Personal and social opportunity is abundant in Canaan.
You can grow, prosper and flourish here.
Canaan is a diverse community of families, working people and retirees that epitomize the historical concept of a small self reliant New England town. There is little artifice, just an authentic sense of community.
Explore Canaan’s Opportunities
Education opportunities are excellent and available to all ages.
Canaan has a national award winning elementary school with 216 students and 51 staff.
The Town hosts an extensive Middle and High School with a $30 million dollar physical plant and 121 educators and staff serving 694 students.
Mascoma Valley’s theatre program as well as sports and art are very popular and teachers readily engage with their students with great community support.
Cardigan Mountain School, organized in 1945 and located on Canaan Street Lake, is a well respected private boarding and day school for boys with an education and development program for grades 6 through 9.
More than 121 staff educates about 200 students each year.
Nearby Dartmouth College and River Valley Community College as well as Geisel School of Medicine are excellent learning resources.
Live every day looking at and appreciating history.
History is evident throughout our Town and creates a great opportunity to ground yourself in 250 years of history, celebrate the majesty of history and observe the impact of history on today’s Canaan. Canaan was created by charter in 1761 with a core community that bordered Canaan Street Lake.
The Canaan Historic District encompasses eighty-seven mostly Greek Revival and Federal Era historic buildings. The focal point of this unique community is the 1796 original Meeting House, the 1838 Union Academy and the Meeting House Common.
Canaan still exhibits evidence of a strong 19th century manufacturing community, stores and shops, and the arrival of the railroad from Boston.
The Town also has evidence of complete destruction of the East Canaan Village by fire in 1923 and proved itself to be resilient by rebuilding the Village in less than two years.
The spirit lives on through donations and community investment.
Use your talents to create, serve, inspire, heal and love what you do
Trades people, artists, farmers, loggers and professionals are a great opportunity in Canaan for both people to join and people seeking their services.
Canaan includes builders, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, and artists in a variety of media, as well as science innovators and medical professionals. Restaurants and small groceries are also present in the Town.
Participate in and use social gatherings and services in Canaan
The community is a wealth of service opportunity.
There are seven faith groups in Canaan serving a variety of faiths.
The Mascoma Senior Center provides services including meals, education and counseling to our senior residents.
Lions, Masons, Mount Cardigan Fish & Game Club and the American Legion as well as special groups like the Upper Valley Aero Modelers also encourage people with diverse interests to gather together. Volunteers are welcome at the Friends of Canaan Village, Listen Community Services, the Cardigan Mountain Arts Association, Bird and Garden Club, and 4-H.
The Town is home to the Mascoma Community Health and Dental Center that serves 5,000 patients. The Mascoma Friends Foundations raises funds to support a variety of causes including Friends feeding Friends (a local food pantry and community service organization).
Enjoy hobbies and relax in a wealth of recreation.
People of all ages can become involved in recreation opportunities. These include hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, swimming, birding, exploring 10,000 acres of forest land, snowmobiling, volunteering, cross country skiing, mountain climbing, photography, sports car, kart, motorcycle, and motocross racing, polo, jogging, exercise groups, hobbyists, and organized recreation programs for all ages.
Adult softball and youth little league are available. There are many Village events including July readings, the summer music series on the Village Common, Farmers Market, Christmas in Canaan, Craft Fairs, Halloween Pumpkin Carving, Old Home Days and Town wide yard sales.
Also available are many theatre, art, renowned speakers, writers and music events about 20 miles away in the Lebanon, White River, and Hanover area.
Be part of the service and governance of your town.
There are many opportunities to become in involved with Town fire and ambulance services, recreation, and Town leadership – managing Town finances and planning for its future.
You can serve with the Historical Society Board, Library Trustees or the Meeting House Preservation Committee. Bring you experience and your voice to help the community.
