P.E.I.-made, Island-shaped jewelry given as gifts by province

A P.E.I. jewelry business is getting a big boost: the provincial government has ordered the company's original Island-shaped necklaces and tie pins to hand out during trips abroad.

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Kuriosities co-owner and goldsmith Kimberly McIntyre was surprised when she got the order for 50 pieces of jewelry from the province.

"I was excited, a little overwhelmed," said McIntyre, who owns the business with her partner John Potter.

"When the Premier's office called it was right in the middle of our Christmas rush, and we were like, 'Oh no, how are we going to make all of these,' but we're doing well."

Each hand-sawn Island pendant is made of copper, rolled through a press to imprint it with P.E.I. sand, then polished. 

McIntyre moved to P.E.I. from Montreal 11 years ago after falling in love with the Island while vacationing.

"It just felt like home," she said.

The jewelry will be given out next week on Premier Wade MacLauchlan's mission to India. With Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, MacLauchlan will lead a delegation of business and education representatives to drum up business in Indian cities including Mumbai and New Delhi from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6. 

McIntyre also made a necklace for the province to hand out at the Paris climate summit in December.

The province ordered the jewelry at wholesale price, but even so, McIntyre said it's a financial boon and is keeping them busy throughout the winter months, which are typically slower for the craft and gift retail market. 

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