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.

Tim Horton | Tim Hortons Founder
📍 Cochrane, Ontario
Tim Horton | Tim Hortons Founder
From Cochrane, Ontario Miles Gilbert “Tim” Horton was a professional hockey player, a defenceman for 24 seasons in the National Hockey League. Born in 1930…
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Timothy Findley | Novelist
📍 Cannington, Ontario
Timothy Findley | Novelist
From Cannington & Stratford, Ontario Timothy Irving Frederick Findley was a novelist and playwright. He wrote a memoir, From Stone Orchard, about his experiences living…
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Todd Brooker | Ski Racer
📍 Collingwood, Ontario
Todd Brooker | Ski Racer
From Paris, Collingwood, & Blue Mountain, Ontario Todd Brooker is an alpine ski racer and a ski TV commentator. Born in 1959 in Paris, Ontario Learned to…
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Tom Thomson | Artist
📍 Owen Sound, Ontario
Tom Thomson | Artist
From Claremont & Owen Sound, Ontario Thomas John “Tom” Thomson was an influential artist of the early 20th century. Born in 1877 in Claremont, Ontario Grew…
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Tommy Burns | Boxer
📍 Chesley, Ontario
Tommy Burns | Boxer
From Chesley & Hanover, Ontario Tommy Burns, born Noah Brusso, nickname “The Little Giant of Hanover”, is the only Canadian-born World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. UNIQUE VIDEO.…
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Toshiko MacAdam | Textile Artist
📍 Bridgetown, Nova Scotia
Toshiko MacAdam | Textile Artist
From Bridgetown, Nova Scotia Toshiko MacAdam (born Toshiko Horiuchi) is known for her massive, colourful architectural sculptures/playgrounds. Born in 1940 in Japan Lives in Bridgetown,…
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Travis Green | Hockey Coach
📍 Castlegar, British Columbia
Travis Green | Hockey Coach
From Castlegar, British Columbia Travis Vernon Green was the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, NHL. Born in 1970 in Castlegar, British Columbia Travis Green…
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Valérie Plante | Mayor of Montreal
📍 Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec
Valérie Plante | Mayor of Montreal
From Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec Valérie Plante is the first-ever woman to be elected mayor of Montreal (November 2017), a leader of the Projet Montréal. On the…
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W. A. Hewitt | Hockey Innovator
📍 Cobourg, Ontario
W. A. Hewitt | Hockey Innovator
From Cobourg, Ontario William Abraham Hewitt was a leading sports journalist, administrator and innovator. Born in 1875 in Cobourg, Ontario Died in 1966 Born in…
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W. Brett Wilson | Dragons’ Den Panelist
📍 North Battleford, Saskatchewan
W. Brett Wilson | Dragons’ Den Panelist
William Brett Wilson is one of Canada’s most successful businessmen and respected philanthropists. He was a season 3 panellist on CBC Dragons’ Den. He was…
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Wallace McCain | McCain Foods Limited Founder
📍 Florenceville, New Brunswick
Wallace McCain | McCain Foods Limited Founder
From Florenceville, New Brunswick G. Wallace F. McCain was a co-founder of the frozen foods empire McCain Foods Limited with his brother Harrison McCain. Born…
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Walter Gretzky | Wayne’s Father
📍 Paris, Ontario
Walter Gretzky | Wayne’s Father
Walter Gretzky is a Canadian who is best known as the father of ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.
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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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