It is Canada’s only national shrine outside of Quebec. The only other national shrine is St. Joseph’s Oratory which is approximately of the same age as Martyrs’ Shrine and is located in Montreal, Quebec.
Devotion to the Martyrs had flourished for many years before they were beatified in 1925. In 1907, Archbishop Denis O’Connor of Toronto blessed a chapel near the site of martyrdom of Fathers Jean de Brébeuf and Gabriel Lalemant within the parish limits of Waubaushene, about 12 kms. from the present Shrine. For 18 years, thousands of devout pilgrims visited this humble shrine and stayed at the 40-room shrine hostel nearby.
Photo: https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8293/7854190876_e3a4db97bc.jpg