The Canadian Mission was organized in 1918 by dividing the Eastern States Mission, which was under the direction of President Walter P. Monson. The first Canadian Mission President was Nephi Jensen. The mission extended from the east coast to Manitoba, with a membership of about one thousand people. Toronto was the headquarters.

Soon after President Jensens arrival, a mission home was purchased on Ferndale, Avenue; however, conference and special meetings were held either in Massey Hall or one of the theaters and were attended by capacity crowds.

Those were sensational days. President Jensen always had his picture and a large ad in the daily newspapers announcing the conference meetings. He was a powerful speaker. Large crowds attended, but the speaker was often interrupted by hecklers.

In those early days, the missionaries met with a great deal of persecution from both Catholics and Protestants and the daily papers. A newspaper called Jack Canuck published many fabricated stories regarding the missionaries proselyting here.

There were only about fifty members in Toronto at that time. The Relief Society was held at the Mission Home and the Elders lived on Markham Street with Sister Mallard for about 14 years. The regular Sunday meeting place was changed to the corner of Bathurst and Queen Street. From there it moved to Spadina Avenue, and then to Sovereign Hall on Dovercourt Road. After 1938 it was on Ossington Avenue. The 1938 Ossington Avenue Chapel is still in use today.

Currently the Canada Toronto East Mission has three stakes organized. There are seven stakes within the boundaries of what was the Canada Toronto Mission. The people of Canada are receptive to the Gospel and the members are motivated to be member missionaries. Perhaps even more noteworthy, this is an area of the world to which the Lord is sending people to receive the gospel. People from all nations have come to Toronto as a refuge from the storms of the world, and even as this land has been a promised land to many generations past, it continues to be a chosen land where the Lord sends his elect.

The Canada Toronto East Mission is overflowing with rich history. Perhaps even the ancients of the Book of Mormon proclaimed the Gospel here. As a new missionary coming to this mission, your righteous and dedicated service will add to the great history of the Canada Toronto East Mission.