This Ontario town with storybook streets and cozy little shops is the prettiest in Canada
You'll want to add this spot to your bucket list!
If you've ever wanted to step into a small town that feels like it belongs in a Hallmark film, you might want to take a trip to this quaint Ontario gem.
With historic buildings, little shops, freshly baked treats, and picturesque river views, it has all the ingredients for a postcard-worthy escape and has been named among the prettiest towns in the country.
Just over an hour from the city, it's a convenient spot for an autumn or holiday-season getaway.
Narcity Canada asked readers on Facebook which small towns they consider the prettiest in the country, and this charming Ontario destination was one of the recommendations.
St. Jacobs Village is a cozy community located near the picturesque Conestoga River.
With roots dating back to the 19th century, the Village has a rich history and German heritage still visible in its historic buildings and locally owned shops.
According to the website, "the Village of St. Jacobs is filled with authentic sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and incredible one-of-a-kind shopping, that are sure to re-inspire the soul."
You can spend an afternoon wandering the main street, browsing the boutiques, and stopping for a bite at one of its local eateries.
One must-visit spot is Hamel Brooms. Founded in 1908, the business is reportedly Canada's last remaining corn broom manufacturer. You can see traditional broom-making in action while browsing other handcrafted finds, from stained glass to home accessories.
For something sweet, head to the Stone Crock Bakery, where you'll find an assortment of freshly baked treats. The bakery is known for its butter tarts, fresh bread baked on-site, and Dutch apple pies.
You can also warm up with a drink or meal at places like EcoCafe, St. Jacobs Grill, The Pub by Stone Crock, and Harvest Moon.
The Stone Crock Market is another spot to check out, offering locally-grown food, premium meats, and more.
No visit is complete without stopping by the St. Jacobs Farmers' Market, a major attraction just a few minutes from the village centre.
Operating year-round, the market is the largest of its kind in Canada, with three indoor buildings and an outdoor space where you can browse everything from fresh local produce and specialty foods to handmade crafts and one-of-a-kind treasures.
If you're planning an autumn visit to the Village, you can enjoy Pumpkin Palooza on October 24, featuring pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, and more.
It's also worth scheduling a visit during the Christmas season. St. Jacobs Village is extra magical during the holidays, with glittering lights, cozy winter drinks, and festive shopping.
From November 12 to 15 and November 19 to 22, you can enjoy Sparkles, an annual shopping event with thousands of twinkling lights, horse-and-wagon rides, and more.
With its quaint little shops, cozy cafes, and old-world charm, it's no surprise readers say St. Jacobs Village is the prettiest town in Canada.
Ministers tout Indigenous policing investment
While no new money was announced for Indigenous policing on Friday, federal and provincial public safety ministers held a press conference in Brandon to announce $163.5 million in past funding commitments.
Speaking at the Waywayseecappo Conference Centre, federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said the combined funding from the two governments is aiding the expansion and effectiveness of Indigenous-led policing efforts.
“I’m happy to announce that our governments today, Canada and Manitoba, are jointly supporting two major investments in First Nations policing and community safety here in the province under the First Nations and Inuit Policing Program,” Anandasangaree said. “This money will strengthen its capacity to deliver First Nations-led, culturally informed policing to the 12 First Nations communities that it currently serves.”
The funding includes $121 million for the Manitoba First Nations Police Service from 2023-27 and $42.5 million to expand the Manitoba First Nation Safety Officer Program from 2025-28.
Anandasangaree said the funding will help expand the safety officer program to all 63 First Nations in Manitoba by 2028.
“First Nations safety officers play a key role in the provincial public safety strategy, complementing and at times augmenting the role of the RCMP,” Anandasangaree said. “We will also provide improved training, equipment, communication tools and more equitable resources that are distributed across communities in Manitoba.”
MFNPS Chief Jason Colon, who attended the press conference, said the funding has allowed the service to dedicate officers for in-house training and purchase equipment such as body cameras, vehicle cameras and surveillance cameras at detachments.
The funding has also enabled the MFNPS to expand into two new communities in recent years — Fisher River Cree Nation and Gambler First Nation.
The police service is currently trying to secure funding for a Crime Reduction and Enforcement Unit, which targets crimes related to gangs, drugs and firearms, he said.
“We’re hoping in the next few years to have this position, this unit funded as full-time.”
Colon said the expansion of policing capacity in rural First Nations during the past few years has benefited people outside those communities as well, enhancing overall law-enforcement presence across the province.
He also noted the MFNPS works closely with the Winnipeg Police Service and the Brandon Police Service.
“Crime doesn’t really look at borders,” he said. “People from outside our communities are transporting substances, and by us having the resources to deal with those things, it supports the surrounding communities as well.”
Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe echoed those comments.
“There’s definitely a community focus to the work that’s happening with the FNSOs, with First Nations police,” he said at the press conference. “But I want to be clear: the work that they do is not simply focused on their own communities.”
He pointed to a case where First Nation safety officers in Bunibonibee Cree Nation identified drugs that were being brought into the community, leading to a deeper investigation by RCMP, which carried out arrests across the province.
“It’s an example of how public safety in one community impacts other communities,” Wiebe said.
“I think that there’s an element here where First Nations police are doing work that is complementing and adding to the work that’s happening with the RCMP and at the community level with the FNSO.”
Copyright 2026, Brandon Sun. All rights reserved.
Connor McDowell, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Brandon Sun.
This massive Ontario house for sale has over 20 rooms and an indoor pool for under $800K
You won't need to fight over the bathroom in this home.
This Ontario house for sale proves you don't necessarily need to sacrifice space to stick to a budget.
The massive home boasts more than 20 rooms and even comes with an indoor pool, all for just under $800,000.
Located in Quinte West, the seven-bedroom, four-bathroom estate sits on a one-third-acre lot in what the listing calls "one of the Quinte area's most exclusive cul-de-sacs."

Spanning between 3,500 and 5,000 square feet, the home has 22 listed rooms in total, offering lots of space to entertain, unwind, and even take a dip without stepping outside.
The home features a stone-and-brick exterior, while the surrounding landscaping adds an extra layer of privacy.

Inside, you'll find spacious principal rooms, hardwood flooring, fireplaces, and numerous formal and informal living areas for entertaining, relaxing, and more.
One of the main attractions is the full-sized indoor pool, with sliding doors that lead to the yard.

The eat-in kitchen overlooks the pool, so you can keep an eye on the fun while you cook.
The upstairs features five bedrooms and two bathrooms, including a large primary suite with a private office, second-floor terrace, spacious walk-in closet, and sprawling ensuite.

The fully finished lower level features two additional bedrooms, a large recreation room, and a recently renovated bathroom.
According to the listing, the home has a "scale and layout that is exceptionally difficult to recreate today" and is "ideally suited for large or multi-generational families seeking space, privacy, and a truly distinctive property."
If you've been dreaming of a home with room for the whole family, plenty of privacy, and a pool you can enjoy without going outside, this Quinte West property might just be worth a closer look.
House with indoor pool for sale
Bright hallway with wooden railing and multiple doorways.
Asking Price: $799,900
Address: 17 Applewood Court, Quinte West, ON

La version québécoise de Survivor dévoile sa première bande-annonce et tu peux t'inscrire
Es-tu game?
Tu es fan des émissions d'endurance, de stratégies et de trahisons? Alors tu seras bien content.e d'apprendre que Novoo adaptera la série américaine Survivor. C'est le 14 septembre que la première bande-annonce est sortie pour dévoiler que l'émission sera diffusée ce printemps, et tu peux même déjà t'inscrire.
L'animateur Patrice Bélanger se rendra aux Philippines avec les participant.es pendant 40 jours et les candidat.es devront jouer sans merci dans l'espoir de gagner le gros lot de 100 000 $.
Si tu n'es pas familier.ère avec le concept américain, ce sont 16 à 20 candidat.es qui se rendent sur une île paradisiaque, mais loin du confort de la civilisation, et sont ensuite séparé.es en deux équipes. Chaque semaine, iels doivent participer à des défis autant physiques que mentaux dans le but de remporter l'immunité, des privilèges ou des objets de confort.
Sur l’île pendant plus d'un mois, les participant.es devront construire leurs propres abris, faire des feux, trouver leur nourriture en plus de se faire compétition jusqu'à la fin.
Tu as envie de devenir le ou la dernier.ère survivant.e? Tu as jusqu'au 2 octobre à 23 h 59 pour remplir le formulaire d'inscription en y mettant une photo de toi, en plus d'une vidéo de deux minutes où tu te présentes en expliquant quelles sont tes raisons pour t'inscrire et ce que tu ferais avec le prix.
Si tu crois avoir la force mentale et physique pour te dépasser et survivre aux intempéries, tu peux aller sur Noovo pour t'inscrire. Sinon, tu dois attendre au printemps pour regarder la version québécoise de Survivor à la télévision.