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

Father Laboureau

1837-1904

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 7, 2024

1. Father Laboureau Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

[English] Theophilus François Laboureau was born in 1837 in France and was appointed to St. Ann's Church in Penetanguishene in 1873. He felt that his small church should be replaced with a fitting memorial church to commemorate the deeds of Canada's heroic missionaries and deep history of Penetanguishene. For the next few years, Father Laboureau travélled through Europe securing funds to build St. Ann's church. In 1886, the cornerstone was laid, and the “Cathedral of the North” was completed in 1902.

[Français] Théophile François Laboureau est né en France, en 1837, et il a été assigné à l'église Sainte-Anne à Penetanguishene en 1873. Il trouvait que sa petite église devrait être remplacée par une église commémorative, digne de rappeler les exploits des missionnaires héroïques du Canada ainsi que l'histoire bien établie de Penetanguishene. Au cours des années suivantes, Père Laboureau a voyagé en Europe dans le but d'obtenir des fonds pour construire l'actuelle église Sainte-Anne. En 1886, la pierre angulaire a été posée et la « cathédrale du Nord » a été achevée en 1902.

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Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1837.

Location. 44° 46.172′ N, 79° 56.33′ 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: Athol Murray (here, next to this marker); John Graves Simcoe (1752-1806) (a few steps from this marker); Métis (a few steps from this marker); Joseph Le Caron (within shouting distance of this marker); The Wendat (within shouting distance of this marker); Brûlé (within shouting distance of this marker); Huron-Wendat Circle of Nations / Cercle des Nations huronnes-wendat (within shouting distance of this marker); Champlain in Ontario, 1615 (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Penetanguishene.

Also see . . . The Beauty and Forgotten Heritage, St. Anne’s Jesuit Memorial Church: Canada’s National Shrine.

Excerpt: A new pastor
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 7, 2024

2. Father Laboureau Sculpture
arrived in Penetanguishene in 1873 and Father Theophile Pius Francis Laboureau soon realized that his little wood-sided church, the second St. Anne’s, was too small to accommodate his growing parish. He amazingly decided to replace it with a grand structure, a large shrine dedicated to the Canadian missionaries who had laboured and were martyred here in his parish in the 1600s.
Laboureau miraculously galvanized not only the locals, but Canadians and the world at large, to raise the necessary funds. Armed with a concept and supporting letters from Prime Minister Sir John A. MacDonald, various premiers, dignitaries and a long list of Canadian Catholic bishops, Laboureau secured hundreds of private donations along with funds from the Senate of France and the Congress of the United States. He also secured funds and blessings from church leaders throughout Europe and the Vatican. Also while in France, Laboureau had an architect from Burgundy draw up rough plans. He chose a Romanesque style of architecture reminiscent of many European basilicas constructed between A.D 800-1270.
On September 5, 1886, a huge crowd of over 5,000 people from the town, area and throughout Ontario, watched Archbishop of Toronto, J.J. Lynch, bless and lay the historic cornerstone. For sixteen long and arduous years, construction continued on this massive church…

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

Father Laboureau Marker & Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 7, 2024

3. Father Laboureau 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 131 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 7, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.