THE 3 WHO BEAT THE ODDS COMMUNITIES ARE LOOKING INWARD AND TURNING THEIR UNIQUE TREASURES AND ASSETS INTO OPPORTUNITY

1 A TASTE OF SUCCESS IN ELLISTON, N.L.

On the tip of the Bonavista Peninsula, N.L., the small town of Elliston (population 308) was once a community that others passed by.

Following the closure of the northern cod fishery in 1992, residents thought hard about survival. With a dwindling tax base, the town made headlines when it was unable to afford to keep street lights on — leaving it, literally and figuratively — in the darkness.

They knew they had to do something. They looked to their history and culture; specifically, the over 100 local root cellars that had been used over the centuries to store crops over the winter. With clever marketing, the town soon became known as The Root Cellar Capital of the World.

Playing on the theme of food, the community began hosting an annual food festival — Roots, Rants and Roars — celebrating cuisine, music and the great outdoors.

Chefs from across Canada have been headliners at this annual event each fall, which draws foodies from around the province and beyond.

2 CELEBRATING THE ARTS IN OXFORD, N.S., THROUGH NEW POETRY FESTIVAL

Oxford, Nova Scotia, is known for its blueberries.

The self-proclaimed Wild Blueberry Capital of Canada ships millions of pounds of blueberries annually to markets to domestic and international markets. Oxford Frozen Foods Inc. is the main employer (population 1,120). But the leaders and citizens of this small rural town believe it’s important to diversify, to make sure there are plenty of reasons for people to want to live here.

A few years ago, the idea of a poetry festival was floated. The first event last year drew a handful of people. The second festival, this past April, drew over 100 — some of them from beyond Oxford and the surrounding Cumberland County and local leaders and volunteers like Eleanor Crowley, say the festival is becoming a “sort of cultural phenomenon.”

3 YARMOUTH, N.S., HEEDED THE CALL FOR ALL HANDS ON DECK

No one knew what to expect when a town hall meeting was called in 2013, but it had been difficult years in Yarmouth, N.S. After ferry service ended years earlier, tourism dried up. Motels and a hotel closed, as did other businesses. The mood was glum.

But 500 people came to that meeting and from there things took off. People took on community improvement projects, painted eyesore buildings, adopted streets to keep them clean, helped businesses get online and organized events to attract visitors.

It’s now been years since ferry service returned. New tourism businesses exist, along with cafes, breweries, etc.

A façade program has seen businesses invest more than $650,000 in their properties beyond available grants. Hotels and motels have been renovated. A hotel is reopening. A new one will be constructed.