we cannot accept any donors that are located outside of the provice of Quebec at the time of death.

Whole body donations are made through the willed body donation program of UQTR's department of anatomy. All donations are accepted through the practice of informed consent. During life, donors are provided information about the research and educational practices carried out at UQTR, including REST[ES]. Donors are given the option to consent to donation to anatomical teaching, forensic science research (REST[ES]) or both. Discussion with family and loved ones is highly encouraged to ensure that the donor's wishes are fulfilled.

At the completion of studies individual remains will be collected and cremated by a local funeral service. The donor's family will receive the ashes for final disposition. All donors placed at REST[ES] will be honoured at a commemorative service that is held annually for donor friends and family.

Why would individuals donate their bodies to REST[ES]?

Useful Links and Forms

UQTR Information Brochure

UQTR Body Donation Consent Form

UQTR Personal Information Form

There is a wide range of personal and circumstantial reasons as to why an individual may wish
to donate their body to a facility such as REST[ES]. A 2013 survey(new window) of registered donors at the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University San Marcos (FACTS) identified the following as the most common reasons:

To aid and participate in the advancement of forensic science.
To express gratitude and appreciation to the field of forensic science, forensic anthropology, law enforcement or other.
To contribute and to be useful to society post-mortem.
To minimize the financial and emotional strain of funeral planning.
To posthumously be involved in forensic science and crime investigation.

One of the future goals of REST[ES] is to conduct a similar survey in order to assess the motives driving donors to participate at REST[ES]. Cultural and sociological factors may result in a different set of motives that are unique to Canada and/or Quebec.