Still Standing

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.