Meet Ria. Ria has been living here in Kelowna her entire life! She enjoys hiking the many beautiful trails here in the Okanagan and sharing a picnic on a Pontoon with her best friend, Trent.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kelowna?
Born and Raised.
Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
Trent, my bestie and main squeeze.
What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
I'm stoked to check out Farm Bound Zero Waste.
Describe yourself in one word.
Caring
If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
Bali
What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
Pontoon Picnic-ing, hiking.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
I must have pushed it out of my memory because I'm struggling to come up with something.
What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
Meeting Trent right when he was developing the idea for Saxx and then moving to Vancouver with him to build it, sell it, and rocketship our life (and my business education!).
Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
Wet N Wild waterslides!
Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
We give back through our company Kitsch Wines that have a special Chardonnay benefiting Mamas for Mamas and has an annual event for the Women's Shelter. I'm also looking forward to when my kids are a bit older and we can volunteer together in the community.
If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
Making plastic decompose.
Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
Under a Willow tree or on top of Knox.
Where would you like to see positive change in Kelowna and why?
With the closure of venues like the Habitat and Kelowna Community Theatre and events like Center of Gravity not continuing, I think there is a gap in the market for events and experiences. We should be able to have fun, yet youthful and exciting events like other cities around the world.
What do you think makes Kelowna great?
So many things - the landscape, the people, the lifestyle, the list goes on.
What are 3 things on your bucket list?
1. Unplug in Bali - go for more than a week or two, really get hippy.
2. Go on a trip just me and my daughter
3. Wine tour the main regions of the world (partially complete)
Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
I have a close family member that deals with pretty severe mental illness. It's been one of the hardest things in my life but it's embedded compassion and patience into my core and continues to challenge me to practice those values.
How do people connect with you, personally, through social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
@riakitsch
What is the name of your business/organization?
Kitsch Wines
Why did you get into/start this business?
Trent and I saw the future of wine in the Okanagan and Canada as a bright one. We felt like we had an opportunity to bring our own youthful yet sophisticated approach to the winery experience in this region.
What is the goal of your business?
Our goal is to create a business that helps others - particularly as it relates to gender equality and the environment. We also strive to find the perfect balance between polished yet inclusive.
What has been your biggest struggle either at work or in life?
I think the biggest struggle has been to be kind to myself; to stop the guilt around whether I'm acing the many roles I have (a mother, wife, friend, daughter, etc ) and to believe in myself as a leader on my own terms.
If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
100% the same!
What do you always find yourself saying?
"What do you think?"
Tell us your best piece of life advice.
Be grateful. Life is like a mirror, it is reflecting what you are projecting. If you feel like everything's working against you, take a serious time out to vocalize or write the things you are grateful for and then come back with renewed perspective.
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
I'm really digging Alicia Keys right now. She went to a major awards show to receive the most Influential Artist award and was wearing zero makeup, hair was in a scarf, had her toddler on her lap and kids sitting beside her and I was in awe. Such a powerful, confident, seemingly kind, calm and crazy talented/creative human.
Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
The economics of supporting local means that where you spend your money literally helps families keep it together in your community and then they spend it here as well and the circle continues.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
My marriage. I feel like it takes work, and when I do the work, it just gets better.
Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
Shannon Christiensen - founder of Mamas for Mamas. She is dreaming big, and all in the name of people and communities who need it. She is super inspiring, inclusive and full of gratitude.
My choice for the KelownaNow In Focus spotlight is:
Carolyn Nixon.
Some general comments I would like to share are:
Thanks to Kelowna Now for committing to this project over the years and highlighting so many rad people.
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!
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