Newsflash

THE RUNDOWN

Ted Williamson, President of SRT Accounting Inc. in Windsor is providing free assessments to local business owners whose businesses have been affected by COVID-19 and require assistance in optimizing the subsidy programs offered. “As a business owner myself, I understand exactly what they are going through,” comments Williamson. “It’s important that we all come together during these difficult times and do what we can to make the lives of business owners easier as they have enough to worry about during this pandemic.” He continues by stating: “Many business owners may have doubts and are not clear on exactly what they are entitled to. Our efforts are meant to streamline the application process on their behalf and make certain they receive exactly what they are entitled to without the need to worry about the details.” To learn more visit: Accountants20.com/covid-tax-triage.

As of late January 2021, MR Meat Markets has returned to Windsor’s east side with its third store at 6645 Tecumseh Road East. “We had some business changes that resulted in us closing our east side location with another shop opening in its place,” explains Marc Romualdi, Owner and Operator, MR Meat Markets and third generation grocer. “The opportunity to regain the space presented itself recently and we jumped at the chance! We loved filling the needs and stomachs of those in that part of town and we’re very happy to be back!” Operating in the Windsor community for 15 years, MR Meat Markets is best described as an old-fashioned butcher with a modern day twist. The company is committed to the best in quality, service and value, as well as giving back to the community it serves. The east end facility is 3,500 square feet and features everything its customers have come to expect from the MR Meat Markets family; a wide range of fresh and frozen meats, house-made items with original recipes, a full service deli, as well as an array of sauces, spices, produce and more. “As the pandemic continues on, we’ve seen our competitors raise prices, limit purchase quantities and have largely under stocked shelves,” claims Romualdi. “We, on the other hand, have fully stocked shelves, no purchase limits and have continued to offer the incredible value that has made us one of the largest meat retailers in Ontario. We stand behind the community and work to provide high quality and very reasonably priced food, even in times of crisis such as this.”

The aroma of KFC is in the air in downtown Windsor with the opening of the franchise’s new KFC store as of mid-January. The 185 Wyandotte Street East location employs 42 individuals, many full time, as well as three delivery drivers. The store replaces a previous outlet on Bridge Avenue that closed in early 2020. It features a modern layout with a full lobby and Drive Thru. Guests can enjoy this new KFC restaurant via takeout, drive thru, or delivery, available on: KFC.ca, as well as Uber Eats, SkipTheDishes, and DoorDash. Best of all, staff kicked off the opening by donating nearly 10,000 pieces of chicken to various charities in the city by taking advantage of the need to train the cooks and test the kitchen! Soul Foods Group, the Owner/operator of this location and seven others in our area, supported the local community with donations to: The Downtown Mission, Street Help, The Salvation Army, and The Welcome Centre for Women and Children. New jobs, charity donations, investing in our city’s core and delicious fried chicken — well, we are sure Colonel Sanders would be very proud!

Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island’s sixth annual “Best of Windsor Essex Awards are back”! You can vote on the top five finalists in all 40 awards in the tourism and hospitality region between February 15 and March 8, 2021 at: BestOfWindsorEssex.ca — and you have a chance to win their $500 “Best Of” grand prize plus visit some of the winners.

Born and raised in Windsor and Essex County, creator of 519Culture, Serena Koehl holds a passion for people. Missing the farmers’ markets, live music shows and connecting with others, laid the foundation in creating 519Culture, a local lifestyle box full of goods made right here in the 519 area code. In late March 2020, Koehl hit the ground running with an idea to support small businesses and help people discover the Windsor Essex lifestyle. This concept appealed to area businesses that quickly jumped on board for the pre-launch in October 2020. The launch was wildly successful and fuelled new ideas and business partners. Each box includes a variety of interesting products, services and coupons to help navigate the amazing things going on in our community. It’s a new way to explore and support local businesses, plus experience their products and/or services with the convenience of delivery to your door! A few participating businesses include: Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery, The Plant Base, Emerson Supply Co., CB Marketing, Smashed Apple Trade Co., Own Your Choice Healing (Soap By Leslie), I Luv Coffee Roasters, Krown Walkerville and Galaxy Records. Check: 519culture.ca to purchase your box, or for more information on how to get involved!

With a foundation of 25 years of experience and expertise in the commercial application of flat roofing and waterproofing systems, Austin Roofing & Waterproofing announced, in December 2020, that it is expanding operations with a new building in Windsor to serve as the company’s national headquarters. Austin has grown roughly 50 to 60% in 2020, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, requiring the move into the 8,500 square-foot space situated at 2220 Olympia Drive. The new office provides room for growth and warehousing and allows the company to expand its team. Austin continues to see high demand for its innovative, engineered-to-last products, such as its seamless liquid rubber coatings. “We really had no choice but to expand operations as it was becoming extremely difficult to manage from a smaller location,” says Patrick Austin, Vice President of Austin Roofing & Waterproofing. “We are growing our fleet on almost a monthly basis and we need additional space for equipment and vehicles. Another reason to grow is to accommodate more staff so we can manage the growing volume of requests. In addition, we have our eyes on a second location in the Toronto region.” Austin plans to add engineers and estimators who have experience in the commercial and industrial waterproofing space. In 2021, with current projected sales, the company believes it will add an additional 15 to 20 employees. The business specializes in flat roof repair and restoration of commercial and industrial buildings and provides roofing systems that can be installed on top of any flat roof, metal roof or slightly pitched surfaces. For further details on their services refer to: AustinRoofing.ca.

NEW IN BIZ

Mobile Tire Express has now rolled into the Windsor Essex region. Founded by entrepreneur Jeff Anger, the company specializes in new tire sales done at your home, office or wherever you need them! Stuck at work with a flat? They can take care of that, too! Opening in December 2020, Anger has well over a decade of tire industry experience. “We’re in the business of customer service,” states Anger. “We are competitive, trustworthy, and offer a value second to none.” Consider Mobile Tire Express the next time your ride needs some new rubber or you have one of those days that starts with a flat tire and a tow truck. Get to: MobileTireExpress.ca to learn more!

Jessica Van Landuyt, who is a Certified Damage Prevention Technician through the Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance, recently opened Terra Locates, whichoffers Private Utility Locating and Sewer Camera Inspection Services to Windsor, Chatham, Sarnia, London, Wallaceburg and surrounding areas. Services are available for commercial and residential projects — no job will be turned down! Terra Locates can accurately and efficiently locate any type of buried

utilities including: water and sewer, high voltage electricity, fibre communications, and natural gas lines, to ensure you can dig safely. Questions? Contact Van Landuyt through her website: Terra-Locates.Business.site.

ON THE MOVE

UWindsor alumna Renée Trombley (B.A. 2003) takes up an appointment as Executive Director of Public Affairs and Communications (PAC) effective February 22, 2021. Trombley succeeds John Coleman, who is retiring after having served six years as PAC Director. She comes to the University from the County of Essex, where she worked for the past five years as the Manager, Communications and Organizational Development.

Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) Vesna

Bornas can now be found at Goodyear Massage Therapy And Sports Rehabilitation, 1115 Lacasse Blvd, Tecumseh. This is a private facility built on the property of the homeowner, Kris Goodyear, also an RMT. Bornas has been an RMT for the past seven years, previously working out of the Massage Therapy Treatment Centre, 3200 Deziel Drive, Suite 212 with Natalie Zajacz (owner) and Caitlin Jones. “These two ladies are amazing people and wonderful therapists,” Bornas expresses. “It was a very difficult decision to leave them after being there for six years.” Her decision to make the move was due to location. “The opportunity to work within walking distance of my Tecumseh home was the main reason,” she indicates. “Since moving I’ve been able to come home and have lunch with my son on a few occasions. That itself is priceless.” Connect with Bornas via Facebook under “Goodyear Massage Therapy And Sports Rehabilitation”.

HALL OF FAME

ACM Panelworx feels honoured for their role in the international architectural award presented to the Isenberg School of Management in Amherst, Massachusetts, at the end of December. The school was awarded the United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural and Organization (UNESCO) 2020 Prix Versailles best exterior in the campuses category. The Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts displays visually striking copper panels, which were selected and fabricated by the talented ACM Panelworx design and manufacturing team in their Windsor shop last year. The UNESCO Prix Versailles, based in Paris, France, selects international nominees based on a project’s commitment to sustainability, and “fostering a better mix of the economic and cultural domain”, according to their mission statement. ACM Panelworx couldn’t be more proud of the people who contributed their labour and expertise to this project, and look forward to their part in similar future accolades. More details on their product lines can be found on: ACMpanelworx.com.

In mid-January, three finalists who made winning pitches for the second round of the Windsor Essex “Spark” Program were each awarded a $3,000 grant and a tourism mentorship to help take their new tourism ideas to the next level of development. The 2021 winners are as follows: Billy Alexander, Caldwell First Nation (CaldwellFirstNation.ca and on Facebook under “Three Fires: An Indigenous Culinary Experience”) — providing hands-on, culinary experiences that focus on Indigenous food, culture and community. Corey Robertson, The Bank Theatre, 10 Erie Street South in Leamington (BankTheatre.com) — Point Pelee National Park will act as a new stage for local actors who will provide Spirit Walks or stories to visitors about our various cultures and combine them with related experiences. And Leslie Meloche, Walnut Grove Bed &Breakfast, 4000 McCormick Road, in Harrow (TheWalnutGroveBnB.com) — having a sommelier-guided experience that provides tastings of local wines (of the same varietal) paired with locally sourced cuisine (tapas). The “Spark” Mentorships & Grants Program is a partnership between the Ontario Tourism Innovation Lab, Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation, Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, Libro Credit Union and WEtech Alliance. For more information log on to the website: TourismInnovation.ca/WindsorEssex.