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

"

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.

Pierre Berton | Journalist
📍 Whitehorse, Yukon
Pierre Berton | Journalist
From Whitehorse, Yukon Kleinburg, Ontario Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton was a noted author of non-fiction, especially a serious popularizer of Canadian history, and was…
Read the story →
pj johnson | Yukon Poet Laureate
📍 Whitehorse, Yukon
pj johnson | Yukon Poet Laureate
From Whitehorse, Yukon On Canada Day, July 1st, 1994, pj johnson was honoured to be invested as the first official Yukon Poet Laureate in Canada.…
Read the story →
R. B. Bennett | 11th Prime Minister of Canada
📍 Chatham, New Brunswick
R. B. Bennett | 11th Prime Minister of Canada
From Chatham, New Brunswick Richard Bedford Bennett, 1st Viscount Bennett was a lawyer, businessperson, politician, and philanthropist. He served as the 11th Prime Minister of…
Read the story →
Randy Ragan | Soccer Player
📍 High Prairie, Alberta
Randy Ragan | Soccer Player
From High Prairie, Alberta Randolph “Randy” Lee Ragan was an elite professional soccer player, who was considered one of the top midfield players in Canada…
Read the story →
Raymond Fraser | Author
📍 Chatham, New Brunswick
Raymond Fraser | Author
From Chatham, New Brunswick Raymond Fraser is a novelist, poet, editor from New Brunswick. Born in 1941 in Chatham, New Brunswick Resides in Fredericton, New…
Read the story →
Red Kelly | Greatest Hockey Player
📍 Simcoe, Ontario
Red Kelly | Greatest Hockey Player
From Simcoe, Ontario Leonard Patrick “Red” Kelly is one of the ‘100 Greatest NHL Players’ in history. Born in 1927 in Simcoe, Ontario Attended Doan’s Hollow…
Read the story →
Richard Desjardins | Singer
📍 Rouyn, Quebec
Richard Desjardins | Singer
From Rouyn, Quebec Richard Desjardins is a Québécois folk singer and film director. Born in 1948 in Rouyn, Quebec Richard Desjardins is a self-taught musician…
Read the story →
Rick Lewchuk | Head of CNN Creative Team
📍 North Battleford, Saskatchewan
Rick Lewchuk | Head of CNN Creative Team
From North Battleford, Saskatchewan Rick Lewchuk leads one of the best creative and marketing teams on television. CNN’s Creative Marketing has proven it by winning…
Read the story →
Rita MacNeil | Singer
📍 Big Pond, Nova Scotia
Rita MacNeil | Singer
From Big Pond, Nova Scotia Rita MacNeil was one of Canada’s most beloved country and folk singers from the community of Big Pond on Nova…
Read the story →
Robert Deluce | Porter Airlines Boss
📍 White River, Ontario
Robert Deluce | Porter Airlines Boss
From Chapleau & White River, Ontario Robert J. Deluce is one of Canada’s most knowledgeable airline owners and operators. He is the president and CEO…
Read the story →
Robert Tait McKenzie | Fitness Pioneer, Sculptor
📍 Almonte, Ontario
Robert Tait McKenzie | Fitness Pioneer, Sculptor
From Almonte, Ontario Robert Tait McKenzie was an educator, sculptor, orthopedic surgeon, and author. Born in 1867 in Almonte, Canada West (Ontario) Died in 1938…
Read the story →
Robert William Boyle | Sonar Inventor
📍 Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador
Robert William Boyle | Sonar Inventor
From Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador Robert William Boyle was a physicist and one of the most important early pioneers in the development of sonar. Born…
Read the story →
logo 1000 (900 x 180 px) (300 x 300 px)

♥ 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

Municipalities & Tourism Organizations

Your town has people worth celebrating, too

Person profiles are one of the most visited sections on our platform. A partnership puts your community’s stories in front of 132,000 travellers a year — through profiles, town pages, and Google search advertising.

Who Are You?

Any changes to the place info will be reviewed by 1000 Towns of Canada.