Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Plot Q Lot 60
Freemasonry has played a significant role in the development of Canada, and its influence is especially evident in Toronto, where the fraternity became closely linked with the city’s civic and cultural growth. Emerging from medieval English stonemason guilds and transformed during the Enlightenment into a philosophical movement centred on moral development and community leadership, Freemasonry arrived in Canada with British settlers in the 18th century. As Toronto evolved into the political and economic heart of Upper Canada, the city became the primary gathering place for many of the lodges and leaders who helped define Canadian Masonry.
Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, Toronto attracted influential figures in politics, business, law and the arts, many of whom were active Freemasons. Their involvement reflected the fraternity’s devotion to ethical conduct, fellowship and public service. These values resonated strongly in a rapidly expanding city, and Masonic networks became intertwined with the creation and shape of Toronto’s civic institutions, charitable initiatives and public leadership.
This history is reflected in several of the city’s heritage landmarks, including Mount Pleasant Cemetery, where a prominent Masonic monument stands among the resting places of many notable Canadian Masons, including political figures, philanthropists and community builders. Marked with traditional Masonic symbols, the monument serves as a collective tribute to its members whose contributions helped establish the city’s civic foundations, guiding Toronto through periods of growth and transformation.
Together, the history of Freemasonry in Canada and its deep roots in Toronto illustrate how the fraternity’s traditions and values helped shape the character of the modern city, with the Mount Pleasant monument standing as a visible reminder of that legacy.
Today, Freemasonry in Canada continues to uphold its core principles of brotherly love, relief and truth while reinforcing a strong commitment to equality and inclusion. The organization affirms that it is not a racist institution and welcomes members of all races, creeds and cultures. Canadian lodges reflect this diversity, with leadership that embodies modern standards of inclusivity. United by their three core principles, Freemasons bring these ideals into the 21st century through personal growth, charitable work and meaningful social connections offered across more than 550 lodges in Ontario and 200,000 members across Canada.
Sources:
• Freemasonry – The Canadian Encyclopedia
• Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario
• Wikipedia – Freemasonry in Canada
Photos:
• B&W - Digital Archives Ontario
• Colour - Courtesy of Mount Pleasant Group
