Emily Langevin, Local 1518

Save-On Foods
Richmond, British Columbia

Long-time UFCW Canada Local 1518 member Emily Langevin is not only co-chair of the Health and Safety Committee at Save-On-Foods store #971 in Richmond, British Columbia, but also owns an eco-friendly jewelry line that has been featured in numerous magazines.

I love making sustainable jewelry and accessories out of people’s junk and turning it into something beautiful,” said Emily.

“I make button bracelets, use vintage fur coat buttons for pendants and much more. I use everything including the clasp.”

She has been featured in magazines such as Home and Country, Viva, the Georgia Straight, and Granville magazine, as well as the Richmond News.

Emily has worked at Save-On-Foods for 25 years. She started out at Overwaitea #53 in Nelson, BC, but has worked the service desk at her current store for 11 of those years.

“In a world of stress and rushing, the best part of the job are people who share their life with you,” she said. “Some of the little kids that come in call it the Emily store… I love that.”

Emily’s business is called Auntie Em’s ReCreations and can be found online at www.auntieemsrecreations.com .

“I wanted to embrace things that were old into becoming new,” Emily said.

Apart from being called "Auntie Em" by her many nieces and nephews, she found this name to be old fashioned and reminiscent of a time when the world moved at a slower pace and people cared about how they looked, acted, and represented themselves.

Emily has always been into fixing and making things, but had never thought of doing it commercially. She started creating items for gifts, and people liked them so much she began selling her goods. Although her products have been in stores across Canada, she prefers selling her jewelry locally at farm markets and fairs.

“I’m from a family of eight children, so recycling has always been a large part of our lives,” she said. “I wore hand-me-down clothes, my mother would cook everything from scratch, and my father would re-finish old furniture.”

Emily, a former Shop Steward, is grateful for the donations people give her such as old jewelry, mismatched earrings and broken bracelets.

Today, people all over the world wear Emily’s jewelry.

“The most amazing feeling is to have something come out of my mind and go through my hands to be worn by somebody.”