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

   Scientist & TV Host

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

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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.

Mike Babcock | Hockey Coach
📍 Manitouwadge, Ontario
Mike Babcock | Hockey Coach
From Manitouwadge, Ontario Michael “Mike” Babcock Jr. is a Stanley Cup and Olympic Gold Medal Winning Hockey Coach. Born in 1963 in Manitouwadge, Ontario Mike…
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Susan Aglukark | Inuk Singer
📍 Churchill, Manitoba
Susan Aglukark | Inuk Singer
From Churchill, Manitoba Susan Aglukark is an Inuk musician whose blend of Inuit folk music traditions with country and pop songwriting has made her a…
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David Yates | School Teacher
📍 Clinton, Ontario
David Yates | School Teacher
From Clinton, Ontario David Yates is the author of Explore Huron TV series. David Yates is a history teacher at Central Huron Secondary School, Clinton…
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Guy Lafleur | Five-Time Stanley Cup Winner
📍 Thurso, Quebec
Guy Lafleur | Five-Time Stanley Cup Winner
From Thurso, Quebec Guy Damien “The Flower” / “Le Démon Blond” Lafleur was the first NHL player to score 50 goals and 100 points in…
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Brianne Theisen-Eaton | Heptathlete
📍 Humboldt, Saskatchewan
Brianne Theisen-Eaton | Heptathlete
From Humboldt, Saskatchewan Brianne Theisen-Eaton is a track and field athlete who competed in the heptathlon and women’s pentathlon. Born in 1988 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan…
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Arthur Currie | Canadian Corps Commander
📍 Strathroy, Ontario
Arthur Currie | Canadian Corps Commander
From Strathroy, Ontario General Sir Arthur William Currie was one of the finest commanders in Canadian military history. He commanded the Canadian Corps during World…
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Willa Cather | Writer
📍 Grand Manan, New Brunswick
Willa Cather | Writer
Lived Grand Manan, New Brunswick Willa Sibert Cather was a writer who was awarded in 1923 the Pulitzer Prize for One of Ours, a novel…
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Glenn Howard | Curler
📍 Tiny, Ontario
Glenn Howard | Curler
From Midland & Tiny, Ontario Glenn William Howard is Four-time Canadian and World Curling Champion. 2019. Best Curling Shot by Glenn Howard Born in 1962 in…
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Henry Wolsey Bayfield | Great Lakes Surveyor
📍 Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Henry Wolsey Bayfield | Great Lakes Surveyor
From Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Admiral Henry Wolsey Bayfield was a British naval officer and surveyor of lakes Ontario, Superior, Erie and Huron. Born in…
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Joni Mitchell | Songwriter
📍 Fort Macleod, Alberta
Joni Mitchell | Songwriter
From Fort Macleod, Alberta Roberta Joan “Joni” Mitchell is a singer-songwriter and painter. Rolling Stone called her “one of the greatest songwriters ever”. Born in…
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Peter Wintonick | Documentary Filmmaker
📍 Trenton, Ontario
Peter Wintonick | Documentary Filmmaker
From Trenton, Ontario Peter Wintonick is one of Canada’s best-known documentarians.   Born in 1953 in Trenton, Ontario Died in 2013 in Montreal, Quebec Involved…
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Myriam Bédard | Olympic Champion
📍 L’Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec
Myriam Bédard | Olympic Champion
From L’Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec Myriam Bédard is a biathlete. She represented Canada at two Winter Olympics winning gold medals, and a bronze medal. Born in 1969…
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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

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