Shining Star: Shane Martins, Orion Canada

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’ve lived in Toronto my whole life. I’ve often thought about moving elsewhere, but I love the diversity and culture that the city brings, and truthfully, think I would miss it too much. And the Leafs, our hockey team. I’d definitely miss the Toronto sports scene.

I’ve been at Orion since October 2014. I started as an assistant on the activation team, and it’s been a fun ride growing into the manager role. I’ve been privileged to work with some great people who afforded me many opportunities, and I wouldn’t be here without them.

I’d be remiss not to mention that I briefly left for eight months in 2018 for another opportunity, but Orion came calling—and I couldn’t deny coming back. People and culture are extremely important to me, and we have the best in the business, so it was an easy decision. Way back before Orion though, I worked in accounting for a global executive search firm. I’ve always loved numbers, and all of this experience has been extremely beneficial even moving into more of a marketing-based role.

What’s something interesting about you that your colleagues might not know?
Something you might not know about me, if you aren’t in our office, is that I love to cook. I grew up in the kitchen shadowing my grandmother while she made family meals, and I’ve definitely evolved into the second-best chef in our family—don’t tell my mom I said that. I cook for my family when I go home; I’m the head chef for any gatherings with friends, and generally, I like to make time to cook for myself regularly as well. My lunches usually rival those at any of the nearby restaurants, and I’m always asked by fellow Orionites to share. I have cooked for the team several times, and I’m known for bringing in something special on my birthday. So if you know when that is, plan visits to the Toronto office accordingly. I like experimenting with food, especially in creating healthier versions of traditional meals you don’t have to feel guilty for enjoying regularly.

So, what are your hobbies?
As I’ve already mentioned, cooking is a major hobby of mine. And as a result, I feel the need to be active to be able to enjoy all the great food life has to offer. I hit the gym regularly, love to run and hike, and play sports, including hockey and baseball. I alluded to the fact that I’m a sports nut, so it consumes a lot of my time. I’ve coached youth hockey and been on various boards supporting youth involvement in sports. It’s been a big part of my life, and I want to ensure that as many people can be afforded the same opportunity as possible.

And your favorite musicians?
My music taste is pretty eclectic too. In addition to being the chef of the group, I also take on the role of DJ within friends and family. I’m always up to date with new music, but my taste is diverse enough that it please everyone—everything from pop to country and in between. I take a lot of flak in the office for having owned up to this, but I’m a real Swiftie. Some of my other top artists at the moment also include Post Malone, The Lumineers, Khalid and Luke Combs.