Ontario, Canada

The Conventual Franciscans began ministry in Canada in 1920. The initial impetus for friars going to Canada was for ministry to the large number of immigrants then flooding into the country, especially in the Montreal area. They opened and staffed parishes and reception centers, even traveled to lumber camps to meet the needs of the various ethnic groups working in Northern Canada. At one time there were twelve parishes in the Montreal area, the largest concentration in the Conventual world.

As needs changed, these parishes were handed over to the dioceses. The friars are now involved in two parishes in the Toronto area, in Don Mills and in Burlington, with Tobias House, a three hundred unit housing complex with attendant care for sixty adults with disabilities, a residence in downtown Toronto and they are in the preparatory phase with Saint Francis Inn, a residence for women. In addition, they operate The Franciscan Center which provides a variety of services on a number of spiritual and administrative levels.