A historic milestone was reached on Saturday, August 22, 2026, as ground was officially broken for the Victoria British Columbia Temple in Langford. The groundbreaking marks the beginning of construction of the first temple on Vancouver Island and the second temple in British Columbia.
The ceremony was presided over by Elder James E. Evanson, General Authority Seventy and counselor in the Canada Area Presidency. In his remarks, Elder Evanson reflected on the meaning of the word broken and the spiritual significance of breaking ground for a temple.
Quoting former Apostle Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Elder Evanson shared:
“It takes broken clouds to nourish the earth. It takes broken earth to nourish grain. It takes broken grain to make bread. It takes broken bread to nourish us. Things are sometimes broken in order to be whole, in order to give life, and the most precious broken thing of all was the broken heart of the Son of God.”
Connecting those words to the groundbreaking, Elder Evanson continued:
“Today, we are going to break ground and dig deep to build a foundation. A foundation for a building that will help develop a broken heart and a contrite spirit in each of us as we covenant with God to fulfill His divine will.”
He taught that the temple will help establish lives “on the only sure foundation upon which we can build, even the Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Elder Evanson also described the future temple as a “beacon of peace” for the community, emphasizing that it will bring a spirit of peace, devotion, compassion and joy to the region. He offered a dedicatory prayer for the land and construction, praying that the temple would point people to Jesus Christ and His power to bring eternal life.
A Community Celebration
The groundbreaking brought together people from throughout the region to celebrate this important milestone. Government officials, First Nations representatives, interfaith and nonprofit leaders, community members, Church leaders, and members of the temple’s design and construction teams were among those in attendance and/or recognized with appreciation.
Graham Sanderson, who conducted the services and, together with his wife, served as coordinators for the ceremony, expressed appreciation for the many individuals and organizations who had contributed to the event and to the planning and preparation for the temple.
The presence of such a diverse group of community leaders reflected the spirit of cooperation and friendship surrounding the new temple and its future place in the community.
A Special Connection to the Nanaimo Stake
The groundbreaking was especially meaningful for members throughout Vancouver Island and the Nanaimo Stake, with several local members participating directly in the historic ceremony.
Marilyn Terry, Young Women President, North Island Branch of the Nanaimo British Columbia Stake was invited to speak at the groundbreaking. She shared her testimony of the temple’s potential impact on Vancouver Island, including strengthening families, encouraging service, promoting hope, and providing a spiritual refuge from the world. She emphasized that the temple points us to Jesus Christ as the true source of life and healing.
Music for the ceremony also featured a string quartet from Nanaimo, providing beautiful musical accompaniment for the historic occasion. The quartet included Logan Growcott, Eva Radke, Lauren and Landon Toor. Their participation was another wonderful representation of the Nanaimo community at this important milestone for the island.
A Temple for Vancouver Island
The Victoria British Columbia Temple will be built on approximately 4.7 acres along Mantle Heights Road in Langford. The planned single-story temple will be approximately 11,400 square feet, with an accompanying patron waiting area. The temple was first announced by Church President Russell M. Nelson in April 2024.
Its location in Greater Victoria provides a central and accessible site for members throughout Vancouver Island. For many members of the Nanaimo Stake and communities across the island, the temple represents the opportunity to worship and participate in temple ordinances closer to home.
As construction now begins, members across Vancouver Island can look forward with faith to the day when the Victoria British Columbia Temple becomes a house of the Lord and a place of peace, worship, service, and spiritual strength for generations to come.
Links
Video recording of groundbreaking ceremony
Church News — Ground broken for Victoria British Columbia Temple
Canada Newsroom — Construction Begins for the Victoria British Columbia Temple
Nanaimo Stake 