Every small town has a story. We've mapped986of 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

986
Towns

200+

years of history

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

"

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

David Suzuki

ย  ย Scientist & TV Host

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

"

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

W. Brett Wilson

ย  ย Dragons’ Den Panelist

ย  ย 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

ย  Life of Pi Author

ย  ย Port Hope, Ontario

235 Profiles and Counting

From small towns across Canada

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

Jason Arnott | NHL All-Rookie Team
๐Ÿ“ Wasaga Beach, Ontario
Jason Arnott | NHL All-Rookie Team
From Wasaga Beach & Collingwood, Ontario Jason William Arnott is a veteran of 18 NHL seasons, a Stanley Cup champion, a 12-time 20-goal scorer โ€“…
Read the story โ†’
Jean Claude Roy | Artist
๐Ÿ“ St. Philipโ€™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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Jeff Hammond | Cinematographer
๐Ÿ“ Leamington, Ontario
Jeff Hammond | Cinematographer
From Leamington, Ontario Jeffrey Robert Hammond is an award-winning film director, writer, producer. He has also spent many hours in front of the camera as…
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Jessica Stam | Model
๐Ÿ“ Kincardine, Ontario
Jessica Stam | Model
From Walkerton &ย Kincardine, Ontario Jessica Elizabeth Stam is considered to be part of the crop of models described as “doll faces”. In 2007 Forbes named…
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Jim Balsillie | RIM CEO
๐Ÿ“ Seaforth, Ontario
Jim Balsillie | RIM CEO
From Seaforth, Ontario James Laurence “Jim” Balsillie is a businessman, philanthropist and former co-CEO of the Research In Motion (RIM, ‘BlackBerry’). Born in 1961 in…
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Jim Carrey | Comedian
๐Ÿ“ Georgina, Ontario
Jim Carrey | Comedian
From Newmarket, Aldershot, Georgina, Ontario James Eugene “Jim” Carrey is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, impressionist, screenwriter, and producer. He is known for his highly energetic…
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Jim Treliving | The โ€˜Dragonโ€™
๐Ÿ“ Virden, Manitoba
Jim Treliving | The โ€˜Dragonโ€™
From Virden, Manitoba Walter Jim Treliving is the Chairman and Owner of one of Boston Pizza, a successful entrepreneur and investor for over 40 years.…
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Jody Raffoul | Rock Singer
๐Ÿ“ Leamington, Ontario
Jody Raffoul | Rock Singer
From Leamington, Ontario Jody Raffoul is a rock singer and songwriter. Born in Leamington, Ontario Jody Raffoul is from a small town in Southern Ontario.…
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Joe Clark | Youngest Prime Minister
๐Ÿ“ High River, Alberta
Joe Clark | Youngest Prime Minister
From High River, Alberta Charles Joseph “Joe” Clark is a statesman, businessman, writer, and politician who served as the 16th Prime Minister of Canada (1979-1980).…
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Joe O’Brien | Harness Horseman
๐Ÿ“ Alberton, Prince Edward Island
Joe O’Brien | Harness Horseman
Called "Little Joe" โ€” perhaps the greatest harness racing driver the world has ever seen. Canada's O'Brien Awards are named after him.
Read the story โ†’
Joey Smallwood | First Premier of Newfoundland
๐Ÿ“ Gambo, Newfoundland and Labrador
Joey Smallwood | First Premier of Newfoundland
From Gambo, Newfoundland Joseph Roberts “Joey” Smallwood was the main force that brought the Dominion of Newfoundland into the Canadian confederation in 1949. Born in…
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John Dunsworth | Actor
๐Ÿ“ Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
John Dunsworth | Actor
From Bridgewater, Nova Scotia John Francis Dunsworth was one of Halifax’s most venerable and revered actors, best known for playing the rope of a frequently…
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โ™ฅ 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 โ€” 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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