Many communities in our second annual ranking of Canada’s Most Livable Cities have seen considerable improvements from when our list debuted a year ago. And a handful have catapulted themselves up the chart.
Below, we’ve highlighted five cities from across the country that broke into the top 100 for the first time with impressive gains in areas such as safety, community services and housing. In some cases, the communities also benefited from tweaks to our methodology – made based on feedback from readers – such as taking into account the number of museums and galleries in a community.
Here’s a look at the breakout cities we selected based on improved rankings and to reflect communities across the country.
North Dumfries, Ont.
Rank: 67 | Rank in 2023: 296
No city has made as big a leap in our ranking as North Dumfries. This small town in Southern Ontario jumped 229 spots on our list, with improvements in safety, demographics and transportation.
Just a 30-minute drive south of Kitchener, Ont., the city blends rural charm with suburban growth. The population of North Dumfries is just under 12,000, but it climbed nearly 10 per cent from 2019 to 2024, outpacing the national average.
There was a noticeable jump in the city’s diversity indicator index, which rose from 43.6 in 2023 to 49.2 in 2024 as growing numbers of people whose first language is neither English or French, including first-generation and second-generation immigrants, flocked to the city.
Notably, North Dumfries residents are feeling safer. Confidence in local police climbed from about 62 per cent to 69 per cent, while confidence in neighbours jumped by nearly 10 percentage points.
Mayor Sue Foxton points to the city’s prime location along with recent investment in housing and infrastructure as key drivers of growth.
“We’re witnessing more commercial businesses, investment, we have mixed housing styles coming in to accommodate a broad range of emerging populations,” she said. “We’ve got it all – we’re 45 minutes to London, 45 minutes on a good day to Toronto, within 20 minutes of Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge.”
This January, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario committed about $3-million to help communities in the Waterloo region, such as North Dumfries, double down on their economic potential in the automotive and electric vehicle industries, cleantech and agri-food.
Terrace's brand-new Ksyen Regional Hospital serves an increasingly populous and prosperous town, whose economy has been boosted by an LNG project in nearby Kitimat.Aaron Whitfield/The Globe and Mail
Terrace, B.C.
Rank: 41 | Rank in 2023: 148
With a flourishing local economy and strong population growth, Terrace has jumped 107 spots to land among the top 50 cities in our ranking.
Gains were driven by lower unemployment, which dropped from about 10 per cent in 2023 to 7.2 per cent this year, alongside persistent strengths in community and climate.
Surrounded by the Coast Mountains, the city doesn’t just boast scenic views. Its landscape has imbued the city with industrial potential. Regional industry and resource projects, as well as the new $640-million Ksyen Regional Hospital, are providing employment opportunities and driving growth.
A major economic boost has been the $40-billion LNG Canada project, including the export terminal being built in nearby Kitimat, which will start shipping low-carbon liquefied natural gas overseas next year and has attracted workers from across the region, according to David Block, Terrace’s director of development services.
The mountain city is also a playground for outdoor enthusiasts. Mayor Sean Bujtas attributes the strong community score to the wide selection of recreational activities in town. “We’ve got a ski hill, mountain bike trails, world-renowned fishing,” he said.
As more people flock to the growing industrial hub, maintaining affordable housing will be a challenge. Median home prices climbed more than 4 per cent from October to November, according to Houseful.ca.
Anne of Green Gables might bring the visitors to Charlottetown and other parts of PEI, but its cultural venues and affordable housing are bringing more people here to stay.Darren Calabrese/The Globe and Mail
Charlottetown
Rank: 54 | Rank in 2023: 132
The historic capital of Prince Edward Island climbed 78 spots in our ranking, fuelled by population growth and a boost in local amenities. Known for its colourful waterfront, beaches and basilica, this city is no longer just a tourist destination – more people are choosing to make it their home. From 2019 to 2024, Charlottetown saw a 14.5-per-cent population spike, bringing its total to more than 45,000 residents.
The city’s strong score in our Amenities category is partly due to a bigger focus on museums and galleries – which the city boasts plenty of – in our ranking this year. This expanded focus was our response to readers asking to incorporate more arts and cultural venues into the ranking.
While Charlottetown remains one of the most affordable cities in our ranking, its housing market is starting to feel some strain. Vacancy rates across the island dropped to some of the lowest in the country this year, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.
Chez Morasse, the local poutine joint, was bought by a couple from Benin during the pandemic, saving it during hard times.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
Rouyn-Noranda, Que.
Rank: 100 | Rank in 2023: 173
Located on the shores of Osisko Lake in western Quebec, Rouyn-Noranda has made an impressive leap to No. 100 in our ranking. The town saw a higher safety score this year alongside better health care numbers and strengths in education as well as housing. Residents felt safer in the city, with confidence in police rising from 65 per cent to 67.5 per cent, while the likelihood of crime index dropped by 10 percentage points.
Rouyn-Noranda’s ranking was also strengthened by its position at No. 13 in education, boosted by its proximity to well-regarded colleges and universities, such as the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue.
Notably, the proportion of the population perceiving their physical health as good to excellent edged from about 88 per cent to 90 per cent. Health care was up 79 spots.
Moose Jaw, Sask., is home base for the Snowbirds aerobatics squadron, a fixture of air shows and Canada Day celebrations across the country.Heywood Yu/The Canadian Press
Theories vary about how Moose Jaw got its name; some suggest it is of Cree origin. In the 1980s, tourism boosters erected a giant statue, Mac the Moose, to honour the namesake animal.Heywood Yu/The Canadian Press
Moose Jaw
Rank: 76 | Rank in 2023: 126
This southern Saskatchewan town climbed 50 spots in our ranking, with higher employment figures and continued improvements to safety, housing and amenities.
The city’s economy benefited from a significant drop in the unemployment rate from 8.4 per cent in 2023 to 5 per cent this year. Housing also remains affordable, with average home prices hovering around $257,854, making Moose Jaw an attractive destination for young professionals and families. The city is also conveniently located along the Trans-Canada Highway.
Moose Jaw’s high score for its amenities received a boost from the large number of movie theatres and gathering venues in town, along with restaurants, grocery stores and places of worship. The city also holds an impressive rank in proximity to primary and secondary schools, coming in seventh in Canada.
