On February 22, Pushor Mitchell Partner, Paul Tonita, was honoured by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce as one of their Top 40 Under 40 for 2024.
“It’s definitely a big honour,” said Tonita in a radio interview with the Kelowna Chamber. “I was very excited.”
Spending his youth in Saskatchewan and Alberta, Tonita completed his law degree at the University of Alberta. After law school, he relocated to Vancouver where he had the opportunity to clerk for six judges on the British Columbia Supreme Court. He views the opportunity as pivotal to his career.
“[It was an] amazing experience that really kicked off my law practice [and] taught me about many issues that arise within the practice of law, how the courts look at issues, and how they make decisions.”
In 2015, Tonita and his wife moved to Kelowna to start a family. Drawn by the outdoors and the entrepreneurial spirit of the city, Tonita joined the Pushor Mitchell team, specializing in the areas of Business Law, Real Estate Development and Wills, Estates, and Trusts.
“I just love the entrepreneurial spirit, and there is a lot of that in Kelowna […] It’s my clients that make it the most fun. I think everybody has an interesting story. I find in the world of business law the way people get to where they are is always fascinating.”
At Pushor Mitchell, Tonita also assists with the hiring and mentorship of the firm’s articling and summer students. He says that he finds the role rewarding and enjoys the opportunity to meet with law students who are excited about all that they are learning, their upcoming careers, and the thought of returning to or moving to Kelowna for the first time.
The Top 40 Under 40 honouring not only represents Paul’s success and leadership within his profession, having become a partner at Pushor Mitchell in 2021, but also his leadership and involvement in the community.
Tonita sits on the Board of Directors for the Urban Development Institute (UDI) u40 group, helping young professionals as they get established in Kelowna. He is also on the board for Chamber Music Kelowna Society. “I don’t profess to be knowledgeable at all about chamber music, but I love going to the concerts and helping guide the direction of the society,” says Tonita.
“I try to get out to as many events as possible including those presented by the Centre Culturel Francophone de l’Okanagan, JCI Kelowna, and OYP Collective […] It is so rewarding to establish the cross-connections that arise when we are present in the community.”
To learn more about Paul Tonita, or for more information about how to contact him regarding legal inquiries, go to www.pushormitchell.com/lawyer/paul-tonita/.
Head to www.kelownachamber.org/events-programs/top40/2024-top-40-under-40/ to learn more about the other 2024 Top 40 Under 40 Honourees.