Sherah Seib‘s journey to owning Misiyo Slow Living began halfway across the world.
From the spirited streets of South America to the sweeping sceneries of Southeast Asia, Seib’s left footprints across the globe. But 15 years ago, a single country stood out and truly “captured her heart.”
“Rwanda specifically just struck me with a sense of hope, passion and wanting to create a better future for themselves and their children,” Seib says.
Seib connected with the Irere Foundation nonprofit in Rwanda, which provides health insurance, food insecurity aids and education financial aid across the country. She visited and volunteered several more times after her initial trip, inspired to support Rwandans’ futures.
“People were looking for some sort of helping hand to achieve their dreams, do what they feel like they were made to do and pursue a passion,” Seib recalls.
In 2019, Seib and her husband wanted to give back to the Irere Foundation with a social enterprise of their own. Seib was hesitant at first, and had no grand business ambitions prior to this, but the idea slowly grew and Misiyo Candle Co. (Misiyo Slow Living’s in-house candle brand) was born.
What seemed like a temporary venture turned into a full-time business when candle sales rose during COVID. Now, five and a half years later, Misiyo has expanded from a small kitchen-based operation to a full retail space on 50th Street — where the store’s four-person team continues to make candles from Canadian beeswax.
Each candle, reed diffuser and essential oil blend from Misiyo’s in-house brand provides one month of health insurance to someone in Rwanda through the Irere Foundation. The store also carries products outside of its in-house brand — from puzzles to paint-by-numbers, body spray to bath bombs — all of which nudge customers to enjoy life’s simple pleasures.
“To me, slow living is enjoying something that helps you be in the moment, something that helps you just relax and find a little bit of joy in your day.”
Seib is passionate about spaces where people can take a moment and pause. It’s a philosophy woven into the fabric of Misiyo’s offerings, from the quality beeswax used in her candles to the fair-trade textiles she carefully curates for the store.
The store carries over 95 per cent Canadian products. These include locally made jewelry from Sina Jewelry and bath and body products from Oak and Aspen Soapery .
Misiyo Slow Living
Davies Industrial East | 7312 50 Street NW, Edmonton | 780.244.0414 | misiyo.com
