Where It's Located
The Toronto Ontario Temple is located at:
10060 Bramalea Rd
Brampton, Ontario L6R 1A1
Canada
Despite being called the Toronto Ontario Temple, the temple is actually located in Brampton, a city immediately west of Toronto.
The temple stands in a residential neighborhood, with the Brampton Ontario Stake Center sharing the beautifully landscaped grounds. The grounds are open for public enjoyment.
The First Temple in Ontario
The Toronto Ontario Temple was the second temple built in Canada, following the historic Cardston Alberta Temple, which was dedicated in 1923. It was also the first temple built in Ontario.
Its arrival represented a major milestone for Latter-day Saints throughout eastern Canada.
Before the temple was constructed, members in Ontario and surrounding areas had to travel much farther to participate in temple ordinances.
Temple Announcement
The Toronto Ontario Temple was announced on April 7, 1984.
The announcement came during a period of significant growth for the Church in Ontario.
A temple in the Toronto area would eventually serve members throughout much of eastern Canada, as well as Latter-day Saints living in nearby parts of the northeastern United States.
The Temple Site
The temple's site was announced on June 22, 1986, by President Thomas S. Monson, then serving as second counselor in the First Presidency.
The announcement took place during the organization of a new stake in Ontario—the Church's 1,600th stake.
President Monson had a particularly strong connection to the area. He had served as president of the Canada Mission when Ontario's first stake was organized in 1960.
Groundbreaking
Groundbreaking and site dedication took place in October 1987, with President Thomas S. Monson presiding.
He was assisted by Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder John K. Carmack of the First Quorum of the Seventy.
The temple was constructed on a 13.4-acre site.
A Construction Challenge
The temple was completed on schedule despite an unexpected challenge.
Just nine weeks before the public open house, construction workers went on a six-week labor strike.
With the open house approaching, union leaders agreed to allow a small number of Church members to help complete finishing work inside the temple as unpaid volunteers.
The story is a great example of the community effort that went into preparing the temple for its opening.
Thousands of Volunteers
Approximately 2,600 Church members volunteered during the two-week open house period, helping with everything from ushering to cleaning.
Together, they contributed more than 64,000 hours of service.
That is an average of nearly 25 hours per volunteer—a remarkable amount of time donated to prepare the temple for the public.
Public Open House
The original public open house took place from August 2–18, 1990.
A total of 61,285 people toured the temple.
An estimated 30–40 percent of visitors were members of other faiths, providing an opportunity for thousands of people to learn more about Latter-day Saint temples.
Interestingly, 6,044 visitors requested additional information about the Church following their visit.
Dedication
President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Toronto Ontario Temple from August 25–27, 1990, in 11 sessions.
The dedication services were translated into several languages because of the remarkable cultural diversity of the temple district.
Translations were provided in:
- French
- Spanish
- Portuguese
- Mandarin
- Cantonese
- Korean
The temple became the 44th dedicated temple in operation.
A Temple Serving a Diverse Region
The temple district originally covered much of eastern Canada and the northeastern United States.
That made the Toronto Temple an important regional temple rather than simply a temple for the Toronto area.
The diversity reflected in the dedication languages also foreshadowed the multicultural nature of the Greater Toronto Area today.
Architecture
The Toronto Ontario Temple contains approximately 55,558 square feet of floor space.
The building rises approximately 171 feet, or 52.1 meters.
Its exterior is finished in white cast stone, giving the building its bright appearance.
The temple features a single attached spire topped with an Angel Moroni statue.
The spire itself rises approximately 105 feet above the rooftop.
Denver Connection
One of the more interesting architectural facts about the temple is that its floor plan and design were based on plans created for the Denver Colorado Temple.
This gives the Toronto Temple a connection to another important temple from the same era.
While the overall design follows a familiar temple pattern, the Toronto building has its own distinctive setting and exterior character.
English and French Inscriptions
Canada has two official languages: English and French.
The Toronto Ontario Temple reflects that national identity through inscriptions on its exterior that appear in both English and French.
It's a small architectural detail, but an especially fitting one for a temple representing the Church in Canada.
Temple Interior
The Toronto Ontario Temple contains:
- Four instruction rooms
- Six sealing rooms
- One baptistry
The temple's relatively large number of ordinance rooms reflects its role as a regional temple serving a substantial population.
The Temple Grounds
The temple sits on 13.4 acres, giving it considerably more room than many temples built in dense urban areas.
The grounds are extensively landscaped and shared with the Brampton Ontario Stake Center.
The property is also open for members of the public to enjoy, making the temple grounds a peaceful green space within the surrounding residential neighborhood.
Church History in Ontario
The history of Latter-day Saints in Ontario goes all the way back to the earliest days of the Church.
Missionaries began preaching in Ontario during the 1830s.
The message spread quickly, and more than 2,000 people joined the Church in Ontario between the 1830s and 1840s.
Many of those early converts eventually traveled to Church headquarters in the United States.
Joseph Smith in Ontario
Joseph Smith personally visited members in Ontario in 1833 and 1837.
Other early Church leaders also had significant connections to the province.
Brigham Young taught in the Kingston area, while John Taylor, who would later become the third President of the Church, joined the Church in Toronto.
That makes Ontario an important part of early Latter-day Saint history.
Churchville
One particularly interesting historical connection is Churchville, now a historic district within Brampton.
During the early days of the Church, approximately half of the village's population reportedly left to gather with the Saints in the American Midwest.
A historical marker commemorating Joseph Smith's visit can still be found in the Churchville Cemetery.
Growth in the 20th Century
After the early exodus of members to the United States, missionaries returned to Ontario during the early 1900s.
Branches were organized in cities throughout the province.
Toronto's first Latter-day Saint chapel was dedicated in 1939, and in 1960, Church units were organized into Ontario's first stake.
Thirty years later, the Toronto Ontario Temple opened.
A Multicultural Church
The Church in Ontario has continued to become increasingly diverse.
Today, Church units in the region hold services in:
- English
- Spanish
- Portuguese
- Chinese
- Tagalog
Many newer members in Ontario have immigrated from countries including Ghana, Nigeria, and nations in Central and South America.
The Toronto Temple therefore serves a remarkably international Latter-day Saint population.
Humanitarian Service
Latter-day Saints in the Toronto area have also been heavily involved in community service.
Members have volunteered at Brampton's Charity Community Garden and have helped provide backpacks filled with basic necessities for women leaving custody at a local provincial jail.
In 2024, the Church donated more than $2 million in humanitarian support to food banks throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
Major Renovation
The Toronto Ontario Temple closed for a major renovation in October 2023.
The renovation was completed in December 2024.
The project focused on two major goals:
- Increasing capacity to meet growing patron demand
- Improving accessibility
The temple also received major upgrades to its heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems.
Baptistry Improvements
The baptistry received some of the most significant changes.
The renovation included:
- A new entry with art glass
- Enlarged confirmation rooms
- Increased dressing-room capacity
- Expanded clothing-issue area
- Upgraded dome lighting
- Refreshed oxen
These changes were designed to make the baptistry more functional for increased patron use.
Instruction Rooms
The instruction rooms received new seating designed to improve both comfort and accessibility.
New carpet and drapery were also installed.
Celestial Room
The celestial room received improved seating capacity along with new furnishings.
Accessibility for wheelchair users was also improved.
Mechanical Upgrades
Behind the scenes, the renovation included extensive mechanical work.
The project included:
- Replacement of the chiller
- A new fluid cooler
- New air-handling units
- Improved airflow
- Better humidity control
- Enhanced building-control systems
- Improved energy efficiency
While these changes aren't necessarily the most visible, they are essential to maintaining a comfortable and efficient temple.
2025 Public Open House
Following the renovation, the Toronto Ontario Temple held another public open house from February 13 through March 8, 2025.
The 23-day open house gave members of the public another opportunity to tour the temple after its extensive renovation.
Rededication
President Jeffrey R. Holland rededicated the Toronto Ontario Temple on March 23, 2025.
The rededication was broadcast to all units within the temple district.
This marked the beginning of a new chapter for a temple that had already served the region for more than three decades.
Exploring Brampton
A visit to the Toronto Ontario Temple also puts you in a great position to explore the Greater Toronto Area.
Brampton is one of Canada's most culturally diverse cities, with communities representing people from around the world.
The broader Toronto area offers:
- Museums
- Professional sports
- Shopping
- Restaurants
- Parks
- Waterfront attractions
- Historic neighborhoods
- Cultural festivals
Toronto Attractions
Because the temple is only about 20 miles west of downtown Toronto, a temple trip can easily be combined with a visit to the city.
Popular Toronto attractions include:
- CN Tower
- Royal Ontario Museum
- Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
- St. Lawrence Market
- Toronto Islands
- Distillery District
- Hockey Hall of Fame
For sports fans, Toronto also offers professional teams in several major leagues.
Why the Toronto Temple Matters
The Toronto Ontario Temple represents an important chapter in the growth of the Church in Canada.
It was the first temple in Ontario and served a huge geographic area when it opened in 1990.
Its location in the Greater Toronto Area also placed a temple within one of Canada's largest and most diverse metropolitan regions.
A Temple With Deep Canadian Roots
The temple's significance goes beyond its 1990 dedication.
Ontario was home to some of the earliest converts to the restored gospel, including John Taylor, who would later become the third President of the Church.
The same province that sent thousands of early converts toward Church headquarters eventually became home to its own temple.
That makes the Toronto Temple an interesting symbol of the Church's transition from a small missionary movement in Ontario to an established faith with a permanent temple in the region.
Current Status
The Toronto Ontario Temple is currently operating and is the 44th dedicated temple in operation.
Key milestones include:
- Announcement: April 7, 1984
- Site announced: June 22, 1986
- Groundbreaking: October 1987
- Original open house: August 2–18, 1990
- Original dedication: August 25–27, 1990
- Renovation: October 2023–December 2024
- Renovated open house: February 13–March 8, 2025
- Rededication: March 23, 2025
- Current status: Operating
Planning a Temple Visit
The Toronto Ontario Temple does not have a public visitors' center, arrival center, or patron housing. A distribution center is located on site.
The temple grounds themselves are open for public enjoyment, however, and the property provides a beautiful place to walk and enjoy the landscaping.
Because the temple is in Brampton, visitors can also easily combine a temple visit with attractions throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
Final Thoughts
The Toronto Ontario Temple has a fascinating history that stretches far beyond the building itself.
The temple was announced on April 7, 1984, and eventually became the second temple in Canada and the first temple in Ontario.
Its site was announced in 1986, and groundbreaking followed in 1987 under the direction of President Thomas S. Monson. Even a six-week labor strike just weeks before the open house couldn't keep the temple from being completed on schedule.
Church members responded by volunteering more than 64,000 hours to help finish and prepare the temple, with approximately 2,600 volunteers participating.
More than 61,000 people toured the temple during its original open house, including thousands of visitors from other faiths.
President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the temple in August 1990, and the dedication services were translated into six languages, reflecting the cultural diversity of the temple district.
More than 30 years later, the temple underwent another major chapter in its history.
The building closed in October 2023 for an extensive renovation focused on increased capacity, accessibility, and mechanical improvements. The work was completed in December 2024, followed by a new public open house in early 2025.
President Jeffrey R. Holland rededicated the renovated temple on March 23, 2025.
Today, the Toronto Ontario Temple remains a beautiful landmark in Brampton and an important part of Latter-day Saint history in Canada.
From the earliest missionaries preaching in Ontario in the 1830s, to the thousands of early converts who gathered with the Saints, to the construction of the first Ontario temple in 1990, the story of the Toronto Temple is really a story of how deeply the restored gospel became established in Canada.
And after its 2025 renovation, the temple is ready to continue serving the next generation of Latter-day Saints in one of Canada's most diverse regions.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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