Biz X magazine April 2022

YOUR ONLY INTERNATIONAL BORDER CITY PUBLICATION

THE PARENTING BIZ

Doing It All For My Baby

APRIL 2022

A lot of essential items are needed ahead of time before a newborn can come home from the hospital.

We offer suggestions to new parents on which local businesses can help them get ready for the big homecoming!

$3.50

The OOnly nly Way Is Up! Spring is in the air and thoughts of home improvement ideas are top of mind. With local real estate prices sky-rocketing, many are opting to update and expand their own living spaces. One way to accomplish this is with an attic conversion like the Russell Woods home pictured here, completed by Ed Cope, President of Cope Construction Ltd. Homeowners are also building additional rooms and creating enticing outdoor areas in their backyards. — PAGE 18 BIZ X M AG A Z I N E • A P R I L 2 0 2 2

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FOR BUSINESSES & PEOPLE IN WINDSOR, ESSEX COUNTY & METRO DETROIT SINCE 1998

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TABLE OF CONTENTS APRIL 2022 Volume 25 • Issue 4

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4 Funny Stuff 5 From The Publisher: The 29th Annual St. Clair College Alumni Of Distinction Award Recipients 6 Rose City Politics: Tackling The Battle On Cars . . . Or Bikes?

8 Front Lines 11 Heard On The Street 12 Just Sayin’: Isn’t It Problematic Our Current Government Was Formed With Less Than A Third Of The Country’s Support?

13 Biz Bits: Maurice Morneau Tax 14 Newsflash 16 Food For Thought: Williams Food Equipment For all the home chefs out there, Williams Food Equipment’s retail location and online store have everything you need to cook like a professional! For example, if you want to make this bacon and caramelized onion pizza (photo courtesy of Williams Food Equipment) at home, any hour of the day or night, they carry a full line of Ooni pizza ovens and all the accessories you require. But don’t stop there!

They have entire aisles dedicated to cookware, bakeware, barware and countertop home appliances. The store also stocks a large selection of knives from all over the world. So get ready to cook up a storm!

27 Milestones: The Bloomin’ Gardener Celebrates 25 Years 28 Tech Bytes: Technology Inspiring Possibilities For People With A Disability The Awake Labs smartwatch and app is equipped with a clinically validated algorithm to capture a personalized baseline and report real-time changes in stress and strong emotions. So how does this

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new technology benefit Community Living Windsor and the people the organization supports? Find out! (Graphic courtesy of Awake Labs) 29 X X Files: Lauren Potvin, Owner Of Bunch, A Curated Collection Of Goods For Your Home And Body 30 Hot Shots: Manor Realty Agents Raise Funds For Community Organizations With Its Annual Keys Of Hope Program 32 The Parenting Biz: Bringing Baby Home If a visit from the stork is in your future, then this is the story for you! Feeling overwhelmed as an expectant parent? Are you ready to bring your baby home from the hospital? This issue we feature local businesses (and some baby proofing tips for the home too!) who can provide everything you need to keep your new bundle of joy, safe, happy and healthy.

37 Health Matters: Strategies For Mental Health And Well-Being 38 Fun & Games: The Grand Opening Of Sunny Britches Acres 39 It’s All Relative: The New Podcast, Every Day Family Matters 40 Have A Cup Of Joe With Joe: Sister Act The doors are closing on April 30, for the final time at From The Heart Card, Gift and Wig Boutique on Ottawa Street, owned by the Janisse sisters’ (Jackie, Geri and Paulette), after a 32 year presence in the Windsor community. So what’s next?

42 Making A Sound Living: Veteran Radio Broadcaster, John Beaudin 44 Portfolio Corner: Managing Emotions 45 The Way It Was: Canada’s Maritime Heritage — To Make Ready For Sea 46 Biz Of The Month: Can-Am Recycling Inc.

ON THE COVER — The Only Way Is Up! — 18 After an absence since 2019, the Windsor Home & Garden Show returns April 29 to May 1, giving local homeowners the chance to meet area business owners offering a variety of unique products and services. Spring is the ideal time to renovate or spruce up the house, inside and out. As well, the timing of the trade show is also the perfect opportunity for Biz X to publish our annual home themed edition, the issue you are reading right now! So if you need to increase living space, an attic conversion is a possible solution. Our cover story and related editorial have one goal — to make sure you love where you live!

COVER LOCATION AND PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTOR PHOTOGRAPHED Ed Cope, President of Cope Construction, Ltd., can now sit back and relax after a job well done! His construction company undertook a huge transformation in this attic conversion (see before photos on page 23). Cope was able to add approximately 800 square feet of additional living space in a Tecumseh Russell Woods home! Cope Construction, Ltd. is situated at 5831 Wyandotte Street East, Windsor. PHOTOGRAPHER: Rod Denis (RodneyLDenisPhotographer.com).

INSET PHOTO: THE PARENTING BIZ – 32 The January 2012 arrival of Dylan Colin Jones (shown in his very first photo taken at the Met Campus of Windsor Regional Hospital) was a momentous occasion for the publishing family of Biz X. Life certainly became a million times better! Of course that’s a feeling all new parents and relatives share and with this exciting news, that means there is plenty to prepare for at home for the newborn’s arrival. (See a quick summary of our story on Bringing Baby Home above).

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FUNNY STUFF BROUGHT TO YOU BY

A House Is Not A Home Without A Fur Baby

Send your funny animal photo with your pet’s name to: deborah@bizxmagazine.com and it may be included here in an upcoming issue. Make sure it gives our readers a laugh!

Live, love, bark, play. Jaxx is excited for spring.

Wolf doesn’t always sit on the kitchen counter, but when he does it’s right when you load the dishwasher.

“Striving to provide our readers with a quality magazine that contains accurate information about the businesses and people that shape our border cities; and that challenges us to appreciate, explore and contribute to our communities.”

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“WOW, so this is what TikTok is all about,” thinks Penny. Pug life will never be the same!

Della Jones-Goulet, Assistant to the Publisher Kathleen Jones, Office Administrator BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Jack Rosenberg

WRITERS / PHOTOJOURNALISTS

First Buddy steals your heart . . . then your favourite chair.

Lori Baldassi Steven Bezaire Julianna Bonnett David Clark Andrea Grimes Dave Hall Dave Halliday Steven Mayo Jennifer McMullan Joe McParland Jim Murphy Rose City Politics Panelists Rebecca Wright PHOTOGRAPHERS

Rodney L. Denis Photography Josie Elysia Kim Jussila PRODUCTION DESIGN

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St. Clair College Alumni Of Distinction Winners

By Deborah Jones In the March issue, my column mentioned many of the wonderful award programs in the region. In this issue, we reveal the 2022 winners of the Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor (WEST) Journey Towards Success Awards, (on page 8), and here, the recipients of St. Clair College’s Alumni of Distinction Awards.

The honourees for St. Clair College’s 29th Alumni of Distinction Awards, come from diverse backgrounds, but they have all reached great success in their chosen fields.

Congratulations to . . .

Michael Audet, Chief Executive Officer, E.L.K. Energy (Essex, Lakeshore, Kingsville, Energy), graduated in 1988 from the Business Common program. He is being honoured in the Business and I.T. category.

Karen Bolger, Executive Director, Community Living Essex County, graduated in 1985 from the Developmental Service Worker program. She is being honoured in the Community Studies category.

Tim Byrne, Chief Administrative Officer, Essex Region Conservation Authority, graduated in 1979 from the Civil Engineering Technology program. He is being honoured in the Technology/Engineering category.

Kristin Kennedy, President and Chief Executive Officer, Erie Shores HealthCare, graduated in 1997 from the Nursing program. She is being honoured in the Nursing/Health Sciences category.

Tomoko Oxenfarth, Designer/Owner of Maison Louise, graduated in 2020 from the Fashion Design Technician program. She is being honoured as a Recent Grad.

Chris Vadori, Social Media Manager — Canada, SkipTheDishes, graduated in 2010 from the Advertising program. He is being honoured in the Creative Arts (Media, Art & Design) category.

This year’s list of honourees will bring a total of 125 graduates recognized by the College since 1992.

St. Clair College President Patti France

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indicates that the award recipients will be asked to be guest speakers at convocation ceremonies in 2022-2023.

“There’s a dual purpose of the Alumni of Distinction program,” France states. “It does exist, most certainly, to pay tribute to the remarkable achievements of the recipients — both professionally, and in recognition of the many beneficial contributions they’ve made to their communities. It also serves as a source of inspiration to current and prospective students: to demonstrate to them, in the form of an individual who has excelled, that a St. Clair education is the basis of tremendous success and fulfillment.”

This year’s Alumni of Distinction Awards ceremony, returns to an in-person event on Friday, April 29 in the Alumni Skyline room at the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts, in downtown Windsor. Tickets are $60 and available on: StClairAlumni.com.

“The Alumni of Distinction awards are a true reflection of the College’s motto ‘Start Here, Go Anywhere,’ says John Feldman, St. Clair College Alumni Association President. “This year, the honourees have made remarkable strides in their journey from St. Clair College. We are looking forward to sharing their unique story with all of our students, alumni, and our community.”

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War On . . . Auto Or Transit?

In this space the Rose City Politics panel will analyze, breakdown, and critique a local political issue that affects each and every Windsor resident.

The snow is melting, and with that comes hidden potholes and an annual conversation — cars versus bikes. Let’s check in now with the Rose City Politics panel and see what their opinions are on the issue at hand.

Cars rule and bikes drool! Or is it bikes rule and cars drool? Oh the annual conversation, so tired, so outdated, so BORING! We all want to get where we’re going faster, and that can mean a lot of different things to different people. In a world of fast-paced lives with a desire to travel with speed and convenience, it is increasingly difficult to escape the clutches of our automotive past, present, and potentially future, and rightfully so; that industry has employed generations in our region.

But, as I write my section of this column, there is now war in Europe, continuous increases in fuel costs, and that volatility may push some to look towards a less volatile means of transportation: alternative transit or, dare I say, public transit!

Local radio broadcasts of the price at fuel pumps are now a weekly feature; this increased cost causes drivers to reevaluate their mileage and driving habits.

Blessed as we are in Windsor Essex,

Doug Sartori The automobile, along with the freedom and personal mobility it has brought to millions of people in North America and around the world, was one of the most significant social and economic developments of the 20th century.

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it’s not unusual to see multiple cars, and even a truck, in most driveways.

When fuel is cheap, everyone drives with ease, but change that scenario and watch people realize just how important driving is: it is only a means to an end.

Across the world we have seen cities ban automobiles or charge excessive fees to enter world capitals, and global shipping companies are dealing with this by investing in bicycle fleets. Alternatives do exist.

While cycling is a healthier mode of transportation, it can come with additional stress during inclement weather, and not to mention when the infrastructure is inadequate or doesn’t even exist.

Let people make their own decisions, but also give them the options.

While we have trumped up the “right” to drive as a passage of entering adulthood, perhaps in the future it won’t be viewed as such. It’s up to everyone to choose their own.

And that’s just fine.

Jon Liedtke is a Commentator for AM800 CKLW, Co-host and Producer of Rose City Politics, a business consultant, serves on Artcite’s Executive Board, and is a band member of Windsor’s The Nefidovs.

Windsor is an important part of that history and you don’t have to look far to see the ways that car culture pervades our community. We celebrate our association with automobiles and the auto industry.

This is all true, but it does not alter the reality that political resistance to improving active transportation options is counterproductive.

Urbanists and environmental activists who advocate for better active transportation options are often vilified as participating in a “war on the car.” That kind of populist rhetoric is easy to deploy here, but Windsorites should reject it so that Windsor can continue to be livable, affordable and attractive down the road.

The pendulum in Windsor has swung so far in the direction of car dependence that we are missing important opportunities to improve quality of life and make Windsor a more equitable place to live.

Making life better for people who prefer to use active transportation will make life cheaper and better for everyone.

Getting cars off the road by encouraging active transportation will reduce dependence on expensive road infrastructure, reduce our carbon footprint, and make driving more pleasant for those who choose to do so.

For evidence, we can look to our neighbours in Essex County.

While Windsor’s cycling infrastructure has languished — embarrassingly, Windsor still does not have a single kilometre of protected bike lanes in a city of a quarter million people — Essex County has shown, through the County Wide Active Transportation Service (CWATS) program that you can promote healthy alternatives to driving without negative impact on motorists.

“War on the car” rhetoric is counterproductive nonsense that only holds us back.

Doug Sartori is a political observer and organizer. When he’s not recording podcasts or getting people out to vote he runs Parallel 42 Systems, a technology consultancy firm in downtown Windsor.

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Jon Liedtke

The “Automotive Capital of Canada” seems to be unable to see itself as anything else.

Automobiles have obviously been an integral part of the development and growth of our city for decades. However, much like the disappearance of one of my favourite places growing up, Checker Flag Raceway, things do have to move forward or we get stuck in the past.

As someone who has lived in other cities and travelled to many other cities it does confuse me how we continue to think of other forms of transportation as “crazy radical ideas” or just an insult to the history of our community.

Simple things like protected bike lanes, sidewalks, and other forms of alternative transportation seem to be beyond the grasp of the people running and planning for our city.

The fact that areas like LaSalle or Colchester have bicycle specific infrastructure and Windsor, on a relative

basis, is lacking, should really be an embarrassment. Those areas don’t even have a transit system.

Much fanfare has been made by our politicians of all the funding going into roads and sewers after decades of neglect.

But, the fact that most, if not all, new road construction doesn’t by default include some sort of separated and protected bicycle lanes, is ridiculous.

If anyone believes that a painted white line on a road next to the curb that includes garbage and sewer grates is “biking infrastructure,” they should stop breathing in so many car exhaust fumes.

With an election coming, you will hear much talk about active transportation, as we did the past two or three elections.

If you believe that it will result in any significant change, I encourage you to hop on your unicorn and ride down to city hall using the dedicated “Unicorn Only” lanes and congratulate the Mayor, Council, and administration on their accomplishments.

Don Merrifield Jr. Don Merrifield Jr. is a REALTOR serving Windsor Essex County for over 21 years, a Co-Host on Rose City Politics for over 10 years, a father and grandfather, a former professional musician, and a former Ward 3 City Council candidate.

The Rose City Politics panel includes Doug Sartori, Pat Papadeas, Don Merrifield Jr., and Jon Liedtke and broadcasts Wednesday nights at: RoseCityPolitics.ca. It is available on all your favourite podcasting and social media apps and appears in print in Biz X magazine.

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FRONTLINES

WEST Recognizes Those Creating More Gender Equality, Diversity And Inclusion For All

Bridging North America (the private sector partner of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority), Bike Windsor Essex and Academy Truck Driving School were among the inspiring award winners honoured at Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor’s virtual International Women’s Day (IWD) Gala and Journey Towards Success Awards on March 8, 2022.

Together with many local individuals, they were recognized for creating spaces that are welcoming and inclusive for all people, demonstrating a commitment to promoting gender equality and partnering to increase the inclusion of women in the community with Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor, Inc. (WEST; WestOfWindsor.com).

Over 400 people, including executives and representatives from First Nations communities and organizations, corporations, small business, government, banking, industry, labour, and non-profit groups, tuned in to watch the IWD gala, which kicked off with a networking event on Zoom followed by the official program broadcast on YouTube.

The gala opened with a beautiful rendition of the national anthem sung by Stephanie Lyanga and was co-hosted by a trio of women from WEST — Nadine Manroe-Wakerell, Vice President; Gemma Grey-Hall, Board Member, and Rose Anguiano Hurst, Executive Director.

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The evening featured musical performances and Keynote Speaker, Dr. Beverley Jacobs, Senior Adviser to the President on Indigenous Affairs & Outreach at the University of Windsor.

“We were so pleased to see everyone come together at the gala to celebrate the differences individuals are making so that we can continue to live in a society where men and women with equal ability, education, and experience also have equal opportunities,” states Anguiano Hurst. “Each of us can make a difference and these awards are one way of inspiring each of us, no matter where we work, to do our part to work against the bias, discrimination and stereotypes.”

The Journey to Success Awards recognize individuals, businesses and organizations in Windsor Essex who support WEST. Congratulations to the following 2022 Journey Towards Success Award recipients in the category listed . . .

Break the Bias Award: Bridging North America New Excellence in Partnership Award John Wigle, Bike Windsor Essex VIP Award — New Business Partner Academy Truck Driving School Phenomenal Women Award Evon Karayan, WEST participant Innovation Award Priya Chana, WEST participant

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Diversity Equity and Inclusion Award Bonnie Douglas, Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology Sisterhood Award: Sungee John, Essex County Chinese Canadian Association Perseverance Award: Dr. Tariq Ali Khan, Advanced Urgent Dental Youth Community Leadership Award Fatima Al Hakim, WEST participant Allyship Award: Justin Falconer, Workforce WindsorEssex Influencer Award: Marium Tolson-Murtty, University of Windsor Visionary Award: Susan Taylor, St. Clair College, Genesis Daphne V. Clarke Trailblazer Award Maryan Amalow, University of Windsor Award sponsors included: St. Clair College, WFCU Credit Union, TD Bank Group, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre/ Invest WindsorEssex, Odette School of Business, Hiram Walker and Sons Ltd., Erie Shores HealthCare, CPA Ontario, Windsor Regional Hospital, Champion Products, CTV/Bell Media, Windsor Star, AM 800 CKLW and Biz X magazine.

WEST expresses its gratitude for IWD sponsors’ generosity, silent auction contributors, St. Clair College (gala sponsor) and WFCU Credit Union (title sponsor) its partners, friends and donors.

FRONTLINES

New Delivery Service Debuts Benefitting Restaurants And Drivers Jack Eisenberg, Owner of JEM Software, and Calvin He, former Owner of Shin Shin Chinese Restaurant, have combined their talents to create a new food delivery service for area restaurants and patrons.

It’s a streamlined approach to food delivery that makes it more efficient for both restaurants and their customers.

The new company will operate under the name Windsor Food Delivery.

“Our new service creates an automatic connection with the driver dispatch system as well as the ability to process prepaid orders, thus reducing the possibility of fraudulent or abandoned orders,” explains He. Eisenberg, who has spent the past four years managing online menus for restaurants across the region, including Shin Shin, approached He to see if there was any interest in partnering together in a food delivery service after He sold his restaurant.

Of course the answer was YES! “Our goal is to reduce the costs of offering online food delivery services, especially at a time when many restaurants have been hard-hit by pandemic restrictions and many had to turn to delivery and pickup systems to remain profitable,” says Eisenberg.

He says the company’s intent is to offer drivers better working conditions and a fair compensation package, which rewards good service and takes into account the new higher minimum wage legislation and rising fuel costs.

Patrons only need to place an order on their favourite restaurant’s website, the restaurant will get a notification on their tablet and that order is then passed on to the delivery dispatch system.

Jack Eisenberg (left) and Calvin He have teamed up to provide a local online ordering and delivery system for area restaurants, under the name of Windsor Food Delivery. The partners are shown inside the location of one of their clients, East Side Shawarma, 9845 Tecumseh Road East in Windsor. Customers place an order on their favourite restaurant’s website, the restaurant (for example, East Side Shawarma) is notified on their tablet and that order is then passed on to the delivery dispatch system showing the location of on-duty drivers. Photo by Rod Denis.

When a delivery order is placed and accepted, an on-duty dispatcher is notified and will then assign the delivery to an available driver.

The driver will receive the order on their mobile device along with address details of the restaurant and customer location, including navigation instructions, details of the order and delivery instructions.

The partners are also in the process of contacting the restaurants Eisenberg had been servicing via JEM to see if they are interested in enrolling in the system.

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Restaurants already using JEM’s app will only pay a delivery fee while establishments new to the app will also pay a commission.

For restaurants seeking more information on the new system, visit the website: YourRestaurantMenu.com or the website: WindsorFoodDelivery.ca.

For drivers seeking opportunities, visit the drivers’ site: IndieDrivers.net.

The new company is also considering expanding at a later date to include deliveries for pharmacies, grocery stores and other retail outlets.

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HEARD ON THE STREET The owner of Carrots N’ Dates — a 10-yearold healthy full service restaurant and bakery — is planning a major redevelopment project for the intersection of Lesperance Road and Tecumseh Road East in Tecumseh. Troy Maleyko has purchased two buildings at the intersection and intends to demolish both and replace them with a new three-storey building to house his restaurant with plans for the upper two floors still to be determined. Another building at the rear of the property, which once was home to a boxing gym and a pizzeria, will also be demolished, to make way for a parking lot and another yet-to-be-determined use.

“We’re anticipating our second-floor tenant will be complementary to our own restaurant, so we’ve just going to throw the options out there and see if anyone is interested,” explains Maleyko. “We’re hoping that whatever goes in will be recession and pandemic-proof going forward.” The two buildings will have more than 25,000 square feet of space with demolition of the existing buildings expected to have started by late March. “We’re aiming for construction to begin by the end of spring,” he adds. Maleyko expects the entire project to take about 12 months and he will vacate Carrots N’ Dates current location at 1125 Lesperance Road by the end of 2022.

He anticipates more development to come in an area earmarked for $30-million in streetscaping just blocks from a number of new high rise developments and condominium buildings between Lesperance and Banwell Road.

For more information on the restaurant and bake shoppe menus, visit: CarrotsnDates.com.

Two Tecumseh businesses displaced by a major development (see previous blurb) in the works by Troy Maleyko, Owner of Carrots N’ Dates, at the intersection of Lesperance Road and Tecumseh Road East, have relocated.

Tecumseh Gold Exchange can now be found at 4557 Tecumseh Road East in a plaza where a Giant Tiger store is located and Flowers by Phil Sadi has relocated to 1038 Lesperance Road. Tecumseh Gold Exchange Owner Andy Lowicki, who had been in his previous location for 11 years, says the move, which took place in early December of 2021, has been beneficial.

“It’s a nicer building and there’s ample parking, so I’m quite happy with the move,” says Lowicki who has been in the exchange business for more than 20 years. Randy Tunks, who has owned the 58-year-old florist business for the past 22 years, is also happy with the new spot. Tunks indicates: “We’ve kept the clients we had before and we’ve added new business partly because now we have much more parking and it’s more convenient for people to drop in.” The flower shop’s new space was previously occupied by Pete’s Pipes (which moved last year to 11962 Tecumseh Road East).

For further details on these businesses, visit: FlowersByPhilSadi.com; TecumsehGold.com and: PetesPipeShop.com.

Petretta Construction Inc. is playing a major role in the booming local residential building sector with at least nine projects in different phases of development with more than 500 units.

“I don’t remember it ever being this busy for us,” comments Jonathon Lot, Petretta’s VicePresident of Operations. “We anticipate it staying this way or getting even busier here and down the highway towards London and the GTA.” Locally, Petretta expects to break ground in May on a six-storey 54-unit condominium on the site of the old Sunnyside Tavern in LaSalle and in June on a five-storey 43 unit condo on Wyandotte Street East between St. Mary’s and Homedale Boulevards. The company just finished the first phase at The Crossings at Heritage in LaSalle with a second and third phrase soon to follow. They’re also working on a 60 unit

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Harbour Club condo in Tecumseh and a 30 unit condo at 140 Main Street in Kingsville. Petretta is also preparing to build a pair of four-storey apartment buildings in Lucan and a sevenstorey apartment building in Woodstock.

“Commercially, now that pandemic restrictions are over, we’re working with franchisees to build four new Planet Fitness clubs across Canada,” explains Lot, adding that Petretta is the exclusive contractor for the fitness club chain. In addition, Petretta is in the running along with other contractors for a group of five condo buildings planned for various locations in Windsor.

For more information, refer to: PetCon.net.

Martene Sementilli and her mother, Lorene Clayton, have taken over the LaSalle franchise of Oxford Learning, a company that has been providing supplemental education opportunities for students in JK to Grade 12, since 1984. “The opportunity presented itself in late December and with only eight days to get ready, we took over on January 1,” Sementilli informs Biz X. “We’ve managed to build an incredibly passionate and skilled team with the help of Tracey Warren, our Education Director.”

Sementilli, who has a degree in clinical psychology and a master’s degree in analytics, says that Oxford tutors teach learning strategies that empower students to become independent learners and also teach students to understand their own unique learning styles and adapt them to school settings. “Each student we enroll begins with a dynamic assessment, which allows us to build a custom curriculum, which addresses a student’s academic gaps and helps our teachers deliver a program that best suits each student’s unique learning style,” she states. Oxford’s LaSalle school is currently registering students for weekly Brain-Boosting summer camps for students in grades one through eight, focusing on coding, chess, Zoology studies, performing arts and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math). The business also offers tutoring in math, English, French, science, English as a second language, and provides instruction for children with learning disabilities and those preparing for SAT, SSAT and ACT tests. The LaSalle franchise is located in the Town Centre Plaza, Unit 24A at 5844 Malden Road. For more information, view the website: O x ford L ea r n i ng.com / locat ion s/ la sal le tutoring.

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Why Canada Needs Electoral Reform Op-Ed By Steven Bezaire

C

anadians are as politically disparate as the vast and diverse landscape inhabit.

Our elected legislatures need to accommodate the competing interests of a great number of factions — some economic (think agricultural, manufacturing, fishing, energy), some cultural and linguistic (English, French, First Nations, Old World immigrants), and some ideological (conservative, liberal, labour-oriented, religious), including many overlapping and distinct viewpoints in between, on these, and from other perspectives.

So why do we continue to employ, federally and provincially, such a crappy and inefficient system of democratic representation?

How, in our federation’s 154th year of democracy, can our system allow a party with a record low 32.6% of popular support to form our government?

You don’t need an advanced degree in applied mathematics or political science to understand that this is a real problem.

In our current electoral system, with “first past the post” vote-total races in every riding, strict party voting discipline (often with punitive results for breaking ranks), and the major political parties’ impenetrable, old-boy private constitutional organizations — reinforced and solidified through decades of patronage — I have always suspected that there are likely no more than a handful of people who really run each of the provinces and our federal government.

Worse, I fear, they decide policy far more from public opinion polls (based on the prospects of their continuing electability) than from any sense of principle.

Our majoritarian system means the candidate with the most votes in a riding wins. He or she does not need a majority of votes, just one more than any other candidate.

In competitive ridings with three or four candidates, then, the winning candidate could (and often does) win with a third or quarter of the votes.

That winner’s party takes the entire riding and all other votes are disregarded; their interests will not be considered in the making of policy or passing of legislation.

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This situation is not much different even in the case of a majority — only one in the last four majority governments in Canada garnered more than 40% of the popular vote.

Is it any wonder that these governments pass legislation that the majority (or near majority) of Canadians do not support?

One suggestion is the use of ranked ballots, where voters select more than one candidate, in order of preference, and at each count the candidate with the lowest total is dropped from the ballot until one candidate surpasses 50% of the total vote.

This is how all of the major political parties in Canada have traditionally selected their leaders.

Although this system ostensibly provides for more compromise, the result is the same in as much as that candidate’s party will govern according to its political views.

It also promotes strategic voting — the concept of voting to avoid a certain result more than to obtain one, which is seemingly antithetical to the very purpose of voting in the first place.

Another problem with modified majoritarian systems that employ ranking is the tendency for such systems to perpetually favour the most centrist party.

Voters who have positions on the right or left of the political spectrum tend to favour positions closest to their own.

So, in Canada for instance, where the Liberals are the more centrist of the three parties, it would gain from both Conservatives trying to avoid an NDP government, and vice-versa.

A study of the 2015 federal election, in which the Liberals won a majority with 39.5% of the popular vote, demonstrated that it would have won even more seats in that election, theoretically, with a ranked ballot system.

The only viable alternative to the majoritarian system, where every vote would truly count, is a purely proportional electoral system, where the number of seats a party earns is directly (as much as is possible) proportionate to the number of votes it receives. In such a system, people vote for a party instead of a candidate.

The list of candidates is chosen by the parties and provided as a list beforehand.

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They can be required to ensure inclusion of candidates from different regions, age brackets, ethnicity, and to ensure gender parity.

“Closed” lists means the party will choose which candidate from the list takes the seat and “open” lists allow the electorate to choose the candidate as well.

A majority of democratic nations in the world use proportional electoral systems, including Germany, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.

They are used in at least the lower houses of 94 democratic nations (the “lower” house in a bicameral legislature is the larger of two sections, typically with elected representatives and the primary responsibility for legislation).

Many use a mixed proportional system where majoritarian results are then modified by a defined percentage of proportional ballots — so that a party’s total seat count is adjusted to reduce or increase the seats it will receive according to its share of the popular vote.

Proportional electoral systems are seen, internationally, as a means of ensuring that elected bodies are more reflective of the differentiated interests of the people they represent.

The best hope for electoral reform in Canada, recently, was during the 2015 general election, when the Liberal Party had been out of office for nine and a half years, at a time when Prime Minister Steven Harper was enjoying a majority.

Justin Trudeau made electoral reform a primary plank in his party’s election promises.

Alas, a Liberal majority win seemingly tempered Mr. Trudeau’s enthusiasm for any changes — and the recent push for change lost most of its inertia.

Steven Bezaire is a local lawyer, humourist, former infant, an accomplished napper, and loves all puppy dogs and babies in the world.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author and may or may not represent the views or opinions of those associated with Biz X magazine.

BIZ BITS

Tax Time Continues With Maurice Morneau Tax

By Dave Hall

In a follow up to our Tax Season feature story in the March edition, we now introduce you to the Windsor firm of Maurice Morneau Tax. With experience at two of the largest accounting firms in the financial marketplace, Chandra Sekhar Kancheti is ideally placed to provide expert tax advice on anything from simple individual returns to complex returns involving high net-worth individuals, on both sides of the border.

After attaining his MBA degree in Bangalore, India, Kancheti worked for Deloitte Canada and then Ernst & Young LLP before buying, in 2019, (along with his wife, Ashwini) the local Maurice Morneau Tax business, which has been operating for over 38 years.

“At my previous jobs, I learned a great deal about complex tax issues and in particular U.S./Canada cross border taxes,” Kancheti indicates. “They can be very complex, especially if you are dealing with Chief Executive Officers of major corporations, many of whom have income from a number of different sources in both Canada and the U.S.” In order to simplify tax issues, his firm has launched an app, which can be downloaded from the company’s website: MauriceMorneauTax.com.

“It was created by our tax professionals,” explains Kancheti. “We believe it will be a game changer in the industry as it is the first app of its kind in Canada and makes the whole tax process more accessible to our clients.”

Kancheti’s wide range of tax experience also enables his firm to work with tax consultants in the Toronto area, as well as the Kitchener-Waterloo region, providing advice on complex tax issues.

“We’re a full service firm and can take on everything from the simplest to the most complex tax returns,” adds Kancheti.

“Over the two month tax season, our eight employees handle up to 4,500 tax returns.”

In addition to personal tax returns, the firm handles corporate returns, crossborder taxes, non-resident returns, U.S. federal and state returns, trust taxes for deceased individuals, and returns for those just leaving or just entering Canada, as well as bookkeeping services.

“We deal with the type of tax returns

Chandra Sekhar Kancheti, Co-owner of Maurice Morneau Tax, poses for the Biz X photographer, at his 2115 Pelissier Street location in Windsor. His company provides tax preparation and consultation services at an affordable rate. Photo by Rod Denis.

that not all firms are equipped to handle,” he states.

Kancheti believes that government support programs over the past two years have made it difficult for many people whose income was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Generally, only about 10% of the amount is withheld at source, where in actual fact, the rate is more like 15 to 20%,” he says.

“That can make it very difficult for people if they haven’t set enough aside to cover their taxes.”

The office for Maurice Morneau Tax is located at 2115 Pelissier Street, Windsor.

Rates include $35 for students and those on social assistance, $48 for senior citizens over the age of 65, and $68 for other simple returns (exceptions may apply).

A full list of rates for corporations and U.S./ Canada cross border returns can be found on the company’s website, mentioned earlier.

Please support our advertisers; they make our magazine possible each and every issue!

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY

NEWSFLASH THE RUNDOWN Every spring for more than 70 years, the Canadian Cancer Society has launched an annual Daffodil Campaign to raise funds for people affected by cancer. Through this campaign in the month of April, they collect donations to help people with cancer live their lives more fully. The daffodil symbol serves as a hopeful and meaningful reminder for us to come together, make life better today while transforming the future of cancer forever.

This spring, people living in Canada can help hope bloom with your daffodil donation online at: Cancer.ca/Daffodil.

The Town of Essex appointed Tom Coke, in February 2022, as the Main Street Ambassador, for a 12 month term. Working closely with local business owners and entrepreneurs in Essex Centre and Harrow, the Main Street Ambassador will help grow existing businesses and welcome new entrepreneurs to the area.

As a part of the Local Business Accelerator program, business owners will be eligible for detailed market research, data analysis, wraparound business support, and more. As a skilled Community Developer with over eight years’ experience working in local government and non-profit organizations, Coke brings a wealth of knowledge to the position. He most recently served as the Council Coordinator for the Town of LaSalle. Find further details on the program at: MyMainStreet.ca/accelerator-program.

As part of the Town of Tecumseh’s 100th anniversary celebrations, the Town is looking to document and reflect the community’s history, stories, and memories that cannot be found in history books or newspaper articles. The Town wants to know the personal and unique stories of what makes Tecumseh truly special and why people call it home. Residents, current and past, can share their stories at: PlaceSpeak.com/ tecumseh100, a citizen engagement platform open throughout the anniversary celebrations, which take place July 2 to 4, 2022. A complete listing of event details is available on: Tecumseh.ca/tecumseh100.

NEW IN BIZ Manal Hage Beauty Lounge (432 Cabana Road West, Windsor) Owner, Manal Hage, has a proven track record of providing an elevated customer experience. Now, she extends her approach to specialized service with the March opening of Pure Fruit Café, just down the street at 350 Cabana Road East. Despite a challenging economic environment during the COVID pandemic, entrepreneurs like Hage found success in new ways. Hage funnelled her passion for beauty and superior customer service

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into creating Pure Fruit Café. She believes that a positive consequence of the pandemic was being given the time to reflect and plan her vision for a slice of Paris in Windsor. “The pandemic highlighted the role restaurants play in our community,” comments Hage. “People want to go out and get together, whether it is meeting up with colleagues who need to get out of the house after two years of working at home, or to celebrate a special occasion, or just and relax with some great coffee and a dessert.”

Pure Fruit Café specializes in a fresh fruit based menu, artisanal beverages and baked desserts. The ambiance is Parisian chic and the café’s interior design by Mister Style makes it an Instagram worthy photo spot. It’s a cheerful and glamorous space to enjoy a mid-day break, client meeting or a girl’s day out or celebration.

Learn more on: Instagram.com/purefruitcafe.

ON THE MOVE Youth Diversion (YD) has relocated to New Beginnings, 1015 Highland Avenue in Windsor, as of April 1, 2022. The new location will benefit YD clients by offering a more centralized location, better accessibility, transportation options, and closer proximity to community and justice partners. “New Beginnings is excited to welcome Youth Diversion as a tenant to our Highland location,” says New Beginning’s Executive Director, Stacey Yannacopoulos. “We fully expect that due to both organizations’ respective missions, visions and values, being in such close alignment, will open the door for exciting collaboration in the future.” While remaining two distinct organizations, a cohesive space for YD and New Beginnings makes sense for ongoing and future service delivery for clients of both organizations, who can benefit from a collaborative approach in receiving exceptional client care on both fronts. Joanna Conrad, YD Executive Director feels, “The relationship between the two organizations will only be strengthened by the relocation.” There is a private entrance for YD visitors off Erie Street. Youth Diversion has been supporting youth ages six to 18 to make positive life decisions through preventative services, education, and encouragement since 1980, by offering opportunities for young people to address underlying issues contributing to their at-risk behaviour. Programs focus on assisting youth to develop self-respect, responsibility and appropriate problem-solving skills, while empowering youth to create, maintain, and improve their decision-making in a positive way. YD also offers multiple online resources BIZ X M AG A Z I N E • A P R I L 2 0 2 2

for parents and educators on pertinent issues youth face today, such as sexting, online safety, digital footprint, cyber bullying, and more.

Referrals can be made online or by calling the main office line. Find further details on: EcYouthDiversion.ca.

Nicole Bezaire is moving Bell & Brace — the area’s only brass and woodwind repair business — to 1009 Drouillard Road in Windsor and joining a small, but growing community of new businesses in Ford City. She started out eight years ago in a small commercial space near Devonshire Mall, before operating for the last four years out of her house on Janette Avenue. “I just need more work space than I have at home and this allows me to get a little of my home back,” explains Bezaire.

There’s also a small retail area at the front of the store where Bezaire sells instruments she has refurbished. Bezaire, who plays the saxophone, became interested in learning how to repair instruments as a way of staying involved in a behind-the-scenes music career.

Bezaire and husband Gavin Hoenmans, who helps out in the business when it gets busy, are both graduates of the band instrument repair program at Keyano College in Fort McMurray.

The couple has extensive instrument repair experience in Toronto, Montreal, Nanaimo, and Vancouver. Fifty percent of Bell & Brace’s business comes from students in band programs at local high schools, others are university students, a handful are from the Windsor Symphony Orchestra and the rest are individual students taking private lessons.

Bezaire opened in her new location and started accepting instruments in need of repair, at the end of March. Among the instruments she repairs are oboes, flutes, clarinets, saxophones, bassoons, trumpets, cornets, flugelhorns, tubas, trombones, French horns, and many others. Back in 2014, Bell & Brace earned a Biz X Award for Outstanding New Business.

For more information, visit the website: BellAndBrace.com.

DATES TO REMEMBER Gourmet Gardens is back! This premiere spring culinary event takes place starting at 1 p.m. on May 1 at Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery in Amherstburg. The fundraiser for the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Foundation features a four course culinary experience by Chef Don Kumarsinghe, paired with local wines and beers. The Coffee House combo provides entertainment and there will be plenty of raffles too! Tickets are $150 and can be purchased on: Wecaf.on.ca/signature-events.

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© Can Stock Photo/Kurhan

FOOD FOR THOUGHT THIS ISSUE FEATURES…

Williams Food Equipment 2150 Ambassador Drive, Windsor

By David Clark

Photos courtesy of Williams Food Equipment

This tasty Creamy Skillet Chicken with Peppers and Spinach made in a 12” Iron Handle Skillet from Le Creuset, is just one example of the weekly recipes WFE emails out in its newsletters and posts on their website.

The recipes demonstrate the possibilities in cooking with their products.

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or this issue, we shift gears from the cuisine found at local restaurants to now feature Williams Food Equipment (WFE), a hard-working, family operated business servicing Windsor Essex since 1968.

With customers in search of domestic and commercial kitchen products, WFE is regarded in the community as “The Candy Store for Cooks,” notes Reid Williams, Co-Owner and Retail Purchaser. The company also is the Biz X Award winner for the Whole Kit & Caboodle Kitchen Shop category.

Known for its informative staff, exceptional customer service is always a top priority.

“At Williams Food Equipment it all starts with the staff,” explains Reid.

“We have great people who have restaurant experience: some are trained professionals, and others are cooking and entertaining enthusiasts. All are committed to providing knowledgeable and friendly service to our customers.”

Other family members on the WFE team include: Dylan Williams (Co-Owner, Estimator); Rob Williams (Co-Owner, Commercial Sales Manager);

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Ty Williams (Co-Owner, Installer); and Reid’s wife Sarah Williams is on board as well as the Retail Sales Manager.

A third-generation company, Dick Williams (Reid’s grandfather) began the business in 1968. Originally, he serviced the equipment needs of grocery stores and butcher shops.

Reid’s father Rick joined in to help support his grandfather’s growing company and he began servicing the equipment needs of restaurants. In 1988 Rick purchased the company from his father. In 1993 the business added retail products to its lineup and moved to their present location on Ambassador Drive.

When Rick retired in 2017, the company’s current ownership, namely Reid, along with his two brothers, Dylan and Ty and his uncle Rob, became the third generation to own this family-run business.

After finishing university Reid worked at the business full-time, developing the e-commerce portion and eventually taking on his current role in retail purchasing.

So what can you find inside the store (or online) at Williams Food Equipment?

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Every type of kitchen tool available — fully stocked or easily and quickly ordered — from cookware, knives, countertop home appliances, commercial equipment and more! It’s an all-in-one cooking superstore ready for you to explore.

WFE carries a wide assortment of brands that are recognized in both commercial and home kitchens. Customers love being able to purchase the same items used by the chefs of their favourite restaurants to use in their own cooking at home.

Entire aisles are dedicated to cookware, knives, bakeware, barware and countertop home appliances.

Additionally, WFE has a large selection of trusted kitchen brand names, including knives from all over the world like Wusthof, Zwilling J.A. Henckels, Victorinox, MAC, Shun and many more.

From carving to chef’s knives, they have you covered! There is even a 20 foot+ knife wall with over 250 knives on display allowing customers an opportunity to try before they buy.

There is also a large inventory of small appliances such as KitchenAid Stand Mixers, Cuisinart Food Processors and a complete line of Vitamix Blenders.

They also carry Canada’s largest selection of Le Creuset cookware and other cookware products from All Clad, Demeyere and Zwilling J.A. Henckels.

Keep in mind, their barware is not just for restaurants and pubs. The toast of the town — Riedel stemware, Schott Zwiesel and Crafthouse brands — are for all bartenders and wine enthusiasts.

The large selection of bar tools will help you host the perfect cocktail party!

For those who want a sharp and dependable knife, the Wusthof 8” Classic Ikon Chef Knife is a popular choice.

For those days when your regular cup of coffee just doesn’t get your mojo going, head to WFE for the Jura and Saeco espresso machines, which are available for demonstration tasting.

But that’s not all!

According to Reid: “Our giant 100 foot gadget wall dedicated to hundreds of everyone’s favourite tools, gadgets and cooking essentials, is a must see in-store.”

Other favourite products, to continue your culinary adventures at home, include OXO bakeware (American made) commercial grade, and non-stick. The stylish, French made, Le Creuset Dutch Ovens are also a must have staple for every cook’s kitchen.

French made with only the best materials, Le Creuset French Ovens provide perfect and versatile cooking on the stove and in the oven; from soups, stews, roasts and even bread. The colourful, enamelled cast iron makes a great heirloom piece that will enhance your cooking experience for generations.

For some enjoyment for the whole family, their inventory includes a collection of Ooni pizza ovens. They make cooking incredible pizza at home fast, easy and a fun experience.

The company’s website — WilliamsFoodEquipment.com — is filled with over 15,000 products, along with great recipes plus cooking tips and tricks.

Shipping is free on orders over $100.

And let’s not forget the bridal and gift registry! With a web-based registry service, registrants can scan items for their registry in-store or create a new one online from the comfort of their home.

Want to create a gourmet pizza at home in less than 60 seconds? Then check out the Ooni — Frya 12 portable outdoor wood-pellet pizza oven.

Last, but certainly not least, Williams Food Equipment is known for its commercial offerings for its restaurant clientele, with commercial food-service equipment including refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, blenders, coffee equipment, fryers and more.

To keep up to date with the latest news on what’s cooking up at WFE, refer to the website mentioned previously and their social media pages.

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COVER STORY By Dave Hall

From The Floor To The Attic . . . fter a three-year absence, the Windsor Home & Garden Show is back and organizers and exhibitors are all excited to welcome area residents to Central Park Athletics the weekend of April 29 to May 1.

“Our last show was in April 2019 before everything suddenly shut down and I think there’s a huge pent-up demand from people looking to update, expand or renovate their homes, and our exhibitors are also excited at the chance to meet potential clients faceto-face,” says Stuart Galloway, President of 20/20 Show Productions Inc., which is organizing the show again.

“I don’t think we will need to do anything spectacular, because I think people are itching to get out and get started on home projects,” he adds.

The 38th annual show will feature more than 200 exhibitors spread out over the centre’s main show floor.

Galloway points out that even though most exhibitors have websites, where they are able to display their products, consumers want to see what they are buying and meet the people they are buying from, when it comes to spending hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

Stuart Galloway, President, 20/20 Show Productions Inc. and his team are raring to go and ready for the return of The Windsor Home & Garden Show, April 29 to May 1.

Those attending the show are sure to find some great home renovation ideas from the over 200 exhibitors participating.

Photo courtesy of 20/20 Show Productions.

According to Galloway: “Another factor in our favour is that a lot of people have not been able to travel, so they are spending this additional disposable income on upgrading their homes and living spaces.”

And with local home prices going through the roof in the real estate market, many owners are opting for renovations and decorating projects as a way of freshening up their existing home.

Statistics provided by the WindsorEssex County Association of REALTORS (WindsorRealEstate.com), reveal the average selling price for homes

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Are you ready to spring into action and update your home? Then let’s get renovating — one room at a time!

in the Windsor area, for February 2022, soared to $704,122, compared to $486,461 a year earlier. The most popular style of homes sold this month were: 2 Storey (119), Bungalow (115), Ranch (68), 1 1/2 Storey (63) and Raised Ranch (46).

This is great news for sellers looking to downsize, but not such good news if you happen to be a buyer as well.

“The renovation and decorating sectors are booming and our show is a perfect showcase for just about everything that’s available,” indicates Galloway.

Hours for this year’s show are: Friday April 29, noon to 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, May 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 with those under 16 admitted for free.

There is ample on-site parking at 3400 Grand Marais Road East where it meets Central Avenue. For more information and a complete list of vendors, go to: OntarioTradeShows.com.

Which brings us now to our cover story . . .

Biz X magazine has put together this article about some of the companies participating in this year’s show, as well as others active in the home renovation and decorating sectors. While the whole renovating process may seem overwhelming, local businesses are there for you, every step of the way.

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What follows are some possible suggestions to consider to upgrade your home, from new additions, attic conversions, new bathroom or kitchen cabinets and fresh paint on the walls to trendy furniture, epoxy flooring or unique products and services — one room at a time.

The Kitchen And Bathroom This will be the first Windsor Home & Garden Show for Amherstburg’s Tom Martin Cabinets Inc. to participate in, after the cancellation of the past two shows in 2020 and 2021 due to pandemic restrictions.

“I’ve attended the show a few times just to take a look around and we were all set to go a couple of years ago, so we are happy to finally get the opportunity to participate,” comments Tom Martin, who has been in the renovation industry for more than two decades. “We’re excited to have an opportunity to meet some potential customers in person.”

Martin’s company handles kitchen and bathroom renovations, cabinet building and refacing, as well as flooring, vanities and countertops.

“We’re a one-stop shop and we do a little bit of everything,” explains Martin who has

© Can Stock Photo/HaywireMedia

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It’s Home Improvement Time

Tom Martin Cabinets Inc. focuses on new and refaced kitchens and baths. The father and son team is a professional, skilled and knowledgeable installer and builder of cabinets. They handle all the woodwork including trim, drawers and more, as shown in the accompanying photo of a client’s new kitchen cabinets.

Photo courtesy of Tom Martin Cabinets.

four employees, including son Reed, who is preparing to take over the business.

Though business slowed down for a while at the beginning of the pandemic, Martin reports it has started picking up again now that people are realizing they might be further ahead to renovate their own home rather than jumping into a volatile high-priced local real estate market.

“Tax season and spring also helps turn people’s minds to home renovations,” believes Martin.

And with the City of Windsor, in particular, encouraging additional dwelling units on homeowners’ properties, Martin is seeing more opportunities for growth in that sector as well.

“For a lot of people, overpaying in the real estate market isn’t really an option so they are creating additional living spaces within their own property,” he states.

Supply-chain issues have provided some challenges, but with more than two decades of relationships with suppliers, Martin says he’s been able to acquire most of what he needs reasonably efficiently.

“Bricks for fireplace surrounds and carpeting have been hard to get,” he admits. “But, we’ve been able to acquire maple for our cabinets without too much difficulty and that’s our most popular wood right now.”

The business is located at 20 Renaud Street in Amherstburg and online at: TomMartinCabinets.com.

The Living/Family Room, Bar, Bathroom, Kitchen And Outdoor Cooking Areas Now in his fourth year of business, the team at ANR Concrete Studio — operated by partner Andrew Schincariol along with founder Adam Rossetto — are looking forward to the company’s second year at the Windsor Home & Garden Show.

“It’s a great opportunity to meet customers in person and show them exactly what we can do in the way of artisanal and custom

concrete,” Schincariol states. “It’s a better experience for everyone if they are able to see the finished product because you can’t edit out any imperfections in your work.”

The company specializes in concrete work, both inside and outside a home, including bars, barbecue patios and outdoor cooking areas, as people move towards turning their properties into their own stay-cation resorts.

Schincariol says ANR hasn’t had any supply issues, since all of the components are sourced within North America.

“Our business is 100% vertically integrated, and when clients are working with us, they get craftsmen who own 100% of the process,” explains Schincariol.

Rossetto, who has more than 30 years experience in the concrete business, concentrates his efforts on creating beautiful and functional concrete products for a variety of clients, having had his interest in the business piqued during a trip to California.

The company is a one-stop shop for clients and handles sales, manufacturing, design, delivery and installation. They are also members of The Concrete Countertop Institute.

“We’re not a middle-man and we don’t buy from another manufacturer and then deliver the product to our clients,” adds Schincariol.

“And no two pieces of what we

Adam Rossetto (left) and Andrew Schincariol of ANR Concrete Studio, stand on either side of a fireplace surround from their Flat Line Collection, finished in a terrazzo style. The mantles are from their non-combustible Rustic Barn Beam line. This example of their work can be viewed at Forest Glade Fireplaces, 11400 Tecumseh Road East, Windsor.

Photo by Rod Denis.

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produce are the same, they are all unique.”

ANR focuses on indoor/outdoor countertops, integral sinks, hearths, accent panels, window sills, mantels, cladding, shower pans, bar tops and custom concrete furniture. The company also provides custom concrete designs for vanities, fireplaces and customized glass-fibre reinforced concrete for both indoor and outdoor projects.

Rossetto and Schincariol hope to open a showroom by the end of summer, but for the time being, products and finished projects can be seen at Forest Glade Fireplaces, 11400 Tecumseh Road East; Creative Homescapes, 2619 County Road 42 and Welcome Home Kitchen and Bath, 1641 Provincial Road, inside the Plaza Ontario Design Centre — all in Windsor.

To shop online for their products, ranging from artisan materials to non-combustible mantels (Barn Beam and Cube Mantels), to end tables and vessel sinks, log on to: Anrcs.ca. You’ll also be able to see a photo gallery of past projects.

The Garage, Porch And Patio If you’re looking for a way to make greater use of your outdoor covered patio, you might not want to look any further

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Danny Brook, Owner of DB Homeworks Inc., poses in front of a motorized screen he installed at a home on Starwood Lane in Windsor. The screen helps homeowners protect their family and friends from insects during the hot, dog days of summer, while at the same time making their outdoor space more comfortable. Brook can enclose any patio or outdoor living space with a customized motorized or manual screen.

Photo courtesy of Dan Johnston.

than DB Homeworks Inc., which provides retractable screens to keep bugs at bay during the hot, hazy summer months.

“Our screens allow people to enjoy their outdoor spaces,” says Dan Brook who launched his business in 2008. “We have a fairly long outdoor season in this area and we can screen in porches, party rooms and even garage areas for people who want to use their garage as an extra living space without having to close the door and shut everyone in.”

Brook also provides screens for awnings, shutters over entry doors and smaller handoperated units, as well as larger electricpowered screens.

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“The applications, when you start thinking about them, are endless,” comments Brook, who has 30 years experience in the manufacturing and home improvement sectors.

One recent client was looking for way to make more use of an outdoor space, which included a BBQ, a smoker, a fireplace, a TV and a pizza oven along with an inviting pool.

“The corner of the patio was one big opening, but we added a square corner post, which allowed us to properly screen the corner and create two separate entrances,” explains Brook. “Our retractable screen capped it off nicely.”

The hoods of the appliances were hidden by tucking them behind the exposed header for the screen and the tracks for the screen were embedded into adjacent stone columns for a clean finish.

“Every project is unique and requires a unique installation solution,” he adds “I always say that I do every job as if it’s my own place.”

DB’s retractable and motorized screens help keep family and friends comfortable and protected from insects, while allowing air to circulate before rolling up out of sight when not in use.

“All of our screens are custom-cut precisely to the size of the opening,” indicates Brook. “We offer a wide variety of fabrics and hardware colours to suit every homeowner’s needs.”

According to Brook, it usually takes one or two days to install a screen, depending upon the size of the opening being covered.

“Our business has been growing because more people are looking at making their outdoor living spaces more comfortable,” he says. “We get a lot of word-of-mouth referrals because what we do is very eye-catching and starts a lot of conversations from friends and relatives, once they see the finished product.”

DB Homeworks — which is also exhibiting at the Windsor Home & Garden Show — is located at 110 Lombard Avenue in Harrow; however, the showroom is not expected to be open until this summer.

For more information on the screens and all Brook’s services, visit the website: DBHomeworks.ca.

The Bedroom, Living Room And Everywhere Needing A Splash Of Colour Despite the fact many other businesses have been negatively impacted by the two-year-long pandemic, Darryl Bulcke of Painting by Darryl has kept busy by people seeking to update and freshen their living spaces.

“When people are stuck at home, they tend to look around and identify areas to update and freshen up, and painting is one of the most affordable projects to take on,” Bulcke indicates.

In business for over 20 years, his company specializes in faux finishes, which can create a spectacular new look for bedrooms and other living areas. He’ll be displaying his products and finishes at this year’s Windsor Home & Garden Show to give potential customers a

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Painting by Darryl is a professional painting and staining business specializing in unique and custom paint finishes. Here, owner Darryl Bulcke is pictured putting the finishing touches to a bedroom fireplace cornice at a cottage on Charron Beach Road in Belle River. The embedded multimedia art piece is made up of crystals, granite and acrylics. Photo by Rod Denis.

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close-up look at how their living spaces can be transformed.

“We also create unique metallic finishes and can incorporate stones and crystal into any surface by cutting them right into the drywall before we apply the paint,” explains Bulcke. “We also use granite finishes to create a feature wall in bedrooms or living rooms, which can look spectacular.”

In addition, Bulcke strips and stains decks and fences using oil-based products, which provide longer-lasting water and sun protection for people seeking to update their outdoor spaces.

At the home show, Bulcke plans to display large sample boards and panels to give potential customers a chance to view his work in person.

“Large boards provide a very different medium in which to view the work than by simply looking at small samples,” notes Bulcke. “Looking at a book is not the same as seeing it in person because there are so many different examples of what we can do in your home.”

As well, he feels it’s also more comfortable for customers to meet the person they’ll be inviting into their home to complete the project.

For further details, view the website: PaintingByDarryl.com.

Curious as to how the attic on our front cover of this edition looked before the job was completed by Cope Construction Ltd.? The photos here show just how big a job this was — from the initial attic and a work in progress shot, to the finished attic conversion for this Russell Woods home (flip back to the cover to see the amazing difference)! The work completed included: removing existing insulation; pre-engineered floor joists; 2x6 wall and ceiling framing; dormer construction; installed custom stairway; electric wiring; recessed lights; Mitsubishi heat/cool system; insulation; window installation; wood trim and doors; drywall and painting. Photos courtesy of Ed Cope.

Additions, Attic Conversions And Renos For Every Room In The Home Sky-high local real estate prices have forced homeowners to create additional living spaces in their own homes by building additions or undertaking attic conversions, which has led to expanded business opportunities for Cope Construction Ltd. “We’ve seen a definite uptick in these projects over the past couple of years,” says Ed Cope, President of the company founded

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by his parents Walter and Mary Cope almost 60 years ago. “If you’re moving sideways or even down, it can be a daunting thought financially, especially when you add in real estate and moving fees, so many people are staying put and expanding their existing spaces.”

Cope tells Biz X some of his clients are building out at the back of their homes by adding a family room on the main floor and expanding their kitchens, often by removing the deck to create additional square footage.

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Additional dwelling units are another option for people seeking more space, either for adult children having trouble accessing the real estate market, or aging relatives looking to sell their homes and move closer to family.

These additions and attic conversions can take between two and three months depending on the availability of building materials.

“Cost has also become a factor, not only because of the pandemic, but also because of world events, which are driving up transportation costs for almost every product you can name,” says Cope.

His business is essentially a one-stop shop for customers and clients.

“Based on what the client wants, we can design the new space, acquire site plan approvals, handle the necessary permits and get the work completed in a timely fashion,” explains Cope.

The company handles five or six of these projects every year and of those, one or two are attic conversions (see photo on the front cover of this issue for a good example), which generally create more bedroom space for growing children.

Cope has noticed a number of changes in the industry since he joined his parents’ firm in 1991, including a greater reliance on energyefficient products, better quality materials, improved technology and more use of stucco and metal for both sidings and roofs, along with more competition and greater consumer knowledge.

Cope Construction is located in Windsor at 5831 Wyandotte Street East. For a complete list of all their services refer to: CopeConstruction.com.

The Garage, Basement And Porch (plus bathroom shower restoration, tile/grout cleaning)

Not long after returning from a threemonth trip to California 23 years ago, Tom Tar launched Nulook Cleaners,

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In addition to attic conversions, Cope Construction Ltd. can renovate any room in your home. On this project, they transformed a living/family room space by completing framing, drywall, insulation and wiring behind the scenes before installing recessed lights, a fireplace, flooring, ceramic tile, wood trim and painting the area.

Photo courtesy of Ed Cope.

a tile-cleaning company, and five years ago, he added Nulook Epoxy, which focuses on indoor and outdoor epoxy flooring.

“I’d been a tool and die maker and I was getting bored,” Tar expresses. “I worked for a carpet company in California and that triggered my interest in starting a cleaning business.”

Gavin Blunt now works with Tar on the flooring side, while Gabe Taba has come on board to work on the cleaning end of the business.

Blunt handles the work focusing on installing epoxy flooring in basements, garages and porches, while Tar handles leather re-dyeing and repairs along with shower restorations and tile and grout cleaning.

“There wasn’t much like it at the time we started because epoxy flooring was considered more of a luxury item, but it’s gaining more acceptance now because it’s seen as an effective way to update your home,” states Blunt.

The company provides new surfaces for basements, garages and outdoor areas, as well as table tops. It also sells epoxycovered artworks such as hand-crafted tables, perfect for a bar area.

Materials can include glitter, metallic and blue mirror glass, as well as blue and green crushed glass, along with many others.

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When it comes to the local home show, Blunt explains: “It’s a great show, but we are not participating this year because we are so booked up right now, we wouldn’t be able to get to anyone until August.

It can be frustrating when you have to tell people you can’t get to a project for four or five months.”

“One of our problems is we can’t find workers and you can’t hire just anyone because you need specialized training to do this work,” adds Blunt who attended courses with Tar in Toronto to learn the trade.

Nulook is located at 3215 Jefferson Boulevard in Windsor. To learn more about either business, check: NulookEpoxy.com and: NulookTile.com.

The Dining Room, Bedroom, Living Room And More While Guaranteed A Fine Furniture is fully open after being closed for six months during the two-year pandemic, the major challenge now is availability of product, according to Owner Richard Vennettilli.

“It’s not just supply issues for the manufacturers we deal with, it’s the demand from consumers with so many new homes, condos and apartments being built around the city,” says Vennettilli, “The vast majority of those require new furniture.”

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Fortunately, Guaranteed A Fine Furniture has been in business for 60 years and has a good relationship with many furniture manufacturers, which, according to Vennettilli, makes it a little easier to acquire products.

Products that used to take four-to-eight weeks between order and delivery can now take four-to-eight months.

“I would suggest to people who are waiting eight to 12 months for their new home to be completed, to order their furniture now,” he indicates. “I’ve never seen it like this before.”

Transportation costs and the use of oil-

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based products in foam and fabrics, will also drive up prices.

Despite these challenges, Vennettilli expects business to continue to grow.

The company’s showroom — 4735 Tecumseh Road East in Windsor — includes 40 bedroom and 30 dining room ensembles, as well as numerous galleries.

Guaranteed A Fine Furniture sells sofas, love seats, chairs, formal and informal dining sets, bedroom sets for adults and children, bars, game tables and chairs, entertainment centres, curio cabinets, lamps, and mattresses. For more details, visit their website: Gfurniture.ca.

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© Can Stock Photo/MShake

Richard Vennettilli, Owner of Guaranteed A Fine Furniture, 4735 Tecumseh Road East in Windsor, shows off a custom handmade metal dining room table and metal chairs with 100% real leather, finished in a champagne colour.

The centrepieces are handmade turquoise and gold urns accented with Strauss crystal place mats and napkins. On top of the wooden cabinets are gold leaf vases, optical Lucite and wall art with embedded crystals finished in a lacquer coating. Photo by Rod Denis.

The Perfect Home Is In Your Future If you are planning to upgrade your house and list it with a local real estate agent, or undergo a renovation of your current space as you have already found your forever home, the options associated with creating your ideal living environment are endless.

The overall look and décor of your house is entirely up to you. It’s what you and your family want and need.

Whether it’s a white picket fence around a huge mansion in the ideal neighbourhood, a condo, townhome, cute little bungalow, cottage or a ranch on a large farm, area professionals are available to help you renovate and make your dreams a reality.

By Dave Hall

© Can Stock Photo/Ganko

The Bloomin’ Gardener . . .

A Flourishing Family Business Since 1997

Biz X magazine is now in its 25th year of publishing and since our success is due to the support of area businesses and organizations — and of course our readers, advertisers and suppliers — we want to celebrate with others also achieving this amazing milestone.

This column will feature a local business, biz pro or organization, recognizing 25 years of operation in 2022. The grand finale wraps up in the November/December awards edition, but for now let’s kick off the festivities with our first profiled company.

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ustomer service, attention to detail and offering customers a wide range of plants, baskets and shrubs are the main reasons why The Bloomin’ Gardener is still going strong after 25 years in a highly-competitive marketplace.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on offering quality products while staying away from the big box models,” says Mike Colasanti, who owns the business along with his wife Kelly.

“We go for higher quality and while you may pay more, it’s the way we’ve been able to keep loyal customers coming back year after year.”

He continues by stating: “There are a lot of great growers across the county, but Kelly and I have chosen to be different than many of them — and it has paid off.”

Mike grew up in the nursery and garden centre business — his parents own and operate Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens in Ruthven.

At age 19, he spent a year in Europe working in the greenhouse sector and picked up much of the knowledge he has been using ever since.

“My schooling was more or less from the school of hard knocks, which means you work hard, make mistakes, learn from them and continue moving forward,” he explains. “It was all hands-on and working alongside people with years of experience.”

In 1993, Mike left his family’s business and, after a couple of years of working at different jobs, he returned to what he knew best and opened The Bloomin’ Gardener with Kelly in 1997.

“I’ve tried to maintain the same philosophy I grew up with,” he expresses. “I don’t have an official office. My office is my work space out in the greenhouse. We all work side-by-side in the

Pictured inside their greenhouse in Oldcastle are Kelly and Mike Colasanti, Owners of The Bloomin’ Gardener, who specialize in selling plant arrangements, bedding pots, hanging baskets and vegetables and herbs.

Photo by Rod Denis.

greenhouse and in our growing and production areas.”

The business has built a reputation around its large, colourful and unique combination baskets which are currently in production for the new season.

“We’d rather produce unique beautiful baskets than grow the typical mainstream varieties and compete with the big box stores,” he says.

It’s a philosophy which has flourished over the years and continues to do so.

When North America was going through a recession in 2008, Mike and Kelly increased staff, instead of cutting back, in preparation for re-opening for the spring and summer season that year.

“A lot of people thought I was a lunatic, but I wanted to show our customers that we were alive and well and I was not going to use the recession as a crutch and cut back on customer service,” he adds.

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Currently, there are 12 people working during the production season, which ramps up to 20 once the greenhouse is open to the public for the spring/summer planting and buying seasons.

Since first opening, the Colasantis have supervised slow, steady growth and now the business, at 6673 8th Concession in Oldcastle, encompasses 45,000 square feet of greenhouse space and a further 22,000 square feet of space for outdoor production.

“We could have grown larger much faster, but sometimes bigger creates more headaches,” comments Mike. “At our current size, we are able to maintain a high level of quality control, while at the same time, offering our customers a vast variety of products.”

Kelly points out that they grow just about all their plants and flowers on-site as well as designing and producing thousands of hanging baskets every year.

“We bring in trees, shrubs and perennials from other specialty growers and tropical plants and flowers from suppliers in Florida,” she also mentions. “We also have a big line of pottery, cement urns and other landscaping features, which we bring in as well.”

With the new season about to open, the couple is looking forward to once again offering the highest level of customer service to every patron coming through their doors.

“Our customers come here for the peace and serenity our greenhouse offers and we’re not going to rob them of that experience, otherwise we may as well close our doors,” adds Mike.

For more information on the opening date this season and a photo gallery, visit: TheBloominGardener.com.

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TECH BYTES

Technology Possibilities For People With A Disability

By Jennifer McMullan

Community Living Windsor (CLW) is a not-for-profit organization supporting adults with an intellectual disability and their families. They are using technology to help people build more independent lives and experiences.

SMART technology is creating a new world for people with a disability and, in some cases, is helping to improve their quality of life. CLW has implemented numerous SMART technology devices in the homes of the people they support, providing opportunity, safety and security.

These include devices such as voice automated light switches, lighting, window blinds, SMART locks and doorbells for enhanced security, as well as, SMART thermostats that can be both cost effective and energy efficient.

They have also utilized SMART electronics like a stove auto-shut-off, which improves safety as the device will automatically turn off if left unattended for a specific period.

Assisting people in achieving the greatest level of independence and autonomy is one of the agency’s most important purposes.

The use of technology integrated

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into everyday living not only allows for independence with in-home activities and chores, but can also be used to greatly improve quality of life.

One of the ways CLW has facilitated this is with the Awake Labs smartwatch and app.

The device (see contents photo), launched in March 2019, uses an algorithm to detect when a person supported (who has opted-in and asked for the technology) is experiencing anxiety, allowing timely and effective attention from their supporters.

The algorithm — developed by scientists at Holland Bloorview — measures a personalized baseline for each user and detects when their emotions are rising.

CLW has been able to use this to gather objective data, fine-tune support strategies, and intervene early in cases where people require such support.

By helping support staff become familiar with the expressions of the person they are supporting, there is an enhanced ability to better serve people who might otherwise have difficulty communicating in traditional ways or who might have challenges processing strong emotions without support.

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In considering the tremendous benefits that home-based technology can have for all people, including those with intellectual disabilities, CLW identified the need for a sole source to find and curate these tools.

In partnership with Windsor-Essex Family Network (WindsorEssexFamNet.ca) and Windsor Essex Brokerage for Personal Supports (WEBPS.ca), they designed a new website with ease-of-use in mind: EnablingTech.ca.

The site is a central hub, showcasing products for people, families, friends, and supporters to help find useful and empowering home technology devices.

Enabling Technology does not sell any products, but instead curates existing content in a way that can assist a person to come to understand “what’s out there.”

The future of adaptive technology continues to play an increasingly valuable role and could be life-changing for any of us, especially those of us living with a disability.

To learn more about Community Living Windsor visit: CLWindsor.org.

For further details on Awake Labs refer to: AwakeLabs.com.

Tech Bytes is powered by WEtech Alliance (WEtech-Alliance.com). The columnist for this installment, Jennifer McMullan is the Manager of Communications and Community Relations at Community Living Windsor.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

PROFILING LOCAL WOMEN AT WORK

By Rebecca Wright

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Lauren Potvin

Definitely The Best Of The “Bunch”

or those seeking unique items and choose to shop with intention and appreciation, Owner Lauren Potvin believes her new business — Bunch — is the perfect fit.

“Bunch is full of carefully curated items from throughout North America,” describes Potvin. “We strive to support independent designers and small-batch artisans while being conscientious of our impact on the planet.”

Her store opened in May 2021 (yep, right in the middle of the pandemic) with a 135 square-foot space in Ford City.

“I was able to expand into the space next door just before Christmas, to a whopping 300 square feet,” Potvin exclaims, referring to Bunch’s current location of 1050 Drouillard Road.

The selection at Bunch is always changing and growing and as Potvin notes: “Items in our store might only be found once, especially keeping in mind our vintage selection.”

Potvin has always gravitated towards small-batch items and clothing herself, and this was the inspiration behind opening Bunch.

“There is something about buying an item that is made slowly, with intention and care from an artist or designer,” Potvin comments. “It makes an impact, on both myself and the person I bought it from.”

In her opinion, having things that are unique — whether it be a vintage item or a t-shirt — creates a memory and a sense of nostalgia that cannot be forgotten.

“I wanted to share those brands, artists and finds with others, and Bunch was born,” Potvin excitedly states. “I had this idea for

Lauren Potvin is pictured in the middle of her store, Bunch, surrounded by displays of specialty and home décor items for sale. And while the square footage of her retail business may be small, there is still a whole "bunch" of great stuff in its tiny little space!

Photo by Rebecca Wright.

a store that celebrated other small businesses that I loved and eventually the timing was right and I was able to build my space, with the help of my handy husband, Shane.”

While she acknowledges there are some amazing stores that carry local artisans and Canadian made products in Windsor, she wanted to expand on that and welcome small businesses from all over North America.

“Bunch has a variety of Windsor and Canadian made goods as well, however, I wanted to welcome those who fit the vibe of my store and celebrate the same sense of slow, meaningful products and goods,” Potvin explains. “I strive to fill Bunch with items that cannot be found in Windsor or the surrounding area. Each piece I carry is truly unique, fun and exciting.”

So what can customers expect when they walk through the doors?

You’ll find a “Bunch” of awesome things at her business, from unique gifts for birthdays, holidays or other special

occasions, along with home goods and trendy t-shirts that will “pretty much satisfy any wardrobe.”

Potvin expresses that she has had a great time learning how to start, run and grow her business and feels lucky to have a great circle of other female entrepreneurs surrounding her.

She also feels fortunate to have her partner by her side. Shane has owned a successful company for many years and he was able to guide and teach her many things about what running a business means.

“Coming from my background in education, it was definitely a switch to be my own boss,” she notes. “Structured hours are now a thing of the past, and social media is my new best friend!”

Though starting a business is challenging, it is also very rewarding to know that what you’re presenting to others is welcomed and celebrated, she reflects.

Owning Bunch has enabled Potvin to expand on her own artistic hobbies.

“While time has passed and my first year is only a month away, I’ve been lucky enough to become a maker myself and start a rug tufting business, TAB (Tuft A Bunch),” she mentions.

Her advice to other female entrepreneurs is to just get out there and connect with others.

“Making connections to other entrepreneurs can open doors, give support and help you feel oh so welcomed into this awesome community!” she states.

For more details on what could be Windsor’s smallest retail shop, go online to: ShopABunch.ca.

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Manor’s Keys Of Hope Cheque Presentations

HOT SHOTS HOT SHOTS HOT SHOTS HOT S March 1, 2022 at Manor Windsor Realty Ltd., Brokerage, 3276 Walker Road, Windsor.

Photos by Rod Denis. All people in photos listed from the left.

1. Manor Windsor Realty Ltd., Brokerage began their own annual fundraising program in 2018 with contributing real estate agents donating a portion of the sale of each home sold during the year.

This endeavour — called Keys of Hope (KeysOfHope.ca) — sets out to help local organizations or charities in need. The 2022 beneficiaries share in over $25,000, bringing the grand total raised to $80,000 for the local community, to date. In this group shot, you’ll also see City of Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens in attendance with Manor VIPs at the press conference.

The real estate firm is very proud to be able to donate to the great community organizations that work tirelessly for those in need. Representatives from area charities are shown in the accompanying photos accepting cheques from Manor agents.

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2. Anna Kolm, Manor Accredited Senior Agent and Sales Representative, presented $10,000 to Jennifer Wells, President of the Windsor Goodfellows.

Visit keysofhope.ca

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3. Maria Franzoi, Manor Realty Sales Representative was pleased to hand over an envelope with a $5,000 cheque inside to the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women & Families, represented by Dawn Toth, Shelter Manager, and Anastasia Adams, Volunteer/Harm Reduction Program Coordinator.

4. Amy Mullins, Manor Sales Representative, gave the cheque for $5,000 to Jessica Gaudette, Founder of KM (Kind Minds) Foundation.

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5. Rob Agnew, Manor Broker/Manager, presented $2,500 to Julie Bondy, Autism Ontario Windsor-Essex Past President (note she is also a Broker with Manor Realty).

6. Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR) of Windsor-Essex, represented by volunteers Diane Westenberg (left) and Rachele Peever, received a $2,500 donation from Rob Agnew, Manor Broker/Manager.

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SHOTS

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THE PARENTING BIZ Feature Story By Jim Murphy

“Mama, I’m Coming Home!”

How To Get Your House In Order For A New Baby

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oming back from the hospital with a newborn means having a whole new set of responsibilities at home.

Even though newborns spend most of their time in their crib, rather than crawling around the house, they may still be exposed to many potential risks.

According to SafeHome.org’s 2022 Annual Childproofing Report, four out of 10 parents believed a child’s injury could have been avoided had they taken proper child proofing precautions in and around the home.

SafeHome.org shares the following tips on how to keep your newborn’s environment comfortable and safe from hazards . . .

Have a Safe Crib Area: Keep the area around your baby’s crib clear of heavy objects, artwork, or mobile objects that could potentially fall on your child and cause an injury.

Keep Diapers Out of Reach: If you use disposable diapers, make sure to properly cover them with your baby’s clothing.

If your child can reach and pick at the diaper, they could suffocate if they tear off pieces of the plastic liner and swallow them.

Install Smoke Detectors: Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in or near your baby’s room so you can be aware of any hazards in the nursery.

Beware of Unintentional Suffocation: While every parent wants their baby to feel warm and cozy in their sleep — large blankets, pillows and stuffed animals may present suffocation and strangulation hazards. Use smaller blankets instead or add one layer of clothing to your baby for bedtime.

You can read the report at: SafeHome.org/ family-safety/home-childproofing-report and also at the end of this story see more tips on baby proofing your home.

While all of this may seem overwhelming to new parents, we have your back!

Teresinha Medeiros, Communications Coordinator for Windsor Regional Hospital, informs Biz X that from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021, the hospital assisted in the delivery of 3,463 babies.

With thousands of babies being born each year our April home theme edition is the ideal time to introduce expectant parents to local business owners who can help take care of all the must have items their newborn baby needs.

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Windsor’s 2022 new year’s baby, Olivia Grace, is pictured with mom Julia Tolmie and dad Sam Poole. Olivia Grace was born at the Met campus of Windsor Regional Hospital on January 1 at 1:13 a.m. Now comes the fun part for all parents . . . bringing the baby home from the hospital to her/his new home. Photo courtesy of Teresinha Medeiros/WRH.

Outfit Your Sweet Little Lambs At Three Lambs Registry & Baby Boutique

Opened in 2015, Three Lambs Registry & Baby Boutique Inc. offers a wide selection of high-quality baby gear, including the best in nursery and décor, strollers, car seats, feeding, teething supplies, bathing products, baby clothes, toys, books, keepsakes and more!

Jeanine Jodoin, President, CEO and Owner of Three Lambs Registry & Baby Boutique Inc., has plenty of experience shopping for

and using pre-natal and post-natal products for herself and her five kids.

“I know what works and what doesn’t, and which quality products stand the test of time,” Jodoin expresses. “With this knowledge I’m able to provide the ultimate baby-registry experience.”

Located at 13444 Tecumseh Road East in the St. Clair Beach Plaza (Manning Road and Tecumseh Road East), Three Lambs Registry & Baby Boutique offers a unique concierge-type registry service that helps parents, and their families, find the perfect products and brands to suit their lifestyle.

Jeanine Jodoin (left), President, CEO and Owner of Three Lambs Registry & Baby Boutique in Tecumseh shows mother-to-be Shelby Renaud the perfect nursery room furniture for when her baby boy is born in July.

In the showroom photographed is a Babyletto Lolly 3-in-1 Crib, Babyletto Mini Crib, Monte Designs Grazia Glider (chair on left), Dutailier Classico Glider/ Recliner (chair on right), Lorena Canals Washable Rugs and wall décor items.

Photo by Rod Denis.

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THE PARENTING BIZ Their friendly and knowledgeable staff of 12 will guide you in selecting trusted brands, while helping you discover new and innovative products.

“I am strongly committed to creating an environment where parents feel supported and empowered with tools and knowledge,” Jodoin says. “My business has succeeded and grown because I listen to customers and work to fill their needs with amazing baby products in a fabulous setting. I’m proud to say we have everything parents and their caregivers need to prepare for their new bundles of joy.”

For example, their furniture selection, for nurseries and big kids’ room needs includes: armoires, chifforobes, wardrobes, cribs, mini-cribs, bassinets, cradles, toddler beds, bunk beds and more. They also have dressers, change tables, vanities, desks, bookshelves, nightstands, gliders, recliners, rockers, and bouncer chairs.

For more information on all their products and how to create your own registry, visit: ThreeLambs.ca.

Say Hello To . . .

Rock-A-Bye Baby Boutique

After the birth of her first of two daughters, Kaitlyn Nussio, Owner of Rock-A-Bye Baby Boutique, quickly realized there weren’t

Kaitlyn Nussio, Owner of Rock-A-Bye Baby Boutique poses by a display of crib sheets, swaddle blankets, change covers and related products, from brands such as LouLou Lollipop, Mebie Baby, Lulujo, Little Unicorn, The OVer Company, and Copper Pearl. She is holding a Cuddle + Kind doll, Eloise the Elephant. For every Cuddle + Kind doll sold, 10 meals are provided through the United Nations Food Program to children in need.

Photo courtesy of Sandra Brush.

many options in the county for baby products.

“I opened my business in March 2019, after being off for a year on maternity leave with my first born,” Nussio says. “After having my daughter, I quickly found that there were no options, in my neck of the woods, for baby products. This gave me an idea and I quickly had a plan in place that I knew would

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benefit so many people in my hometown and surrounding area.”

Before opening Rock-A-Bye Baby Boutique, Nussio graduated college with a Personal Support Worker certificate (PSW) and was employed in the health care industry for several years. She then switched careers and started working in human resources, before getting pregnant and going on maternity leave.

What does she feel is her key to success?

“I have been fortunate enough to have children of my own, so I have the opportunity to use all the products I sell, first hand,” says Nussio. “This gives me the ability to give customers my personal feedback and honest opinions about all my products.”

Located at 48 Talbot Street North in Essex, Rock-A-Bye Baby Boutique offers a variety of baby goods and clothes along with strollers, car seats, nursery essentials, bathing/grooming products, feeding/teething products, diaper bags/travel products, safety gates, activity gyms and more.

“We offer a registry service that is available in-store and on our website,” explains Nussio. “This gives customers the ability to easily access registries online and be able to purchase gift items from home; also, the ability for customers to come visit the store and shop in person.”

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THE PARENTING BIZ Their registry program offers a oneon-one consultation in-store, where the registrant and staff of two meet and walk around together to create a registry that best suits the registrants’ wants and needs.

To find, create or manage a gift registry, and also see some of the products Nussio sells, go to: RockAByeBabyBoutique.ca.

Make Your Baby The Envy Of The Neighbourhood With Baby Envy Boutique

Located in Windsor at 1645 Wyandotte Street East, Baby Envy Boutique carries a plethora of baby equipment, including strollers, toys, clothing, accessories, health and wellness items, and products for first time moms.

They also carry some customized and personalized gadgets for your children that are made by local artists in the area.

“Back in 2018, I noticed there weren’t many businesses that catered to this market,” recounts Phong Nguyen, Owner of Baby Envy Boutique. “I realized that opportunity, and in July that year I opened Baby Envy Boutique.”

Before expanding into merchandise for babies and parents, Nguyen has operated Envy Boutique, a trendy women’s clothing shop, for more than 10 years.

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Phong Nguyen, Owner of Baby Envy Boutique, snaps a quick selfie in his shop located at 1645 Wyandotte Street East in the Walkerville area.

The two businesses are accessible from one entrance and share retail space.

“People that are coming to Baby Envy Boutique should expect the same level of quality in customer service as they would get at Envy Boutique,” says Nguyen.

“Our staff of four pays close attention to detail and gives customers peace of mind regarding the quality of the products they are purchasing for their little ones.”

With the pandemic hitting small

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businesses especially hard, those catering to parents and the baby market are lucky that one thing never changes. New babies will always be coming into the world and requiring certain necessities sold at shops like Baby Envy Boutique.

“I’m excited about the restrictions lifting and more people having baby showers, gender reveal parties and birthday parties to celebrate their newborns,” Nguyen comments. “But, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank our amazing and loyal customers who kept us going during the stressful time of the pandemic; the local support is greatly appreciated and welcomed as we continue to deliver all your baby essentials.”

Call or email to start a registry, or do it yourself on: BabyEnvyBoutique.com.

Get Great Deals at Cradle & All Consignment And Retail

Opened in March 2018 to help families of all incomes with buying and selling children’s items, Cradle & All Consignment and Retail — 1395 Tecumseh Road East, Unit B in Windsor — sells gently-used items, such as clothing from newborn to adult, along with new-in-box, with-tag items, toys, books and plenty of handmade items from local artists.

“The business began with us participating

THE PARENTING BIZ

Tracey Garant, Owner of Cradle & All Consignment and Retail, takes some time off from running her business to spend it with her granddaughter Peyton.

Photo courtesy of Chelsea Daoust.

in weekend craft shows and selling our goods, before we eventually needed our own concrete space,” Tracey Garant, Owner of Cradle & All Consignment and Retail points out. “Our goods and many other local artists’ goods, are still present in our store along with tons of children’s and adult items.”

Garant tells Biz X her passion to the job comes from helping others, while also getting them a great deal, which is perfect for new moms and dads on a budget!

“Not only are we helping the buyers with their new (to them) finds, we are also helping the seller get rid of their items for cash or store credit,” she says. “Customers should know that we are there to help everyone!

We may not have exactly what you’re looking for, but we are willing to reach out to our sellers, or even the other consignment stores to see if they have what you need.”

Cradle & All is family oriented in every sense of the word.

“I have three children and seven grandchildren,” Garant indicates. “You’ll often find my daughter and granddaughter also at the store, and sometimes even my sister and niece. My kids and grandkids have helped non-stop with keeping up with the fashions and spreading the word about the store.”

The shop’s inventory changes daily, so to see photos of what’s in stock, check: Facebook.com/cradleandallconsignment.

Warm Up To A Belamour Blanket

The Belamour Collection is a product line of high-quality, warm, comfortable baby blankets with modern and classic styles to complement any nursery theme.

“When I started my blanket business in 2010, it was more of a hobby than a business,” recalls Paula Seguin, Founder and BIZ X M AG A Z I N E • A P R I L 2 0 2 2

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THE PARENTING BIZ

Designer of The Belamour Collection and mother of three. “My intention was to find a way to not only bring comfort to my own children, but to bring comfort to other children as well.”

Seguin’s blankets quickly began to garner attention from local baby stores and other moms, which is when she decided to go into business.

“I feel very fortunate to have grown a brand that is enjoyed locally and by many babies across the world,” she states.

“I have appreciated all the support I have had through the years of my small business.”

Seguin, who studied Fashion Design at the International Academy of Design, was inspired by her own mom to start a business.

“One of the things she would tell me is that my blankets should have a secret ingredient in them,” Seguin says. “When my mom passed away in 2015, I started the process to rebrand the blankets under the name Belamour –— which means ‘one who is loved.’ It was the perfect name to use to continue to be inspired by the love that goes into each blanket.”

The collection has many choices for girls, boys and neutral blankets as well, such as: English Rose, Water Colour Waves, Sweetpea, Sandy Baby, Planets & Rockets, Jungle Joy and plenty more. Gift cards are also available.

Make it a cuddle to remember for your baby! For further details, or to inquire about their custom embroidery options, refer to: TheBelamourCollection.com.

Toddlers In The Home . . .

Better Safe, Than Sorry

In closing, we turn our attention to keeping your baby safe as they grow older.

In the blink of an eye, your little baby boy or

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BIZ X M AG A Z I N E • A P R I L 2 0 2 2

© Can Stock Photo/monkeybusiness

Paula Seguin, Founder and Designer of The Belamour Collection is pleased her customers love her luxurious blankets as they value the look, feel and comfort they bring to a child’s experience. It is also a fond memory as he/she gets older as it is a blanket they can cherish forever. Photo courtesy of Heike Delmore Photography.

girl will be a toddler. And as every parent knows, toddlers have an uncanny way of getting into just about anything they see!

SafeHome’s resident parenting expert American Dadfluencer Patrick Quinn, Co-founder of Life Of Dad (LifeOfDad.com), shares with us some useful pointers for how to childproof each section of your home so your toddler can roam safely.

In the living room, keep window-blind cords either cut short or tucked away so children don’t get entangled in them. Install door stops and door holders, they work wonders to keep little fingers from being pinched. Make sure to cover unused outlets so children are not tempted to stick their tiny fingers in and get shocked.

Kitchens are a dangerous place, full of hot and sharp hazards. Make sure you lock your stove knobs because you never know when your child will get curious and decide to ignite your stove burners!

You also want to secure low drawers in your kitchen, especially if they contain dangerous items like scissors or knives.

Make sure electric appliances are unplugged when they are not in use.

Bathrooms contain real drowning, slipping and poisoning hazards for toddlers. Make sure to install safety locks and latches on your toilet so your child doesn’t get into it. Place a rubber slipcover next to the bathtub to avoid your child slipping and falling when the area is wet. Ensure that the cabinet containing chemicals in the bathroom is locked.

In the dining room, make sure glass objects are stored out of reach and check if your child’s highchair features a safety strap between the legs.

Be sure to follow these tips to keep your kids safe when they start to crawl and walk around to explore their surroundings!

Welcome To The Family, Little One

Perhaps your family is growing soon by two more feet, with a new little brother or sister on the way? Without a doubt, a baby is the greatest gift that life can ever send!

So whether you need cribs, strollers, car seats, feeding equipment, clothing, bathing accessories or toys, businesses in Windsor Essex have everything you need for when your newborn arrives home.

Support local always!

THE PARENTING BIZ HEALTH MATTERS

Everyday Ways To Support Children’s Mental Wellness Supplied By The WECHU

© Can Stock Photo/Fizkes

Turning the living room into a dance area can help you and your child boost your mental and physical health.

T

he past two years have been challenging, especially for children.

Adjusting from in-class to online learning and back again, has disrupted children’s education and everyday experiences in a meaningful way.

Socialization is vital for child development, and many children have experienced isolation from their friends, teachers, coaches, and extended families.

Now that many pandemic restrictions are lifting, some children may experience new uncertainties or anxieties around these changes to their routines.

Help your children adjust to these transitions by talking about changing pandemic restrictions in age-appropriate ways.

There are many strategies parents and caregivers can use to support their children’s and whole family’s mental health and well-being such as . . .

Keep A Routine Kids, teens, and adults all do their best when working with a predictable routine.

Keeping a routine at home is especially important when the outside world is unpredictable.

Get Active Physical activity is essential for maintaining mental wellness. A walk outside, a bike ride, or some dancing in the living room can go a long way to enhancing your mood.

Make Time To Connect Create opportunities for socialization.

When you can’t see friends and family in person, video calls can help you stay connected.

Limit Social Media Everyone benefits from logging off and doing other activities, like reading a book or comic, playing a game, cooking, or creating art.

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Practice Mindfulness Turn daily tasks into mindful moments.

When you wash your hands, feel the sensation of the water and soap bubbles on your skin. Listen to the sounds of the water.

Remember that ups and downs in moods are expected; however, some children will experience a more serious mental health issue. Around one in five children and youth in Ontario will experience a mental illness.

Parents and caregivers can identify any developing problems early on so that children who need extra support can get the help they need.

Make an effort to . . .

• Talk with them and listen to what they are saying. Pay special attention if a child says he/she feels sad or anxious, or expresses thoughts of hurting him/herself.

• Notice changes in behaviour or emotion that last for some time, or changes in behaviour that interferes with their daily functioning at home or school.

For more tips on how to support children’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, visit: Wechu.org/ cv/mental-health. You can call 2-1-1 or refer to: 211ontario.ca to find mental health resources near you. The Kids Help Phone (KidsHelpPhone.ca) is available 24/7 at 1-800-668-6868 for kids, teens, and young adults in English and French. You can also reach out to the Indigenous Hope for Wellness (HopeForWellness.ca) Help Line 1-855-242-3310 or the Black Youth Helpline (BlackYouth.ca) 1-833-294-8650.

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU), in partnership with other agencies and health care providers, seeks to enable all Windsor and Essex County residents to be as healthy as possible. The Health Unit is located at 1005 Ouellette Avenue in Windsor and online at: WECHU.org.

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THE PARENTING BIZ FUN & GAMES

You Can Bet The Farm The Whole Family Will Enjoy A Visit To Sunny Britches Acres

By Julianna Bonnett

F

armer and CEO of Essex County Hatchery, Nicole Winkels, has hatched a second business, this time in the agritourism division.

The goal of her new biz — Sunny Britches Acres — is to provide a real-life farm experience for families and children.

For over three years, after renting a barn outside Essex for her chickens, Winkels had wanted a farm of her own so she put together a business plan to make her dream a reality.

“In April 2021, we (along with her husband and three children) sold our property in Woodslee and moved to the farm that we currently occupy in Cottam so we could expand our business and add on some larger livestock,” she explains. “After moving here we had so many friends express how much fun it was to bring their kids to visit the farm.

So, in September 2021, we opened up for private tours, which booked up extremely fast. This brought me to an unexpected niche market as there is nothing really farm-related for kids to do in Essex County. We named the farm Sunny Britches Acres because we wanted to incorporate the amazing sunrises and sunsets we get here.”

The britches part of the name comes from the couple’s three kids who love wearing overalls!

“Over this past winter, we have rebranded our farm to focus on farm tours under the name Sunny Britches Acres and providing a way for kids and families to experience a real farm, with animals that are raised and loved here,” Winkels informs Biz X. “In summer 2022, we’ll be offering overnight farm stays in our cabin, which can be booked on Airbnb and families can experience a day on the farm. We also offer birthday parties for kids,

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Essex County Hatchery and Sunny Britches Acres Owner Nicole Winkels — holding Bill, a Royal Palm Turkey — has many reasons to be smiling from ear to ear. Her business is now growing to include overnight farm stays, farm tours, birthday party/small event hosting, and photography site rentals.

Photo by Julianna Bonnett.

which have already been booked into August.”

Located on 257 Road 10 in Cottam, the farm also features small event packages and even photographer rentals (the photo barn can accommodate large groups and wedding parties and props like a vintage tractor are available to be rented too).

Through Essex County Hatchery (open since 2019) they also sell farm-fresh eggs and pastured meats — such as chicken, turkey, duck and goose. In the spring, they also hatch and sell chicks and ducklings to local customers.

As an active entrepreneur for the last 12 years, Winkels has been involved in a variety of different business ventures including home staging, antique dealing, and maternity/newborn photography.

“I was trained as a pharmacy technician, which I worked at while running my own businesses on the side, until 2018, when I quit my pharmacy job so I could work on my photography business full time,” she shares.

“In 2019 after my 19-year-old brother’s death, we started looking at a change for our family.

We wanted to move away from the city, so we renovated our war-time home in Windsor

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and in 2020 bought our rural property in Woodslee. After buying our Woodslee property, the photography business slowed down due to the pandemic, and everyone started wanting to buy chickens.”

So the move to Cottam in 2021 was made and Sunny Britches Acres was born!

“This spring is going to be our busy season, we have pastures to plant and fencing to install so we can move our larger animals into pasture for the nicer weather,” she says.

“We also have plans to plant a pumpkin patch, sunflower field, and butterfly meadow for people to walk through and for photographers to rent for photo shoots.”

A grand opening celebration for Sunny Britches Acres is scheduled on Saturday April 16 and Monday April 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with plenty of familyfriendly activities planned, like feeding and petting the animals, Easter egg hunts, scavenger hunts, and shopping at local food vendors on site. Keep up to date with the latest event details on their social media pages.

For more information on both companies check out: EssexCountyHatchery.com and: SunnyBritches.com.

THE PARENTING BIZ IT'S ALL RELATIVE

New Podcast Focuses On Family Support

Make a tea or pop some popcorn and watch the video version of the podcasts on the YouTube channel Windsor-Essex CAS or: wecas.on.ca. To listen to the podcast while exercising, driving or doing chores you may do so on apps like Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Podbean.

The Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society (WECAS), together with the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Foundation, launched a new podcast in mid-March — Every Day Family Matters.

As we navigate through the course of life, it seems as if every day presents challenges and less time and resources to guide us in the right direction. This is not only true for our own families, but also for the vulnerable families that WECAS serves within our community.

How do we become a better parent? How do we access services in our local area that can provide us with support? How do we face up to the many current social issues that re-define what we are as a society?

In turn, how does that impact on the health and well-being of families and the community as a whole? Can you do more to advocate for those in need, and what opportunities are available for you to give back to others?

WECAS Every Day Family Matters podcast hosts Tina Gatt, Manager of Community Outreach, and Mike Clark, Manager of Public Relations & Fund Development are shown in this graphic with the organization’s Riverside Drive location in the background.

Photos courtesy of Sid Pandya.

These are just some of the topics that will be addressed with Every Day Family Matters. WECAS Hosts Mike Clark and Tina Gatt will welcome a wide array of professionals, advocates and community leaders who will share their stories, life experiences and expertise.

The hope is that this communication tool will be a beacon of support for enriching the lives of children, youth and families.

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The video versions can be found on YouTube under Windsor-Essex CAS as well, they are posted on: wecas.on.ca. And you can just listen to the podcast by searching Every Day Family Matters on a smartphone by accessing the apps: Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Podbean.

WECAS is located at: 1671 Riverside Drive East in Windsor and 33 Princess Street in Leamington.

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Straight “From The Heart” We Thank The Janisse Sisters For 32 Amazing Years

By Joe McParland

O

n April 30, 2022, From The Heart, Card, Gift and Wig Boutique, 1356 Ottawa Street closes its doors for a final time.

This popular Windsor retail business has been owned and operated for 32 years by my three cousins — Jackie McCreary, Geri Maisonneuve and Paulette Kupnicki — who are all sisters.

I sat down with them for an interview in a back room at their shop on International Women’s Day (March 8).

Let me now introduce you to them — in case you haven’t already met — and then I will tell you about their business and how it came to be.

They are three of five daughters born to my uncle, Vince, and aunt, Doris Janisse (McParland). Their other two daughters are; Sue Simard who lives out in British Columbia, and their much-loved Michelle (Mickie Janisse) who was felled by cancer on April 4, 2006 at the age of 52.

Not a day passes by that she isn’t remembered and loved by her partner Lynne Rose and the entire Janisse family.

It should also be noted that at age four, cousin Mickie was the first girl I ever kissed; we were true kissing cousins, LOL! Their father Vince was a second generation owner-operator of Janisse Brothers Funeral Home on Ouellette Avenue. The business was passed on to him from his father, George. Vince and Doris also had two sons, Paul and David, who became third generation owner/operators.

Hence Janisse “Brothers,” but that name wasn’t quite accurate.

Their sister Mickie, also a licensed mortician, played an important part of the family business before moving on to other career opportunities. Janisse Brothers Funeral Home was subsequently sold by the two brothers to Arbor Memorial Inc. and is now known as Janisse Funeral Home.

Each of the sisters travelled different career paths when their schooling years were completed.

Maisonneuve worked in a bank; McCreary became a Registered Nurse; Kupnicki was a catholic elementary school teacher for years before accepting a position with Centres For Seniors (now renamed to Life After Fifty).

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The Janisse sisters — Jackie, Geri and Paulette — are photographed in March inside From The Heart, Card, Gift and Wig Boutique, as the deadline to the final countdown of the shop’s April closure creeps closer. Photo by Rod Denis.

She then spent 19 years with The City of Windsor Parks & Recreation department, working with the seniors in the region.

All three sisters married, had children and raised a family.

November 16, 1989 was the official opening of From The Heart, Card, Gift and Wig Boutique.

Originally located in the Dorwin Plaza on Dougall Avenue, the business was then called The Wig Wam Boutique.

It was owned by Bea Lennon, a good friend of the sisters’ “grandma” Jeanne Janisse who remarried their father Vince, after their mother Doris had died.

Lennon had told grandma Jeanne she was going to be selling her business. Grandma Jeanne then told the three sisters, who were quite interested and after some deliberation, the sisters agreed to purchase it.

Along with the assistance of their father and grandma Jeanne, the sisters became business partners.

“We owe so much to grandma Jeanne,” says Kupnicki. “My sisters and I were deeply saddened to learn of her passing the week this interview was conducted. We are forever grateful for all she did for us.”

They renamed the business From The Heart and within a year expanded into a space next door that became available.

So, where did the business name come from?

McCreary’s first husband Jim McCreary was involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Windsor Essex (refer to: Windsor.BigBrothersBigSisters.ca) and it BIZ X M AG A Z I N E • A P R I L 2 0 2 2

was his “little brother” Jeff who is credited with naming the business. No further explanation is available as to why he chose this name — but it was spot on!

They changed quite a bit of the product line and eliminated the Canada Post station that came with the business. The business grew — especially The Wig Boutique, which catered to a growing number of clients suffering hair loss from cancer’s chemotherapy, and other hair loss diseases.

Over the years, they have served hundreds and hundreds of women with this much needed service which, at times, represented half of their business.

In September 2001, they purchased their own space at 1356 Ottawa Street in a growing business community. And there they have remained, for the past 21 years.

So, how do three women with no formal training in business come together and start and sustain their own business?

The key word is mentor. You find a reliable and tested mentor who can walk the walk you are about to begin.

As Kupnicki recalls: “A friend of mine, Liz Munsterhjelm, had a business called Casa Chavela (which closed in 2021 after 36 years), a fair-trade store on Pelissier Street featuring international products from over 40 countries. Early in our start up she graciously opened her books for us to review and shared with us her learned experiences. She was essential to helping us get off the ground.”

Years later the sisters helped establish an entrepreneurial group of female business

owners to brainstorm, network, support each other, share best practices, and work together. This was largely spearheaded by McCreary and was their way of “paying it forward” for the advice they received from Munsterhjelm.

McCreary believes the key to a successful small business start up “is in not going it alone. There’s a tendency to be hyper vigilant about expenses in the beginning and perhaps not hiring the level of required staff to assist you. The three of us had a great advantage here because there were three of us who are sisters and who love and respect each other.”

As time went on, they opened their business to employee help, many of whom became honorary family. And they also earned two Biz X Awards — one in 2009 for The Card Shop That Rises To The Occasion and the second in 2012 for The Big Wig Of Hair Pieces.

I asked Maisonneuve how they survived the COVID-19 pandemic when so many other small businesses did not.

“We would not have survived the pandemic had we not been given the wonderful grants from the government,” Maisonneuve replies.

“We took advantage of every grant out there and that saved us. It helped us get our online store — FromTheHeartWithLove.com — in September 2020, something which we never had before.”

The funding also allowed them to upgrade their 50 year old cash register, obtain a POS (Point Of Sale) machine and purchase a few other items used in today’s contemporary business environment.

These are some of the grants Maisonneuve went after: the Digital Main Street Ontario grant (DigitalMainStreet.ca); Ontario Small Business Relief Grant (A p p . G r a n t s . g o v. o n . c a /o s b r g / # ) and Canada-Ontario Job Grant (TCU.gov.on.ca/eng/eopg/cojg) in addition to the federal Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB, now closed) financial support each of the sisters applied for.

Faithful patrons of From The Heart will tell you the store is an eclectic mixture of diverse one-of-a-kind gift items and cards — always renewing itself, keeping itself fresh.

Items like my whimsical Mistletoes, which make an appearance every December. This is the result of the sisters attending some of the best trade shows available.

During the late 1990s’ Beanie Babies craze, the store was overrun at times by people from both Canada and the U.S. lining up to purchase their well stocked inventory of these collector dolls (and future investments)!

Their most popular and enduring product has been Ramedica Herbal Wonder Balm (for aches and pains), which will continue to be available after the closure through Kupnicki’s daughter, Nicole. (Note: The store will announce details to their customers on how to contact Nicole shortly).

And there is great news about the future of the Wig Boutique!

A long-time client, Jodi McGregor, is taking over the Wig Boutique and is excited to continue this service.

From The Heart staff will continue to serve you in-store until the end of April, and then McGregor will be available at Salon Topaz, 3021 Dougall Avenue.

Reacting to the impending closure of From The Heart, Ettore Bonato, President of the Uptown Ottawa Street BIA (UptownOttawaStreet.com) shares these words: “The store has been a fixture on Ottawa Street for years where you could always find that special card or gift no other merchant has. And their heart-warming way of finding wigs for people suffering the effects of hair loss due to cancer treatments, is a true testament of caring. They will be missed greatly, and I wish them the best in their future endeavours.”

And City of Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens states: “After more than 32 years of service, the owners of From The Heart, Card, Gift and Wig Boutique are preparing for a well-deserved retirement. What started

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as a unique card and gift store has blossomed into an Ottawa Street — and regional — staple that also includes a fine selection of timeless décor, distinctive jewellery, clothing, soaps, candles and more. I can only imagine how many special, thoughtful pieces from the shop, presented on countless important occasions, have become treasured keepsakes for families across our community.”

The Mayor continues with: “The addition of the Wig Boutique added another dimension of caring service. I’ve heard touching stories of the confidence, strength and joy a wig from the shop helped bring many people during uncertain times in their lives. Jackie, Geri and Paulette — thank you! These decades of service have made a tremendous impact on families celebrating life’s special moments, and those seeking comfort during challenging days, while your many charitable and community-oriented initiatives have truly resonated. While we are glad to hear the wig and head covering services will continue under new leadership, the legacy you have created will live on in the hearts and minds of all those who you’ve touched. It is obvious the shop was never a ‘job’ for any of you — it was a vocational labour of love that was truly — from the heart.”

Our Mayor could not have said it better!

From The Heart has been an oasis for so many persons, for so many years. The three sisters fuelled their service to others through their individual faith and spirituality.

Their approach to their client service has been unique. It is therapeutic; it is ministry.

Whether it’s their participation in the Look Good, Feel Better (LGFB.ca) program, or the sisters praying with a client for their personal needs in their back room, they have responded to clients with respect, devotion and love.

From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU cousins for these 32 years, I hope you enjoy your richly deserved retirement.

You’ve made this cousin so very proud of both the Janisse brothers AND Janisse sisters in our community!

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Almost 39 Years And Still . . .

“Lovin’ Every Minute Of It”

By Lori Baldassi

Y

ou know that voice.

It’s the one attached to your alarm in the morning that helps you through your work day or your ride home.

This voice is familiar for listeners from Vancouver to Calgary to Edmonton and at one point across Canada. This voice is that of veteran radio broadcaster, John Beaudin.

Beaudin is in his 39th year on air and as the band Loverboy sings, he is still “Lovin’ Every Minute of It”!

Through the years, he’s experienced a multitude of musical genres, Radio call letters, music fads, and the good, the bad and the ugly of the music broadcast industry. A self-described music lover, Beaudin’s longevity in radio is a rarity by today’s standards, but it’s the fact that he is still very much an enthusiastic openminded curious fan that reels you into these interviews.

Off-air Beaudin started two successful YouTube channels — Rock History (YouTube.com/c/RockHistoryMusic) and Rock History Book (YouTube.com/c/ RockHistoryBook).

I highly recommend both channels as you will find compelling interviews that no one else has, with bands such as: Scorpions, Chicago, Tower of Power, Rascals, Boston, Supertramp, Eagles, Jethro Tull, Colin James, Triumph, Eddie Money, Elton John Band, Toto, and Genesis.

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John Beaudin has been in major market radio (Edmonton, Vancouver and Calgary) for almost 40 years. He currently hosts the evening show at Move 103.5 Radio in Vancouver and on iHeartRadio.

Photo courtesy of Shannon Edwards-Beaudin.

Have a burning question about a band, an album, an artist? Tune into Beaudin’s Let’s Talk Rock on Friday Night Live, co-hosted by his wife Shannon Edwards-Beaudin. As I mentioned, he has almost 39 years of answers! (See: YouTube.com/watch?v=50HLx3XXRBk) After all these years of interviews its Beaudin’s long-trusted relationships with these artists that bring out the real stories on those channels.

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To be clear, these are NOT gossip sites.

These musicians are no longer tethered by record labels, lawyers, management or public views and the familiarity and ease, with which he drives the entire process, brings out some startling revelations.

One-on-one interviews go deep on sound, producers, musicianship, gear, song writing, changes in direction musically and the business of the music industry from the people who were there.

Beaudin prides himself on producing “music news” on the channels as it happens from the announcement of tours, remastered albums, biographies and deaths.

Recently, I had to chance to catch up with him from his new home in Moncton, New Brunswick, about all things radio.

Biz X: How do you approach an interview with touring Classic Rock acts knowing the audience, while sold out, is coming to hear the hits from 40 years ago, when there is no radio to support their new music?

Beaudin: They all know that radio would not support their new music, yet they’re still creating some. I start the interview by telling the artist you know how this works.

For example, if it’s Journey, I say I’m going to talk about the Escape album then we’re going to talk about the tour and then go into the new music. Here’s the thing, they still want to write music. They still have the muse to do it. They survive playing the same songs, by throwing something new in the mix. Bruce Hornsby, for instance,

never plays the same song the same way twice. You can go to YouTube and see there are 50 different versions of it. That’s how they keep it fresh.

Biz X: Do you think Rock Radio will come back?

Beaudin: I don’t think Rock could ever die. It’s just a new breed now. Prog Rock for instance is moving a little more “metallish” because Metal will always be around, you’ll always have that. It’s not so sub-culture anymore and has moved more mainstream.

Biz X: How many different genres have you worked through?

Beaudin: AC (Adult Contemporary) was the first one. A K light (Easy Listening) in ‘83. Gold (Oldies) format at CFR (AM), then CKX (AM). It was an A “Beautiful Music” format audience where they discovered the listeners were aging out, meaning they were literally dying. While in Edmonton I turned the show into AC during the day and New Age Music in the evening. I ended up getting better ratings in the evening than the morning show! It was there I found my radio voice. I was getting hundreds of calls. It was like Wolfman Jack (first rock radio DJ) working alone in the ’50s. At 14 CFUN in Vancouver, I worked for a smooth jazz station in

Calgary at the same time, different shifts.

I also worked at California 103 out of Calgary. We got a lot of calls about why would you call it California if it was out of Calgary? Of course, to get people talking about it, and later it was abbreviated to CAL 103 which was the plan all along, it worked really well. I also did a music syndicated show across Canada called, The Cross Canada Report, from the mid-1980s to the late 80s.

Biz X: It’s a family affair on your Let’s Talk Rock Friday Night Live ask-meanything YouTube show. Your son Chase Edwards-Beaudin has joined you in production and your wife Shannon is co-hosting and also writing shows. Tell us about that?

Beaudin: Look up on the Internet “Chase Toto Rosana” and “Chase Tom Sawyer Rush” and you’ll see a nine year old kid doing a pretty damn good job on an electric kit. (YouTube.com/ watch?v=9iF6QhlVHfI). Chase was in the Top 10 for Long & McQuade’s head-tohead contest for Tom Sawyer (Rush song), which Neil Peart saw and that’s how Chase got Neil Peart sticks. He had a taste of YouTube before I did and at 12, he started to get a following, but didn’t like the attention or the pressure of having to put a video

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up all the time. While he kept drumming and teaching (sometimes teaching kids much older than himself), he developed his skills and then came back to work with me on editing and producing the YouTube channels. As for Shannon it started with helping me out. Then she started writing shows and from there she started to co-host the Friday night live shows. It’s just fun all the way around.

Rock lovers aficionados and pure rock enthusiasts can rest easy knowing people like Beaudin are on the job. Like the lyrics in Cheap Trick’s famous song state: “I will be the flame” and John — to quote AC/DC — “We Salute You”!

Find out more about this talented broadcaster on: JohnBeaudin.com.

Lori Baldassi has been involved in the music industry for many years on a number of professional levels from back stage production to being on the air. She has spoken in front of the CRTC a number of times, holds a certificate in Adjudication from York University Toronto, and is a graduate of St. Clair College’s Media Convergence program. Currently she is a teacher/coordinator at the Windsor Centre for Film, Digital Media & the Creative Arts and hosts a Podcast entitled Seniors’ Views (Facebook.com/SeniorsViews).

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Heart Versus Brain

By Steven Mayo

As I write in mid March, my main concern is for the people of the Ukraine. Unfortunately, an unnecessary crisis and invasion has occurred.

My heart goes out to these great people. We are now seeing the world rally behind them.

My brain also realizes that the day of the Russian invasion may also have been the bottom of the market for many stocks, as we have seen in the last five wars. Markets always factor in the worst outcomes to begin and adjust “risk” as news flows on a daily basis.

With this crisis also come supply disruptions, higher oil and commodity prices, and escalated inflation concerns.

However, as investors we also have to keep in mind that North American corporate earnings remain good, consumer spending numbers continue to strengthen, and the pandemic story is slowly becoming an endemic story.

Clearly, the crisis in Ukraine has pushed good investment stories to the back page. Over time the good corporate stories will come back into focus,

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especially in April when the quarterly earnings reports begin. In the meantime huge amounts of money remain on the sidelines to see how this global story plays out. There are many value stocks that are already in buying territory.

The current headlines surrounding the invasion of Ukraine, and the World’s reaction, are a serious business. In reality we always have the following core investment decisions to make, in both stressful times, and “normal” times . . .

1. Do I need to buy or sell anything today?

2. If I add a company to the portfolio, does it have a history of paying/increasing dividends? Do your homework!

3. Is this company suitable for my portfolio? Or are you experiencing FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)?

4. Do I currently have exposure to that sector, and how much? Is the sector over or under-valued in the last six months?

5. What percentage of the portfolio is supposed to be in stocks/managed money?

The first question is critical as it alludes to one

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of the most important qualities of any successful investor: patience.

Having the patience to wait with cash for a great opportunity to arise can make all the difference.

In the first half of 2022, I believe value stocks will be important to portfolio performance, more so than growth stocks.

The rotation of money from one group/sector to another is constant; however, it’s likely now that it is too late to add oil and hard commodity stocks to a portfolio. That was my recommendation in 2020 and 2021. I now suggest looking towards health care, manufacturing, and transportation companies in North America.

I will continue to preach patience and recommend particular attention be given to companies that grow their dividends. This is still the right recipe for today’s investment climate. Buy quality in times of uncertainty and stock market volatility. Keep in mind though that volatility does not always equate to more risk. It usually provides opportunity.

It is my hope that the crisis in the Ukraine has been resolved by the time you read this.

Quote of the month: “The stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient.” ~ Warren Buffett Steven Mayo is a Senior Investment Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities Inc. (Member — Canadian Investor Protection Fund). This article is not intended as, nor does it constitute investment advice. Readers should consult a qualified professional before taking any action based on information in this article.

They That Go Down To The Sea In Ships

By Andrea Grimes

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n the heels of the Boer War (1899-1902), where our young nation earned its initiation on the world stage, Canada realized that hostiles on the Western Front gave cause for concern.

In preparing for the inevitable, the Canadian Parliament organized a naval service on May 4, 1910, and later, on August 29, 1911, gave it the name, Royal Canadian Navy. Thus, Canada’s maritime defence was established “to make ready for sea.”

“Battle stations” was called and this command was passed along. Every man aboard the ship knew what to do, each practicing his trade. By experiencing the bitter realities of war, many went from being lads to becoming men: “Ready Aye Ready.”

In 1996, the Royal Canadian Naval Association, Admiral Hose Branch, Windsor, (a non-profit organization incorporated in the Province of Ontario) erected the Naval Monument in Windsor’s Dieppe Gardens.

The monument, cut by Excelsior Monuments (ExcelsiorMonuments.com), stands to honour the memory of Canadians who served in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and the Merchant Navy of Canada in the Great War, WWII, Korean War, and Canadian Naval Peacekeeping Operations who “went down to the sea in ships and occupy their business in great waters.”

Prominent on the monument are two bronze plaques, listing the names of 50 officers and men from Windsor and Essex County who enlisted and trained at HMCS HUNTER (Naval Reserve Division) and; who were killed in the Battle of the Atlantic.

“The success of our fundraising efforts was a result of the collective support from the Windsor Port Authority; the 11 branches of our Royal Canadian Legions in Windsor and Essex County;

the Windsor Essex Community Foundation — Canada 150th Project; Veterans’ organizations, unions; and citizens from Windsor-Essex County,” says Ron Sitarz, President of the Royal Canadian Naval Association (RCNA), Admiral Hose Branch, Windsor.

To commemorate the RCN’s centennial in 2010, plaques were added to the monument in recognition of the 100 years of naval service by Canadians and to honour the legacy of Rear Admiral Walter Hose who is regarded as the “father” of the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve.

Retiring in Windsor in 1950, Hose continued to serve “ship mates” and our community with a commitment to honouring duty, service and sacrifice of so many who gave up a piece of individuality to become a part of something larger than themselves.

“The Battle of the Atlantic is an important opportunity to reflect upon the presence of Canada’s distinguished naval heritage,” states Commander Richard Hillier, Commanding Officer, HMCS HUNTER. “The Royal Canadian Naval Association’s monument at Dieppe Gardens is dedicated to the memory of those who have fallen in service to their country; members of the Royal Canadian Navy who have served Canada in all theatres of conflict along with peacekeeping missions and continued operations globally.”

In 2018, the monument underwent significant restoration by Hallmark Memorial Co. (HallmarkMemorialCo.ca) with the addition of bronze plaques listing the 33 Canadian warships lost in the Battle of the Atlantic (1939-1945), with inscriptions recognizing the Cold War (1950-1990) and the Afghanistan War (2002-2014).

Five flagpoles displaying the RCN’s Ensigns,

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The Royal Canadian Naval Association’s Memory Panel Plaza in Windsor’s Dieppe Gardens.

Photo courtesy of RCNA, 2021.

(a warship’s standard indicating its nationality) were also installed. The surrounding plaza was reconstructed and expanded with flower planters added by the City of Windsor during the city’s reconstruction of the adjacent river walk.

Sitarz adds: “In 2020, the RCNA identified the need to tell the story of the RCN and the sacrifice made by many sailors from across Canada (including Windsor-Essex County) having served in the First World War, the Second World War, The Korean War, the Cold War, the Afghanistan War and Peacekeeping missions, as well as contributions made by the Merchant Navy of Canada and Seafarers aboard the merchant vessels in WWI and WWII.” Through the generous support of the City of Windsor, the addition of the RCNA’s “Memory Panels” (adjacent to the Naval Monument Plaza) was completed by Hallmark Memorial in May 2021. The four black granite panels are engraved with this distinction, “ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY — CANADA AND THE WAR AT SEA.” Many young lads from Windsor and Essex County never thought twice about “joining up”.

Some came home while others … “belong to the ages.” The legacy of remembrance imparts a sense of a wider purpose.

In quoting Polish poet, Czeslaw Milosz: “The living owe it to those who no longer can speak to tell their story for them.”

As a civilian Veterans Advocate, Andrea Grimes was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Governor General’s Medal for her volunteer service to Veterans and a number non-profit organizations supporting Windsor’s military families’ network.

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OF THE MONTH

Celebrating Earth Day, April 22, 2022 With Can-Am Recycling Inc.

By Dave Hall

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eventy years after their father Saul Pazner launched Pazner Scrap Metal Ltd., his children, Lawrence Pazner and Barbara Cheifetz, have built their own recycling businesses into major players across southwestern Ontario.

Lawrence and Barbara had worked alongside their father while finishing off their education before establishing their own recycling operations.

“I begged my dad to let me come to work for him and I started when I was 14,” Barbara recounts. “We were out of the house before 7 a.m. on Saturdays and since that day, I’ve always been a morning person.”

It was the beginning of what would become a long-established family business.

Four years after Saul closed his business in 1992, Lawrence and Barbara founded Pazner Environmental Ltd. (Pazner.com) and started out by handling scrap metal for local companies, many of them supplying parts to the automotive industry.

By 2002, it had become apparent that plastic scrap was becoming more and more predominant, and Can-Am Recycling Inc. was born. The company began handling post-industrial scrap plastic as the automotive industry concentrated its design efforts on lighter vehicles made with more and more plastic components.

“I would say our business now handles about 98% plastic and that we dabble a little in metal recycling,” explains Lawrence, who worked at BFI Canada for two years after attaining business and economics degrees from the University of Windsor. “It’s been the major change in our business since we opened more than 25 years ago.”

Lawrence focuses on the recycling side of the two companies, Barbara concentrates on the business side — customer service, accounting and customs.

Barbara, who has an education degree from the University of Windsor and a master’s degree in special education from the University of Toronto, taught for five years after graduation and was then a stayat-home mom for 12 years.

But, when Lawrence launched Pazner Environmental in 1996, she decided to join him in the business.

“When it was just Lawrence and I, it was pretty simple, but when we started hiring employees, it became more complicated,” states Barbara. “Thanks to a good accountant, his team and lessons learned

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The owners of Can-Am Recycling Inc. Barbara Cheifetz, (Chief Financial Officer and Vice President) and Lawrence Pazner (President and Chief Executive Officer) are pictured next to a shredder/granulator. The multi-generational, locally owned recycling company operates out of a location in Tilbury. Photo by Rod Denis.

from my father, I was able to navigate the business side.”

Her company responsibilities allow her to work from home, but Barbara adds:”Whatever nobody else wants to do falls on my desk.”

Today, more than one million pounds of scrap plastic is sorted and processed monthly at the company’s three Tilbury plants, using shredders and grinders, before the final product — a plastic regrind — is either sold back into the market as an alternative to virgin resin, or sold to a compounder to be made into plastic pellets.

“I believe we play an important role in the automotive sector food chain by diverting plastic from landfills,” Lawrence says.

“Plastic has become a growing part of the automotive industry and there is no shortage of scrap plastic to be recycled.”

Can-Am Recycling services southern Ontario, the U.S. Midwest, Kentucky and Tennessee, while Pazner Environmental sells its products globally.

The company also sells its recycled plastic to companies in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Vietnam, which provides entry into the lucrative, but highly regulated, Chinese market.

Can-Am also offers, what is called in the industry, a closed-loop program where scrap plastic is sorted, ground, reprocessed and returned to the original supplier for another use.

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or another these days, Lawrence points out there is a huge distinction between the materials his companies handle and the everyday blue box recycling items.

“Some of the blue box materials are recyclable and some aren’t, but automotive scrap plastic has a much higher value and 100% of it is marketable,” he explains.

And while volumes may be down a few percentage points from previous years, it’s more than offset by the rising price of commodities, such as plastic, across the globe.

“I see prices stabilizing, but remaining high for the foreseeable future,” indicates Lawrence.

In recent years, the two companies have focused more on human resources and investing in their employees by introducing benefits, profit-sharing and an RRSP matching plan in an attempt to retain employees and save on training costs.

“We’re facing some of the same issues many businesses are facing post-pandemic with potential employees not showing up for interviews or not showing up for work once hired,” he says. “But these new measures have added a lot more stability and dependability to our workforce.”

The company’s head office is located at 165 Queen Street North in Tilbury. Two adjacent building are used for sorting and warehousing.

For more information, visit their website: CanAmRecycling.com.

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