Penetanguishene in Simcoe County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Joseph Le Caron

1586-1632

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 7, 2024

1. Joseph Le Caron Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

[English] Joseph Le Caron is one of four pioneer missionaries of Canada and the second European to land in Huronia. Born in 1586, Le Caron was a Catholic Priest who arrived in Huronia in 1615, shortly before Samuel de Champlain establishing a relationship the native Huron Wendat. On August 12, 1615, he held the first Catholic mass in Ontario at Carhagouha, located near the village of Lafontaine in the Penetanguishene area.

[Français] Joseph Le Caron est l'un des quatre missionnaires pionniers du Canada et le deuxième Européen à débarquer en Huronie. Né en 1586, Le Caron était un prêtre catholique arrivé en Huronie en 1615, peu de temps avant que Samuel de Champlain n'établisse des relations avec la tribu autochtone huron-wendat. Le 12 août 1615, il a célébré, à Carhagouha, la première messe catholique en Ontario ; le site Carhagouha est situé près du village de Lafontaine dans la région de Penetanguishene.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Indigenous Peoples and Communities

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• Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is August 12, 1615.

Location. 44° 46.183′ N, 79° 56.352′ W. Marker is in Penetanguishene, Ontario, in Simcoe County. It can be reached from Owen Street just north of Water Street. The marker and sculpture are located along the Trans-Canada Trail in Penetanguishene Rotary Champlain Wendat Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8 Owen Street, Penetanguishene ON L9M 1M8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Ontario Cottage Country

and specifically in Georgian Bay Country.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Wendat (a few steps from this marker); Métis (a few steps from this marker); Brûlé (a few steps from this marker); Father Laboureau (within shouting distance of this marker); Athol Murray (within shouting distance of this marker); Champlain in Ontario, 1615 (within shouting distance of this marker); John Graves Simcoe (1752-1806) (within shouting distance of this marker); “Bound Together” (Huron Wendat Canoe) / Étroitement liés (canot huron-wendat) (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Penetanguishene.

Also see . . . Joseph Le Caron (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: In 1615, Samuel de Champlain brought four
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 7, 2024

2. Joseph Le Caron Sculpture
Recollect friars to New France, including Le Caron, as missionaries to the Indians. On April 24, 1615, they sailed from Honfleur aboard the St. Étienne. Le Caron reached Canada on May 25 and immediately accompanied some fur-traders to Sault St. Louis. His intention was to meet the Huron traders there and go with them to their own country. After a short time he travelled to Quebec to provide himself with a portable altar kit. On June 24, 1615, he assisted Denis Jamet in saying the first Mass in Quebec, on the Île de Montréal. Le Caron returned to the Sault, and went into the land of the Hurons, being the first to visit their settlements and preach the Gospel, preceding even Champlain. His party made the 1,100-km voyage following the Ottawa River as far as the Mattawa, the Mattawa as far as Lake Nipissing, and then the French River to Georgian Bay. He thus became one of the first Europeans to see Lake Huron, which he reached by the end of July, a few days before Champlain also arrived. On August 12, 1615, he celebrated the first Mass in Huron country, in the presence of Champlain. Le Caron stayed with the Hurons about a year (1615–16), and was again among them in 1623.

(Submitted on November 7, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Joseph Le Caron Marker & Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 7, 2024

3. Joseph Le Caron Marker & Sculpture

Credits. This page was last revised on November 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 235 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 7, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.