You’ve seen him on every billboard from Tokyo to Times Square. You know the songs. But if you’re wondering justin bieber is from where, the answer isn't some glamorous Hollywood estate or a high-rise in Manhattan. It’s a lot more low-key than that.
He’s Canadian.
Specifically, Justin Bieber was born in London, Ontario, but he didn't really "grow up" there. He was born at St. Joseph's Hospital on March 1, 1994. However, if you ask him or any local, they’ll tell you his real roots are about 40 miles down the road in a town called Stratford.
The Stratford Connection
Stratford is a pretty unique place. It’s famous for its Shakespeare Festival. It’s full of Victorian architecture and swan-filled rivers. Honestly, it’s the kind of place where you’d expect to find a classical pianist, not a global R&B-pop sensation.
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Bieber was raised there by his single mother, Pattie Mallette, in low-income housing. Life wasn't exactly easy. They lived in a small apartment on Willow Street. His mom worked several office jobs just to keep things afloat.
He wasn't some industry plant. He was a kid who played hockey for the Stratford Warriors and hung out at the local skate park on Downie Street.
From Busking to Billboards
If you walk through downtown Stratford today, you’ll see the Avon Theatre. This is a massive part of the story when people ask about his origins.
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As a 12-year-old, Justin would sit on the concrete steps of that theatre with his guitar case open. He’d sing covers of Ne-Yo and Chris Brown. He actually made enough money busking on those steps—around $3,000—to take his mom to Disney World. That’s a wild amount of cash for a kid with a guitar in a town of 30,000 people.
It was these performances that his mother started uploading to YouTube. She just wanted her family to see them. But then a talent manager named Scooter Braun clicked on a video by accident while looking for a different singer.
The rest is history.
Braun flew Justin and Pattie to Atlanta, Georgia, when Justin was only 13. That’s where he met Usher and signed his first big deal. Even though he’s lived in Atlanta and Los Angeles for most of his adult life, he still carries that "Canadian-ness" with him.
Why the Location Matters
People get confused because he’s so synonymous with the American music scene. But his upbringing in Ontario shaped everything.
- The Musicality: He didn't just sing. He taught himself piano, drums, guitar, and even the trumpet in that small house in Stratford.
- The Hockey Obsession: He’s a die-hard Toronto Maple Leafs fan. You can take the boy out of Ontario, but you can’t take the hockey out of the boy.
- The Family Ties: His father, Jeremy Bieber, and his grandparents still have deep roots in the area.
Interestingly, after years of living in the US, Justin actually moved back to Canada part-time. A few years ago, he bought a massive $5 million estate in Cambridge, Ontario, which is only about an hour away from his hometown.
What to do if you're a fan
If you ever find yourself in Ontario and want to see where it all started, here is what you actually need to check out:
- The Stratford Perth Museum: They have a permanent exhibit called "Steps to Stardom." It has his old hockey jerseys, his first drum set, and even a letter from Michelle Obama.
- The Avon Theatre Steps: It’s a rite of passage for fans to take a photo there.
- The Local Rinks: He still occasionally drops in for a skate when he's in town.
So, when someone asks justin bieber is from where, you can tell them it’s London for the birth certificate, but Stratford for the soul. He’s a small-town Canadian kid who happened to find the biggest stage in the world.
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If you're planning a trip to see these spots, your best bet is to fly into Toronto and rent a car. It's a beautiful drive through the Ontario countryside, especially in the fall. Just make sure to book your museum tickets in advance, as that exhibit gets busy during the festival season.