Ontario dominates top ten list of Canada's happiest cities

Ontario represented five of the top ten spots in a new ranking of Canada's happiest cities.

Canada's most populous province appears to also be one of its happiest, according to the 2026 edition of the Leger Happiness Index, which ranks the happiness of cities across the country.

Nationwide, the index increased 1.8 points from 2025 up to 70.5 in 2026. And while Ontario ranked fifth place in this year's index behind Quebec, Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan, the economic heart of Canada is still home to many of its happiest cities.

Brampton recorded the single-largest year-over-year gain among the top ten, rising five points to 71.7, and securing second place on the list behind Montreal. 

Toronto climbed 3.6 points to 69.4 and holds third place on the list, with Hamilton following in fifth place, Mississauga in sixth place, and Ottawa in eighth place.

Here are the top ten happiest cities in Canada:

1. Montreal (Quebec)
2. Brampton (Ontario) 
3. Toronto (Ontario) 
4. Vancouver (British Columbia) 
5. Hamilton (Ontario) 
6. Mississauga (Ontario) 
7. Calgary (Alberta) 
8. Ottawa (Ontario) 
9. Edmonton (Alberta) 
10. Winnipeg (Manitoba)