Thousands of years of geological history were on display over the weekend at the Red River Exhibition Place. “This show actually started out of our basement about 22 years ago and it grew to what it is today,” said Chris Robak, co-founder of Silver Cove, a Canadian gem, mineral and jewelry company. Robak organized the Winnipeg Rock N’ Gem Show and brought an extensive collection for Manitobans to purchase and check out. He said about 350 tables from his company were on display with 35 additional vendors from across Canada. Exhibits included jaspers, agates, emeralds, rubies, fossils, jewelry and mineral specimens from rare deposits here in Canada and worldwide. Robak tells CTV News more than 120,000 pounds of these items were on display. In more than two decades of running the event, Robak said the show attracted many crafters and gemstone investors. Moreover, there’s an opportunity for future generations to expand their interest in minerals, rather than just keeping it just a hobby. “One of the things I’ve learned is gem and minerals, is an amazing hobby but it’s also becoming a generational thing,” Robak said on Sunday. “One of the things I’ve noticed is if a little boy walks in the doors today with a hobby or fascination, it can usually be sparked into a career. A geologist or a paleontologist or it creates a generational event where you get families coming back the next year, the following year, the next generation, it’s pretty cool.” He said it’s always amusing to see the enthusiasm from guests each year, some who may leave with a surprising purchase. “We had two 500-pound petrified wood stumps walk out the door,” Robak said with a smile. “They were loaded into a (Honda) Civic.” Robak said the show now heads to Toronto, Ottawa and St. Catherines, Ontario before it returns home to Alberta before Christmas.
