How Rachel Mielke built Hillberg & Berk

On February 1, 2026, the Canadian Olympic team entered the iconic San Siro Stadium in Milan for the Armonia segment of the opening ceremony of the 25th Olympic Winter Games. The official jeweller to the team was Regina-based Hillberg & Berk, a company founded in 2007 by Rachel Mielke.

For a company that started on Rachel’s kitchen table, it was another step in a remarkable business story. “I always knew I wanted to start and own a business; in fact, that’s what I studied when I went to university,” says Mielke. Jewelry was a hobby, not a business that Rachel thought would become a national presence.

Central to Rachel’s success has been her commitment to quality – quality materials and quality designs that customers say make them feel special. Her commitment to quality quickly made her the talk of the town in Regina. When she opened her first store, customers were lining up to get in and experience the unique pieces she was offering in a unique setting.

Mielke says, “We want our customers to interact with the staff [and] the jewelry – so no glass cases for staff to stand behind, no glass cases to keep the jewelry out of the customers’ reach. Our customers love it and so do our staff.”