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

"

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.

K. C. Irving | Industrialist
📍 Bouctouche, New Brunswick
K. C. Irving | Industrialist
From Bouctouche NB Kenneth Colin Irving, also known as K. C. Irving was one of Canada’s foremost entrepreneurs of the 20th century. He ranked as…
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Kaetlyn Osmond | Figure Skater
📍 Marystown, Newfoundland and Labrador
Kaetlyn Osmond | Figure Skater
From Marystown, Newfoundland Kaetlyn Osmond, the Canadian figure skater, is the 2017 World silver medalist. Born in 1995 in Marystown, Newfoundland Residence – Sherwood Park,…
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Kenneth Winters | Encyclopedia of Music in Canada Creator
📍 Dauphin, Manitoba
Kenneth Winters | Encyclopedia of Music in Canada Creator
From Dauphin, Manitoba Kenneth Lyle Winters was an eminent musician, broadcaster and music critic, and editor of The Encyclopedia of Music in Canada. Born in…
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Kim Campbell | First and Only Female Prime Minister
📍 Port Alberni, British Columbia
Kim Campbell | First and Only Female Prime Minister
From Port Alberni, British Columbia Avril Kim Campbell, née Avril Phaedra Douglas Campbell, is a politician, diplomat, lawyer and writer who served as the 19th…
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Laura Secord | Heroine of the War of 1812
📍 Queenston, Ontario
Laura Secord | Heroine of the War of 1812
From Ingersoll, Queenston  & Chippawa, Ontario Laura Secord (née Ingersoll) was a heroine of the War of 1812. She is known for having walked 20…
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Leonard Cohen | Iconic Singer
📍 Westmount, Quebec
Leonard Cohen | Iconic Singer
From Westmount, Quebec Leonard Norman Cohen is a legendary singer, poet, songwriter and artist. Born in 1934 in a suburb of Montreal, Westmount, Quebec Died…
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Léopold L. Foulem | Ceramist
📍 Caraquet, New Brunswick
Léopold L. Foulem | Ceramist
From Caraquet, New Brunswick Léopold L. Foulem is one of the leading conceptual ceramists in the world. His work has been featured in over 40…
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Leslie McFarlane | Creator of The Hardy Boys
📍 Haileybury, Ontario
Leslie McFarlane | Creator of The Hardy Boys
Ghostwrote the first 21 Hardy Boys novels from a small northern Ontario mining town.
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Lester B. Pearson | 14th Prime Minister of Canada
📍 Kleinburg, Ontario
Lester B. Pearson | 14th Prime Minister of Canada
From Kleinburg, Ontario Lester Bowles “Mike” Pearson was a scholar, statesman, soldier and diplomat, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the…
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Lights | Singer
📍 Chesley, Ontario
Lights | Singer
From Timmins & Chesley, Ontario Lights (born Valerie Anne Poxleitner) is a Juno Award-winning singer and songwriter. Born in 1987 in Timmins, Ontario Grew up…
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Liisa Savijarvi | Alpine Skier
📍 Bracebridge, Ontario
Liisa Savijarvi | Alpine Skier
From Bracebridge, Ontario Liisa Savijarvi was one of the best Canadian alpine skiers. Born in 1963 in Bracebridge, Ontario Off to an early start at…
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Margaret Atwood | Iconic Author
📍 Alliston, Ontario
Margaret Atwood | Iconic Author
Resided Alliston, Ontario Margaret Eleanor Atwood is a poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and environmental activist. Born in 1939 in Ottawa. Lived in Alliston, Ontario…
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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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