Canada Best Small Town
By: Troy

Niagara on the Lake

It sits on the shore of Lake Ontario at the mouth of the Niagara River. It is a frequent destination daytrippers from Niagara Falls and a destination in its own right.

The surrounding region enjoys a comparatively mild climate thanks to the adjoining lakes, and excellent soil for fruit production, for which it has become one of Canada's centres. In particular, NOTL has grown into a major viticultural region. Visitors flock to dozens of nearby wineries, including those making the world's largest volumes of ice wine. The town is also known for its gardens, art galleries, antique shops, and golf courses. There are many hotels, inns, bed and breakfasts, and spas in the area.

The town accentuates its British heritage, and features the only Lord Mayor in Canada. Prior to 1970, the town was simply the Town of Niagara, and the title was Mayor. In 1970, the Town of Niagara, and the Township of Niagara were merged to create the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. The title of "Lord Mayor" was to be given to all Mayors from that time forward. Many people incorrectly refer to the Mayor of Niagara prior to 1970 as "Lord Mayor". The first Lord Mayor was Frederick S. Goring.

Richmond Hill

Richmond Hill has 166 parks, under the Town of Richmond Hill Parks, Recreation, and Culture department, of which most are small urban parks and 544 hectares of undeveloped natural area for recreation.  The largest such park is Richmond Green Sports Centre and Park which includes several baseball diamonds, 2 skating rinks, a 300-person amphitheatre and a skateboard park.  The Town also has a total of 5 public swimming pools, including Canada's largest indoor Wave Pool. Additionally, each summer, the town features a concert series entitled "Concerts in the Park". Each concert has a specific theme, such as children's music and "The Beach Boys", and all are very popular. These series are held by Mill Pond and the Richmond Green. The Richmond Hill Heritage Centre serves as a museum of the town's history. It also runs a variety of programmes related to the town's history.  The town is also home the Richmond Hill Country Club, which features an 18 Hole championship layout at the Richmond Hill Golf Club, and the Bloomington Downs Golf Course.

Churchill

A small  lovely town of just under 1,000 residents, is located on the western shore of Hudson Bay. Some of the town's most famous inhabitants are polar bears, this of course leading to its famous nickname, Polar Bear Capital of the World. Humans first arrived in Churchill around 1000 A.D. (the Thule Peoples) with the first Europeans arriving around the 1600s with promises of the fur trade. Churchill has now evolved from an industrial fur trading centre to a ecotourism driven community.

Beluga Whales during the summer months in the Hudson Bay and Churchill River. There are a couple of tour operators who take small groups out in boats for a couple of hours to watch the whales. You can even rent a wetsuit and swim with the whales if the weather permits. The summer is also a fabulous time to go bird watching in Churchill.

Late November through late March is the perfect time to watch the Northern Lights. November is also one of the best times to see the world-famous Churchill polar bears.

Fort Frances

Fort Frances is a town located in the western part of Ontario, Canada along its southern border with the United States. Its population in 2006 was 8,103. It is in the Rainy River District. Fort Frances is a popular fishing destination and hosts the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship each summer.

Huntsville

Huntsville is a magnet for and home to many acclaimed visual artists. Famed Canadian artists Tom Thomson and his peers, artists of the Group of Seven painted here frequently. The Town of Huntsville boasts a Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery with over 40 outdoor murals celebrating the work of these Canadian heroes. Local community visual arts group The Huntsville Art Crowd hosts many annual shows, exhibits & skills-sharing workshops throughout the year.

Many summer camps for children such as Muskoka Woods, Ontario Pioneer Camp and Olympia Sports Camp are within a few kilometers of Huntsville. Resorts such as Deerhurst Resort, where Shania Twain was discovered in 1988-1989, Hidden Valley Resort and Cedar Grove Lodge are located within the town's boundaries.

Huntsville supports a number of arts festivals, including Huntsville Festival of the Arts. The Huntsville Festival of the Arts recently provided a seed grant which enabled a book of poetry entitled Fringe Festival Poetry, Poems from the Poetry Cafe, edited by June Salmon and Marta Mirecki-de Roode. Other arts activities include the annual Muskoka Novel Marathon, started by Canadian authors Martin Avery and Mel Malton in 2001. The town is especially proud of its new municipal centre and performing arts theatre, the Algonquin Theatre.