Summary

  • Canada is home to many small towns and cities with populations ranging from as little as 2 to over one million.
  • Some of these small towns, like Point Alison and Castle Island in Alberta, have populations as low as 9 and 10 people respectively.
  • These smaller locations offer visitors the opportunity to experience genuine hospitality and the true joy of the Canadian lifestyle.

Canada has many beautiful overlooked towns and it's also home to three cities over one million residents, 51 cities of between 100,000 and one million and 235 with populations of 10,000 to 100,000. With plenty of cities and towns home to even less, it's in these smaller locations that visitors can experience the genuine hospitality and true joy of the Canadian lifestyle.

At least one city in Canada ranks among the cities with the smallest population in the world.

With so much of the country inhabitable only by those able to withstand extreme temperatures, many of the cities are concentrated in the southern regions. The smallest cities in Canada are still unknown for most people and they don't provide much information about visiting some of them.

UPDATE: 2023/08/04 17:52 EST BY LUANA FERREIRA

More information about the smallest towns in Canada

For most people, it's difficult to imagine living in a town with a small population. This list has been updated to include two more towns - The largest of them has a population of ten people.

16 Point Alison

Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta 5, Waterton Park, AB, Canada
Photo by Ali Kazal on Unsplash
Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta 5, Waterton Park, AB, Canada

Alberta is famous for its charming towns and lakes. Yet, most people don’t know Point Alison, a summer village located on the northern shore of Wabamun Lake. The town was founded in 1934, when George Archibald subdivided the lands that belonged to him, and the town was named after his wife, Alison.

  • Population: 10 People

Only ten people are living in the town. The city is located by a beautiful lake, but no information is available about landmarks and things in the town.

15 Castle Island

Castle Island, Canada

Image by JoeBreuer from Pixabay
Castle Island, Canada

Point Alison isn’t the only town with a small population in Alberta. Castle Island is located one hour from Edmonton and is nestled within the small island of Lac Ste, and the Lac Ste Anne surrounds it.

  • Population: 9 People

Castle Island is the largest privately owned island within the Temagami Lakes. It stretches 20 acres, and a dense forest surrounds the castle. According to official records, only nine people live in the region. There is no information if the island is open to visitors.

14 Perth, Ontario

A stunning aerial view of Perth's city buildings during the daytime.
Photo by Nathan Hurst on Unsplash
A stunning aerial view of Perth's city buildings during the daytime.

A Canadian breakfast is a palette pleaser no matter where you happen to be within the North American country, but Ontarian city Perth is proud to lay claim to one of the best early morning feasts in all the land. This is because of the region's reputation as the maple syrup capital, home of the quintessentially Canadian delicacy that graces every countertop across the nation.

  • Population: 5,930

Fine food isn’t the only reason to visit this small but beautiful city however, visitors of all ages will find plenty to do amongst the stone-walled buildings that make up the town. Whatever is decided upon, a gentle stroll along the Tay River that splits Perth is a must. Perth has 5,930 as of 2016.

13 Dawson City, Yukon

Horse buggy in Dawson City, Yukon
Shutterstock
Horse buggy in Dawson City, Yukon

Once the largest settlement in the Yukon, a region with an array of activities, Dawson City was a major player in the 1898 Canadian Gold Rush. People from all over the world came here to try their luck at panning their way to a better life and the population skyrocketed.

  • Population: 1,410

Today, Dawson City is primarily a tourist town thanks to its well-preserved image of the history that once played out within its streets. Those feeling ambitious should also try the Sour Toe Cocktail, a famous Canadian drinking challenge at the Downtown Hotel that isn’t at all what you are imagining. Dawson City has a population of 1,410 as of 2017.

RELATED: 10 Cities With The Smallest Population In Asia

12 Canmore, Alberta

People paddle boarding in Canmore, Alberta, Canada
Photo by Mike Markov on Unsplash
People paddle boarding in Canmore, Alberta, Canada.

So often relegated to the task of granting travelers access to Banff National Park and beyond, Canmore has gradually become recognized for the wonderful place it is in its own right. Unarguably a wonderful place to spend a day pre and post-National Park exploration, it has so much more to offer the wildlife wanderer.

  • Population: 13,992

Beautiful buildings line Main Street, each more interesting that the last and many housing delicious food options, unique arts and crafts or simply a local excited to tell tales of the bears and cougars that also call Canmore home. The population is 13,992 as of 2016.

11 Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

UNESCO listed Lunenburg, Nova Scotia Waterfront
Shutterstock
UNESCO listed Lunenburg, Nova Scotia Waterfront

Lunenburg was founded in 1753 and thankfully it has retained the look and feel that has made it an iconic, if relatively small, Canadian city. The buildings have not changed with the passing of time, being marked for preservation due to their historical impact on a proud country.

  • Population: 2,263

Off-shore fishing is the order of the day for locals in Lunenburg and one of the greatest joys a visitor can experience is the privilege of joining a crew on a mission to bring back a delicious dinner for those remaining ashore. Organize it before you arrive and you will not be disappointed and you certainly won't go hungry. The population is 2,263 as of 2016.

10 Nelson, British Columbia

Nelson, British Columbia
Image by brosimoff from Pixabay
Nelson, British Columbia

In an area known for its huge bodies of water, Kootenay Lake impresses even the hardest to impress lake-hunters. The city of Nelson sits along the shore of Kootenay and appears to look even smaller than it is due to the vast expanse of dark blue water that cocoons it. Nelson has 10,664 people according to 2016 numbers.

  • Population: 10,664

Life is relaxed in Nelson and as such it has become a haven for writers, musicians and other forms of artist, drawn in by the gorgeous nature and endless opportunities to become overwhelmed and inspired. You don’t have to bring a paintbrush with you to Nelson but it isn’t a bad idea.

RELATED: 10 Cities With The Smallest Population In The UK

9 Goderich, Ontario

Goderich Town Hall
Ian Furst, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Goderich Town Hall

Every town has their claim to fame, something they can put on promotional material in an attempt to attract potential holiday-makers and adventure hunters to their borders. Goderich in Eastern Canada has a particularly interesting one.

  • Population: 7,628

Legend has it that Queen Elizabeth II once claimed Goderich to be the prettiest town in all of Canada. While this cannot be confirmed with total accuracy, it isn’t hard to imagine any visitor, royal or otherwise, uttering those words. In the end though, you are just going to have to see for yourself. And there’s the marketing slogan! Goderich has a population of 7,628 according to 2016 numbers.

8 Forget, Saskatchewan

Lake at Saskatchewan, Canada
Olivia Kulbida on Unsplash
Lake at Saskatchewan, Canada

A truly tiny piece of Canada, the town of Forget is unfortunately quite aptly named. Home to just 40 residents in the modern age, it does appear to have almost been forgotten by the settlements and cities that share the landscape with it.

  • Population: 40

The population is mostly made up of farmers and artists who value the self-reliant lifestyle that doesn’t require the comforts many people have come to take for granted. None of this means it is not worth a visit however, quite the opposite in fact. A jaunt through the unusual town of Forget will, in fact, be a wonderfully memorable experience.

7 Lacombe, Alberta

Gull Lake, Lacombe County, Canada
Treasure Scott on Unsplash
Gull Lake, Lacombe County, Canada

16 miles from the nearest major city, Lacombe is carved into the lush parkland of Central Alberta and takes its place between the mighty Canadian Rocky Mountains and endless prairies reaching east.

  • Population: 13,057

The city center is so picturesque and uniquely Canadian here that the Main Street has been featured in several popular movies through the years. Canada’s oldest operating blacksmith shop still plies its trade here as well, a must-visit for the curious tourist. What's the population? As of 2016, it was 13,057.

6 Iqaluit, Nunavut

Sirmilik National Park in Nunavut, Canada
Shutterstock
Sirmilik National Park in Nunavut, Canada

The only city in Nunavut, Iqaluit translates to "place of fish," a nod to the creatures that have kept residents fed for many years. Home to a population of approximately 7,000, the climate here is typical of the Arctic Region, offing reaching into the -20’s and beyond. Nunavut offers many activities and it's the remotest territory in Canada with Arctic attractions on offer for intrepid travelers.

  • Population: 7,740

Perhaps a surprising tourist option here is to marvel at the landing strip that is so long it could accept a space shuttle without hesitation. Many of the largest aircraft ever designed will be tested here to see how they cope with the extreme temperatures. The population was 7,740 as of 2016.

RELATED: 10 Cities With The Least Population In The USA

5 Farnham, Quebec

Woman alone outdoors

Image by Pexels from Pixabay
Woman alone outdoors

From 1876 to 2000, Farnham had the official designation of town as opposed to city due to its small and sparsely populated territory. A merger with the nearby Rainville bumped the number of inhabitants up past 8,000 and suddenly a city was born!

  • Population: 8,000

Farnham is a great place to ride bikes thanks to the meticulously planned cycling infrastructure while golfers will find it to be a paradise too. Musicians can enjoy the old church turned recording studio in town and historians have plenty to occupy themselves with in the form of buildings still standing from the earliest days of the town.

4 Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague-du-Cap-Tourmente, Quebec

Person siting alone

Image by Pexels from Pixabay
Person siting alone

According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, the smallest city in Canada is Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague-du-Cap-Tourmente. The Catholic theology school there, called Séminaire de Québec, was first established in 1663 by the French settlers in Quebec (then a French colony).

  • Population: 0-2

The population is two according to the Canadian Encyclopedia or zero according to the 2021 Canadian census. The municipality was established in 1917 so that certain buildings and lands that belonged to the Séminaire de Québec could be separated to avoid paying municipal taxes and fees.

3 The Town Of Dorval Island, Quebec

woman alone looking at the sea

Image by Pexels from Pixabay
woman alone looking at the sea

Dorval Island is located just a short ferry ride into the St. Lawrence River and a few years ago it had just five permanent residents in 2016 - but that increased by 500% to 30 people in the 2021 census. In 2001 there were no residents on the island. In 2002 the town merged into the City of Montreal, but it managed to somehow regain independence in 2006.

  • Population: 5 people

It is a cottaging spot and is one of the smallest municipalities in Canada by both area and population. It is serviced by a seasonal ferry service.

RELATED: 10 Small Towns In Canada That Should Be On Your Travel Bucket List

2 Tilt Cove

Tilt Cove, Canada
Scio c, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Tilt Cove, Canada

Tilt Cove is basically a ghost town in Newfoundland. It has been known as "Canada's smallest town" and was a boom town in the 1880s. It was a source of gold, copper, and zinc and in its heyday, it had around 1,500 residents.

  • Population: 5 (Down From Around 1,500)

But as with other boomtowns, its fortunes turned. By 1956 the population had fallen to only 57 and in 2016 it was only 4 residents. The last census of 2021 counted 5 residents calling Tilt Cove home. Still, it has the trappings of a municipality - it has a mayor and a town clerk (they are married). The two councilors are the clerk's brother and his wife. Municipal services include water, garbage collection, snow clearing, and two street lights. There is even a museum (in the mayor and clerk's house).

1 Northern Settlement Of Missinipe, Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan, Canada
Darby P. on Unsplash
Saskatchewan, Canada

Everyone knows that few people live in northern Canada - the vast majority live close to the border with the United States. When it comes to the province of Saskatchewan, the entire northern half is considered a single municipality.

  • Population: 27 people

There the "Northern Settlements” have a chair and members, as opposed to a mayor and council. The smallest here is Missinipe with a population of just 5 residents in 2016. The population increased by 440% in 2021 with 27 people living there in 10 of the hamlet's 29 private dwellings. The hamlet is located along Saskatchewan Highway 102. Saskatchewan is a province with a lot of adventures awaiting adventurous travelers.