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Comedian Jonny Harris explores small towns on the ropes, performs stand-up shows for the locals who’ve stuck it out, and proves that Canadians know how to laugh at themselves.
2015
Jonny befriends a local socialite with a cannon, narrowly survives a fake Tsunami and discovers the true meaning of hard-core community.
Jonny digs up the dirt on the Rocky Mountain mining town of Coleman, Alberta.
Jonny sails into the seaside town of Souris, P.E.I. to fish with the friendliest folks around.
Jonny meets the larger than life characters of Willow Bunch, Saskatchewan.
As the residents of Berwick, Nova Scotia demonstrate, if you shake the barrel, the big apples will rise to the top.
Jonny visits historic Oil Springs, Ontario – the birthplace of the modern oil industry.
Jonny pans for gold and learns that the true currency in Lytton, B.C. isn’t dollars, it’s trust in the future.
In Manitou, Manitoba, Jonny learns you don’t get to be a town of champions without fighting for your place.
Jonny thumbs his way all the way up to wawawonderful Wawa, Ontario.
Jonny takes a joy ride to “tractor town” Teeswater, Ontario.
Jonny gets marooned in the old western ghost town of Rowley, Alberta.
Jonny rings the liberty bell where freedom reigns in Buxton, Ontario.
Jonny takes the ferry to the edge of the earth, rugged Fogo Island, Newfoundland
2016
Jonny fries up a big batch of fresh donuts, busts out the chainsaw to carve his very own totem pole, and picks up a fierce game of hoops.
Jonny loads boxes of 'nipples' (pipeline fittings), gets up-close and personal with a swarm of chickens, and tries his hand at a game of curling.
Jonny does some heavy 'mussel' lifting, goes back to grade school, and gets acquainted with the town ghost.
Jonny pampers the town's furry friends, samples a taste of maple heaven, and ziplines through the trees to catch a breathtaking view.
Jonny discovers the art of sausage stuffing, gets his boots dirty on some rugged terrain, and learns about a horticulturist's plans to grow medical marijuana.
Jonny goes spelunking, takes on a paper route, and gets his squares in order for bingo night.
Jonny visits a floundering community that is looking to its historic railway to get back on track.
Jonny visits an oil town excited for the completion of a new highway that will complete Canada’s road network from coast to coast to coast.
Jonny meets Neil Young's childhood friend, takes rifle shooting lessons from the town doctor, and goes adventure diving in a swimming pool.
Jonny puts on a "hard rock" show, straddles the Canada-US border, and picks up a game of shinny.
This small Manitoba town got its hockey rink thanks to a ballsy fundraising idea: a calendar of men 55 and over, in the buff.
Jonny tears up the trails with a member of The Rankin Family, picks up some conversational Gaelic, and helps welcome a Syrian refugee family to the Maritimes.
Jonny meets a trio of new Canadians who helped their small Saskatchewan town recover from a devastating flood by restoring its beloved 19th-century hotel.
2018
Residents of Tignish are banking on new initiatives to get by, like harvesting sea plants for cattle, and the opening of an interpretive venue that celebrates one of Canada’s greatest country singers, Stompin’ Tom Connors.
Carcross has landed on the world stage in an unexpected way. From the outside, the future looks bright, but only if the local community can figure out how to welcome the outside world while protecting their land and traditional way of life.
In Rogersville, once known as the Brussels sprout capital of Canada, a new generation is using the seeds of their Acadian history to grow a new economy.
The people of Fraser Lake recently took a one-two punch: they lost both their largest employer and their only grocery store. But the people in this hidden gem of a town have grit for days and they are going above and beyond to take care of their own.
Cobalt was founded during one of the greatest silver mining booms in history. Now, after a decades-long slump, Cobalt is hopeful they can make good on their namesake and strike it rich mining cobalt. Mining made the town, and Cobalters, believe that mining will save it.
When Canada was in its infancy, a small but fierce group of Danish immigrants settled in northwestern New Brunswick. Today, their descendants struggle to hold on to their Danish roots and traditions with every passing generation.
The struggling hamlet of Wilberforce is rebranding itself as a go-to outdoor destination and the geocaching capital of Canada.
Like all of Canada’s First Nations territories, the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte are focused on building a better tomorrow while keeping the traditions of their past.
It’s been 11 years since Huntingdon’s main employers delivered their staff pink slips and shut their doors. The economic earthquake that followed was devastating. Though the community continues to struggle, there’s hope that this old textile town can reinvent itself.
Radisson is experiencing a resurgence of its downtown core, led by a 13-year-old entrepreneur and his rock museum.
Canso has struggled since the collapse of its offshore fisheries, but now that it’s been selected as Canada’s first commercial satellite launch site, residents hope that things will soon be looking up.
Minto is the last town standing on an old railway line in rural, southwest Manitoba. Threatened by population decline, business shutdowns, and a school closure, a recent unexpected inheritance has created a new hope for the struggling town.
Wells is a former gold rush town turned arts community. A new mining project is underway that could spell a boom for the town. If it pans out, the town’s miners and artists will have to work together to share the wealth.
2017
“Sometimes tragedy brings out the best in people.” Jonny Harris says Fort McMurray has a lot to be proud of.
Jonny goes for a dive to explore some WWII wreck sites, gets some step dancing lessons, and has a kitchen party at Dicks' Fish and Chips.
Jonny visits Manitou's "water park", delivers a monologue at the theatre, and tries to stay on target at the archery club.
"It's not about just building a canoe to put it on the lake. It's about sharing my culture." Jonny learns the art of birchwood canoe building.
"It's elegant and dangerous all at the same time." These talented women from Edgerton, Alta., aren't horsing around when it comes to trick riding.
Jonny goes for a white-knuckle spin in a race car at Avondale's Eastbound International Speedway.
Lake Cowichan, B.C., has been dying a slow death. But they're about to host a massive country music festival that could save — and overwhelm — their small town.
Happy hour at Alice's = a gathering of seniors with surprisingly dirty minds.
Jonny meets a palaeontology power couple who exemplify carbon dating at its finest.
Jonny tastes some crunchy crickets, feeds a crowd of hungry gators, and gets an almost TOO-relaxing Thai massage.
Welcome to Vulcan. This small Alberta town is Canada’s Star Trek capital.
Jonny discovers the power of hemp, makes some pierogies with the mamas and the babas, and picks up the beautiful art of Veselka dancing.
Jonny plays with magic, makes friends with the crossing guard, and indulges in a big Indian feast.
2026
Jonny Harris travels to the Osoyoos Indian Band in British Columbia to find out why this Indigenous community in the desert has been called “the Miracle in the Desert.”
Jonny visits Glace Bay, Nova Scotia to find out how Canada’s once-largest coal town lost its mines.
In Arnprior, Ontario, Jonny Harris finds out how the collapse of its aviation industry led to the final shift of aerospace workers clocking out in March 2024.
Jonny visits Grand Manan, New Brunswick to learn about the rise and fall of the world’s largest smoked herring industry.
Jonny Harris visits Acton, Ontario, to find that its165-year-old leather industry may have collapsed, but it's fighting hard to resist decline.
Jonny Harris travels to Lennox Island, PEI where he sees first-hand how climate change is causing the sea to swallow up this tiny coastal Mi’kmaw community.
In June 2025 Flin Flon faced a fresh challenge, when wildfires forced residents to evacuate.
Jonny Harris rolls into St. Thomas, Ontario, a town built on cars and cross-border cooperation, to see what happens when a town loses thousands of auto sector jobs.
2024
This Indigenous community beat out 25 others to build the largest First Nations’ casino in Canada.
After the town's cannery shut down, Prince Rupert reinvented itself as a global shipping hub.
After the closure of Smiths Falls’ iconic Hershey factory, Ontario’s “Chocolate Capital” reinvented itself as place where new recreational and service sector businesses can thrive.
When Nova Scotia Textiles Ltd closed its doors after 106 years in operation, Windsor, NS embraced its reputation as the home of massive pumpkins and its claim as “the birthplace of hockey.”
For almost a century, the Sullivan Mine was the heart and soul of Kimberley, BC. Now, this mountain town's comeback story includes a make-believe Bavarian village.
After the town's uranium mine went bust, Elliot Lake turned to of another precious resource: some of the most affordable real estate in the country.
Sioux Valley Dakota Nation in Manitoba are now bringing back the buffalo and reconnecting with their past.
The local steel industry collapses and New Glasgow embraces art, its diverse history and its community spirit.
2019
New Brunswick’s Campobello Island is Canadian more by chance than by geography. The only year round and direct access to the mainland is a bridge to the US, which makes for a unique Canadian/American cultural blend and many challenges.
2023
The seafaring town of Gibsons, BC once made famous for The Beachcombers, is reinventing itself as a regional hub for Filipino culture, a tourist destination, and a paradise for beer lovers.
Oneida Nation of the Thames is hard at work reclaiming the economic, cultural and spiritual practices that were banned by government policies over the past 100 years.
Tucked away in Northern Ontario is a slice of…southern Italy. A century ago, immigrants from Siderno, Italy left for a better life in Schreiber. And though the town’s big three employers, the mines, mills, and railway have since declined, the descendants of these founding famiglias are still there; their Mom-and-Pop shops, strong family ties, and unique southern-Italian heritage are a big part of what’s keeping this unique but struggling community alive.
Harrison Hot Springs is famous for its namesake resort and healing waters. Tourists flock to town from May to September but, come the winter months, there’s no one but locals and a few business owners to tough it out. The town is doubling down on creating a year-round economy (outside of the resort) and hopes that their other claim to fame, the elusive Sasquatch, will be the ticket.
East Preston, NS is one of Canada’s oldest indigenous black communities, with a history that begins more than a hundred years before Canada itself. Stigma and stereoytypes have lead to waves of encroachment from neighbouring suburbs that literally threatens to wipe this community’s story off the map. In response, East Prestonians are doubling down on education, community support and empowerment of both young and old, ensuring that their community and its history will thrive.
In May 2017, the Polar Bear Capital of the World unexpectedly became a fly-in community. A year of skyrocketing costs and unemployment are taking their toll but the community continues to hang on by its Northern grit, ingenuity and community spirit.
If all goes well, Canadians will soon be able to drive from Fortune, NL to a little-known corner of France. With that will come a boost in tourism and employment opportunities - a welcome change from a decade of decline.
Canadians might know Nipigon as the home of the ill-fated $106 million dollar bridge that closed shortly after its opening and stalled traffic on the Trans Canada Highway for weeks. But Nipigon’s image had already taken a beating after its plywood mill, the economic hub of the town, burned to the ground ten years ago. Today, the former mill town says it has “a natural edge" and it’s trumpeting the world-class hiking, climbing, and fishing it has to offer.
Harbour Grace has been the homeport of pirates, the launch pad of Amelia Earhart and one of the most prosperous towns in NL (2nd only to St John’s). But now, after a string of bad luck, Harbour Grace is a shadow of what it once was. The town is littered with impressive, yet crumbling monuments to its past greatness, landmarks that are now being recognized as the key to the town’s economic future.
Like many rural communities in Canada, Gravelbourg is facing an uphill economic battle that has led to outmigration, and along with it a significant decline in French culture. But in recent years, more than 16 different nationalities have settled in the town including German, Korean, African, Lao, and Spanish people, and it’s this growing international population in Gravelbourg that is helping maintain the local economy and keeping the town on the map.
For years, Bristol had a reputation as a vacation destination, boasting a growing cottage community, a number of hotels and a legendary dancehall scene. But changing tastes and a shifting economy brought about by the disappearance of its logging and mining industries have left Bristol looking to get its mojo back. Now, a new group of entrepreneurs is using the land in new and interesting ways in order to make Bristol a destination once more!
After the closure of all three of its major lumber mills, Lumby lost not only hundreds of jobs and local businesses, but also its sense of identity. Now the town is emerging, hopeful with a diverse economy that includes arts, culture, and a 40-acre grow-op that’s hoping to make pot for pets.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people come to Calabogie to have a good time on the ski slopes, raceway, winding roads, and golf courses. But those who call Calabogie home year-round, have gone without a backbone industry since its days as a resource town in the 60’s. That means if you want to stay after you play, it’s the rule of C - Cobble together a series of jobs, create a new business, or commute.
The infamous Alberta flood of June 2013 left parts of the Siksika Nation reserve under 10 feet of water and a third of its population homeless. It’s been five and a half years and they are is still dealing with the effects of the disaster, but they hope the end is in sight. Until then, Siksikaquans are using creativity, guidance from their knowledge and good news they can celebrate.
One of the top five fastest-growing communities in Manitoba; Morden, Manitoba, has an immigration program, a booming industrial economy and a collection of aquatic fossils to entice tourists.
After the 2015 downturn in oil and gas, Lac La Biche, Alberta, is looking to reinvent itself with luxury teepees, 3D archery and a gas station bathroom.
Goderich is well-known as Canada's prettiest town; it was also devastated by an F3 tornado in 2011 that destroyed its downtown; it's now rebuilding toward a bold new future.
Perched on the most westerly edge of Canada and despite its incredible beauty, Ucluelet is having to work hard to attract tourists from its well-known neighbor, Tofino.
With a complete rebuild after Markdale's all-important ice cream factory burned down and the influx of COVID-era newcomers from the city, the community is becoming more vibrant than it was before.
Comedian Jonny Harris explores small towns on the ropes, performs stand-up shows for the locals who’ve stuck it out, and proves that Canadians know how to laugh at themselves.
Cain's Quest, one of the longest snowmobile races in the world, has turned Wabush from "the middle of nowhere" to the centre of it all.
When New Richmond's town mill closed, it reinvented itself as a hub of rally car racing, Mi'kmaq culture, and world-class fly fishing.
2023
For 100 years, Amherstburg was famous for its amusement park. When the park closed, locals turned to a new attraction that will never go out of style: Amherstburg’s remarkable heritage.
For over 100 years, small-scale farming and logging fueled Gracefield's economy, but it hit a slump in the 1990s; things are turning around thanks to newcomers and new interests.
For 50 years, this tiny town was an air force base where thousands of pilots learned to fly; when the base closed, Southport transformed into a new kind of community.
Five years before the catastrophic fires in Fort McMurray, wildfires ripped through the community of Slave Lake, Alberta. Now 13 years later, it's clear to see that Slave Lake's diverse community has bonded over a common goal — rising from the ashes, stronger, smarter and more resilient than ever.
Dawson City's claim to fame is the brief Klondike Gold Rush at the turn of the 20th century. Every year tens of thousands of tourists flock to town to soak in the community's unique culture and history. COVID-19 put a stop to this thriving industry which is still dealing with the repercussions of the pandemic.
Home to the world's largest stands of old-growth red and white pine forest, it's no surprise that Temagami, Ontario is synonymous with old-growth and the struggle to balance economics and conservation.
In the spring of 2013, High River, Alberta experienced the worst flooding event in the province's history. Locals needed to lean on each other to overcome this natural disaster, which they did through hugs, balloons, pies, dance and the country-western traditions the town is known for.
M'Chigeeng First Nation is located on Manitoulin Island, which for thousands of years was a key stop on a traditional trade route and a political and spiritual centre for the Anishinaabe people. This all began to change dramatically when a series of treaties limited their freedom of movement and cut off the community from their traditional lands.
For years, airliners on the way to Europe needed to stop in Gander to refuel, making it "The Crossroads of the World." When planes no longer needed to stop in town to refuel, Gander reinvented itself with new businesses and new residents, and, after its heroic actions on September of 2001, (and an award-winning musical that commemorated this event) Gander has once again became a globally-recognized destination.
The forced relocation of the Membertou First Nation 100 years ago from the coast of Cape Breton to just outside downtown Sydney, Nova Scotia sent the community into crisis. Thanks to a bold economic plan, the Membertou First Nation has successfully pulled off a stunning transformation from crisis to prosperity.
2022
Locals like to say that ‘all roads lead to Hope’. It’s a place to gas up and a place to ‘go,’ but locals want it to be known that the town is more than just a place to pee — it’s a place to be.
When Port Stanley's prosperous commercial fishing industry collapsed, the beach town was left with an identity crisis and an uncertain future.
While its tourist train dollars are long gone, the proudly-weird town of Wakefield is reimagining itself as a place known for culture and outdoor fun.
Things looked bad for Chemainus when its sawmill closed in 1983. Then, the town used gorgeous murals to draw in tourists. Now it's looking for the next generation of visionaries to keep it on the map.
After nearly 40 flood-free years, the township of Minden Hills has developed a flooding problem. But as the community digs out, they also deepen their commitment to one another.
Middleton — halfway between Halifax and Yarmouth — was a busy hub known for its two railway lines. But when the trains left and the exports stopped, Middleton found itself in the middle of nowhere.
From its roots as a farming community to its unlikely transformation into an artists' hub known for its thriving LGBTQ community, the village of Warkworth has become a beacon of resilience.
In 2018, Oxford got famous for a 40-metre-wide sinkhole that shut down much of the town. But they have a sense of humour about it and have made shirts, cakes, even Twitter accounts for the sinkhole.
The largest Métis community in North America, St. Laurent has struggled with a flood and rural decline. But after much rebuilding, the spotlight is finally shining on this town in a whole new way.
For decades, Fenelon Falls made wood products, from lumber to Tinker Toys — until the industry moved on. Now the town is becoming a vibrant destination for newcomers, cottagers and day-trippers alike.
2020
The future is uncertain for environmentally sensitive Pelee Island, ON, but those who call the island home are committed to ensuring that their unique jewel is around for generations to come.
Without any industry or formal government, ‘making it’ in Bear River requires a sense of enterprise, a communal spirit, and a touch of the outlaw.
Lillooet, BC’s forestry-based economy is heading downhill - permanently. But its rugged residents are committed to fighting the fight in order to find a way to stay in beautiful Lillooet.
When the bottom fell out of the Southwestern Ontario’s tobacco industry, Vittoria’s farmers were forced to reinvent themselves and farm new crops in order to survive.
When a highway bypass connecting Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula to the rest of the province was paved, Woody Point became a dead end with a grounded ferry. Since then, they’ve reinvented themselves as a world-class destination.
In five years, Pinawa’s nuclear research facility and main employer will be completely decommisioned, which has Pinawanians working hard to make sure it isn’t the end of the road for their unique town.
Ingenuity and resilience are hallmark traits of Cap-Pelé, a small, Acadian fishing village in New Brunswick that has seen its fair share of struggles.
Botwood has been working to revive industry and lure former residents back home ever since the closure of a nearby mill shut down their busy port.
When oil and gas was struck elsewhere, Turner Valley, AB, was left with not much more than abandoned wells and an out-of-date processing plant. But, from the ashes, a fresh new crop of entrepreneurs is emerging and redefining this former boom-town.
The economy of Rankin Inlet has seen its ups and downs but the struggles that come with living in this remote and unforgiving landscape remain constant.
