Every small town has a story. We've mapped 984 of 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

Alex Chicken Β· Moose Factory Bobby Orr Β· Parry Sound Roberta Bondar Β· Sault Ste. Marie L.M. Montgomery Β· Cavendish Joni Mitchell Β· Fort Macleod David Suzuki Β· Vancouver Wayne Gretzky Β· Brantford Buffy Sainte-Marie Β· Piapot Stompin’ Tom Β· Skinners Pond k.d. lang Β· Consort

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

Β  Β Scientist & TV Host

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

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

W. Brett Wilson

Β  Β Dragons’ Den Panelist

Β  Β 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

Β  Life of Pi Author

Β  Β Port Hope, Ontario

235 Profiles and Counting

From small towns across Canada

Celebrities, entrepreneurs, artists, athletes β€” the people who call small-town Canada home.

Stompin’ Tom Connors | Iconic Singer
πŸ“ Timmins, Ontario
Stompin’ Tom Connors | Iconic Singer
From Timmins & Ballinafad, Ontario (part of the town Erin, Ontario) One of the iconic figures in Canadian music, Charles Thomas “Stompin’ Tom” Connors was…
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Mario Bernardi | Conductor, Pianist
πŸ“ Kirkland Lake, Ontario
Mario Bernardi | Conductor, Pianist
From Kirkland Lake, Ontario Mario Bernardi is one of Canada’s premier conductors and a renowned builder of cultural institutions in Canada. Born in 1930 in…
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Peter Mansbridge | CBC Journalist
πŸ“ Churchill, Manitoba
Peter Mansbridge | CBC Journalist
Worked in Churchill, Manitoba Peter Mansbridge was chief correspondent for CBC News and anchor of The National, CBC Television’s flagship nightly newscast. Born in 1948…
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David Alward | 32nd Premier of New Brunswick
πŸ“ Nackawic, New Brunswick
David Alward | 32nd Premier of New Brunswick
From Nackawic, New Brunswick David Nathan Alward is a Canada’s Consul General in Boston. He served as the 32nd Premier of New Brunswick, 2010 to…
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Randy Ragan | Soccer Player
πŸ“ High Prairie, Alberta
Randy Ragan | Soccer Player
From High Prairie, Alberta Randolph “Randy” Lee Ragan was an elite professional soccer player, who was considered one of the top midfield players in Canada…
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David Suzuki | Scientist, TV Host
πŸ“ Leamington, Ontario
David Suzuki | Scientist, TV Host
Grew up in Leamington, Ontario David Takayoshi Suzuki is an award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster. Born in 1936 in Vancouver, British Columbia Grew up in…
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Eric Peterson | Actor
πŸ“ Indian Head, Saskatchewan
Eric Peterson | Actor
From Indian Head, Saskatchewan Eric Neal Peterson is a stage/television actor, known for his roles in three major Canadian series – Street Legal, Corner Gas…
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C. J. Mackenzie | National Research Council President
πŸ“ St. Stephen, New Brunswick
C. J. Mackenzie | National Research Council President
From St. Stephen, New Brunswick Chalmers Jack “C. J.” Mackenzie was the single most important figure in the postwar growth of Canadian science. Born in…
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Jean Claude Roy | Artist
πŸ“ St. Philip’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Jean Claude Roy | Artist
From St. Philip’s, Newfoundland Jean Claude Roy is an “expressionist-colourist”; he is passionately drawn to the landscape, both physical and human. Born in 1948 in…
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Glen Sharpley | Hockey Center
πŸ“ Huntsville, Ontario
Glen Sharpley | Hockey Center
From Huntsville, Ontario Glen Stuart Sharpley was an ice hockey player who played only 286 games in NHL with the Minnesota North Stars and Chicago…
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Joe O’Brien | Harness Horseman
πŸ“ Alberton, Prince Edward Island
Joe O’Brien | Harness Horseman
From Alberton, Prince Edward Island Joseph Cyril “Joe” O’Brien was perhaps the greatest driver and trainer of harness horses the world has ever seen. Born…
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pj johnson | Yukon Poet Laureate
πŸ“ Whitehorse, Yukon
pj johnson | Yukon Poet Laureate
From Whitehorse, Yukon On Canada Day, July 1st, 1994, pj johnson was honoured to be invested as the first official Yukon Poet Laureate in Canada.…
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β™₯ 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 β€” through a grandparent’s stories, a childhood visit, or a place that just felt like home. We’d love to hear your story.

#TheSmallTownInMe

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