Alterna Cremation Owner Believed To Be First Woman To Build A Crematorium In Manitoba

WINNIPEG, MB:  Ashley Newton, the founder and owner of Alterna Cremation in Winnipeg, is believed to be the first woman to construct a crematorium in the province of Manitoba.  Alterna, an alternative funeral home offering simple, transparent direct cremation services, is currently building a new crematorium in St. Andrews, and construction is moving fast!  

Alterna Cremation was established in 2019 by Ashley Newton, a dedicated young woman who saw the growing need for a streamlined and straightforward alternative to more traditional funeral services in Manitoba.  Over the years, Ashley’s compassionate approach and commitment to dignified, direct cremation services have earned her widespread recognition and distinguished her as a beloved figure to countless grieving families.  Raising two children while growing Alterna hasn’t been easy, but Ashley and her all-female team have become well known for their integrity, transparency, and personalized professional service in a traditionally male-dominated industry.  

This year marks a major milestone for Alterna Cremation: The building of a new crematorium in St. Andrews.  Ashley has been nurturing the vision for this project for years and couldn’t be more pleased to finally witness construction underway!  Currently, Alterna performs its cremation services in nearby Selkirk, Manitoba, but the completion of the new space will bring everything in-house and allow for the expansion of compassionate services to more Manitoba families.  The project began in late spring of 2025, and construction is ongoing.  

Ashley is passionate about her work and fiercely proud of being the first woman in Manitoba to build a crematorium (as far as she knows).  “I’m incredibly grateful for the encouragement I’ve received from friends, family, and client families,” she wrote on social media.  “But I also want to be clear—the financial investment behind this project has been entirely mine.  No corporate partners.  No silent investors.  Just one woman doing her best to build something meaningful for the community.”  

For more information about Alterna Cremation and the services it provides, visit https://alternacremation.ca.