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.

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 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.

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 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.

NEW IN BIZ ON THE MOVE

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.