I’m always struck by how every town has its own personality, just like every person does. Some are quiet and reserved, or even indifferent, while others are quirky and eccentric. But the communities that endear me the most are creative and artistic ones. Places that, despite their small populations, welcome artists, host festivals, commission public art and fill their main streets with galleries and studios.
Here are four small creative communities in Canada that pack a big cultural punch.
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
Harbour Air Otter seaplane landing in Ganges Harbour in the Salt Spring Island. Photo courtesy of Harbour Air Seaplanes/Destination BC
“Nature is magic,” says Robert Bateman, one of Canada’s most acclaimed painters. The variety and richness of the natural world are what he absorbs and expresses in his paintings. He lives on Salt Spring Island, and he’s far from the only artist here.
In fact, this Gulf Island, located between Nanaimo and Victoria off the coast of Vancouver Island, has the highest percentage of artists in Canada. More than 320 professional artists (those who actually make a living from their art) reside here, and this doesn’t include all the passionate hobbyists who also create and perform among the island’s rolling hills, lush forests and shrouded mountains.
Art is a legacy that goes back more than 5000 years with the Coast Salish First Nation inhabitants, who are well-recognized for their artistic prowess. In the 1960s, a wave of artists, which included many draft dodgers from the US, flocked here to build a community that focused on the arts.
Artistic pursuits continue to play a central role in the island’s ethos with initiatives like ArtSpring, a venue that hosts more than 300 concerts, performances, workshops and exhibitions per year and the prestigious Salt Spring National Art Prize, which showcases work by Canadian artists. More laidback, artsy pursuits here can also mean listening to live performances at the Tree House Café, touring the island’s many galleries and studios or wandering the stalls at its celebrated Saturday market. Visit Salt Spring Tourism
Stratford, Ontario
The red-brick charm of Stratford City Hall rises gracefully over the historic heart of Stratford, its clock tower standing as a timeless landmark amid the city’s scenic streets. Courtesy of Destination Stratford
Each year, 1.7 million visitors make their way to this small town in southwestern Ontario to see its world-renowned performances of Shakespeare’s plays, Broadway musicals and contemporary works.
“The energy changes during theatre season,” says Mandy Sinclair. “And you never know who you’re rubbing shoulders with.”
But even when the stages empty, there’s a lot to applaud about… and salivate over. The Chocolate Trail gives visitors the chance to exchange vouchers for chocolatey goodies at 20 retailers, Stratford Chef School offers cooking classes and local restaurants make the most of the farmland that surrounds the town. Attractions like the Stratford Perth Museum, Gallery Stratford, and the Stratford Symphony Orchestra, not to mention the swans that glide down the Avon River, add even more to this small town’s cultural appeal. Visit Stratford
Baie Saint Paul, Quebec
Musée d’art contemporain de Baie-Saint-Paul. Photo by Emile Dontigny
Creative energy is palpable in Baie Saint Paul, a Quebecois town located in the heart of the dramatic beauty of the province’s Charlevoix region. Here, the Laurentian Mountains meet the mighty St. Lawrence River, and the skies change constantly, creating visually stunning displays of colours and an artistic light. It’s no wonder art and culture blossom and thrive here. Many Quebec artists call this place home, including Gilles Ste-Croix and Guy Laliberte, the founders of the Cirque du Soleil.
“We’re happiness merchants, giving people the opportunity to dream like children,” Laliberte once said. And artistic dreams are plentiful in town, where galleries and ateliers showcase local talent and museums like Musée d’Art Contemporain de Baie-Saint-Paul (MACBSP) exhibit nationally renowned contemporary works.
Venues like Café des Artistes host intimate cabaret nights that spotlight emerging singer-songwriters. Inner child dreams especially light up at Le Festif!, an annual summer festival celebrating cirque’s roots with street performances, music and interactive installations. Visit Baie Saint Paul Tourism
Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Courtesy of Barbara Shaw
It’s rare to see a picture-perfect rural town with the pervasive artistic and cultural presence that Wolfville is blessed with. What makes this Annapolis Valley town so creatively special? It could be the presence of Acadia University, a liberal arts institution whose programs in music, theatre and humanities spawn local talent. Or maybe it’s the town’s location, surrounded by the tidal energy and beauty of the Bay of Fundy, where the world’s highest tides reach 50-feet-high and red cliffs stretch along the coast.
Perhaps it’s how the community embraces and nurtures its arts scenes with independent bookstores, galleries, theatres and events like poetry readings, author talks and festivals. Devour! The Food Film Fest and the Deep Roots Music Fest attract thousands of attendees to enjoy the films, concerts and special events, especially impressive considering Wolfville has a population of only 5000.
If all this inspires you to pursue your own creative inclinations, sign up for a weekend arts retreat at Ross Creek Centre for the Arts. Located just outside of town on 186 acres of farm and forest, this multi-disciplinary arts education facility is dedicated to art appreciation and artist development with gallery exhibits, gardens and walking trails, cultural events and art classes. Visit Wolfville
These are just a handful of the many small towns in Canada that will fill your vacation with the beauty of art. Others include: Haliburton, Ont.; Nelson, BC; Boissevain, Man., and St. Albert, Alta.
But if you’re an artist yourself or have latent creative aspirations, be warned: If you visit, you just might not come back.
