In Focus | Justin Rawn

Meet Justin! He moved to Kelowna for the incredible outdoor lifestyle and works at Platinum Recruiting as their Manager of Business Development and Marketing

Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kelowna?
I grew up in Courtice, Ontario and have lived in Kelowna for just over a year.

Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
Christina, my wife. She’s my rock climbing, snowboarding, hiking, and wine-touring partner.

What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
Curious Café: fantastic tap list, great mac n’ cheese, and consistently good service. The tap list is done by the same individual running Cask & Barrel – Kelowna’s best beer store. I also love Mosaic Books.

Describe yourself in one word.
Adventurous.

If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
The Congo rainforest, to observe the incredible wildlife.

What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
Rock climbing in the summer and snowboarding in the winter.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
Running to catch the line-up at school in my tear-aways (it was the 90’s), catching my pants and essentially ripping my own pants off in front of my whole class.

What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
The most inspiring thing for me isn't a single event, but the continued day after day hard work that I see in many of my closest friends and family. A friend named Jared comes to mind; I’m inspired by his relentless dedication to his profession (Physiotherapy), coaching and competing in his sport (powerlifting), his children (twins with another on the way), his podcast, and his never-ending pursuit of self-betterment.

Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
Family road trips in our GMC Safari van. And when my dad took me out of school in 1999 to see Star Wars Episode 1.

Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
Some organizations we support as a team at Platinum Recruiting include the Kelowna Food Bank, BrainTrust Kelowna, and SOS kids safety magazine.

If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
An ability for each of us to genuinely understand one another. I’m optimistic that with a deep and full understanding of our fellow human we could at least get closer to accomplishing the classic answer to this question, world peace.

Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
The Boulderfields or Rose Valley.

Where would you like to see positive change in Kelowna and why?
Continued growth in our innovative sectors.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
The outdoor lifestyle is exceptional - there isn’t a month of the year where I’m not participating in an outdoor sport that I love. Within an hour drive we have world-class rock climbing, skiing, mountain biking, golfing, and wine-touring (not technically a sport).

What are 3 things on your bucket list?
1. Rock climbing in Yosemite.
2. Heliskiing.
3. Visit the Eagle and Child pub in Oxford, where a few literary greats met on a regular basis (J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and others).

Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
When I was in high school my friend and I tried making Parkour / free-running videos, which ended in me trying to backflip off a pillar and breaking my arm.

How do people connect with you, personally, through social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
Linked In: Justin Rawn
Instagram: @justinrawn
Facebook: Justin Rawn

What is the name of your business/organization?
Platinum Recruiting

Why did you get into this business?
I wanted to work in this role with Platinum because I enjoy working at the intersection of business development and marketing. This opportunity allowed me to do that alongside a very well respected local company with a strong existing team.

What is the goal of your business?
We're a Kelowna-based recruiting agency and we hire top talent for employers in the Okanagan and throughout B.C. In operation since 1999, we’ve matched thousands of exceptional candidates with our clients. We are a team that understands the enormous impact the right hire (or the wrong hire) will have on an organization. Our goal is to simplify the hiring process and find the perfect candidate for your organization's requirements and aspirations.

What has been your biggest struggle either at work or in life?
As someone who loves to look forward, and craves constant change, I tend to struggle with being present. Always pursuing the next exciting adventure, I can risk losing the value of slow and determined dedication to a personal project. Practicing being present and finding contentment is something I’ve had to be intentional with.

If you could start all over again, would you do things the same or would things be different?
I would have extended my gymnastics career beyond my 4-year-old self. But generally speaking, I would live my life the same.



What do you always find yourself saying?
Life’s too short.

Tell us your best piece of life advice.
One of my favourite quotes has always been “If we did the things we are capable of we would astound ourselves” from Thomas Edison. My advice based on that quote is to constantly be in pursuit of self-betterment, and to surround yourself with people that both challenge you and support you. I also want to acknowledge there is a delicate balance to be found between knowing you can do more/be more and knowing that who you are is already enough.

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
Taika Waititi (Director, writer, and actor from New Zealand).

Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
To support the local shops that provide a unique and excellent service to Kelowna.

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Though moving across the country might not technically be an accomplishment, following through with the idea and loving life in the Okanagan is something I feel proud of.

Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
Jess and Kyle Arends. They let me live at their place when I moved here a year ago and they’re in the running for the nicest, most genuine people in Kelowna.

My choice for the KelownaNow In Focus spotlight is:
Christina Rawn

We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE.

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition of the people, businesses, and organizations that help make our city great. Thank you, Kelowna!