Mount Pleasant Group Marks 200 Years of Compassionate Care and Choice in Toronto

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Year-long anniversary program features public art installations and ‘200 stories’ of people, places and events that shaped the city and the nation

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Toronto, Jan. 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries (MPG) officially marks its 200th anniversary on January 30, 2026, commemorating two centuries of service, remembrance, and community connection. Founded in 1826 – and older than the place we call Canada today – MPG’s bicentennial program tells not only the story of the organization, but also the story of Toronto and the nation.

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Anchored in the anniversary theme of Yesterday. Today. Forever., the year‑long program invites communities across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to explore, engage, and reflect on the history, people, and places that have shaped the region for generations.

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A Legacy Rooted in Toronto’s Earliest Days
MPG’s origins date back to 1825, at a time when residents of the Town of York could only be buried in Anglican or Roman Catholic church cemeteries. That year, a group of town residents petitioned the Province of Upper Canada for permission to establish a non‑denominational “general burying ground” open to all – a groundbreaking act of inclusion for the era. The legislation received Royal Assent on January 30, 1826, formally establishing the organization that would evolve into the Mount Pleasant Group.

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Today, MPG operates 10 cemeteries, nine funeral centres and four cremation centres across the GTA. The funeral and cemetery operator provides perpetual care for more than 700,000 deceased individuals, and continues to support communities through compassionate service and choice in death care.

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Honoured to have Earned and Kept Toronto’s Trust
“For two centuries, Mount Pleasant Group has been woven into the lives of the communities we serve,” said John Monahan, President and CEO. “Our 200th anniversary program is not only about honouring the people and stories that built this city and this country. It’s also our way to recognize and express our sincere gratitude to people across the Greater Toronto Area – both past and present – for trusting us to take care of them and their loved ones dealing with death, loss and grief. We invite everyone across the GTA to join us in reflecting on, exploring, and sharing in this historic milestone.”

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Introducing the 200 Stories Project – A Digital Showcase of Untold Histories
At the heart of MPG’s anniversary program is its 200 Stories Project, a digital storytelling initiative that brings forward remarkable people and histories resting within MPG cemeteries. Available now at mpg200.ca, the stories highlight historical monuments within MPG cemeteries as well as cultural icons, artists, activists, innovators, honoured veterans, political leaders, and everyday heroes who shaped the GTA and Canada. Many are widely known; others are seldom told. All of them have helped to weave the fabric of the city’s past and present.