Every small town has a story. We've mapped986of 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

986
Towns

200+

years of history

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

Β  Β Scientist & TV Host

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

"

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

W. Brett Wilson

Β  Β Dragons’ Den Panelist

Β  Β 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

Β  Life of Pi Author

Β  Β Port Hope, Ontario

235 Profiles and Counting

From small towns across Canada

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

Gordon Lightfoot | Singer-Songwriter
πŸ“ 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,…
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Gordon Pinsent | Icon Actor
πŸ“ 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
πŸ“ 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
πŸ“ 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
πŸ“ Cardston, Alberta
Grant Strate | Dancer
From Cardston, Alberta Grant Strate was one of Canada’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
πŸ“ Thurso, Quebec
Guy Lafleur | Five-Time Stanley Cup Winner
From Thurso, Quebec Guy Damien “The Flower” / “Le DΓ©mon 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
πŸ“ Shaunavon, Saskatchewan
Hayley Wickenheiser | Five-time Olympic medalist
Four-time Olympic gold medallist. Learned to play on a backyard rink in Shaunavon. Now assistant GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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Heather Moyse | Multi-Sport Champion
πŸ“ 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
πŸ“ 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
πŸ“ Cambridge Bay, Nunavut
Helen Maksagak | Commissioner of Nunavut
First Inuk and first woman to serve as a territorial commissioner in Canada. Nunavut's first commissioner when the territory was created in 1999.
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Henry Wolsey Bayfield | Great Lakes Surveyor
πŸ“ Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Henry Wolsey Bayfield | Great Lakes Surveyor
Charted the Great Lakes and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Spent his final decades in Charlottetown, where he's buried.
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Hiram Capron | Paris Founder
πŸ“ 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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β™₯ 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 β€” 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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