In Focus - Rhiannon Harder

It's always great to recognize the hard working students within our community and Rhiannon Harder is one of them. The younger population isn't recognized as much as it should be and Rhiannon makes for a great representation of her generation. Currently in the process of finishing her Business Degree, Rhiannon also finds time to work at Minstrel Cafe. Hardwork, determination, and a positive attitude are all that make this business student someone to look out for!



We asked Rhiannon the following questions:

What is your name?

Rhiannon Harder

Where do you work?

The Minstrel Cafe and Bar

Where can people find you or your business online?

http://www.minstrelcafe.com/

What do you always find yourself saying?

I try to say nice things.

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?

Bill Murray. Who else?

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?

Well, I hope to do big things when I get out of business school and establish myself as a successful social entrepreneur. So some award that honours philanthropy would be pretty cool. I can’t start congratulating myself yet though I’m still forging my path. Lots of work to be done!

If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose?

I would like to drink some wine and have a round table discussion of the meaning of life with Aristotle, Plato, Rene Descartes, and Thomas Aquinas.

Who inspires you?

I have always admired my uncle, James Harder. My dad used to use my respect for my uncle as leverage against me when I was being a bad kid by saying, “What would your uncle think?” Still works to keep me in line to this day.

What are 3 things on your bucket list?

Mastering one or more new languages and putting them to use while working in other parts of the world.

I used to be really into drama as a child, I took classes in and out of school wanting to be an actress. Somewhere along the line I lost touch with that dream but this question has inspired me to somehow get back into it. Maybe perform in a play one day.

I was fortunate enough to meet with a life coach on a regular basis about a year ago. The experience really helped me with some things and I want to eventually be able to offer that help to others as a life coach one day as a career (Once I have acquired more life experience, that is).

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?

Enormous Yacht.

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?

I think I would like to keep the future a mystery. I would rather relive some nice moments from my past if given the choice. See myself as a kid maybe.

What are you passionate about?

Helping people. I have a lot of friends who come to me for advice for various things and I really enjoy talking through things with them and helping them find their way. I benefit a lot from the experience because it holds me accountable for the way I conduct myself and solve my own problems.

I am also very passionate about travel. I really love making friends from all over the world and getting a chance to experience their culture as they do. I have been very fortunate to be able to share my own culture with them when they visit my home as well. It is honestly such a fulfilling part of my life and I will always go to great lengths to ensure that I never lose that passion.

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?

That is a really hard question. I wish I could answer that but truthfully I have been very fortunate with many, many favourite days.

What has been your proudest accomplishment?

I think it was when I decided to start embracing positivity. Once I decided to take control of my own happiness things really started turning around. I mean, I am really proud of working hard to put myself through school. I think that’s great and I am really looking forward to finishing in April. But, I feel I have recently become someone my five younger siblings can look up to, and that is what I am most proud of myself for.

If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?

I would love to talk to a bunch of social entrepreneurs who have found a way to run a successful enterprise all while incorporating a good cause into their operation. I would ask them how they got started on their social mission and ask for any advice they would be willing to give to a young person aiming to do the same.

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna?

Tough one. I am going to sieze this opportunity to publicly address and show my appreciation for the good ladies and gentleman of Kelowna serving perogees (And other fine entrées) outside of public establishments on late (and sometimes very cold) weekend nights. Good on you guys, thanks for the service!

However, I cannot go without mentioning the Minstrel Cafe where I work. It has incredible food, a magnificent ambiance, great live music and wonderful staff. So many people I meet have never been there! It is really a treasure of this town I urge everyone to experience.

What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?

I love being on the water. I was raised on boats. My late grandfather Barry Robertson of Vernon, BC owned CanVenture and Katana power boats and my father, Jeff Harder, went on to start Svfara performance tow boats before getting into the wine business. Any water sport related to boating is in my blood needless to say. In the winter I love snowboarding, but I most look forward to having some beers in the hot tub of my family condo at Big White with loved ones.

If I could change 1 thing about Kelowna, it would be:

I don’t agree with the amount of urban sprawl in this city. I am very pro-development in Kelowna and I would really like to see some changes in attitudes of ‘anti-development’ members of city council. I want to urge them to consider amending some of the building height restrictions and to revamp downtown Kelowna. High-rises aren’t eyesores, the derelict buildings that make up a large part of downtown are. It is more efficient to be building upwards and not outwards so people aren’t forced to commute from far out of town where housing prices are more affordable. The way this town is layed out it is nearly impossible to get around without a car and it can be rather frustrating to rely so much on vehicles.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?

I have often been faced with people bad mouthing my hometown for one trivial reason or another entire life. People are all entitled to their opinions, but I am truly baffled by some peoples failure to recognize not only the beauty of this city aesthetically, but more importantly of its people. I have lived here for every one of my 23 years and I cannot leave my house without encountering several beautiful individuals who have made this town what it is. It was a truly wonderful place for me to grow up in and I will always be so proud to be born here. No matter where I go in the world and for how long, this place will always be my home.

My choice for the Kelowna person of the day is:

I would be a bad daughter if I didn’t cease this opportunity to recommend my father, Jeff Harder co-owner of Ex Nihilo winery for person of the day. I’ve never met a harder working individual. I also recommend that he takes a much needed cell phone-free (and kid free) holiday with his wife Decoa, they deserve it. Love you guys.

I also wanted to recommend my former professor Dr. Kyleen Myrah as person of the day. She is the woman who introduced me to the concept of social entrepreneurship and she is doing wonderful things for this community. The world most certainly needs more women like her.

http://www.okanagan.bc.ca/departments/business2/Faculty___Staff/Business_Administration/Dr__Kyleen_Myrah.html

Some general comments I would like to share are:

I once stumbled upon an article that discussed the top five regrets of the dying. It really struck a chord with me and I try to remember them as often as I can and live my life with as little regrets as possible.

Here they are, they are definitely worth considering and reflecting upon:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.
3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

For further reading
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/01/top-five-regrets-of-the-dying



In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at WelcometoKelowna.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do. We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination using the links to the forms located on the left navigation, near the top of the page. Thank you, Kelowna!