Description:

Little Canada, in Ramsey County, is centrally located on the northeast hub of the metropolitan freeway system. Little Canada is only minutes from the State Capitol, downtown St. Paul, and fifteen minutes to downtown Minneapolis.

The Little Canada community is proud of its French Canadian heritage, and works hard to maintain its unique identity despite its busy metropolitan surroundings. The Dakota (Sioux) tribe of the Kaposia band made their summer home in the area that is today Little Canada because of the abundant fishing and hunting resources. The first white settlers in the region were French/Canadians. Many of the descendents of these settlers still reside in Little Canada.

The City's largest lake, Lake Gervais, was named after Benjamin Gervais. He was the first white man to claim land here in 1844. In 1850, the first school was established and classes were taught in French. One of Ramsey County's historical sites, the Catholic Church of St. John the Evangelist, was built in 1852. St. John's cemetery was the second to be established in Minnesota. In 1858, Little Canada became a township, a village in 1953, and in 1974, a city.

Please download the Little Canada Community Guide Below For Additional Information.

Schools:

The majority of students in Little Canada attend classes in the Roseville School District, although there is a small area of Little Canada that is north of 694 where students attend classes in the White Bear Lake School District.

Roseville District 623:

The Roseville Area School District is located just north of the City of St. Paul and east of the City of Minneapolis. We are a unique district with all or portions of seven communities within district boundaries - Arden Hills, Falcon Heights, Little Canada, Lauderdale, Maplewood, Roseville, and Shoreview, We are an E-12 district and have an enrollment of 6,400 students K-12. We also serve several hundred pre-school and adult

students.

Elementary

Brimhall

Central Park

Edgerton

Emmet D. Williams

Falcon Heights

Little Canada

Parkview

Middle School

Roseville Middle School

High Schools

Roseville High School

Fairview Alternative High School

If you would like contact information for any of the District 623 schools listed or would like to view a map of the attendance boundaries please click on link below. If you would like to hear testimonials from staff, students, parents, and alumni about the Roseville School District please click on the Welcome To District 623 below. More information can also be found on their website at http://www.roseville.k12.mn.us/

White Bear Lake Area Schools

The White Bear Lake Area Schools serve all or parts of Birchwood, Gem Lake, Hugo, Little Canada, North Oaks, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake and White Bear Township, with eight elementary schools (K-5), two middle schools (6-8), a two-campus high school (9-12), an Area Learning Center, and an education center housing early childhood and senior programs. The school district, with a total population of approximately 50,000 residents, services approximately 9,200 students K-12.

Elementaries focus on basic-skills through innovative instruction, including a renowned mathematics curriculum. Parents choose between traditional and alternative classroom settings. A gifted program is offered for students demonstrating exceptional ability in communications and mathematics. School-aged childcare is available before and after school.

Middle schools take traditional studies into challenging new areas through inter-disciplinary teaching teams, providing a smooth transition from the elementary to high school classroom. Advanced classes are offered in select disciplines.

The high school operates on a block schedule, offering numerous opportunities to prepare students for post-secondary plans. College in the Schools and Advanced Placement courses offer students introductory-level college coursework.

The district offers many extra-curricular activities, providing students opportunities to excel outside the classroom. The district’s exceptional youth development program has gained both state and national attention for its focus on student leadership and community service.

A comprehensive special education department, including a recognized autism program, supplements learning whenever needed. The district also participates in a special education cooperative district, which services students with special needs.

The district is committed to offering curriculum and instruction rooted in best practice research and based on current data. Staff development and teacher training remain top priorities in the district to insure student success at all levels. The district's Educational Foundation also supports instruction by proving grants for innovative teaching projects and awarding numerous student scholarships.

The White Bear Lake Area Schools enjoy the atmosphere of a close-knit community with the learning opportunities of a major metropolitan center. The district is proud of its reputation for excellence in every part of a student's career as well in its commitment to professional and staff development.

Elementary

Schools:

Birch Lake Elementary

Centerpoint Elementary

Lakeaires Elementary

Lincoln Elementary

Oneka Elementary

Otter Lake Elementary

Parkview Elementary

Vadnais Heights Elementary

Willow Lane Elementary

Middle Schools

Central Middle School

Sunrise Park Middle School

High Schools

White Bear Lake Area High School – North Campus

White Bear Lake Area High School – South Campus

Please see the District Boundary Map and the District Fact Sheet below. If you need more information on the White Bear Lake School District please visit their website at http://www.whitebear.k12.mn.us/ or call them at 651-407-7500

Parks:

The City of Little Canada has several beautiful parks for residents to enjoy. These parks provide recreational opportunities for all. They encourage optimum use of these public facilities, including County parks, City parks, and the water works right-of-way. The city’s goal is to preserve and enhance the City's natural, scenic, and historic resources

• Spooner Park - approximately 7,000 lin. ft. of hiking trails that are 5 ft. in width, with bituminous surface.
• Gervais Mill Park - approximately 1,300 lin. ft. of hiking trails connecting Spooner Park to Edgerton Street. The trails are 5 ft. in width with bituminous surface.
• Water Works R.O.W. - approximately 10,000 lin. ft. of multi-purpose corridor that is used as a trail, but is not surfaced or otherwise developed.
• Little Canada Road - approximately 800 lin. ft. of walkway has been constructed from Country Drive to Lakeshore Avenue. The walk is 8 ft. in width with bituminous or concrete surface.
• County Road C - approximately 3,000 lin. ft. of walkway has been constructed from Lakeshore Avenue to Rice Street. The walk is 8 ft. in width with bituminous or concrete surface.
• Edgerton Street Bikeway - approximately 10,000 lin. ft. of street from County Road D to Highway 36, with bike lanes on each side of the roadway.
• Pioneer Park - approximately 1,300 lin. ft. of 10 ft. wide and 5,700 lin. ft. of 8 ft. wide bituminous surface hiking trails.
• Desoto Street - approximately 1,100 lin. ft. of 8 ft. wide bituminous surface hiking trail connecting Spooner Park and Pioneer Park.
• Thunder Bay Park - approximately 2,000 lin. ft. of 8 ft. wide bituminous surface hiking trail connecting Payne Avenue and Greenbrier Street

For more information on Little Canada’s parks please download the Parks & Facilities Guide below or visit their website at http://littlecanada.govoffice.com.

Recreation:

Adult Activities:

The Little Canada Parks & Recreation Department offers 55 Alive Driving Classes, Fall Softball, Market Place Morning Talks, Men's Over 35 Open Basketball, Senior Exercise Classes, and Summer Softball for adults. Several other adult activities are offered through the Roseville Area School District’s Community Education Program.

Youth Activities:

There are many activities throughout the year for adolescents to enjoy in Little Canada. Here are just a few!

• Archery
• Softball
• T-Ball
• Basketball
• Baseball
• Summer Youth Trips
• Firearm Saftey

For more information, online registration, and the activities currently available please visit the City of Little Canada on the web at http://littlecanada.govoffice.com.

Canadian Days:

Little Canada's community celebration "Canadian Days" was first started as a bicentennial celebration in 1976. Residents enjoyed it so much that city officials decided to continue with an annual festival. The festival is planned by an all-volunteer organization.

Canadian Days Mission Statement:

The purpose of the Little Canada Canadian Days organization is three-fold:

• To provide the community of Little Canada, Minnesota with a summer festival.
• To promote stronger ties of friendship and understanding between the residents of the City of Little Canada, Minnesota and Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
• To make charitable contributions to youth-oriented activities and organizations of the City of Little Canada, Minnesota.

History of Canadian Days:

For several years, Little Canada and Thunder Bay, Ontario have come together for a weekend of food and fun, celebrating their international friendship. The first event started as a U.S. Bicentennial celebration in 1976. Residents enjoyed it so much, city officials decided to continue with an annual festival. Community members thought the city should host an event that didn't interfere with the 4th of July festivals, but they needed a reason to celebrate.

Sharron Clasen, president of the Little Canada PTSA, had an idea. She suggested an event that would honor the city's heritage and celebrate the world's longest undefended border between Canada and the United States. Thus, the annual Canadian Days festival was born. Thunder Bay was asked to be a Sister City of Little Canada and the summer celebration got rolling.

Three decades later, the international friendship between the two cities continues to be strong. A lot of good relationships have been made. About 50 Thunder Bay residents come down for the celebration each year, including the Macgillivray Pipe Band, the Sister City Committee members, and the Thunder Bay Mayor. The Macgillivray Pipe Band has been an integral, traditional part of the Canadian Days celebration.