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 ยท Parry Sound W. Brett Wilson W. Brett Wilson ยท Battleford Yann Martell Yann Martell ยท Port Hope Tom Thomson Tom Thomson ยท Owen Sound Joni Mitchell Joni Mitchell ยท Fort Macleod David Suzuki David Suzuki ยท Leamington Wayne Gretzky Wayne Gretzky ยท Brantford Alexander Graham Bell Alexander Graham Bell ยท Brantford Stompin Tom Stompin’ Tom ยท Skinners Pond Farley Mowat Farley Mowat ยท 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

ย  ย Scientist & TV Host

ย  ย Leamington, Ontario
picture of brett wilson
Personal address to 1000towns

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Wonderful place to raise the family in the 1950s โ€” fond memories about Battleford and all things prairie.

W. Brett Wilson

ย  ย Dragons’ Den Panelist

ย  ย 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

ย  Life of Pi Author

ย  ย Port Hope, Ontario

235 Profiles and Counting

From small towns across Canada

Celebrities, entrepreneurs, artists, athletes โ€” the people who call small-town Canada home.

Gordon Lightfoot | Singer-Songwriter
๐Ÿ“ Orillia, Ontario
Gordon Lightfoot | Singer-Songwriter
From Orillia, Ontario Gordon Meredith Lightfoot is perhaps the most accomplished and well-known singer/songwriter to ever come out of Canada. Born in 1938 in Orillia,…
Read the story โ†’
Gordon Pinsent | Icon Actor
๐Ÿ“ Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador
Gordon Pinsent | Icon Actor
From: Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador Gordon Edward Pinsent is the star of stage, screen, television, and radio. Born in 1930 in Grand Falls, Newfoundland…
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Graham Fraser | Industrialist
๐Ÿ“ New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Graham Fraser | Industrialist
From New Glasgow, Nova Scotia Graham Fraser was an industrialist and community leader from Nova Scotia. Born in 1846 in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia Died…
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Grant Fuhr | Hockey Goalie
๐Ÿ“ Spruce Grove, Alberta
Grant Fuhr | Hockey Goalie
From Spruce Grove, Alberta Grant Fuhr was one of the National Hockey League’s best-ever goalies and a member of the outstanding Edmonton Oilers lineup of…
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Grant Strate | Dancer
๐Ÿ“ Cardston, Alberta
Grant Strate | Dancer
From Cardston, Alberta Grant Strate was one of Canadaโ€™s most accomplished dance artists and Charter Member of the National Ballet. Born in 1927 in Cardston,…
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Guy Lafleur | Five-Time Stanley Cup Winner
๐Ÿ“ Thurso, Quebec
Guy Lafleur | Five-Time Stanley Cup Winner
From Thurso, Quebec Guy Damien “The Flower” / “Le Dรฉmon Blond” Lafleur was the first NHL player to score 50 goals and 100 points in…
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Hayley Wickenheiser | Five-time Olympic medalist
๐Ÿ“ Shaunavon, Saskatchewan
Hayley Wickenheiser | Five-time Olympic medalist
From Shaunavon, Saskatchewan Hayley Wickenheiser is regarded as one of the best female hockey players in the world. Born in 1978 in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan Hayley…
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Heather Moyse | Multi-Sport Champion
๐Ÿ“ Summerside, Prince Edward Island
Heather Moyse | Multi-Sport Champion
From Summerside, Prince Edward Island Heather Moyse is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, representing Canada in international competition as a bobsledder, rugby union player, and…
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Helen Kinnear | Judge
๐Ÿ“ Cayuga, Ontario
Helen Kinnear | Judge
From Cayuga, Ontario Helen Alice Kinnear had several firsts in her legal career. She was the first woman in the British Commonwealth to be made…
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Helen Maksagak | Commissioner of Nunavut
๐Ÿ“ Cambridge Bay, Nunavut
Helen Maksagak | Commissioner of Nunavut
From Cambridge Bay, Nunavut Helen Mamayaok Maksagak served as the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories (Canada) from 1995 until 1999 and as the Commissioner of…
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Henry Wolsey Bayfield | Great Lakes Surveyor
๐Ÿ“ Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Henry Wolsey Bayfield | Great Lakes Surveyor
From Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Admiral Henry Wolsey Bayfield was a British naval officer and surveyor of lakes Ontario, Superior, Erie and Huron. Born in…
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Hiram Capron | Paris Founder
๐Ÿ“ Paris, Ontario
Hiram Capron | Paris Founder
From Paris, Ontario Hiram Capron was the founder of the town of Paris in Ontario. An immigrant from the United States, he purchased large plots…
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โ™ฅ 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 โ€” 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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Any changes to the place info will be reviewed by 1000 Townsย ofย Canada.