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.

William Wallace Gibson | Airplane Inventor
📍 Balgonie, Saskatchewan
William Wallace Gibson | Airplane Inventor
From Balgonie SK William Wallace Gibson created the first Canadian-built airplane. Born in 1876 at Dalmellington, Scotland. Resided in Balgonie, Saskatchewan Died in 1965 in…
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Franklin Carmichael | The Group of Seven
📍 Orillia, Ontario
Franklin Carmichael | The Group of Seven
From Orillia ON Franklin Carmichael was a Canadian artist, the youngest original member of the Group of Seven. Born in 1890 in Orillia, Ontario Died…
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Earl Thomson | Olympic Champion
📍 Birch Hill, Saskatchewan
Earl Thomson | Olympic Champion
From Birch Hill SK Earl John “Tommy” Thomson was an athlete, a specialist in the high hurdles; the first Olympic gold medalist in 110 m…
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Willard Boyle | Nobel Laureate
📍 Amherst, Nova Scotia
Willard Boyle | Nobel Laureate
From Amherst, Truro NS An “electronic eye” co-inventor, Nobel laureate (2009) Willard Boyle was a Canadian physicist. Born in 1927 in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Died in 2011…
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Izaak Walton Killam | 1950s’ Richest Canadian
📍 Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Izaak Walton Killam | 1950s’ Richest Canadian
From Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Izaak Walton Killam was one of Canada’s most eminent financiers. He was known as “the mystery man” of Canadian finance because…
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Dutch Mason | ‘Prime Minister of the Blues’
📍 Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Dutch Mason | ‘Prime Minister of the Blues’
From Lunenburg, Nova Scotia Kentville, Nova Scotia Truro, Nova Scotia Dutch (b Norman) Mason was a blues singer from Nova Scotia. Mason was appointed the…
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Marie Dressler | Hollywood’s Star
📍 Cobourg, Ontario
Marie Dressler | Hollywood’s Star
From Cobourg, Ontario Marie Dressler is one of the greatest comediennes of her generation and one of Hollywood’s best-loved stars. Born in 1868 in Cobourg,…
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Elijah McCoy | Railroad Engineer
📍 Colchester, Ontario
Elijah McCoy | Railroad Engineer
From Colchester, Ontario Elijah J. McCoy was an inventor and engineer whose 57 patents and the invention of the locomotive lubrication cup led to the…
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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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Margaret Laurence | Writer
📍 Neepawa, Manitoba
Margaret Laurence | Writer
From Neepawa, Manitoba Lakefield, Ontario Jean Margaret Laurence (born as Jean Margaret Wemys) was one of Canada’s most beloved writers. She is best known for…
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Graham Fraser | Industrialist
📍 New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Graham Fraser | Industrialist
From New Glasgow, Nova Scotia Graham Fraser was an industrialist and community leader from Nova Scotia. Born in 1846 in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia Died…
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Grant Fuhr | Hockey Goalie
📍 Spruce Grove, Alberta
Grant Fuhr | Hockey Goalie
From Spruce Grove, Alberta Grant Fuhr was one of the National Hockey League’s best-ever goalies and a member of the outstanding Edmonton Oilers lineup of…
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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.