My Favourite Places to Detect in Canada

Metal detectorist Laurie “Goldie” Gagne takes readers on a cross-Canada journey through her favourite detecting spots, sharing breathtaking landscapes, heartfelt encounters, and the buried stories of communities past. From British Columbia to New Brunswick, each find reveals not just artifacts, but living connections to history, memory, and place.

“Let me take you across Canada to some of my favourite places I’ve metal detected. I’ll always be grateful to the many generous people who invited me to explore their provinces—these adventures have given me memories I’ll treasure forever. 

British Columbia: Where Beauty Lies in Every Direction

Metal detecting in British Columbia offered me the most breathtaking views. There was something deeply peaceful about searching along the water, where snowy mountain peaks reflected like a mirror. Everywhere I looked, there were beautiful mountains, tranquil lakes, and rushing rivers. 

I was invited to detect a drowned village and learned how hard the townspeople had worked to build their community with so little. Then, suddenly, they were forced to abandon it all when the valley was dammed for hydroelectricity. The most haunting part? Those who refused to leave had their homes burned down around them. Some escaped with barely more than the clothes on their backs. You can’t help but think how difficult it must have been to leave such a beautiful and once peaceful place. 

During a visit with our host, Michael Rawlins, he received a call from a 78-year-old man searching for a lost gold nugget bracelet, a cherished gift from his late son. Twenty-five years earlier, during a gathering, the man didn’t trust some of his guests and secretly buried the bracelet in the mountains. For decades, he returned to search but never found it. 

A group of us went to help. Within minutes, a dear friend of mine Marty unearthed it near a tree stump. I’ll never forget the man’s reaction, he gasped in disbelief, then held it, staring in amazement. Over and over, he thanked us, his voice trembling with gratitude. It was one of those rare, heartwarming moments that stays with you forever. 

Saskatchewan: A Warm Welcome 

I made a quick trip to Saskatchewan for a ring recovery, but the people won me over. Everyone I met was genuinely friendly and kind. That warmth has stayed with me, and I know I’ll be back someday to explore more of what this place has to offer. 

Manitoba: Hidden Stories Beneath the Sand

I spent a lot of time metal detecting in southern Manitoba while filming Red River Gold. This area wins for the most preserved finds, the sandy soil provides perfect drainage, reducing environmental damage. Everything I’ve uncovered here comes up in fantastic condition. 

The Métis developed a rich and unique culture with their own traditions. As someone from Quebec, encountering French influences in their history gave me an immediate, comforting sense of home. 

Manitoba holds one of the most exciting treasure hunts I’ve ever been on. With permission and a metal detecting permit, I explored private and public lands. Learning the history, following clues, and finding artifacts left behind has been incredible. Having an entire team and equipment at our disposal felt like a dream come true. 

The more we discover, the deeper we dive into research, old maps, overlays, and LiDAR brings us that much closer. The excitement is electric! It fuels my drive to keep pushing forward.

Manitoba occupies my thoughts constantly. Once the gold rush captures you, it’s hard to let go… I can’t help thinking the next target will be the big one!

Ontario: Beautiful Beaches and Picturesque Parks

I’ve metal detected all across Ontario, from Ottawa to Hamilton. Our national capital is especially rewarding, with its stunning beaches and parks. One favorite spot was an old firing range, now a city park. The variety of finds—old bullets, military pins, vintage coins, and even the occasional gold jewelry—makes it thrilling. You never know what’s next. 

One frozen January day, I got the kind of opportunity every treasure hunter dreams of. Our friend Matt Thompson shared rare news: an area flooded for hydroelectricity in the 1950s was being drained for repairs. The winter drawdown exposed patches of unfrozen ground… land untouched for decades. 

I didn’t hesitate. Sweeping my detector over the freshly exposed ground, I hit a target: a coin half frozen in the dirt. At first glance, it was unfamiliar. Then came the rush of realization. I was holding something far rarer than I’d imagined. 

A Vexator Canadiensis, a rare blacksmith token with a rebellious past. Legend says these coins were secretly made to mock an unpopular Governor General. The design featured a trapper’s face, so if questioned, makers could claim they were simple trade tokens. But everyone knew the truth: they were counterfeits, a quiet protest against British rule. The river had guarded this secret for generations, until the water dropped and my detector found it. To this day, it’s my favorite coin discovery. 

Quebec: Where Memories Wait to Be Found

I live in Quebec, a land of rolling hills, quiet valleys, and beautiful lakes. It’s where our metal detecting journey began, hidden in forests, along beaches, and tucked away in parks. 

One cherished spot was an old picnic ground where generations of cottagers stopped to rest, unknowingly leaving behind pieces of their lives. For years, we returned, uncovering lost treasures: silver coins, delicate cufflinks, and jewelry that once meant something to someone. 

One find was a silver Maltese cross engraved with 1880, A.A. Hughes and the name of a school in Prince Edward Island. A medal awarded for exceptional dedication to studies (only two were given yearly). With the help of a historian’s in PEI, we located school records confirming the award and even found a receipt of payment for Anne and her sister. The notes listed their ages and their father’s name. 

Using the census records data, I traced the family’s move to Ottawa and figured they must have vacationed in the Gatineau Valley. I traced the genealogy of the firstborn child until the census records ran out. I then turned to online obituaries, which revealed the names of their descendants. Finally, I found the family and made contact with A.A. Hughes' living relative: her great-grandson!  They were deeply moved to receive a family heirloom they never knew existed. That moment is one I’ll always cherish. 

New Brunswick: An Unexpected 17th-Century Find!

I was invited to a show-and-tell event for a local metal detecting club in New Brunswick. It was a fantastic day meeting fellow detectorists and seeing their incredible finds. The next day, we toured Fort Beauséjour, where I soaked up the region’s early military history. 

Later, we detected a farm field, and I made an unexpected discovery! Years of fertilizer and farming had corroded my find almost beyond recognition. At first, I could barely see any markings. But after sending a photo to a friend, we identified it as a mid 1600s Double Tournois French coin, likely lost by an Acadian settler. 

This sent me deep into research about the Acadiens and their struggles. In the 1750s, the British didn’t trust their French ties and forcibly relocated thousands under British rule. It’s a stark reminder of how little regard was shown for existing communities at the time. 

I still have a few provinces and territories left to explore, and I can’t wait to uncover more hidden stories in Canada’s unique landscapes. Who knows where metal detecting will lead me next?”