In the Nova Scotia community of Liverpool, storefronts are distressingly empty and “For Rent” signs ominously prolific. Earlier this year, however, Stacy Smart-Chandler stood in one of these empty buildings, and through its papered-up windows, saw hope and recovery for her hometown.

Liverpool and Queens County have gone through a severe economic slump, with cuts to the Bowater Pulp & Paper mill (the community’s largest employer) leaving many residents concerned about job stability. In November, part of White Point Lodge burned down, leaving employees without work until it’s rebuilt. Since 2011, about 10 businesses have closed due to retirement or a lack of demand.

These depressing changes were one of the things Smart-Chandler first noticed when she returned to the community after receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Another was the lack of quality art supplies.

“I realized I didn’t have access to the things I did (before returning home), and I didn’t want to pay shipping fees all the time to have art supplies brought in,” she says. With this realization, Conopeum Art – meaning ‘art canopy’ in Latin – was born. Under this umbrella term, her store’s products include canvases, paints, yarns, fabrics for sewing and quilting, sketchbooks and a children’s art section.

Smart-Chandler admits she was initially skeptical, considering the economy. But after researching local demographics, she realized there are a large number of artists and art enthusiasts in the area.

Even with those optimistic findings, she admits that she still worries about Conopeum Art’s ability to thrive. “When things close, it’s right there, and you feel that loss in the community when a product that somebody’s used to getting is gone, or a storefront closes you are used to going into.”

Still, she feels that people should stop treating Queens County as a dying area. “I don’t think the area should be treated as a charity case, as there are people who are willing to work and work hard,” she says. “There just needs to be the knowledge available about what people can do; those things can happen if the businesses here band together and support new businesses and new ventures. Something unique can happen.”

By Katie Ingram