Oshawa Ontario Stake Celebrates 50 Years of Building Faith in Eastern Ontario

On June 14, 2026, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Durham, Ontario, region gathered to celebrate 50 years since the organization of the Oshawa Ontario Stake. (The stake was first named the Toronto Ontario East Stake; the name was changed in 1986.) In conjunction with the event, organizers interviewed 40 pioneers and leaders of the Church in the area and gathered photographs, artifacts and records of their history for display at the celebration.

Joyful Reunion

Event participants heard from nearly all the former presidents of the Oshawa Ontario Stake, including 97-year-old Bruce Smith, who served as the first stake president (1976–1983), and 90-year-old Sam Baker, who served as the second stake president (1983–1986).

Neither Smith nor Baker currently reside within the boundaries of the stake, making their visit a joyful reunion for numerous Church members who had not seen them in many years.

Organizer Lori LaFrance explained, “There was such a beautiful sense of reunion. We all knew this was the only time we would have all these stake presidents together.”

Feelings of love and connection between former leaders and Church members were palpable throughout the evening as attendees laughed and cried together while their former leaders shared memories and stories from their shared past.

As LaFrance explained, “We all stand on the shoulders of people who have gone before us, so we want to honour them and learn from them.”

Early Days of the Oshawa Ontario Stake

Those first stake presidents presided over congregations stretching from Scarborough to Belleville in the east and Peterborough in the north. The challenges of constant travel marked their efforts as they strengthened congregations, raised funds to construct chapels and taught their members, many of whom were new converts, how to administer the full program of the Church.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the Church program extended beyond weekly religious services to include sports, drama, dances, fundraising, youth events, campouts, trips to the Washington D.C. Temple and the operation of welfare farms.

Long-time Church member Pat Hamilton recalled: “In the past, everybody helped one another because we were trying to make this church grow. You knew everybody, and you knew who you could rely on.”

Sharon Lynch remembers the feelings of community she felt on trips to the Washington D.C. Temple: “There was always laughter and lots of food. Nobody went hungry, and nobody was alone. Everybody was building everybody up.”

Stories of Faith

Oral history interviews conducted in connection with the anniversary brought powerful individual stories of conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ to light.

Mike Cook was introduced to the Church in Oshawa in 1973 while dating Sandra Sayers, whom he later married. When he expressed interest in learning about her church, Sandra sent him to talk to her father, Earl Sayers. Mike remembers Earl saying, “We don’t drink. We don’t smoke. We pay 10 percent of our money to the Church, … and don’t touch my daughter. If you’re still interested, there are two young men — missionaries — who can teach you more.”

Despite the curt lecture about tithing, chastity and the Church’s dietary restrictions, Mike began meeting with the missionaries and changed his habits. Later, after reading from the Book of Mormon, he recalled, “I was able to kneel down in my kitchen and [pray], and it was very clear to me that the Book of Mormon was true.” That experience gave him the faith to be baptized, and he has never looked back. He served as president of the stake from 1995 to 2005.

The Ulloa family, including mother Celinda, father Justiano, and seven children, joined the Church in Ecuador in 1970 and immigrated to Canada in 1972. Marcelo Ulloa, one of the children, remembers the missionaries in Ecuador being like angels to their family, sharing a message of happiness with them. Once in Canada, the family learned English and grew in their new faith. Marcelo Ulloa eventually served as president of the stake from 2005 to 2014.

Reflecting on the stake’s 50th anniversary celebration and the stories gathered from oral history interviews, LaFrance commented, “Seeing the faith of the members — the continuity over time — there is a theme of faith, devotion, sacrifice and service throughout.”

Focus on Jesus Christ and Ministering to Others

During the anniversary celebration, several stake presidents shared reflections on what they had learned during their service and the messages they sought to emphasize to their congregations.

Marcelo Ulloa recalled: “Getting to feel the love of the Saviour for the people is the greatest thing I have learned from my service.” The focus of his nine-year ministry was “To the Rescue.” He explained that many people who have left their faith may feel that they cannot come back, that they have strayed too far. To let people know it is never too late to return to faith in Jesus Christ, he emphasized Matthew 11:28: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

David LaFrance, who served as stake president from 2014 to 2020, shared a similar message. His mantra was “Each One, Bring One,” suggesting the need for Church members to reach out to include, support and strengthen others.

Building Community Through Faith and Service

For current stake president Carlos Hernandez, the event served as a reminder of his responsibility to build upon the legacy of the Oshawa Ontario Stake pioneers. He reflected on their “rich history of faith and sacrifice” and emphasized that today’s members continue that legacy by helping build God’s kingdom within their communities.

In recent years, stake members have emphasized giving back to their communities through service initiatives, interfaith collaboration and welcoming the public into their chapels for dramatic productions, Remembrance Day programs, recreation and opportunities to hear the word of God.

Today, Sunday church services in the Oshawa Ontario Stake bring together people from all over the world — both members and visitors _— in chapels located in Pickering, Oshawa, Bowmanville, Cobourg, Peterborough and Lindsay, where they are welcomed and taught about Jesus Christ and his gospel.

Read the article in French