Life took an unexpected turn for Toronto-born-and-raised Candice Meyer when she married an Alberta boy and moved to the remote wilderness in Peace River Country.
In 1982, Meyer and her husband Ian (a musician who’d been in an Edmonton-based band with Meyer’s brother) decided to raise a family on the northern property where Ian had been raised.
Rural life was a big adjustment for Meyer, who’s now a Red Deer-based metalsmith and jewellery designer.
“At first I felt very alone and isolated. Our nearest neighbours were a few miles away,” she recalled.
But Meyer’s in-laws soon moved to another dwelling on the site and helped raise their grandson and granddaughter on the organic cattle ranch. And farm living soon grew on the Toronto native, who learned to love the quiet, beautiful scenery and the glimmering northern lights.
Meyer took an interest in metalwork after seeing a magazine picture of intricate chainmail, created with jewellery rings. She ordered some equipment starting with a set of pliers, and moved on to a soldering torch and press punch, and learned from trial and error. “It became an obsession with me. I would spend hours and hours doing this.”
Four years ago, Meyer moved to Red Deer with her husband, to be closer to their son. She continues to create a diverse array of sterling silver and stainless steel jewellery that’s sold at the Makers’ Emporium in Red Deer’s Frame-It store, as well as the Alberta Craft Council shop in Edmonton. Myer’s work has also been featured at the Reynolds Alberta Museum’s Metal Show in Wetaskiwin.