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.