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

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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.

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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Margaret Marshall Saunders | Children’s Writer
📍 Berwick, Nova Scotia
Margaret Marshall Saunders | Children’s Writer
From Milton & Berwick NS Margaret Marshall Saunders was a prolific writer of children’s stories and romance novels, a lecturer, and an animal rights advocate.…
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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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Marie-Philip Poulin | Olympic Champion
📍 Beauceville, Quebec
Marie-Philip Poulin | Olympic Champion
From Beauceville, Quebec Marie-Philip Poulin-Nadeau is an ice hockey forward. Poulin as a member of the Canada women’s national ice hockey team won the gold…
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Mario Bernardi | Conductor, Pianist
📍 Kirkland Lake, Ontario
Mario Bernardi | Conductor, Pianist
From Kirkland Lake, Ontario Mario Bernardi is one of Canada’s premier conductors and a renowned builder of cultural institutions in Canada. Born in 1930 in…
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Mary Percy Jackson | Pioneer Physician
📍 Manning, Alberta
Mary Percy Jackson | Pioneer Physician
Lived in Manning, Alberta Dr. Mary Evangeline Percy, known as Mary Percy Jackson, was a pioneering doctor in the Peace River district, at that time…
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Matthew Henry Halton | Journalist
📍 Pincher Creek, Alberta
Matthew Henry Halton | Journalist
From Pincher Creek, Alberta Matthew Henry Halton was a foreign correspondent for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation during World War II. Born in 1904 in Pincher…
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Maud Lewis | Folk Artist
📍 Marshalltown, Nova Scotia
Maud Lewis | Folk Artist
From Marshalltown, near Digby, Nova Scotia Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Maud Lewis was a folk artist from Nova Scotia. She remains one of Canada’s best-known folk…
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Mickey Ion | Hockey Referee
📍 Paris, Ontario
Mickey Ion | Hockey Referee
From: Paris, Ontario Frederick James “Mickey” Ion was a professional lacrosse player and ice hockey referee.   Born in 1886 in Paris, Ontario Died in 1964 in Seattle,…
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Mickey MacKay | Hockey Rover/Centre
📍 Grand Forks, British Columbia
Mickey MacKay | Hockey Rover/Centre
From Chesley, Ontario & Grand Forks, British Columbia Duncan McMillan “Mickey” MacKay played primarily in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and Western Canada Hockey League…
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Mike Babcock | Hockey Coach
📍 Manitouwadge, Ontario
Mike Babcock | Hockey Coach
From Manitouwadge, Ontario Michael “Mike” Babcock Jr. is a Stanley Cup and Olympic Gold Medal Winning Hockey Coach. Born in 1963 in Manitouwadge, Ontario Mike…
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Milton Acorn | The People’s Poet
📍 Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Milton Acorn | The People’s Poet
From Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Milton James Rhode Acorn, nicknamed The People’s Poet by his peers, was a poet, writer, and playwright. Born in 1923…
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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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