Between 2016 and 2021, the population of Antigonish grew by 6.7 per cent, outpacing the provincial average of 5 per cent. A number of factors have contributed to this growth: increased immigration, the pandemic-driven shift to remote work, retirees cashing out of hot urban real estate markets and relocating for a simpler life, a wave of new doctors moving in, and young families fed up with the treadmill of life in busy cities seeking a simpler lifestyle have made Antigonish home.
Small towns and rural areas across Canada have seen a dramatic resurgence - at a pace not seen in decades - and this trend shows no sign of slowing.
StFX grads, Brian Druhan '07, who completed an honours degree in English, and Louise Brennan '07, who graduated with a joint advanced major in chemistry and development studies, are the owners of Candid Brewery in Antigonish. They are part of this movement.
Their story is something of a “boomerang.” A return to home.
Though they are both originally from Antigonish, they didn’t meet until they were graduating from StFX.
“Louise and I met right at the end of our time at X,” Brian recalled. “After graduating, we moved to Edmonton in 2008—Louise got a job with the government, and I went back to school for education. Teaching actually led me to drinking,” he laughed. “My brother was really into craft beer, so I started trying different brews. I didn’t love teaching, and I ended up getting a job at a local craft brewery.”
After three years in Edmonton, the couple went travelling, and it was in Europe, particularly Germany, England, and the Czech Republic, that Brian’s interest in beer deepened.
“I was exposed to big beer cultures, and the idea of doing something more with beer just kept percolating while we were there.”
Louise eventually landed a job in Victoria, BC, a city with a well-established craft beer scene. They moved there in 2012, and Brian took a position at Phillips Brewing, one of the largest craft breweries in the province.
“I was a cellarman there, an old-timey term for the person who handles the packaging side of brewing,” he explains. “From there, we moved to Halifax, where I became head brewer at Propeller Brewery.”
But one more move was still ahead.
Louise was accepted into an MBA program in Spain. While living in Madrid, Brian taught English during the day and studied brewing online in the evenings through the UK’s Institute of Brewing and Distilling.
“After Madrid, we returned to Antigonish because we knew we wanted to start a family, and it felt like the right place to do that,” Brian said. “Once we got back, we saw the opportunity to open a brewery. So, we got things brewing - literally - with both the business and our growing family.”
Their first child, Benny, was born in 2019, Rosa arrived in 2021 (just two months before the brewery opened) and Thomas was born in 2023.
“You could say we’ve had a lot on the go,” Brian says with a raised eyebrow. “Louise was also teaching at X in the Business Department from 2019-2023.”
Candid Brewery was built around the idea of creating a family-friendly, community-focused space, something akin to a modern community hall. They allow self-catering (you can bring your own food), and their core beers are steeped in local nostalgia.
“Town Crier pays tribute to The Casket newspaper. The brewery is in its old office,” Brian says. “Party Line is a nod to something a lot of us grew up with, and Humdinger is a big, burly beer like a muscle car. My dad was a car guy.”
The vibe is casual, lively, and music filled.
Like most small business owners, Brian and Louise have faced their share of ups and downs.
“We’ve been open since 2021, and even in that short time, everything has changed so much,” Brian says. “We literally opened in the middle of COVID. That made things tricky, but once restrictions lifted, people were eager to get out—music, trivia nights, catching up with friends. We have student night on Thursdays. It’s like a big house party where students connect face to face in a safe and inclusive environment.”
Now, the economy and other factors are making it harder to predict what will bring people out.
“Honestly, the biggest challenge is figuring out what people will actually show up for. You think you’ve cracked the code, and then it changes.”
So how do they manage it all? Three young kids, a growing business, Louise working on a PhD and holding down a job outside of the brewery, and the day-to-day chaos of life?
“Barely!” Brian laughs. “But seriously, we focus on balance. The kids are only little for a short time. I usually head to the brewery after Benny gets on the bus and Rosa goes to daycare. Our manager recently had a baby, so I’ve been working more evenings and weekends.”
He compares himself to his old dog, Bailey. “She used to run back and forth between my parents' house and the neighbor’s so often there was a line worn in the grass. That’s me - home, daycare, brewery, repeat. I rarely stray off the path.”
In a world where many suffer from time poverty, living in a small town can offer real relief. Short commutes, few lineups, and a strong sense of community make life feel more manageable.
When asked what advice he’d offer someone thinking about moving to a smaller town to start a family or a business, Brian offered a few nuggets.
“I don’t know if I have any big wisdom—we’ve only been open four years and parents for five. But it’s true what they say: it takes a village. It’s a juggle. We’ve had incredible support from our moms. Louise works Tuesdays and Thursdays, so my mom helps on Tuesdays, and her mom takes Thursdays. Someone grabs Benny off the bus and I pick up Rosa from daycare.
“Living in a town this size really makes it all possible. There’s no commute, it’s safe, and our kids know people in the community. You can do what you need to do quickly, assuming you don’t run into 10 people you know while picking up milk.”
