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.

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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Jack Carson | Actor
📍 Carman, Manitoba
Jack Carson | Actor
From Carman, Manitoba John Elmer “Jack” Carson was one of the most popular character actors during the “golden age of Hollywood”. His comic talent was…
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Jack McClelland | Publisher
📍 Kleinburg, Ontario
Jack McClelland | Publisher
From Kleinburg, Ontario John Gordon “Jack” McClelland was known for promoting Canadian writers as president of the McClelland and Stewart publishing house. Born in 1922 in…
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Jack Miner | Conservationist
📍 Kingsville, Ontario
Jack Miner | Conservationist
From Kingsville, Ontario John Thomas Miner, “Wild Goose Jack,” was a conservationist called by some the “father” of North American conservationism. He was one of…
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Jacques Poulin | Novelist
📍 Saint-Gédéon, Quebec
Jacques Poulin | Novelist
From Saint-Gédéon, Quebec Jacques Poulin is a novelist with a quiet and intimate style of writing. He is among the most widely read Québécois novelists of…
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James B. Harkin | Father of National Parks
📍 Vankleek Hill, Ontario
James B. Harkin | Father of National Parks
From Vankleek Hill, Ontario James Bernard Harkin (‘Bunny’ Harkin) was the first commissioner of the National Parks of Canada. He established the Historic Sites and…
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James Cameron | Avatar Director
📍 Chippawa, Ontario
James Cameron | Avatar Director
From Kapuskasing & Chippawa, Ontario James Francis “Jim” Cameron is a filmmaker, director, producer, screenwriter, inventor, engineer, philanthropist, and deep-sea explorer. Born in 1954 in Kapuskasing,…
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James Campbell | Clarinetist
📍 Leduc, Alberta
James Campbell | Clarinetist
From Leduc, Alberta James Campbell is a clarinetist. He has more than 40 recordings, a Juno Award, a Roy Thomson Hall Award, Canada’s Artist of…
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James Cockburn | Father of Confederation
📍 Cobourg, Ontario
James Cockburn | Father of Confederation
James Cockburn was serving as Canada’s first Speaker in the House of Commons. He participated in the Founding of Canada Conference in Quebec in 1864.…
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James Gladstone | Senator
📍 Fernie, British Columbia
James Gladstone | Senator
Died in Fernie, British Columbia James Gladstone (or Akay-na-muka, meaning “Many guns”) was the first Status Indian to be appointed to the Canadian Senate. Born…
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James Naismith | Basketball Inventor
📍 Almonte, Ontario
James Naismith | Basketball Inventor
From Almonte, Ontario James Naismith was a physical educator, physician, chaplain, sports coach and innovator. He invented the game of basketball at age 30 in…
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James William Carmichael | Shipbuilder
📍 New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
James William Carmichael | Shipbuilder
From New Glasgow, Nova Scotia James William Carmichael was a shipbuilder-owner, merchant, politician. Born in 1819 in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia Died in 1903 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

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