Every small town has a story. We've mapped984of them.

people of small towns

You know their names. You've never been to their towns.

235 notable Canadians. The small towns that shaped them.

235+

profiles

984
Towns

200+

years of history

Bobby Orr Bobby Orr · Parry Sound W. Brett Wilson W. Brett Wilson · Battleford Yann Martell Yann Martell · Port Hope Tom Thomson Tom Thomson · Owen Sound Joni Mitchell Joni Mitchell · Fort Macleod David Suzuki David Suzuki · Leamington Wayne Gretzky Wayne Gretzky · Brantford Alexander Graham Bell Alexander Graham Bell · Brantford Stompin Tom Stompin’ Tom · Skinners Pond Farley Mowat Farley Mowat · Port Hope

What small towns mean to the people who grew up there

In their own words

Written for 1000 Towns of Canada

picture of david suzuki
ESSAY FOR 1000TOWNS

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We lost something, a strong sense of community and connection to place.

David Suzuki

   Scientist & TV Host

   Leamington, Ontario
picture of brett wilson
Personal address to 1000towns

"

Wonderful place to raise the family in the 1950s — fond memories about Battleford and all things prairie.

W. Brett Wilson

   Dragons’ Den Panelist

   Battleford, Saskatchewan
Yann Martel
Personal address to 1000towns

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I’ve lived in small places, big places, centric places, eccentric places. I see the blessing and the curse in all of them.

Yann Martell

  Life of Pi Author

   Port Hope, Ontario

235 Profiles and Counting

From small towns across Canada

Celebrities, entrepreneurs, artists, athletes — the people who call small-town Canada home.

Featured Megan Oldham | Olympic Freestyle Skiing Champion
📍 Parry Sound, Ontario
Megan Oldham | Olympic Freestyle Skiing Champion
Parry Sound's newest Olympic champion — gold in big air, bronze in slopestyle, and the whole town showed up to welcome her home.
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Abraham Groves | Physician, Surgeon
📍 Fergus, Ontario
Abraham Groves | Physician, Surgeon
From Peterborough & Fergus, Ontario Dr. Abraham Groves was well known as a medical innovator and surgeon. He was known for his pioneered work in the…
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Ace Bailey | Hockey Player
📍 Bracebridge, Ontario
Ace Bailey | Hockey Player
From Bracebridge, Ontario Irvine Wallace “Ace” Bailey was a professional hockey player. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1926-1933. Born in 1903 in Bracebridge, Ontario. Died…
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Adelaide Hoodless | Women’s Institute Founder
📍 St. George, Ontario
Adelaide Hoodless | Women’s Institute Founder
From St. George, Ontario Adelaide Hoodless, the née Addie Hunter, was an educational reformer who founded the Women’s Institute. Born in 1857 in St. George,…
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Agnes Macphail | Politician
📍 Dundalk, Ontario
Agnes Macphail | Politician
From Proton Township, Grey County, Ontario (now Dundalk, Ontario) The face from the new $10 banknote Agnes Campbell Macphail was the first Canadian woman elected…
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Alan Barillaro | Animator, Oscar Laureate
📍 Chippawa, Ontario
Alan Barillaro | Animator, Oscar Laureate
From Chippawa, Ontario Nicolas Alan Barillaro is an animator, director and writer at Pixar Studio. Best known for his work on the short film Piper…
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Alan Bradley | Flavia de Luce Author
📍 Cobourg, Ontario
Alan Bradley | Flavia de Luce Author
From Cobourg, Ontario Alan Bradley is the New York Times bestselling author of many short stories, children’s stories, newspaper columns. His the Flavia de Luce…
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Alan Doyle | Great Big Sea Frontman
📍 Petty Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador
Alan Doyle | Great Big Sea Frontman
Great Big Sea frontman, born in Petty Harbour. Grew up in a fishing village without sidewalks and wrote about it in his book.
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Alex Faulkner | Hockey Player
📍 Bishop’s Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador
Alex Faulkner | Hockey Player
From Bishop’s Falls, Newfoundland Selm Alexander (Alex) Faulkner was the first Newfoundlander to play in the National Hockey League. Born in 1936 in Bishop’s Falls,…
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Alexander Graham Bell | Telephone Inventor
📍 Brantford, Ontario
Alexander Graham Bell | Telephone Inventor
Alexander Graham Bell was a scientist, inventor, engineer, and innovator who is credited with patenting the first practical telephone.
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Alexander Knox | Actor
📍 Strathroy, Ontario
Alexander Knox | Actor
From Strathroy, Ontario Alexander Knox was an actor and author of adventure novels set in the Great Lakes area during the 19th century. Born in…
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Alice Munro | Nobel Laureate
📍 Wingham, Ontario
Alice Munro | Nobel Laureate
From Wingham, Ontario Clinton, Ontario Alice Ann Munro is a short story writer and Nobel Prize winner. Born in 1931 in Wingham, Ontario Lived in…
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♥ There’s a small town in all of us

Even if you’ve never lived in a small town, you’ve been shaped by one — through a grandparent’s stories, a childhood visit, or a place that just felt like home. We’d love to hear your story.

#TheSmallTownInMe

Municipalities & Tourism Organizations

Your town has people worth celebrating, too

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Any changes to the place info will be reviewed by 1000 Towns of Canada.