It was a rockin’ good time at the Lloyd Ex during the Rock N’ Gem show.
The Red Deer-based Silver Cove Ltd. event took over the Saskatchewan building from Nov. 21-23. It was an opportunity for collectors and residents to check out various rocks and gems.
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“We travel all across Canada. We go from Vancouver Island all the way to Ottawa,” said Kenzie Campbell, Silver Cove’s acting manager.
There’s plans for shows as far as the East Coast come springtime, with the event running throughout the year.
“We go pretty much year round; every single weekend on Sundays,” she said. “We pack up and we go to the next city, then Wednesday, Thursday, we set up and do the weekend show.”
Campbell says owners Chris and Melissa Robak started the shows with farmers markets.
“He started doing farmers markets in a little booth. They’ve built it up since then,” she said, noting the sale and shows aren’t the only part of the process for them.
“From owning the claims and mining rocks, to cutting, polishing and selling them,” said Campbell.
In her eyes, the event has something for everyone.
“We have things that little hands will love, we have things that seasoned collects will find and be surprised by,” she said.
The Rock N’ Gem show features crystals, fossils, jewelry and other interesting items.
“We’re the only company doing this. We’re the only people travelling with our rocks across Canada putting on these gem shows,” said Campbell.
Wherever the event goes, they look to hire locally to help with the event.
“We usually bring in temp work for extra hands. They come and help us,” she said.
Friday featured a unique evening for those attending past general public hours.
“It goes from 8:30 p.m. to about 10 p.m.,” said Campbell. “We turn off all the lights in the building and hand out little UV lights and then you get to go around and look at everything that has a reaction.”
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