Newsflash

THE RUNDOWN

There’s a new way to support rural entrepreneurs, thanks to the launch of a partnership between WEtech Alliance (WEtech-Alliance.com) and Libro Credit Union (Libro.ca). Innovation Outposts are being set up across Essex County and ChathamKent, using business and community spaces to connect the people behind local start-ups and businesses. The program hosts regular events and supports business development through education and better links to other support groups and programs. “We realize that our region’s entrepreneurs, particularly those in more rural areas, have access to fewer resources than their peers in urban areas and face greater challenges in starting and scaling their companies,” says Adam Frye, Director of Operations and Partnerships at WEtech Alliance. The Innovation Outposts program builds upon the success of a six year partnership between WEtech Alliance and Libro Credit Union. “We want to empower entrepreneurs and their communities by connecting them to each other and to the regional resource network and bridging the rural innovation divide,” states Lori Atkinson, Libro’s Regional Manager in Windsor Essex. “We believe rural entrepreneurship is a key element to rural revitalization and regional economic impact and prosperity.” Additional outposts are coming soon, including a Lakeshore Outpost in June and a Kingsville Outpost in July. Learn more on: WEtech-alliance.com/outposts.

The WindsorEssex Community

Foundation (WECF), along with local community leaders and partners, have launched Windsor Essex’s 2022 Vital Signs Survey in early May. The survey is used as a component of the Vital Signs Report, released every October, which highlights local, provincial, and national data as it pertains to various areas of the community, including housing, food security, health, wellness & activity, learning, and the environment. Through the Vital Signs Survey, residents can provide their input and identify priorities, as well as letting the WECF and our community know what makes Windsor Essex a great place to live, work, play and grow. The WECF refers to the Vital Signs report to ensure that funded projects and programs align with what the community has identified as their priorities. The survey thoroughly examines a variety of topics in order to gather comprehensive data from our community — respondents should expect to spend 10 to 15 minutes completing the survey. Those who complete the survey by August 12, 2022, in full, have the opportunity to enter for a chance to win $100. The survey is available on: WECF.ca. Paper copies are also available by contacting the WECF office.

Williams Food Equipment, represented by Reid Williams and his wife Sarah, recently donated a fully stocked kitchen for the new Solcz Family Foundation Respite Home. Photo courtesy of Family Respite Services.

A huge thank you goes out to Williams Food Equipment for their recent donation of a fully stocked kitchen for the Family Respite Services Windsor-Essex (FRS), Solcz Family Foundation Respite Home, 4400 Howard Avenue in Windsor. With zero government funding, FRS has relied on the community to invest in families caring for children with disabilities to build a new accessible respite home. The respite home offers critical after school crisis programs, weekend programs for families who require long-term respite support and a very specialized summer day camp. These programs ensure that children have the opportunity to learn and grow in a safe environment and with trained Direct Support Provider Staff. Over 30 staff work in this home. Reid Williams, Co-Owner of Williams Food Equipment states: “The new respite home fulfills a huge need, supporting children with exceptionalities and their families in our community. We are excited to be a part of the final stage of the new home coming together. We hope the new kitchenware items equip staff with everything they need to prepare meals and also provide the opportunity for children who are able to participate in the kitchen to learn important life and transitional skills.” Visit: WilliamsFoodEquipment.com to learn more about this local family business and: FamilyRespite.org to find out on how you can help make a difference! For the fifth consecutive year, Electrozad has been recognized for overall business performance and sustained growth with the prestigious Canada’s Best Managed Companies designation. The company first won the Best Managed award in 2018 and became a Gold Standard winner last year. “We are honoured to have achieved Gold Standard status again this year, a program that recognizes our commitment to company culture and delivering results for our customers,” says James Taylor, President of Electrozad. “Thanks to our dedicated team, we have always been known for our exemplary service, and we continue to strive to be the top performing solutions partner within our industry.” Electrozad is a leading provider of electrical and automation products, services, and expertise, to their customers in the Automotive, Contractor, Food & Beverage, Institutional, Machine Tool, OEM, and Petrochemical industries. The company was incorporated in 1955 and has established locations in Chatham, London, Sarnia, and Windsor. Further details on: Electrozad.com. AV Gauge & Fixture Inc. (AV Gauge), who was a winner of Canada’s Best Managed Companies program in 2016, has re-qualified in 2022 to maintain its status as a Best Managed Gold Standard company. “Our success is attributable to our excellent team of employees,” states Tim Campeau, President, AV Gauge. “They showed great flexibility and commitment to meeting our customers’ needs during the pandemic. From process improvements to innovative solutions, all were critical in helping us to adapt to the changes in our global landscape. Today we are stronger and continue to grow with new ideas and an improved strategic focus.” The 2022 Best Managed program award winners are amongst the best-in-class of Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $50 million, demonstrating leadership in the areas of strategy, capabilities and innovation, culture and commitment, and financials, to achieve sustainable growth. AV Gauge is situated at 4000 Delduca Drive in Oldcastle, with a website at: AVgauge.com. Farrow is incredibly proud to announce they have been awarded Canada’s Best Managed Companies designation for the 13th consecutive year. Along with this notable recognition, Farrow has also achieved, for the seventh time, Platinum Club status, a membership that is exclusive to Canada’s leading organizations. “This acknowledgement exemplifies the phenomenal work of our dedicated employees over the past year, which allowed us to drive innovative solutions in a very broken supply chain world,” comments Grant Robinson,

Farrow CEO. “Going forward, we will continue to adapt to an ever-changing global landscape with the promise of peace of mind delivered, working together as One Farrow.” For more information on this company see: Farrow.com. Gear House Windsor and Canadian Arts Productions, in partnership with the Windsor Endowment for the Arts, have created a new filmmaking award — the Rose City Film Award — which features cash and a variety of in-kind prizes, to help beginning filmmakers. The competition is open to students 18 years of age or older who are attending school in Windsor Essex, Chatham Kent, Sarnia Lambton and London Middlesex, in 2022. The deadline for entries is Sunday, August 28, 2022 and applicants must submit a logline and a short film of a maximum one minute in length, along with proof of student status. Judging will focus on the storytelling qualities of the film. Details for the competition and how to enter can be found at: WEA-Arts.com/rose-city-film-competition.

NEW IN BIZ

Pure Mentality Wellness Boutique, 871 Ottawa Street, Unit 100, in Windsor, officially opened its doors in mid-May. It is founded by Erika Pozzuoli, RSW, MSW, who, after working for 10 years in the nonprofit sector, opted to open her own practice, specializing in self-care and holistic mental health. “It is my dream to open a safe space that provides affordable and accessible mental health services,” expresses Pozzuoli. “This space will open a conversation to end the stigma around mental health and embrace the ideal, specifically for children and youth, that ‘Therapy is cool’. As for the boutique, I have always wanted to provide a space for small businesses to share their products promoting mental wellness and self care.” Pure Mentality is building a community to raise awareness and encourage conversations around mental health by providing a platform that supports mental wellness, mental health and self-care. The growing team of mental health professionals provides affordable counselling to children, youth and adults through a trauma-informed lens, as well as tutoring services, behaviour management and group therapy. Additionally, they sell products sourced from small businesses, specifically curated to encourage holistic mental wellness needs for all areas of life, including mental, physical, emotional and spiritual. Visit: MyPureMentality.ca to find out how they can help soothe your soul today!

HALL OF FAME

Congratulations to our very own Dr. Saad Jasim, Ph.D., P. Eng. of Windsor, who received the 2022 Engineering Medal — Entrepreneurship Award from the Ontario

Society of Professional

Engineers. This award is given to an engineer who pioneered an engineering application. (For the specific award criteria see: OPEawards.ca/the-engineering-medal). In 2001, Dr. Jasim introduced and implemented the application of ozone for the primary disinfection of drinking water, the first of its scale and application in Ontario. He was also the Founding CEO for the Walkerton Clean Water Centre after the tragedy that caused the death of seven people and the illness of more than 2,000 residents in the Town of Walkerton. He also served as Director, Great Lakes Regional Office of the International Joint Commission, dealing with water quality challenges in the Great Lakes and was the first Canadian to lead the International Ozone Association (President, 2020-2022). Dr. Jasim’s latest achievement was solving the problem of arsenic and manganese in drinking water for the City of White Rock in BC. He receives his medal on November 18, 2022 at a Black Tie event in Vaughan.

Dr. Saad Jasim