In time, the women of Chéticamp formed a co-operative to produce and sell their rugs. Tourists began to come to Chéticamp in large numbers and bought the rugs. Today, more than 200 people are employed in the rug hooking industry.

One woman, Elizabeth Lefort, became an internationally famous artist with her rug hooking. Even as a young woman, Elizabeth could hook 55 loops in just one minute. That’s 3,300 loops in one hour, or 26,400 in one eight-hour day!

A Toronto businessman discovered her talent and took charge of her career. She began hooking portraits. She drew the pictures on canvas and dyed the wool to get the colours she wanted. She became a great success

In 1959, she created a portrait of Queen Elizabeth which now hangs in Buckingham Palace. She has done portraits of two popes, two U.S. presidents, a Canadian prime minister and the first seven American astronauts. She completed a special rug for Canada’s 100th birthday, showing important events in Canadian history. One of her rugs shows presidents of the United States and important events in American history. This rug is worth more than $100,000. Her own favourite is “’The Last Supper” which is eight feet long and four and one-half feet wide.

The people of Chéticamp were so proud of Elizabeth that they named an art gallery after her. You can visit the Elizabeth Lefort Gallery to learn more about how she made her artwork.