Chris Robak calls himself a second-generation rock hound.
The 36-year-old rock and gem collector and retailer is the son of Rimbey, Alta.’s Ron and Donna Robak, the owners of one of the largest ammonite manufacturing companies in Canada.
Chris started his own company – Silver Cove Limited – about 15 years ago with his wife, Melissa, and an $800 investment. Since then, the couple has been hosting more than 20 rock and gem shows across the country and will be opening their fourth retail outlet in Calgary, Alta. this June. Their largest show takes place in Red Deer, Alta. and covers an area of 15,000 square feet.
“There are amazing gems found in Canada that are not being commercially marketed. One of my goals is to try to get Canadian gem stones marketed on the world stage,” said Robak, who is based out of Red Deer.
Silver Cove is presenting the second annual Brandon Rock and Gem Show at the Keystone Centre on April 19 and 20. The event will include vendors and collectors showing a wide variety of rocks, gems, minerals and fossils alongside various products made with the materials.
The company’s inaugural event in 2017 hosted about 1400 shoppers and geology enthusiasts. The list of available products includes gemstones, home décor items, jewelry, loose facets, mineral specimens, fossils, crystals, beads, cabochons and more.
“(Last year) we had a lot of school groups and moms with their kids, which is nice,” Robak said. “There were other events running in the building at the same time, so if junior was playing hockey, Mom and Dad came in for something to do. A lot of people were surprised to see how much interest there was in it alongside what was involved with it. It’s quite a big market.”
Most of the vendors attending the show are from outside of Manitoba. The Westman region will be represented by the Souris Rock Shop, a retailer and rock picking permit provider for gravel pits located near the Souris River. The area is known for its deposits of agate.
“Both Saskatchewan and Manitoba have a very interesting variety of rocks,” said Robak.
The couple has travelled the world in search of precious and semi-precious stones and gems. Last year, they flew into the Arctic in search of a rare deposit of gem-grade crystals.
“That trip took two years of planning, but we pulled it off,” Robak said, noting that he has ventured to countries located on most of the world’s continents. Their list of destinations includes Australia, Greenland, Brazil, Madagascar and elsewhere.
“We love the adventure. I know that’s where I get the thrill,” said the self-taught geologist. “I love the shows, too. Going across the country, it’s amazing how many people come to the events with a rock and say, ‘I found this in my backyard and I’m wondering what it is.’”
Rock, gem and mineral collecting – alongside the retail industry, which incorporates the material into jewelry, healing stones and decorative paraphernalia – has grown immensely over the past several years, said Robak. Their Silver Cove show has made giant strides since starting in the basement of the couple’s home.
“At that time, most of the people were interested in jewelry, but now we’ve found that they are interested in the gems and minerals,” Robak said. “Enough people pestered me by trying to buy my rock collection that I started buying old rock and gem collections from other collectors. It just exploded from there. It surprises me how big the industry is now.”
Admission to the Brandon Rock, Gem and Mineral Show is free of charge.
