When Marc-Andre Breau left his hometown of Tracadie, N.B., for Ottawa as a young man, it was partly because he no longer wanted to live in a small town.
When he moved back in 2015, a small town was the very thing he was after.
“It’s a really cozy place to raise a family,” says Breau, 40, who is now a father of two.
Breau personally knows many of Tracadie’s nearly 16,000 residents. The predominantly French community is located on the Acadian Peninsula along the shores of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Breau thinks about these community bonds often.
He joined Tracadie’s municipal staff in February as economic development manager. His job is to attract new businesses to the area — particularly those that could benefit the town’s young families, who are drawn to the region’s scenery and slower pace of life.
Geographers say rural residents — especially ones with strong cultural connections and proximity to nature — are often happier than city dwellers. Tracadie fits that description.
By the same logic, residents of Canada’s largest cities — Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver — would be the least happy.
But data tell a different story. The least happy places to live in Canada may not be the urban centres, but the municipalities near them.
Rethinking ‘rural’ and ‘urban’
In January, Statistics Canada released a report that mapped happiness across urban and rural areas in Canada. Specifically, the report aimed to provide a more detailed and accurate way of describing municipalities besides the catch-all terms of “urban” and “rural.”
“Rural areas differ quite a bit if you’re in a very remote area, or if you live in a rural area outside of a major city,” said Lauren Pinault, one of the study’s authors. The regular urban-rural distinction is “too simplistic,” she said.
The study’s team developed a new 21-point scale to classify how urban or rural a community is. The urban cores in Canada — such as downtown Toronto — are ranked 1. The most remote and rural areas, like parts of Labrador, are ranked 21.
The researchers then looked at data from the Canadian Social Survey, a quarterly survey conducted since 2021 that asks Canadians to evaluate their quality of life. They wanted to see how individuals’ reported quality of life changed depending on where they lived.
Nationally, only 50 per cent of Canadians report high life satisfaction. Residents of small towns in Quebec and throughout the Atlantic provinces were most likely to report life satisfaction rates above the national average.
Tracadie, for example, ranked third in terms of high life satisfaction, with 68 per cent of residents ranking their life satisfaction as eight or above out of 10. Sixty-five per cent of residents said they felt strongly connected to their local community.
‘Gravitational pull’ of cities
The story is significantly different in municipalities that are close to large urban centres.
Airdrie, Alta. — a city of 86,000 just 38 kilometres north of Calgary — had the lowest percentage of residents reporting high life satisfaction. Only 33 per cent reported high life satisfaction, compared to 47 per cent of Calgary residents.
Pinault says the data indicate residents of commuter towns and cities report less connection to their local community. But she says people should not jump to conclusions about why some places report lower levels of high life satisfaction.
Sociologists have studied how cities make people feel lonely for centuries, says Matt Patterson, a sociology professor at the University of Calgary who studies urban environments.
Some people move to cities for a better life. “It could be part of the culture of some of those places that you have people who are just generally less satisfied with where they are, not necessarily because where they are is bad, but they are aiming to get even higher,” said Patterson.
Many people live in cities because they need the jobs, medical services or transportation that cities provide, he says.
“Cities have this kind of gravitational pull that pulls people into them, whether or not you actually want the urban life,” he said.
Congested commute
That gravitational pull often looks like a congested commute.
Take Airdrie. The fifth largest city in Alberta, Airdrie’s population has tripled since 2004.
The drive between Airdrie and Calgary is “not a pleasant drive,” said Byron Marion, a geography professor at the University of Calgary. Longer commutes mean less time for investing in relationships — and relationships have long been seen as key to personal happiness, he says.
“The qualities of the places that we live in and the social relationships in those places are hugely important in terms of our happiness,” Marion said.
Municipal leaders dispute the idea that Airdrie’s growth means residents are less happy.
“Airdrie is one the most sought-after destinations to live, raise a family or start a business,” Mayor Peter Brown wrote in an emailed statement. “We welcome thousands of residents each year to our community from all over the world. We continually strive to ensure we meet the high standards our residents expect while balancing the challenges we face.”
Airdrie resident Lori Reist says the city is a great place to raise a family. She and her husband are raising five children there. Often, it feels like she knows everyone she meets, she says.
However, she says it is important to make an effort.
“It’s really easy to isolate yourself,” she said, noting the design of many houses discourages socializing with neighbours. “But Airdrie, I can say with confidence, if you don’t do that, it’s very welcoming. There’s lots of opportunity to get involved and do activities and give back.”
Leaving and returning
Some cities with low rates of life satisfaction may be struggling with the loss of key industries — as well as the pressures of rising housing costs and an influx of commuters, says Doug Ramsey, a geography professor at Brandon University in Brandon, Man.
He cites as examples southwestern Ontario cities such as St. Thomas, near London, and Brantford, which is an hour’s drive from Toronto. Both are close to larger urban centres. Both are also former manufacturing hubs.
And both are in the bottom five of communities ranked by life satisfaction.
“I think it’s that very, very long hangover of deindustrialization,” said Ramsey, who grew up in Simcoe, Ont., near Brantford.
In Tracadie, Breau is trying to facilitate ways for people to work and live in the community. Those who do love it. Residents can skate on Tracadie’s rivers in the winter and swim in them in the summers. It has beaches for relaxation and forests for exploration.
He suspects his children may also choose to move away for school when they are older. But if they do, he does not think it will be forever.
“People are leaving,” he said. “But they’re coming back.”
well, we know a little bit about Airdrie, and Tracadie, and a very little bit about St. Thomas and Brantford – and I got the gist of the article, but very disappointed – would really like to have seen more, like a list of places and where they rank …. preferably from all the provinces and territories … but that’s just me … I live in one of the best places in the country … ;-0
I agree. There is little information on the methods used to carry out the research, and the comments about the communities cited seem very speculative. Not a useful article.
I agree.
I am with Rick
Agree
I lived in lower mainland BC for 39 years but when I retired I was a widow.
My only child had chosen to move to USA as my Gramma was American, my daughter and her husband chose to become Americans.
I decided to move back to Southwest Manitoba to a place with a lake..you can walk anywhere and everywhere. I had family and friends. I totally forgot the sunrises, sunsets ..night sky milky way..Northern Lights..and Active Weather. It takes no time to get my kayak into lake, people are super friendly. They were in B.C. as well I miss the Big City but am enjoying Nature out my door.
The longer days with Mtns in BC sun goes behind them long before sun sets. We did have twilight..and the summer lightening storms in Manitoba are Epic. I have to be prepared for winter but life is never dull at Pelican Lake Manitoba.
Not i formative, and I’m troubled that I was required to sign up to receive this drivel.
U don’t mention the wildlife @
Pelican Lake.Here in Saskatoon the yearly return of the Pelicans is a celebrated event. To my surprise a pair of these came to roost @ the nearby pond … breathtaking sight captured on their arrival flight.My personal satisfaction of city life was heightened dramatically.
I think that the majority of Canadians are actually never happy. A lot of us want to find faults and blame it on our country. Canada is not perfect. Not even close but compared to other countries we have a pretty good standard of living. We are relatively safe. We have access to good, free healthcare. We good social programs for those who are struggling. Happiness and contentment is not dependant on those things. It is personal perspective of our own situation. If you are provided with access to the basics, which we are, it is up to us to create our happiness. If you are unhappy, it is up to you to change your circumstances, maybe your goals but definitely your outlook. Be accountable for your own life.
I think you have named the problem. We need to be aware and grateful for our advantages, and take responsibility for creating our own happiness. Brantford and St. Thomas, like London, Ontario, have grand old Victorian buildings mostly deteriorated, and not too much new visionary activity.
Like many elders my children are grown and live busy lives in distant cities or countries. Close knit communities on Pender Island were ideal, however lugging groceries and paintings up my 320 foot hill proved difficult. In Victoria I’ve joined new art and social groups of lovely people. Missing my children and grandchildren I am ambivalent . As failing night vision, slower reaction time limit outings I question a move nearer family ( though abhore long winters without downhill skiing,no longer an option). Missing close friends I can see in those “ empty evenings”.
I didn’t find this article insightful.
I had a good life living in Ottawa, Ontario. Many good friendships, interesting jobs.
I moved to Kingston,Ontario to attend College. My classmates were great,, we supported one another. However; the residents, shop clerks I found to be exceptionally rude. The only folks who weren’t arrogant or rude were non residents. I met my husband at college,, we married, I lucked found a full time job in nursing,, this was the late eighties, I felt like I won the jackpot. The institution I worked for in itself fine, residents pleasant. The staff were horrid, rude, wouldn’t talk to me because I wasn’t a kingstonian,, I was crushed. I remained in Kingston for 25 years, left Kingston,, moved to Brighton,Ontario. Been here for 10 years. A little lakeside community,,90 mins east of Toronto,, what can I say. The folks here are lovely, welcoming. The best neighbours. Shop, bank clerks know you by name. My quality of life is fantastic .
I agree that smaller communities make one feel included , whereas, some cuties are cold, non inclusive.
Very disappointed.Pick 100 places in Canada and ask so many residents are you happy here would have been more interesting.
I have lived in London ON for most of my 80 years; lived in Saskatoon SK for four years, where I graduated from the U of S, and have lived in Sarnia ON for seven years. I have loved every place I have lived, for different reasons. I taught in secondary schools for 33 years, and worked in a Ladies’ clothing store for 15 years after retirement. Happiness comes from within, regardless of where one chooses to live. I have found meaningful activities and relationships wherever I have lived. Choose happiness!!
I love canada. I emigrated here 25 years ago for what I thought were great reasons and I’m not disappointed. I also love the small town I live in. But the article promised something it did not deliver which is a major no no in journalism, and I don’t love that. The writer didn’t come through in any way, but neither did the editorial seniors of Canadian Affairs who accepted the article and promoted it under false pretenses. Not good, editorial people. Sophomoric stuff. Do better please or this happy Canadian will leave, not a country, but your publication.