ONTARIO MÉTIS FACTS

Following its construction in 1832, St. Ann’s Church in Penetanguishene quickly became more than a place of worship. It served as a centre of Métis kinship, strengthening family and community connections across Georgian Bay and the wider Upper Great Lakes. Following his years of advocacy on behalf of Upper Great Lakes Métis interests, Michel Labatte saw those efforts come full circle when he married Archange Berger in the very St. Ann’s Church he had helped to build. Like the

St. Ann’s Church in Penetanguishene was built from cedar logs, reflecting the same land-based materials and construction methods Métis families had used to build their homes and communities across the Upper Great Lakes for generations. Upon seeing  Penetanguishene Lewis Solomon later recalled the area was, “mostly a cedar swamp,” making cedar a practical building material choice as the community rebuilt itself on the shores of Georgian Bay. When government support for a local

Métis leadership in the Upper Great Lakes has long been shaped by resilience and collective action. Historical leaders like Michel Labatte and Pierre Giroux exemplify this proud legacy through their commitments to advocacy and community service. After their relocation from Drummond Island, Métis in Penetanguishene quickly recognized the urgent need for a space to gather and practice their faith. When government promises of land for a church went unfulfilled, Labatte, Giroux,