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

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.

John Patch | Screw Propeller Inventor
πŸ“ Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
John Patch | Screw Propeller Inventor
From Yarmouth, Nova Scotia John Patch was a sailor and fisherman who invented one of the first versions of the screw propeller. Born in 1781…
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John Stanton | Running Room Founder
πŸ“ Tofield, Alberta
John Stanton | Running Room Founder
From Tofield, Alberta John Stanton is the best-known expert on recreational running, and through his business, Running Room, he has advocated for improved health and…
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Johnny Bucyk | Hockey Left Winger
πŸ“ Creston, British Columbia
Johnny Bucyk | Hockey Left Winger
Lived in Creston, British Columbia John Paul “Chief” Bucyk was an ice hockey left winger. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.…
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Johnny Wilson | NHL Ironman
πŸ“ Kincardine, Ontario
Johnny Wilson | NHL Ironman
From Kincardine, Ontario &Β Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec John Edward Wilson set an NHL record by appearing in 580 consecutive games between 1951 and 1960 earned the nickname…
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Joni Mitchell | Songwriter
πŸ“ Fort Macleod, Alberta
Joni Mitchell | Songwriter
Grew up in Fort Macleod before becoming an iconic singer-songwriter of the 20th century β€” and never forgot the prairie town that shaped her.
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Jonny Harris | Comedian
πŸ“ Pouch Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador
Jonny Harris | Comedian
From Pouch Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador Jonathan “Jonny” Harris is an actor and comedian, best known for Murdoch Mysteries and Still Standing on CBC. Β Born…
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Jordan McIntosh | Songwriter
πŸ“ Carleton Place, Ontario
Jordan McIntosh | Songwriter
From Carleton Place, Ontario Jordan James McIntosh is a country and pop singer-songwriter from Ottawa. Born in 1995 in Ottawa Based in Carleton Place, Ontario…
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Joseph Boyd Martin | Dean of Harvard Medical School
πŸ“ Bassano, Alberta
Joseph Boyd Martin | Dean of Harvard Medical School
From Bassano AB Joseph Boyd Martin is the Edward R. and Anne G. Lefler Professor Emeritus of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School. He served as…
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Joseph-Armand Bombardier | Snowmobile Inventor
πŸ“ Valcourt, Quebec
Joseph-Armand Bombardier | Snowmobile Inventor
From Valcourt QC Joseph-Armand Bombardier was a French-Canadian inventor and businessman, the founder of Bombardier manufacturer of regional airliners, business jets, and equipment for public…
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Joshua Kutryk | Astronaut
πŸ“ Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
Joshua Kutryk | Astronaut
From Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta & Bagotville, Quebec Joshua Kutryk was named Canada’s newest astronaut as the country marked its 150th birthday. Born in 1982 in…
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Josiah Henson | The Real Uncle Tom
πŸ“ Dresden, Ontario
Josiah Henson | The Real Uncle Tom
From Dresden, Ontario Josiah Henson was an author, abolitionist, founder of the Black community settlement at Dawn, near Dresden. Born in 1789 in Charles County,…
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Justin Bieber | Singer
πŸ“ Stratford, Ontario
Justin Bieber | Singer
From Stratford, Ontario Justin Drew Bieber was discovered by a talent manager through his YouTube video covering songs in 2008. Born in 1994 in London,…
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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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