The Canadian Martyrs (1634-1649) were a group of Jesuit missionaries who came to work in the area of Georgian Bay and brought Catholicism to the aboriginal peoples of the region, especially the peoples of the Huron Nation. Their names were Fathers Jean de Brebeuf, Antoine Daniel, Gabriel Lalemant, Charles Garnier, Noel Chabanel and Isaac Jogues. Among them were also two lay or volunteer ministers, Rene Goupil and Jean de la Londe.
In 1930, these brave men were canonized as saints in Rome, by Pope Pius 11th. The Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland, Ontario was erected as a memorial to them. Their feast day is commemorated on September 26th.