Chptr Expands into Canada, Extending Its Community Storytelling Network Beyond the United States
The company’s first international expansion brings broadcast memorial technology to Canadian funeral homes for the first time, starting with East Coast Memorial in Nova Scotia
NEW YORK, NY — September 1, 2026 — Chptr today announced its expansion into Canada, marking the company’s first market outside the United States and giving Canadian funeral homes access to broadcast memorial technology for the first time.
For most Canadian funeral homes, extending an obituary beyond their own website, social channels, or traditional newspaper placement has not been a practical option. Producing broadcast-quality content and managing local media distribution require expertise, infrastructure, and cost that typically sit outside the funeral home. Chptr built the technology and distribution model to close that gap for U.S. funeral homes, and its Canadian expansion now brings that capability north.
East Coast Memorial, an independently owned funeral home serving families across Nova Scotia, becomes the first funeral home in Canada to offer the service. Through Chptr, an obituary can be transformed into a professionally produced broadcast memorial announcement and distributed throughout the surrounding community, helping the news reach people who may have known the person, attend the service, or want to support the family.
“Every time we enter a new community, we ask the same question: can we help more people come together around the moments that matter most?” said J.B. Showalter, Senior Vice President of Partnerships at Chptr. “Canada tells us the answer is yes. Funeral service is where we started because there are few stories more important than the ones that bring a community together. That’s true everywhere, not just in the U.S.”
In Canada, Chptr Broadcast extends obituary announcements beyond the funeral home’s own channels and onto local television, giving families a way to share the news of a passing with the broader community through a trusted local medium. Each memorial announcement is professionally produced and scheduled for broadcast in the funeral home’s local market, helping reach people who may have known the person, attend the service, or want to support the family.
“One of the greatest responsibilities we have is helping families make sure the people who would want to know actually hear the news,” said Andrew George, President at East Coast Memorial Funeral Home. “This wasn’t just another place to share an obituary. It was another way to fulfill that responsibility while helping friends and neighbours in our communities gather around to honour and remember the families we serve.”
The Canadian expansion follows significant momentum for Chptr, which now partners with more than 400 funeral home locations across the United States. For funeral homes across Canada, the launch introduces a new way to add value to every arrangement, helping families carry the news of a passing beyond the people already looking for it and into the wider community.
About Chptr: Founded in 2020 and headquartered in New York, Chptr is building the distribution network for community storytelling. The company’s Broadcast, Social, Video, and Slideshows offerings help funeral homes extend the reach of remembrance, connecting families with the communities that knew and cared about their loved ones. By partnering with funeral homes and media organizations, Chptr ensures life’s most meaningful stories reach the people who matter most while keeping funeral professionals at the center of the experience. Learn more at chptr.com
About East Coast Memorial: East Coast Memorial is an independently owned funeral home serving families across Nova Scotia with locations in Windsor, Coldbrook, and Digby. Founded in 2018 by licensed funeral director and embalmer, now President Andrew George, East Coast Memorial is committed to providing compassionate, personalized, and affordable funeral, cremation, and memorial services that reflect the unique wishes of every family. Guided by a belief that every life deserves to be honored with dignity, East Coast Memorial helps families create meaningful tributes while providing trusted support through every step of the funeral planning process. Learn more at eastcoastmemorial.ca
