Please complete your profile to unlock commenting and other important features.

User AvatarBuild your avatar
Please select your date of birth for special perks on your birthday. Your username will be your unique profile link and will be publicly used in comments.
Narcity Pro

This is a Pro feature.

Time to level up your local game with Narcity Pro.

Pro

$5/month

$40/year

  • Everything in the Free plan
  • Ad-free reading and browsing
  • Unlimited access to all content including AI summaries
  • Directly support our local and national reporting and become a Patron
  • Cancel anytime.
For Pro members only Pro
Summary

Canada's Top 20 Friendliest Places Were Just Revealed & They're Spread Out All Over

There's a mix of tiny towns and bigger cities!👇🇨🇦
Canada's Friendliest Places Were Just Revealed & They're Spread Out All Over
Stan Jones | Dreamstime
Managing Editor, Canada

Ever wondered where Canada’s friendliest places are? A new study has found the top 20 most-amiable Canadian cities and towns and there are top-spots all over!

To compile the top-20 list, travel company Expedia considered which regions had the “highest mentions of ‘friendly, friendliest, amiable,' and other word associations" in traveller reviews between January 2019 and December 2020.

Editor's Choice: This Secret Nordic Spa Near Ottawa Is Like A Trip To Iceland's Blue Lagoon

Taking the top spot is Radium Hot Springs in B.C., which has a permanent population of under 800 people! Digby, in Nova Scotia, and Niagara-on-the-Lake, in Ontario, round-off the top three.

According to the research, there are super-friendly spots in provinces all over Canada, with B.C., Alberta, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and P.E.I., all having at least one town or city on the list.

Here's a look at the full list and which regions came out on top:

  1. Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia
  2. Digby, Nova Scotia
  3. Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
  4. Baddeck, Nova Scotia
  5. Drumheller, Alberta 
  6. Saint John, New Brunswick
  7. Gatineau, Quebec 
  8. Thunder Bay, Ontario
  9. Banff, Alberta
  10. Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
  11. Whistler, British Columbia
  12. Osoyoos, British Columbia
  13. La Malbaie, Quebec 
  14. Nanaimo, British Columbia
  15. Mont-Tremblant, Quebec
  16. St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
  17. Gananoque, Ontario
  18. Canmore, Alberta
  19. Stratford, Ontario
  20. Fernie, British Columbia

Where is Radium Hot Springs?

The location at the top of the list is a small village in the East Kootenay region of B.C.

The population is pretty small, with just 776 permanent residents according to the most recent census.

The beautiful spot is popular among tourists for having hot springs and great hiking trails — and it sounds like the residents are pretty nice, too!

Western Canada features quite heavily on the friendliest-places list, with three small Alberta towns also making the cut.

CanadaNews

Explore this list   👀

    • Helena Hanson

      Managing Editor

      Helena Hanson (she/her) is the Managing Editor of Canada for Narcity and MTL Blog, where she brings her expertise in dreamy, aspirational travel journalism to life. A first-class graduate of Cardiff University's School of Journalism, Helena has a passion for inspiring readers to discover the magic in their own backyards. Originally from the U.K., Helena has spent years uncovering hidden gems and must-see destinations across countries like Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, and more. Having lived in both Canada and Australia, she's become a seasoned expert in off-the-beaten-path adventures and bucket-list experiences that don't break the bank. Whether she's writing about things to do in Ottawa, Montreal, or her favourite spot—Disney World—Helena hopes to leave readers dreaming of their next adventure.

    New data reveals the 'most peaceful' places to live and Canadian towns demolished US ones

    Five Canadian towns were named the most serene on the continent. 🍁

    Canadians are obsessed with visiting these 9 cozy small towns and pretty cities in Canada

    Add these to your fall bucket list immediately! 😍🍂

    One of BC's 'prettiest small towns' is this fairytale-like spot with rolling hills and lakes

    Step into another world. ✨

    2 Canadian cities ranked among the world's best for nature — but Vancouver isn't one of them

    There's more to Canada's nature scene than just the West Coast! 🌲

    Gas prices in Canada are dropping in a bunch of cities tomorrow — but rising in a few others

    Here's where to fill up today vs. wait for a better deal tomorrow. 👇

    Canada's most unique baby names were revealed and you probably haven't heard of some names

    A few names were only given to five babies in all of Canada!

    Minimum wage just went up across Canada — but one province got left out

    There's only one province that hasn't raised its minimum wage in 2025. 😬

    Canadians would 'love' to move to this BC small town with charming streets and lush forest

    The ultimate small town vibes.✨

    This cozy small town in BC was named among Canada's top places to visit in 2026

    Escape the city life.

    Canadians say they'd 'love' to move to this lakeside Ontario town with dreamy Hamptons vibes

    It's home to a "beautiful and unspoiled sandy beach."

    Canada's top trending city for renters was revealed and it's not Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal

    You'll probably never guess...