Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto is one of Mississauga’s most extraordinary and least-known cultural destinations — a 50,000-square-foot Buddhist temple that combines traditional Chinese architecture with a full calendar of tours, programs, and community events open to visitors of all backgrounds and beliefs.
Founded in 1991 and completed in 1997 under the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order — one of the world’s largest Buddhist organizations, with over 400 temples worldwide — the Mississauga temple was built to serve as a cultural, educational, community, and spiritual centre for Chinese Buddhism in the Greater Toronto Area. The facility includes a magnificent main shrine, a Water Drop Teahouse, a traditional Chan meditation hall, a Buddhist cultural museum, a library with tens of thousands of volumes, and a bookstore.
Visitors are warmly welcomed. Guided group tours run on Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. (no registration required for individuals; groups of 10 or more should book in advance). Tours introduce visitors to the practices, culture, and art of Buddhism, with interactive activities including tea meditation and calligraphy. The Water Drop Teahouse serves fresh fruit teas, noodle soups, and light fare, and the temple also offers vegetarian meals that have earned a loyal following among regular visitors.
Fo Guang Shan places particular emphasis on Humanistic Buddhism — a philosophy that integrates Buddhist teaching into everyday life and promotes peace, compassion, and harmony among people of all backgrounds. The temple holds regular chanting services, meditation retreats, cultural events, and educational programs in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese, creating a genuinely accessible space for the broader community.
Given Mississauga’s status as one of Canada’s most diverse cities, Fo Guang Shan Temple offers a rare and meaningful window into a living tradition that thousands of residents call home — and a genuinely peaceful escape from the city for everyone else.
Practical Visitor Info
Address:
6525 Millcreek Drive, Mississauga, ON L5N 7K6
Phone:
(905) 814-0465
Website:
https://www.fgs.ca
Hours:
Tue–Sun: 9:00am–5:00pm | Mon: Closed (open 9am–2pm on 1st & 15th lunar day if that falls on Monday)
Admission:
Free entry. Teahouse and dining available at reasonable cost.
Getting There:
By car: off Millcreek Drive in northwest Mississauga (near Meadowvale). Ample free parking on-site. By transit: MiWay serves the area.
Nearby:
Meadowvale Conservation Area, Lake Aquitaine Park, Meadowvale Village
Saturday guided tours at 1pm & 2pm — no registration needed for individuals. Dress modestly when visiting the main shrine. Photography is generally permitted in public areas.
