The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church's presence in Toronto began in 1972 as a mission, growing sufficiently by 1986 to acquire its first property. Due to community expansion, the Menbere Berhan Kidest Mariam (Saint Mary) church was established in 1991, eventually acquiring its current properties at 80 and 84 Tycos Drive in 1997. Driven by their faith, the congregation launched a challenging project to build a new church honoring historical traditions, facing long hurdles in fundraising and securing a conditional site plan approval from the City of Toronto only in April 2010. The effort culminated in the laying of the Foundation Stone on April 18, 2010, and the triumphant consecration of the brand new building on November 18, 2012, by His Holiness Abune Merkorios I, allowing the church to significantly expand its spiritual and social services. read more