Digital Trends Catching on in Small-Town Canada

In our modern world, Canada continues to present a striking duality between its major metropolitan centres and vast rural regions. Home to bustling global cities in
the shape of Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, a reported 82% of Canada’s 41 million inhabitants live within its urban areas, despite the fact that over 98% of the
nation’s landmass is classified as rural. What’s more, the digital transformation that has transformed Canada’s cities into leading tech hubs has for a long time, left much of small-town Canada behind. More recently, however, digital trends appear to be catching on in towns across the country. Thanks to the emergence of critical
technological infrastructure and effective government programs, communities and businesses formerly left in the dark by digitalization are now reaping the benefits.

High-speed internet across Canada

The critical importance of high-speed internet in influencing further digital expansion cannot be overstated, and it is the mass improvement of internet coverage and
connection speeds across Canada that has allowed more rural communities to better integrate into the modern digital landscape. In 2018, the availability of high-speed
internet in urban areas stood at 97.9% – in rural areas this figure plummeted to 42.3%. Thanks to the federal government’s Universal Broadband Fund, a $3.25
billion project to bring high-speed internet to 98% of Canadians by 2026, this figure is rising sharply. Government initiatives have been further supported by the ability of satellite-based provider Starlink to provide coverage to isolated areas as well as several community-led projects in towns like Kaslo (British Columbia) and Olds
(Alberta) which have developed impressive, localized infrastructure. The consistent improvement of internet capabilities across small-town Canada continues to be a key digital trend as the country looks ahead.

Digital payments increasing in popularity

2024 saw $12.2 trillion transferred through payment transactions across Canada – of this figure, 86% were completed through digital means. While credit cards, that can be stored in e-wallets, continue to be the dominant form of payment method, there is a noticeable rise in the number of Canadians also using smart home devices,
electronic funds transfer (EFT) and direct social media methods to complete transactions. While these figures reflect the total population of both urban and rural
areas, there are signs that digital payments are growing at an impressive rate in Canada’s more isolated regions and communities. Driven by improvements to
internet access as well as the effectiveness of innovative fintech start-ups like Squared Stripe that have streamlined digital solutions for smaller businesses, digital
payments are increasingly being preferred to cash in Canada’s rural towns. This has been further accelerated by shifting consumer preferences in recent years. Small
communities have become more closely connected with the rest of Canada and as a result, local people are increasingly expecting the same quality of service as what is
available in the likes of Toronto and Montreal.

The emergence of online casinos

One sector that has benefited immensely from digital infrastructure improvements is the Canadian iGaming scene, with online gambling becoming increasingly popular
across the nation’s provinces. For many Canadians, the nearest land-based casino venues are hundreds of miles away, making it difficult to access regulated gaming.
However, the recent emergence of a burgeoning online gambling sector in the country, particularly in provinces like Ontario and Alberta, has given greater access
to high quality gaming to more isolated communities. By heading to helpful directories like Casino.org, rural players can find expert reviews of the newest online
casinos in Canada, bringing the excitement of the country’s leading casinos to the comfort of their homes. While there are still challenges that lie ahead for Canadian
iGaming operators, the continued upward trajectory of player numbers, and company revenues, indicates further growth is on the horizon.

Social media transforming small towns

It is impossible to talk about the digital world these days without mentioning social media. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) have
transformed from simple connectivity sites to major commerce giants. What’s more, their ability to engage with smaller, more isolated populations has transformed daily life for those living in small-town Canada. While previously geographically cut off from the people, events and trends of major cities, nowadays everyone is receiving the latest goings-on in real time. While this has undoubtedly impacted the culture and consumer demands of rural communities, it has also had major implications for small businesses. Catching on to the utility of social media marketing, towns are now seeing local traders use things like livestream shopping events, short-form video promotions and even direct social commerce. The impact – consumers are now increasingly choosing to go local.

The inevitable arrival of AI

It doesn’t feel like long ago that the potential of AI to transform our societies felt like a distant dream, but there can be no denying that we are starting to feel its influence everywhere, from creating serious question marks around how education systems can continue to function to the complex data analysis it utilizes to hyper-personalize social media platforms. And, while it is easy to intrinsically link the use of AI with digitally mature urban areas, it may in fact be more rural towns and communities that see the greatest impact. For example, a recent study by the University of Waterloo has indicated that AI could be vital for the future of health care in rural Canada, where leading doctors and specialists are few and far between.

As the world becomes more digitally connected, Canada’s smallest communities are making sure they aren’t left behind. In many ways, the emergence of the digital
realm has brought these towns closer than ever before to the country’s urban regions – in fact, closer to everywhere. Geographical limitations are no longer a
barrier to technological development and greater interconnectivity in small town Canada, with the foundations now in place to allow for further expansion.
Furthermore, despite this increasingly globalized reality, the increased drive towards ‘local first’ commerce influenced by digital trends highlights that not only does the
future of small towns look secure, but so too does their individuality and authenticity.

Todayville Content Team

www.todayville.com/

Todayville Content Team works with a wide variety of clients to develop compelling content solutions. Our experienced team develops strategic campaigns that use video and storytelling, digital advertising and social media to help our clients position and distinguish themselves in the market.

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Digital Trends Catching on in Small-Town Canada

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From Underdog to Top Broodmare

Published on October 23, 2025

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WATCH From Underdog to Top Broodmare (video)

Executive Producers Jeff Robillard (Horse Racing Alberta) and Mike Little (Shinelight Entertainment)

What began as an underdog story became a legacy of excellence. Crackers Hot Shot didn’t just race — she paved the way for future generations, and in doing so became one of the most influential producers the province has known.

The extraordinary journey of Crackers Hot Shot — once overlooked, now revered — stands as one of Alberta’s finest success stories in harness racing and breeding.

Born in humble circumstances and initially considered rough around the edges, Crackers Hot Shot overcame long odds to carve out a career that would forever impact the province’s racing industry. From a “wild, unhandled filly” to Alberta’s “Horse of the Year” in 2013, to producing foals who carry her spirit and fortitude into future generations.

Her influence ripples through Alberta’s racing and breeding landscape: from how young stock are prepared, to the aspirations of local breeders who now look to “the mare that did it” as proof that world-class talent can emerge from Alberta’s paddocks.

“Crackers Hot Shot, she had a tough start. She wasn’t much to look at when we first got her” — Rod Starkewski

“Crackers Hot Shot was left on her own – Carl Archibald heard us talking, he said ‘I’ll go get her – I live by there’. I think it took him 3 days to dig her out of the snow. She was completely wild – then we just started working on her. She really needed some humans to work with her – and get to know that people are not scary.” — Jackie Starkewski

“Crackers Hot Shot would be one of the top broodmares in Albeta percentage wise if nothing else. Her foals hit the track – they’re looking for the winners circle every time.” — Connie Kolthammer

Visit thehorses.com to learn more about Alberta’s Horse Racing industry.

Also Interesting

Most Popular Forms of Cheap Digital Entertainment in Canada in 2025

Published on October 22, 2025

Todayville Content Team

There are many forms of cheap digital entertainment that people in Canada can make use of. 2025 might see the cost of living continue to rise, but it is also a year that is seeing more forms of cheap digital entertainment become popular. Cheap and social gaming options, streaming, and generous bonuses allow Canadians to spend less but get more entertainment.

Many Canadians are continuing to feel the sting of an increasing cost of living, but thankfully, that doesn’t mean they have to go without entertainment. Digital entertainment options are not only plentiful in 2025, but there is an increasing number of cheap options. Gaming options with a focus on community engagement, social streaming services and online casino platforms offering generous no deposit bonus codes all allow Canadians to entertain themselves online without spending very much at all. Without being exhaustive and in no particular order, here are some of the most popular ways that Canadians are staying entertained online on the cheap in 2025.

Streaming Options with Cheap or Free Levels

Video streaming is still one of the biggest choices for many Canadians when they are looking for a way to be entertained online. While many services continue to increase prices, there are a number of options that offer streaming for free or for cheap prices. Platforms like Tubi, Plex and Pluto TV offer free and ad-supported viewing options for some movies and shows. The music streaming giant Spotify also offers a free ad-supported tier of listening.

For Canadians who want access to bigger budget streaming services and the originals and content that they hold, sharing is still an option. People who opt for family plans on the big streaming platforms like Disney+ and Netflix can see a small saving across their household, while still being able to access some more premium online streaming content options.

Free Gaming, Particularly For Mobile

While they originally premiered on mobile, there has been a surge in the last few years in free-to-play games. Particularly, the mobile gaming market includes many free titles that are very popular and well-supported. With convenience, portability, lack of expense and the quality of games, there should be no surprise that mobile gaming, and free mobile gaming, is a big choice for many Canadians.

Some of the big titles in free-to-play on mobile include Genshin Impact, Clash Royale and Call of Duty: Mobile. These are all huge titles with large player bases, and while they do all include the option to purchase advantages in-game, they cost nothing to download and try initially.

Apart from the big titles, there are plenty of other mobile games that are free, including many different types of card and casino games. Most of these games are designed as practice or strategy testing games, but some of them include social options and let you play against other people and join online communities.

Other gaming systems than mobile are also on the free-to-play bandwagon. Steam, PlayStation and Xbox all have a variety of free options for gamers. While some of these games might be less popular, others have huge followings and big communities that surround them, like Fortnite and Dota 2.

While gaming is often viewed as a hobby that soaks up a lot of money from its adherents, in 2025, that simply isn’t the case. A smart gamer can get hundreds of hours of entertainment while spending only a small amount of money.

Smart Use of Generous Bonus Offers

While it might seem odd, many Canadians have found that they can have a good amount of entertainment online without spending much money by making smart use of online casino bonus offers.

In order to attract new customers and stand out from the crowd, online casino platforms in 2025 have to offer bonus offers to new customers. These bonuses typically involve codes that allow new players to put in very little or no money and to be able to play a number of different games. This means that players can sink a few hours into an online casino platform as entertainment without spending any money at all.

While it might be true that these bonus offers always come with fine print, this fine print is usually set up to make sure that you can’t instantly win a whole bunch of money for free. If you are simply looking for a way to entertain yourself for free or for very little expense, the fine print on online casino bonuses isn’t going to get in your way at all.

Social Streaming and Community Interactions

For many Canadians in 2025, being entertained is about more than simply playing a game or watching a show; they want to be engaged and to interact with other people. This is where social streaming platforms come into their own. For the low, low cost of absolutely free, you can watch people stream on platforms like Kick, YouTube and Twitch.

These streamers typically love to interact with their audiences, and many of them have thriving communities that will happily welcome others into the fold. Streamers can be showing everything from a nature walk with their dog to the newest video game, and their audience will be happy to clue any newcomers into what to normally expect from them.

Engaging with this type of streaming content is totally free, and many people in Canada and all over the world love to engage with these streaming platforms. Attached to many of these streamers are the community side of things. This is where the streamers themselves, or their fans, create spaces on other platforms like Reddit or Discord to allow the community to discuss and interact.

For Canadians looking for cheap online entertainment, it doesn’t get much cheaper than free, and it might not get much better than joining the right streamers community.

Final Thoughts

As we have hopefully proved, if you are seeking digital entertainment in Canada in 2025, you can leave your wallet firmly closed. There are heaps of options that are cheap, and just as many that are totally free.

While some people might claim that the amount you spend on entertainment will increase the quality of it, we invite you to disregard that attitude and to embrace the myriad cheap and free digital entertainment options.