Editing Little Canada, Minnesota (section)

==History==
In 1844, [[French Canadian]] settler Benjamin Gervais moved north from [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]] to claim land in order to build the first [[Gristmill|grist mill]] in Minnesota that was independent from the government. The large lake on the east side of Little Canada bears his name (Lake Gervais). The grist mill was converted into a park, which is recognized as the birthplace of the city.  Little Canada began as the township of New Canada in 1858. In the 1950s, the township was threatened by the suburban sprawl of the ensuing larger communities that were formed, such as [[Maplewood, Minnesota|Maplewood]].  In 1953, the city leaders came together and established the village of Little Canada. It became a city in 1974.

===Canadian ties===
The city displays the Canadian influence in its history in several ways. Its official symbol is an initial LC on a white [[fleur-de-lis]] with a red maple leaf background, and the [[Canadian flag]] is displayed in council chambers.<ref>{{Citation |last=Scrivener |first=Leslie |title=O Little Canada, a home away from home |newspaper=[[Toronto Star]] |pages=A1 |date=July 1, 2007 |url=https://www.thestar.com/article/231344 |access-date=September 4, 2017 |archive-date=September 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927165614/http://www.thestar.com/article/231344 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In early August, the city hosts an annual celebration, Canadian Days, with its sister city [[Thunder Bay]], Ontario, in Canada.

===Sister city===
* {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Thunder Bay]], Ontario since 1977