Former Simcoe funeral director faces criminal charges

A former Simcoe funeral director has been criminally charged for allegedly forging death certificates, stealing charitable donations and taking funds that were in trust for pre-paid funerals.

Paul L. Taylor, 69, was arrested and charged in March 2023, three years after the Bereavement Authority of Ontario suspended his license and that of his two businesses – Baldock Funeral Home and South Coast Funeral and Cremation Inc.

Baldock Funeral Home was established in 1897. The facility at Norfolk Street North was closed and the building sold.

None of the charges against Taylor has been proven in court.

Norfolk OPP spokesperson Andrew Gamble said police had to undertake a detailed analysis before laying charges in the case.

“The complexity of the investigation, as well as the large number of people affected, directly contributed to the length of time required to lay charges,” said Gamble in an emailed statement.

Charges against Taylor relate to the period between 2010 and 2020, and allege he defrauded the bereavement board of more than $5,000; took donations under $5,000 made in the name of someone who was deceased; used forged death certificates; and converted funds from a trust for pre-paid funerals for unauthorized use.

In January 2020, the Bereavement Authority of Ontario said it suspended the licenses of Taylor and his businesses after hearing allegations of financial irregularities.

In February 2020 and again in September, the authority asked for anyone who had prepaid for funeral services or supplies through Taylor, Baldock Funeral Home or South Coast Funeral and Cremation to contact the inspector looking into the situation.

It also urged consumers who purchased “insurance products” through Taylor and the businesses to “contact their insurance company directly to confirm the status of their coverage.”

While there was an appeal launched against the proposed revocation of Baldock’s licence, it was abandoned in February 2021 and the BAO proceeded to revoke all three licences.

The BAO regulates the bereavement industry and protects funds that are pre-paid for funerals and cremations.

Contacted earlier this month, the BAO declined to discuss the case as it’s before a criminal court, but said it operates a Funeral Service Compensation Fund of $2.5 million held in trust in case pre-paid money isn’t available when a funeral home closes or goes out of business.

David Brazeau, manager of communications for the BAO, said the organization protects consumers by dealing with the very few exceptions to a business sector that is “overwhelmingly professional, caring and ethical.”

“We take action against a very small number of personal and business operator licenses each year – fewer than one percent of the 9,500 total licensees in the province,” said Brazeau.

“The vast majority of people and businesses licensed by the BAO comply with the law and act professionally with care for grieving families every day.”

Taylor has appeared several times in court, including this week, for the case to be addressed. He could not be reached for comment.

In February 2021, developer Shabbir Dossa said he had purchased the old Baldock Funeral Home property on Norfolk Street North and planned to turn it into a gas station, convenience store and Indian restaurant.

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@EXPSGamble