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.

Walter William LaChance | Architect
📍 Brockville, Ontario
Walter William LaChance | Architect
From Brockville, Ontario Walter William LaChance was an architect best known for his designs of rural schools. Born in 1870 in Brockville, Ontario Died in…
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White Bird | Native American Leader
📍 Pincher Creek, Alberta
White Bird | Native American Leader
Died in Pincher Creek, Alberta White Bird was a leader, War Chief and tooat (Shaman) of the Lamátta band of the Nez Percé lived along…
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Wilfrid Laurier | 7th Prime Minister of Canada
📍 Saint-Lin-Laurentides, Quebec
Wilfrid Laurier | 7th Prime Minister of Canada
From Saint-Lin–Laurentides QC Sir Henri Charles Wilfrid Laurier, lawyer, journalist, politician, was the 7th Prime Minister of Canada, in office from July 1896, to October…
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Willa Cather | Writer
📍 Grand Manan, New Brunswick
Willa Cather | Writer
Lived Grand Manan, New Brunswick Willa Sibert Cather was a writer who was awarded in 1923 the Pulitzer Prize for One of Ours, a novel…
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Willard Boyle | Nobel Laureate
📍 Amherst, Nova Scotia
Willard Boyle | Nobel Laureate
From Amherst, Truro NS An “electronic eye” co-inventor, Nobel laureate (2009) Willard Boyle was a Canadian physicist. Born in 1927 in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Died in 2011…
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William Dillon Otter | Chief of the General Staff
📍 Clinton, Ontario
William Dillon Otter | Chief of the General Staff
From Clinton, Ontario General Sir William Dillon Otter became the first Canadian-born Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Militia. Born in…
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William Dodge Lovitt | Shipowner
📍 Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
William Dodge Lovitt | Shipowner
From Yarmouth, Nova Scotia In the late 1800s, William D. Lovitt was one of Yarmouth’s most prominent shipowners. Born in 1834 Died in 1894 William…
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William John Wintemberg | Father of Canadian Archaeology
📍 New Dundee, Ontario
William John Wintemberg | Father of Canadian Archaeology
From New Dundee, Ontario William John Wintemberg was an outstanding Canadian archaeologist. Born in 1876 in New Dundee, Ontario Died in 1941 in Ottawa Wintemberg…
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William Thornton Mustard | Innovative Surgeon
📍 Clinton, Ontario
William Thornton Mustard | Innovative Surgeon
From Clinton, Ontario William Thornton Mustard developed two operations named for him: the “Mustard operation” in orthopedics used to help hip use in people with…
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William Wallace Gibson | Airplane Inventor
📍 Balgonie, Saskatchewan
William Wallace Gibson | Airplane Inventor
From Balgonie SK William Wallace Gibson created the first Canadian-built airplane. Born in 1876 at Dalmellington, Scotland. Resided in Balgonie, Saskatchewan Died in 1965 in…
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Yann Martel | Life of Pi Author
📍 Port Hope, Ontario
Yann Martel | Life of Pi Author
Yann Martel is a Spanish-born Canadian author best known for his award-winning Life of Pi. He graduated Trinity College School at Port Hope, Ontario, in…
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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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