Front Lines

Windsor-Tecumseh businessman of 37 years, Gerard Bernauer and his partner Wendy Kelley, have officially opened On The Cannabis Side, situated at 13300 Tecumseh Road East, Unit 155, Green Valley Plaza in Tecumseh.

Though the business had a soft opening in December 2021, a grand opening celebration took place May 14 complete with entertainment, food, raffles, visits from Town of Tecumseh Councillors, and plenty of friends and family enjoying the festivities.

The modern and bright store offers what Bernauer describes as a community hub for anyone over the legal age of 19.

“We opened the cannabis shop for three reasons — our personal journey and experience with the positive effect of cannabis, to contribute in reducing the stigma that is associated with it, and supporting all adults’ right to choose,” explains Bernauer. “Seven years ago, I suffered a serious car accident when I was delivering flyers on behalf of a mayoral candidate for Essex County. I was travelling along the country roads in Essex County on my ATV dropping his flyers into mailboxes. I was hit by a vehicle that was travelling at excessive speeds and sustained a head injury. It was serious and I was left for dead.”

Over months and years, Bernauer suffered significantly and was prescribed multiple prescription drugs for pain and his brain injury.

Eventually, he wanted an alternative therapy to assist him in his recovery and received a medical licence for cannabis as it was illegal at that time.

After opening their first location in Tecumseh, they decided it was time to expand and a second location soon followed at 4756 Tecumseh Road East in Windsor.

Recently opened in early May, it operates out of a shared space with On The Dark Side Tanning Salon, also owned by Bernauer.

On The Cannabis Side

Opens Two New Locations

Pictured during the official ribbon cutting of On The Cannabis Side (OTCS) on May 14 at the Green Valley Plaza location, from left are: Karen Kirincic, OTCS Staff; Brian Houston, Tecumseh Councillor; Joe Bachetti, Tecumseh Councillor; Wendy Kelley and Gerard Bernauer, Owners; Ricardo Tonial, Tecumseh Councillor; and Taylor Loewen, OTCS Staff. Photo by Julianna Bonnett.

“Both Wendy and I started out both canna-curious and canna-confused after we received prescriptions for medical cannabis, but we wanted to learn more,” says Bernauer. “Even though our stores are recreational, we carry all of the cannabis that is prescribed medically as well, and we believe in educating people about it, so you can make the choice that is right for you.”

With the two locations, the couple hope to spread more awareness and crush the stigma that surrounds cannabis.

“The cannabis we sell is regulated and tested by Health Canada, so no surprises there,” explains Bernauer. “I encourage everyone to go into the stores and our very experienced staff can take you through the store and educate you on everything.”

For more information about these two new businesses, check out the website: OnTheCannabisSide.ca.

FRONTLINES Bienvenue A Notre Carrefour Communautaire Francophone

It’s been a long and winding road, but Le

Centre Communautaire Francophone

Windsor-Essex-Kent (CCFWEK) appears to have found a permanent home at 720 Ouellette Avenue in downtown Windsor.

The non-profit organization held its opening weekend in mid-May and also welcomed nine other Francophone organizations and school boards, which are sharing the space previously home to the Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator.

“We started out at Place Concorde in 1990 and it was our home for many years,” explains CCFWEK Executive Director Didier Marotte. “But when the region went into an economic slump in 2008/2009, we were adversely affected as well and the building ended up being taken over by Collège Boréal.”

The organization stayed on as a tenant until 2016 when the College expanded and needed the space occupied by CCFWEK.

“For three years, we rented space on Walker Road while we regrouped and tried to decide on our next move with the idea of it being permanent and stable,” explains Marotte.

With the aid of astute financial planning and some government grants, CCFWEK has now relocated to a more accessible centre and built a sustainable financial model supported by nine tenants.

“It’s been extremely exciting and interesting and gives us a chance to re-launch with our original mission to help Francophones in this area overcome some

Pictured at the front of the main entrance during the May 12th open house, from left are: Paul Levac, Executive-Director Entité de planification des services de santé en Français Erie-St. Clair; Yasmine Joheir, Community Liaison Officer, Conseil scolaire Viamonde; Hussein Kawas, Community Liaison Agent, Conseil scolaire catholique Providence; Rina Michaud, CAO, Centre Communautaire Francophone Windsor-Essex- Kent (CCFWEK); Didier Marotte, CCFWEK Executive Director; Lise Lamarche, CCFWEK Réception Manager; Stephane Lucky, CCFWEK Community Relations Manager; Gisèle Dionne, Executive Director, Association des communautés francophones de l’Ontario (Windsor, Essex, Chatham, Kent) and Nono Basubi, CCFWEK Communication Agent. Inside the Centre Communautaire Francophone Windsor-Essex-Kent, situated at 720 Ouellette Avenue, Windsor, you will find team members (from left): Rita Farah, Jacques Lehani, Saida Hamani, Christian Nkurunziza, Alexandrine Loiseau and Executive Director, Didier Marotte who are part of the Settlement Worker In Schools program (SWIS) able to support newcomer students attending Frenchlanguage schools in the region of Windsor Essex and Chatham Kent. Photos by Rod Denis.

of the challenges they face,” Marotte adds.

The organization offers a number of programs to Francophones including the Settlement Workers In Schools program, socio-cultural activities and career and life guidance for teenagers.

Its Connexions program helps Francophones with the services necessary for their integration into the local community.

“Working side-by-side with other tenants in the building allows us to share resources and work together in providing services,” Marotte indicates.

A number of programs were put on hold over the past two years because most of the organization’s people were working from home.

“Now that we have returned to work physically, we can re-introduce those programs and we are all very excited to continue the work,” says Marotte.

For more information on Le Carrefour (The Hub), and all organizations housed on this site, visit: CCFWEK.org.