Front Lines

New Windsor Charity Aims To Make Dreams Come True For Adults With A Terminal Illness

Oneday Dreams, a new charity offering to grant end-of-life dreams to Windsor residents, has launched a fundraising campaign and hopes to start fulfilling dreams by late spring.

Established by long-time friends Michael Bennett and Jason Soulliere, the nationallyregistered charity is dedicated to granting special moments for eligible adults across Canada.

“There are a number of similar charities for children, but people age-out of them at 18 and Jason and I decided we wanted to try and do something for adults,” explains Bennett, a social worker with The Hospice

of Windsor and Essex County Inc.

Bennett and Soulliere had arranged a few dreams on a casual basis for people Bennett had come into contact with through his job. Soulliere, meanwhile, was able to help make the dreams come true through his job as a booking agent for the Feldman Agency, a Toronto-based talent agency.

“We decided to try and make more dreams come true by launching a charity to help it happen,” states Soulliere.

Bennett and Soulliere have already helped people make connections with Marianas Trench, a well-known Canadian band; superstar Shania Twain; the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Blue Jays.

The dreams can include watching a favourite sports team, meeting up with family for a big celebration or riding in a hot-air balloon.

According to Oneday, dreams are as unique as each individual and the charity strives to ensure each request is fulfilled and tailored to every dreamer and their families.

Dreams can cost upwards of $3,000, so fundraising is a key component of the organization’s mandate. Every dollar or resource donated will enhance the quality of life for thousands of Canadians living with a terminal illness.

“We are in the process of generating some exposure so that we can attract enough donations to make this work,” indicates Bennett.

Bennett and Soulliere are hoping that friends, family, colleagues and other likeminded individuals across the region will help with a donation to make dreams come true. And since the charity is nationallyregistered, they’re hoping to spread their dreams across the country, eventually.

Oneday Dreams Founders Michael Bennett (left) and Jason Soulliere, pose in a model home by Lapico Custom Homes on location for a video segment they were filming to promote their new charity. Photo courtesy of Aphelion Media.

According to Soulliere, it took about three years to put a board together and fulfill all the required paperwork to achieve registered status. Now the board is preparing to start accepting applications late spring for dreams and charitable tax receipts will be made available to each donor from Oneday’s finance committee.

For more information or if you would like to make a donation, visit: OnedayDreams.ca.

Local Marketing Agency Gets The Creative Juices Flowing

Windsor Creative, a local full-service marketing and content creation company, which specializes in photography, videography, graphic design, social media marketing, and post-production, officially announced their launch on March 1, 2021.

After being delayed from opening in 2020 due to COVID-19, Windsor Creative is now open for business and ready to help local companies get their marketing strategies in motion.

The new agency came about in 2019 as a merger of Pastorius Media, and AO Marketing. At that time, they were a small, core team of four, but, over the last year, they have been able to grow the team to nine full time staff.

“It’s incredibly exciting to finally be able to launch,” expresses Devon Pastorius, Creative Director and President of Windsor Creative. “It’s been hard trying to be patient over the last year. However, we were incredibly fortunate to have a base of work that allowed us to hire more team members, and really round out what we’re able to accomplish for our clients.”

Windsor Creative provides complete in-house marketing services for businesses, both local and international, with small or large budgets. From marketing concepts and strategy, to full photography and video production, graphic design, social media management, and video post-production services, it’s all under one roof in an office and studio space at 3353 Walker Road (online at: WindsorCreative.ca).

“Being able to boast a team of nine creative professionals, especially in Windsor, is incredible,” says Amanda Orr, Marketing Director and Co-Owner. “And with our space on Walker, we’ve moved into a kind of creative corridor, with a bunch of other really cool, creative businesses like Generator Design, Milestones Photo Studio, and our parking lot neighbours Media Duo. It’s nice to see the number of creative jobs and opportunities in the city increase.”

With the rise of social media and online platforms, the importance of strong content for marketing any business or brand has never been greater. Windsor Creative endeavours to be a partner in the success of as many local businesses as possible.

Pastorius adds “Our goal is to help businesses in Windsor and Essex County get their name out there, and grow their business beyond what they thought was possible.”

Devon Pastorius, Creative Director and President of Windsor Creative and Amanda Orr, Marketing Director and Co-Owner. Photos courtesy of Elena Pastorius.

Mental Health Connections Helping People To Cope Through Wellness Calls And Online Classes

These unprecedented times have made us all aware of the need to manage our emotional and physical health, as well as the importance of being connected while staying home and distancing ourselves when we venture out.

Mental Health Connections (MHC) is helping new and current clients to cope.

While Windsor-Essex is in the “vaccination” stage of the pandemic, it remains as a time of uncertainty, which can bring on anxiety. Safety measures still must be followed and, for many, life feels far from returning to customary routines and activities.

“We are most pleased to be able to offer a wide variety of online classes, some of which provide regular physical exercise,” says Jean Laforge, Executive Director. “Since gyms have been closed, and many who live alone have been unable to walk with friends, we felt it was important to schedule classes that offered physical activity.”

“Our wellness calls help clients select the classes that they feel most comfortable with. MHC staff help to build program awareness, which guides clients as they identify classes best suited to their needs,” explains Laforge.

Prior to COVID-19, MHC had offered a support group each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon at the Windsor Essex Community Health Centre in Leamington. This program also went online. Clients from Essex County, ranging from 20 to 80 years, now gather on their computers to share their love of cooking, play games, exercise and more.

“Even though people are at home, they do not have to feel isolated — they can still socialize, even if not in person,” adds Vickie Mizzi, PSW, Essex County Support Worker. “Our cooking classes, for example, were inspired by participants’ desires to cook together. They make meals in their own kitchens, online, while also enjoying social time together.”

MHC’s online programming has served to enrich lives and gather people together in new ways, with increasing numbers of people participating. The added benefit of online programming is that clients can

Vickie Mizzi, PSW, Essex County Support Worker

join any class from any location, even from outside the region.

Clients also report that they save on transportation costs. This would not have seemed possible just a year ago when the community-at-large was told to stay home and to social distance, but the organization has mastered best practices and exceeded expectations.

“The online programs that MHC offers to clients, provide a safe, creative way of connecting and enjoying life — physically, mentally, socially and spiritually,” expresses JoAnne Ediger, veteran Zumba teacher who reports that clients have become more confident and focused as a result of online programming. “I feel that I am making a difference.”

JoAnne Ediger, veteran Zumba teacher

“Zumba and ballroom dance classes offer creative enjoyment, along with physical activity, as well as an understanding of sound and rhythm. Seated Zumba for persons with mobility issues has also been a great success and form of enjoyment. It gives me a feeling of joy when clients tell me that the painting classes are easy to follow and fun,” states Ediger.

Charlene Brocklebank, Program Manager, occupies much of her time making over 100 wellness calls each week to MHC clients, totalling more than 4,500 contacts since the pandemic began.

She reports that when stay-at-home restrictions first began there was great anxiety and fear, and that people started to feel isolated again in the fall as the pandemic seemed to “drag on”.

MHC clients, like so many, were very hesitant about online programming at first but, as time passed and with some coaching, they became more and more comfortable.

One year later, wellness calls and online gatherings have become the new norm. Many clients have moved from “calling in” to “sharing visually” on Zoom, and report a great sense of gratification about their ability to interact with others in a meaningful way, over the past year.

“In the beginning, there was an impression that COVID-19 would be short-lived, but we soon found that this was not going to be the case,” says Brocklebank. “As an organization, we needed to pivot in order to offer some sense of normalcy to our clients. Our wellness calls and online classes give people a sense of routine. The wellness calls meet people where they are in the moment and help them move to the next step, and the online classes are the game changer.”

MHC, established in April 2004, is today utilizing online programming to maximize each person’s growth and potential, in a support community that cares and understands. Through careful planning over the years, strategic partnerships and support of other community agencies, MHC has positioned itself as a necessary and integral service in Windsor-Essex.

For more information, or to become a client, email: info@mentalhealthconnections.ca or call (519) 256-4854 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. A monthly calendar of online classes can be found on the MHC website: mentalhealthconnections.ca.