The history of the Catholic Church in Canada extends back to the arrival of the earliest European explorers. A French priest accompanied the explorer Jacques Cartier, performing the first ever recorded Holy Mass on Canadian soil on July 7, 1534, on the shores of the Gaspé Peninsula. It was followed by conversion of the First Nations into the fold of Catholicism. Soon after, more and more religious congregations set foot in Canada especially among French-speaking present-day Quebec.
In this long history of the Roman Catholic Church in Canada, a number of deceased persons of the Church have had their life and work declared worthy of achieving one of the four stages of canonization in the Catholic Church: Servants of God; Venerable; Beatification (Blessed); and, for some, full recognition as a Saint.
The list of Canadian Roman Catholic Saints (St.), Blesseds (Bl.) and Venerables (Ven.) includes six individuals called the Fondateurs, or Founders. These people are particularly venerated for establishing the Church in Canada. Generally, these are: St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, St. Marguerite d'Youville, St. François de Laval, St. Marie de l'Incarnation, Bl. Catherine de Saint-Augustin and Ven. Jeanne Mance. Sometimes, Ven. Jérôme Le Royer de la Dauversière is also included.