Shrine Gardens
Martyrs' Shrine rests on a 300 acre property of natural forests, manicured gardens, devotional spaces, and open park lands, all spaces inviting you to experience God's grace in the natural environment. The Shrine is supported by a dedicated team of landscapers and laborers and the Shrine Nursery, which forms the backbone for our gardens. Here our team develops native plants, trees and shrubs and grasses used to enhance the overall aesthetic of the site.
Escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and unwind with us. Our parks and gardens offer a wide range of benefits for individuals, including the opportunity for people to connect with nature. This can improve physical and mental health by reducing stress, promoting physical activity and providing a space to enjoy fresh air and sunshine. Whether you are looking for memorable vistas overlooking Georgian Bay and the Wye Valley, gathering spaces for family and friends, unique areas for large special events, or quiet intimate spaces for prayerful reflection, we have it all.
As custodians of this land, we are constantly reminded of the ecological benefits of maintaining a healthy separation of our naturalized areas and our visitors. This means that the majority of the Martyrs' Shrine property is left in its natural state to protect endangered species, and to combat the effects of urbanization and climate change.
Brébeuf Prayer Garden
This forest garden is inspired by a vision that Saint Jean de Brébeuf had while visiting this area nearly 400 years ago, where he looked up to the night sky and witnessed a large cross.
Stations of the Cross
This is one of the oldest features our site. A donation from France, it was erected in 1927. These 14 bronze statues adorn Pilgrim Hill portraying the events in the Passion of Christ.
Indigenous Prayer Garden
This garden honours the memory of the early Indigenous Peoples that the missionaries laboured and lived along side of here in the land of the Wendat (Huronia).
Papal Fields
This open park area which was initially flattened to make way for the Pope is now home to large recreational fields and picnic areas for families in addition to small gardens peppered throughout.
Memorial Gardens
The grounds of Martyrs' Shrine are peppered with over 80 memorials and monuments celebrating Sainted individuals and cultural groups from around the world.
Little Flower Lake
Built to honour Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower, this large water feature is supported by the site's natural aquifer hand as been a popular space for reflection and solitude.
"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in." - George Washington Carver