Construction Begins for the Victoria British Columbia Temple

On Saturday, August 22, 2026, construction began on the Victoria British Columbia Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Elder James E. Evanson, General Authority Seventy and member of the Canada Area Presidency, presided at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Victoria British Columbia Temple.

“This building will bring a spirit of peace, devotion, compassion and joy to the community,” he said. “It will become a beacon of peace and a place where we can know that there is a God in heaven who loves us, and that we are all His children.”

During the dedicatory prayer, he said, “We pray that the Spirit will be apparent as the building takes shape from foundation to spire and point all of us to thy Son, Jesus Christ. May this sacred land and temple be a reminder that Jesus Christ has the power to raise us unto eternal life through His grace.” 

Other speakers spoke of both personal and community impacts of temples.

Elder M. Shayne Olsen, an Area Seventy, spoke of the beauty of Vancouver Island and how the temple grounds would soon become a beautiful garden. “The Victoria British Columbia Temple will stand as a testament of God’s love and His desire to draw His children close to Him in our garden city,” he said. “The temple not only becomes a symbol of devotion, but it also becomes a source of God’s love and spiritual strength that will radiate throughout this region.”

Vienna Wigg of the Victoria British Columbia Stake shared how attending the house of the Lord helped calm her feelings of anxiety. “Having a temple on the island will make peace available to the community and the lives of all those on the island,” she said. “The temple is a place of profound peace where we can all feel closer to our Lord and Saviour.

Marilyn Hall Terry of the Nanaimo British Columbia Stake said the temple will impact the community by strengthening families, encouraging service, promoting hope and serving as a refuge from the world. “The temple is the Lord’s house, and it points us to the true source of life and healing: Jesus Christ. He supports our delicate, spiritual ecosystem,” she said.

Canada is home to over 211,000 members of the Church, meeting in around 500 congregations. 

Dedicated houses of the Lord in the country are in Calgary, Cardston, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Regina, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg. Construction began on the Lethbridge Alberta Temple in 2025.  

The Victoria British Columbia Temple was announced in 2024.

Read the article in French