Biz X magazine September 2021

YOUR ONLY INTERNATIONAL BORDER CITY PUBLICATION It’s The Final Chance To Nominate Your Favourite Businesses, Organizations, Events & Professionals In The 24th Annual Biz X Awards VOTING BEGINS SEPTEMBER 16

How Should Windsor Prepare For Major Population Growth?

THE PARENTING BIZ The School Bell Is Ringing . . . Now What?

Tips To Help Manage Anxiety In Children September 2021

$3.50

PLUS "ShopDWFM”; Oxford Learning Centre; NOMAD; Stathis Grill; Lungovita; Pro Fit Pools; Ortaliza Farms; Absolute Comfort And The “CIBC Run For The Cure"

Keeping The Show On The Road

Businesses come and go with remarkable regularity. Yet for Reaume Chevrolet Buick GMC (represented by Jenn Reaume, Adam Lally and Craig Reaume), the LaSalle dealership has been serving area residents for 90 years.

Three other local businesses: Alpine Construction, Essex’s DPM Insurance Group, and Closet Cravings Upscale Consignment Boutique, are also building a long-lasting legacy of their own. And this is reason to celebrate! – Page 17 B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 1

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

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B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

table of contents SEPTEMBER 2021 volume 24 • issue 8

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as “The KitchenWitch”, she is ready to cast a spell on you with her mouth-watering pies and pastries! Let’s take a trip now to the market with our “Cup of Joe” columnist and read about everything that has been happening there this year!

30 Food For Thought: Greek Cuisine At Stathis Grill 33 The Parenting Biz: “Keep Calm And Carry On”! School Is Back!

Going back to school in September, after summer break, has always been hard for kids. However, this school year brings new complications presented by the pandemic. But don’t worry; we at Biz X magazine did our homework! We are here to help parents and have researched businesses specializing in the unique challenges faced by children who might be feeling a little anxious about getting back in the classroom.

39 Lifestyle Issues: How To Make Learning At Home Fun 40 Health Matters: The Importance Of A Balanced Diet 42 X X Files: Karen Kamen, Centre Director For Tecumseh And LaSalle Oxford Learning Centres 43 From The Bookshelf : “Be Proud You’re Canadian” 44 Tech Bytes: Cooking With Microgreens 45 Portfolio Corner: An Ever-Changing World 46 Ask The Experts: Indoor Air Quality And Fall Maintenance Around The House 48 Just Sayin’: Canada’s Legalization Of Marijuana 50 Event Profile: The Virtual “CIBC Run For The Cure” 52 Biz Bits: Online Shopping Tips 53 The Way It Was: They Had No Grave But The Sea 54 Biz Of The Month: NOMAD, Furniture And Artisan-Made Home Décor Shop In Kingsville

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© Can Stock Photo /tomwang

4 Funny Stuff 5 From The Publisher: The 24th Annual Biz X Awards Nominations End With Voting Set To Start September 16, 2021 8 Rose City Politics: Is Windsor Essex Ready For A Projected Population Growth Of Up To 35%?

10 Front Lines 13 Heard On The Street 14 Newsflash Doug Sweet (in photo courtesy of The Town of Essex) is the new Chief Administrative Officer for The Town of Essex.

As CAO, he is responsible for providing corporate leadership and oversight of all Town operations. Sweet will also lead strategic decision-making and coordinate interdepartmental programs and projects.“I am extremely proud to have the privilege of serving my community and leading the incredibly talented staff at the Town of Essex,” Sweet states. “As CAO, I will continue to build upon the work of my predecessors to achieve Council’s goals and organizational success.” So who else has a new position or good news to share? The Newsflash column will keep you in the loop!

16 New In Biz: Lungovita And Pro Fit Pools

What do a glamping beach retreat and a pool installation company have in common? Both opened in the summer of 2021! Curious to know more? We have the details and contact information!

(Lungovita Bell Tent photo

by Julianna Bonnett).

28 Have A Cup Of Joe With Joe: Be Proud Windsor Essex, This Is Your Market!

Alexandrea Anber (shown in photo by Joe McParland), Owner and Head Pastry Chef at Auntie Aldoo’s Kitchen is one of the 80 vendors at the Saturday morning Downtown Windsor Farmers’ Market. Also known

ON THE COVER — “Keeping The Show On The Road” — Page 17

With small businesses across Canada failing at a rate of 20% in their first year, making it beyond five years is no small feat. It can be a daunting challenge, but with smart planning, a strong business plan and committed ownership and management, survival can be achieved. We profile four Windsor Essex companies celebrating huge milestones this year, including the 2017 Biz X Award winner for “The Dealership Which Puts The Pedal To The Metal” — Reaume Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, celebrating 90 years in business.

COVER LOCATION: Photographed at their dealership, Reaume Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, situated at 500 Front Road LaSalle, clockwise from the top are: Adam Lally, a Partner in Reaume Chev and V.P. at Lally Ford, standing next to a 1936 Chevrolet; Craig Reaume, Dealer Principal, is by a 2020 Camaro SS, and Jenn Reaume, General Manager, poses next to a 2021 Buick Enclave. While vehicles have changed over the past 90 years, Reaume Chev remains a family business with superior customer service always!

CREDITS: The 1936 Custom Chevrolet 4 Door Sedan Model 1009 is courtesy of Paul Beaudoin, Amherstburg. PHOTOGRAPHER: Rod Denis (RodneyLDenisPhotographer.com) B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

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B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

from the publisher Nominations Close, Voting Begins In

24th Annual "Biz X Awards"

By Deborah Jones

S

ummer is sadly coming to an end and cooler, autumn days will soon arrive. However, here at the magazine the heat is still on!

We have stories to write, ads to sell, a website and social media pages to update daily and information packages to receive from worthy award nominees so we can assemble our biggest issue of the year, the 24th annual Biz X Awards edition.

First of all, we must finalize all award nominees and get the voting poll underway.

There are always plenty of great choices, so share the voting link wherever possible on social media to promote your favourite nominees!

Below is a summary on how the awards process works. The 2021 awards categories were officially released in the July/August issue and on our website and are repeated in my September column to ensure everyone has as much time as possible to participate.

This is the final call for nominations which close on September 10, 2021 at 5 p.m. on: BizXmagazine.com.

Readers can nominate the businesses and people in Windsor/Essex County and Pelee Island that they believe are the best in each category and deserve to be recognized.

Whenever possible, please include some supporting evidence, for your nominee, on our online form. If you choose the wrong category, we reserve the right to move it to the appropriate category so that your nomination counts.

Nominees are made public on the Biz X website when voting commences at noon on September 16 and continues through to September 24, 2021 at 5 p.m.

During the voting period you can go online to: BizXmagazine.com and cast your vote for your choice to win the 2021 Biz X Award in its respective category. You can also vote using your smart phone or tablet via our mobile friendly voting site.

Keep in mind the nomination and voting process is not a popularity contest — it only takes ONE nomination to be included in the voting poll. It is always best though to get a few people to nominate you or your business to ensure your nomination was received by us.

Once you nominate an individual or a business, you will receive a confirmation email showing it was properly submitted. If you DO NOT receive this email (check your spam folder too) that means we did NOT receive your nomination.

Please check all sections were filled out, and you have answered the reCAPTCHA question, and re-submit the form.

VOTE NOW

FOR YOUR FAVOURITE

BUSINESSES, EVENTS AND PEOPLE

SEPT. 16 (NOON) TO

SEPT.24, 2021 (5 P.M.) ON

BIZXMAGAZINE.COM

NOMINATIONS END SEPT. 10, 2021 at 5 p.m.

If you or your business is fortunate to be nominated, you’ll be contacted to supply further details online about your qualifications, history, and confirm information supplied by nominators.

Once the polls open in September, don’t be shy to toot your own horn. Do whatever you can to get your customers to vote for you on the Biz X website — use social media and your own website to tell all you know!

Remember that vote tallies are only a part of the overall selection process. All nomination forms received, along with company background information supplied and voting poll results, are then reviewed by the Biz X panel of Judges after the polls close.

The next step involves the Judges meeting in the fall to determine the final winners.

The Judges will not know the actual winners’ names, as voting during this meeting is done by secret ballot. The final results are posted in the November/December edition of Biz X magazine, released mid-November.

In the past 24 years, Biz X has awarded over 750 recipients in all kinds of industries, so don’t be discouraged if a certain category is not listed as it may have been previously awarded. (Please check our website to see a list of past winners.)

Now that we’ve entered our third decade of award winners, certain categories from years back are reused to allow for new businesses in those industries an opportunity to be included.

Traditionally, we have seven staple categories awarded every year — “Outstanding New Business,” “Distinguished Biz Champ Of The Year,” “Powerhouse Professional,” “Artist of the Year,” “Best Little Retail Shop,” “Restaurant That’s Hot, Hot, Hot,” and “The Most Wonderful Event Of The Year.”

Listed below are the four major sections containing the 24 various categories. While the majority of nominations and votes come from Essex County residents, U.S. citizens and those living outside Essex County can nominate or vote in any category, since they could be patrons of the business.

Please follow the rules* below to ensure that your nomination counts . . .

1. Only nominate ONE company/person per award category. Businesses/organizations/people are only permitted to win one award each year.

NEW FOR 2021! THERE CAN BE NO MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS IN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. We reserve the right to choose the best category for the company or individual when a nomination comes in.

B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

2. Be certain that the company or individual you are nominating fits the category’s criteria. All nominees must be over 19 years of age.

3. The business/person you nominate must be located (or reside) in Windsor, Essex County or Pelee Island and NOT be part of a national franchise/chain or non-profit organization (except for categories in the PEOPLE section and category #22). The PEOPLE section (#8 to #13) is judged on the individual and not the company itself and those working for chains/franchises and non-profits are eligible to participate only in this section. An exception for category #22 is also allowed as many national organizations have local chapters hosting events.

4. Every business in Essex County (with the exceptions above) has the opportunity to win a Biz X Award. *However: NO MEDIA outlets or representatives can participate in any of the categories. You do not have to be an advertiser with the magazine to be nominated or to win.

Judges are not told who is an advertiser (past or present) to ensure there are no biases or conflicts of interest.

Don’t forget to check your email account daily in early September to see if we contact you about an awards nomination. Visit: BizXmagazine.com for the very latest information and happy voting!

Good luck to all nominees!

And now we present the. . .

2021 BIZ X AWARD CATEGORIES

*See rules in second column before nominating*

BUSINESS & SERVICE

(*No chains/non-profits allowed) *Remember once a business is nominated in one category they cannot be nominated in any others.

1. “Outstanding New Business Of 2021” (Businesses that opened from September 1, 2020 to September 1, 2021.) *No restaurants/food trucks or bars can be included as they can participate in the Hospitality & Entertainment Categories.

2. “The High Note Music Studio” (Focus on the experience of the teacher(s), qualifications, teaching philosophy, school/studio location, cost per lesson, if virtual learning is offered.)

3. “The Supreme Space To Store Your Stuff” (Storage unit facilities preferred for long term, but those renting storage bins to only keep items temporarily is permitted.)

4. “Pet Paradise” (A dog boarding kennel with the kind of care your dog deserves while you’re out of town. Consider: the facility, staff, space for your pet, outdoor runs, and other services offered.)

5. “Distinguished Biz Champ Of The Year” (A company in operation for over one year

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NOMINATION DEADLINE: SEPT. 10, 2021 AT 5 P.M. VOTING BEGINS SEPT.16 (NOON) UNTIL SEPT. 24, 2021 (5 P.M.) AT: BIZXMAGAZINE.COM that has done something exceptional to take care of business.) *No restaurants/bars or retail shops as they have their own categories. Remember if a business is nominated here they cannot participate in any other category.

6. “Office Building Experts” (If this developer/ construction company builds it, they will come!

Commercial and institutional projects only.)

7. “Numero Uno Insurance Agency” (Auto, home, commercial, or life insurance.)

PEOPLE

*Remember once a person or his/her business or organization is nominated in one category they cannot be nominated in any others.

8. “2021 Powerhouse Professional” (A local business owner or top manager who has what it takes to keep the company/organization they own or work for, profitable in today’s tough times.)

9. “Artist Of The Year” (For example: a singer, painter, musician, sculptor, band, actor etc.) *No authors or photographers.

10. “Exceptional Social Enterprise” (A team of workers at a non-profit organization or registered charity making a big difference in our community.)

11. “Caregiver That Nurses You Back To Health” (Who is the area’s very own Florence Nightingale? Nominee can be a nurse, health care professional or caregiver working at a hospital, retirement home, clinic, senior care service etc.)

12. “The Physiotherapist With All The

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Right Moves” (Consider availability, qualifications, treatment methods, and reputation.)

13. “Real Estate Lawyer Holding The Keys To The Kingdom” (The lawyer to hire to help you close the sale on your new home who is experienced, trustworthy and helps you save time and money.)

RETAIL

(*No chains/non-profits allowed) *Remember once a business is nominated in one category they cannot be nominated in any others.

14. “The Best Little Retail Shop Of 2021” (Open to all retailers with good prices, fantastic customer service and selection.) *They must have a storefront, no online only businesses please.

15. “Rock Of Ages Granite Outlet” (Granite countertop companies with a good reputation, helpful sales reps, large selection, showroom, efficient installation, warranties and more.)

16. “A Gardener’s Wonderland” (A garden centre or nursery selling quality plants, flowers etc., plus a few little extras to tempt shoppers!) *No landscaping companies please.

17. “The Home Advantage Artwork/Décor Store” (There’s no place like this place to purchase artwork and/or home décor items.) *No large furniture shops or art galleries.

18. “The Alarm Co. Always There With Bells On” (Where to buy a security system and/or fire protection for residential, commercial or industrial needs.)

B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

19. “The One Stop Pool Supply Shop” (A company offering supplies, parts and chemicals for swimming pools or hot tubs . . .and some fun inflatables too! Swimming pool design, installation or maintenance services are not required.)

HOSPITALITY & ENTERTAINMENT (*No chains/non-profits allowed; exception #22)

*Remember once a business/organization isnominated in one category they cannot be nominated in any others.

20. “Restaurant That’s Hot, Hot, Hot For 2021!” (Can be a new or an existing restaurant/ food truck that offers exceptional cuisine, fair prices and has a unique, trendy atmosphere — patio dining and/or take-out only is acceptable.)

21. “Rootin’-Tootin’ Pearfect Meals” (Restaurant or take-out business specializing in serving vegan or plant based dishes.)

22. “The Most Wonderful Event Of The Year” (Annual runs, golf tournaments, motorcycle rides, charity fundraisers etc. Virtual events accepted.) *EXCEPTION: Non profits and charities can participate as can festivals and trade shows.

23. “Amazing Accommodations” (A hotel, inn, or motel with cheerful, knowledgeable staff; luxurious rooms; a variety of amenities; reasonable rates in a great location.) *No B&Bs, campgrounds, or cottages.

24. “Most Instagram-Worthy Biz” (A business where visitors and local residents love to visit to take selfies and post all over social media!)

B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

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Rose City Politics

Preparing For Major Population Growth

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

For September 2021, the Rose City Politics panel gives their suggestions to the question on “How should Windsor prepare for population growth as projected by Statistics Canada?”

Jon Liedtke With up to 35 percent population growth projected for both Windsor and Essex County, over the next 25 years, by the Ontario Ministry of Finance, Windsor needs to deal with being a city that’s expected to grow, not shrink.

For almost 13 years the city “held the line on taxes” while reducing services for short term

Don Merrifield Jr. With a potential 35% increase in population growth over the next 25 years, planning for this windfall will be of the utmost importance.

As we can see even today, and for the last couple of years, housing costs and availability have already been an issue.

Bringing in approximately 6,000 new

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political gain amid a tumultuous climate of both economic and population decline, and stagnation.

What may have been good politics then, won’t suffice now.

According to Canadian economist Dr. Mike Moffatt, for every three people that now leave Windsor, the city sees four return.

In a fight against our regional neighbours we need a strategy to best entice anyone moving into the region to choose Windsor. To do so, we need to increase local housing supply, improve public and active transportation, and ensure both are in accordance with Windsor’s official climate change plan.

We need more housing, whether detached, semi-detached, townhouses, condos, rental apartments, or rental rooms. Housing prices and rents have surged in recent years and will continue to do so without a significant increase in supply.

The Windsor Works report shows a need for 3,000 more units downtown, alone.

Incentivizing the development of additional housing, specifically medium and high density housing, is smart policy.

City Council needs to implement the very ambitious Transit Master Plan and Active Transit Master Plan. We’ve spent the money studying and know investment is needed in Transit Windsor for a new garage, busses, and routes. Windsor currently has no protected and dedicated bike lanes on city roads and despite the belief of some, active transportation is not only for recreation, but also transportation.

The City of Windsor Climate Change Adaptation Plan seeks to minimize climate change risks through sustainable policies and infrastructure investment.

The earth’s temperature continues to increase, causing “once in a hundred year storms” to occur more frequently, which continues to cause regular basement flooding for residents and business owners. Development needs to be done to not negatively affect both our environment and climate.

Jon Liedtke is a Co-host and Producer of Rose City Politics, a business consultant focusing on cannabis and marketing, an occasional reporter and writer, and a band member of Windsor’s The Nefidovs.

residents to our area will put greater pressure on an already tight housing market.

Regional cooperation of land use and development guidelines that have been ignored forever, is something as a region we will need to focus on. Every municipality having their own fees and development guidelines will lead to a regional hodgepodge of bad land use and developments.

Housing styles such as townhouse and low rise and high rise condo developments will need to be expanded for the aging population locally and the new “retirees” already moving to the area. These properties also tend to be lower cost, which will help people starting out to get into the housing market.

So far we have seen the classic “NIMBY” push back for many developments of this nature already being proposed.

Going along with the housing situation, these new areas will need to be served with better public transportation.

If your kids are anything like mine they grew up thinking we will be their personal drivers forever and don’t seem to be interested in getting their own driver’s licence. Thus they will rely more on public

transit, or you can don your chauffeur’s cap and shuttle them around like the hired help they think we are.

Better healthcare infrastructure is of vital importance, as we have been left behind for decades with sub-par hospitals and medical services.

Also, making our urban areas places where people actually want to live or visit, with better public amenities and infrastructure, is vital.

This isn’t complicated.

Many cities have had to deal with these issues, and simple things like pedestrian malls, restaurant patios, and outdoor events, which seem to be so difficult here, yet have been embraced in other areas.

We don’t need more “Made in Windsor” solutions that are usually code for “Well That Was Stupid” when we can take what works in other areas and apply them here.

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.

B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

Doug Sartori After decades of slow population growth in the region, new provincial estimates show Windsor and its neighbouring municipalities stand to grow by nearly 35% over the next 25 years.

This is no surprise to alert Windsorites.

The evidence of growth is all around us.

Our supply of housing is not able to meet demand and the result is skyrocketing real estate and rental prices along with a steady stream of new residential developments throughout the city.

We’ve seen first-hand what a stagnant or declining population can do to a community . . . and it’s not pretty.

In the difficult years following the financial crisis of 2008, Windsor experienced population decline, along with plummeting real estate prices and blighted urban neighbourhoods. Compared to the problems we faced a decade ago, a tight real estate market is a good one to have, but it doesn’t impact everyone equally.

Some folks in our community are experiencing unprecedented growth in the value of their homes, while others are increasingly priced out of access to decent housing. Some of the gains should be taxed to provide the kind of municipal services that can build a more equitable community.

It’s time to invest instead of returning short-term dividends to wealthy residents in the form of tax freezes.

If Windsor and the surrounding region continue to pursue the same old policies around land-use planning, taxation, and service delivery, we will miss the opportunity created by population growth to revitalize and build resilience.

We should chart a new course and take into account the long-term cost of different patterns of development. Continuing to gobble up farmland to build new housing developments will increase the burden on each taxpayer to support the infrastructure needed to support our quality of life.

Increasing residential density, providing quality services to all residents, and building or rebuilding neighbourhoods on a scale suitable for active transportation, are the paths forward for building a more resilient, affordable and livable city. This is a moment of growth and opportunity.

It would be a shame to miss it.

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 in downtown Windsor.

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

B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

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FRONTLINES

Who Dunn It? New Crime Novel Set In Windsor And Detroit

By Matthew St. Amand

W

hen the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, Phil Warner set out to write a novel. The book was recently released in spring 2021.

Originally from Windsor, now living in Sarnia, Warner’s debut work titled “Undone”, is set in Windsor and Detroit, incorporating actual locations and real people as characters.

The story focuses on a fatal singlevehicle accident that takes the life of a high profile player with the Detroit Tigers.

On the book jacket it states: “Homicide Detective Finn Gaines is assigned to investigate and determine whether or not

an actual crime was committed.”

Although it's set primarily in Detroit, Warner takes the reader through some of his old stomping grounds in and around Windsor.

Among these is the south Windsor, 4350 Howard Avenue, location of Antonino’s Original Pizza Inc., owned by his lifelong friend, Joe Ciaravino.

Phil Warner’s book “Undone” is set in Windsor and Detroit, incorporating actual locations and real people as characters. Two of the main characters live in the “Motor City”, but have a pizza date at Antonino’s Original Pizza Inc. 4350 Howard Avenue in Windsor. Owner Joe Ciaravino happens to come in that night and of course, he explains how Windsor-style pizza, and Antonino’s pizza is so special. His pizza and explanation builds a relationship with a main character that earns him two cameo appearances in the novel! Photo courtesy of Denis Gauthier/Rosati Group.

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B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

“He contacted me through Facebook asking: ‘Is it OK to use Antonino’s as a location?’” says Ciaravino. “I misread his message, and didn’t realize he used me as a character in the novel until I ordered my copy. That was a surprise!”

Warner and Ciaravino both attended Central Public School and then Centennial Secondary School.

“We played little league baseball together,” Ciaravino recalls. “Phil’s dad coached us. Phil has been a lifelong Tigers’ fan, and he used that knowledge in writing his book.”

In the book’s “Author Notes”, Warner mentions playing hockey and football against Detroit Red Wings/Chicago Blackhawks NHL player, Bob Probert.

With regard to Probert, Warner comments: “It never ceases to amaze me as to how gentle and kind he was off the ice.”

Ciaravino continues: “There is a scene where two characters come into Antonino’s and I come out to greet them. When I first saw that I couldn’t believe it!”

Warner’s imagination further incorporated Ciaravino into the story.

“Later on, there is a scene where I bring a pizza out to the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park,” Ciaravino states. “They give me premiere seats for the game!”

Ciaravino wishes his old friend much success with his book, and plans to have copies available at each Antonino’s location, when the restaurants open again for indoor dining (please refer to their social media pages and website: OriginalPizza.ca for updates on the re-opening).

In the meantime, Warner’s novel is available on: Amazon.ca (Kindle and paperback versions).

FRONTLINES

By Dave Hall

Audacia Bioscience Offers Solution

To Help Charities Get Back To Business

A

s communities and charities across the region slowly emerge from lockdowns and restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Audacia Bioscience has developed a system designed to make it safe to stage and attend events that have been put on hold for more than 18 months.

Developed by a group of local scientists, technologists and medical experts, a Windsor-made solution has the potential to make it easier for organizers to host fundraising and other events with the assurance they and their guests can attend safely in large numbers and fully participate in good causes, once again.

“MyPass” — a COVID-19 status verification system — uses vaccine receipts or COVID test results to create digital certificates suitable for travel and attending large events throughout the community.

“COVID is not going away — it is going to be with us for a while,” states Dr. Stephen Bartol, Audacia’s Chief Medical Officer. “We can push numbers down with lockdowns and vaccines, but with mutations and variants, we already know we are looking at the idea of booster shots.”

virtual events,” expresses The Tea Party drummer and local philanthropist Jeff Burrows. “How can we do it all safely? Then I heard about ‘MyPass’ and I knew we had found the answer.”

Organizers seeking a COVID-safe environment can register at: My-Pass.ca, set their COVID-19 comfort level and “MyPass” then takes care of validation and ensures

everyone attending the event is within the settings of those comfort levels, all the way from open to vaccinated and tested.

“By bringing together the different documents, statuses and tests under a single location, we feel confident we can provide safety, responsibility and edu-cation in the area of gathering safely during COVID-19,” says Dr. Phillip Olla, Audacia’s Chief Executive Officer.

Dr. Phillip Olla, Chief Executive Officer of Audacia Bioscience, has spearheaded development of a brandnew tool — “MyPass” — which can allow organizers to hold events with assurances that they and their guests can attend in large numbers, safely. Photo courtesy of Audacia Bioscience.

“‘MyPass’ is exactly the type of tool we need as we re-open, stay open and learn to live with COVID,” adds Bartol.

Kim Spirou, a veteran fundraising organizer who runs Kim Spirou and Associates Public Relations and Philanthropy Inc. says “MyPass” has come along at just the right time for community organizations to start raising funds again.

“It’s 100 percent a great idea,” believes Spirou. “Event organizers need to be sure that everyone who attends their event is safe and will remain healthy at all times.”

Organizers can register their events as a COVID-safe gathering and guests can simply show a QR code at point of entry upon arrival.

“Charities are hurting, venues are hurting and staff are hurting, yet people are hesitant to move away from ZOOM and B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

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B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

HEARD ON THE STREET A construction project led by Petretta Construction Inc. (PetCon.net) will see a new A&W Restaurant and a commercial plaza open in the next few months, at the intersection of Totten Street and Huron Church Road. It will replace a Rexall Drug Store, which was demolished in July.

Jonathon Lot, Petretta’s Vice-President of Operations, notes pad preparation took place in late July with foundation work expected to follow in late August into September.

The latest project brings development at that intersection, full circle. Lot explains Petretta developed the Rexall a few years ago along with the adjacent Shoppers Drug Mart, which remains open. In addition to this commercial development, Petretta remains busy in the condominium marketplace with 11 towers in various stages of development from planning to construction. The latest include a new condo building on the site of the former Sunnyside Tavern in LaSalle and another in Riverside, which is still in the early planning stages. The company will also be starting a project at Acali Place Marina, 2882 Front Road in LaSalle in the fall, where it will be building a new 9,100 square foot building with a mix of offices and storage, as well as a 6,100 square foot addition to the marina’s boat storage building. Lot adds that Petretta is also in the final stages of finishing off their part of the work in constructing a new modular student housing complex on St. Clair College’s campus. “We’ve been very busy and expect to remain busy for the new few years,” says Lot. BRL Construction, a London-based contracting firm, is bringing new Starbucks, Church’s Texas Chicken, and Fat Bastard Burrito Co. franchises to the intersection of Tecumseh Road West and Huron Church

Road. The new development will be located on the northeast corner of the intersection adjacent to Food Basics, Canadian Tire, Dollarama, RBC Royal Bank and Shoppers Drug Mart. BRL owner Albert Meddaoui says the development should be ready for tenant occupancy by mid-November with the interiors, which are being handled by the individual tenants, to be completed within a further six weeks. Fat Bastard Burrito features quesadillas, tacos and burritos while Church’s menu includes a variety of fried chicken dishes. BRL is also building a plaza, which will have a mix of commercial and retail tenants, on the site of the former Studio 4 Tavern at the same intersection. For more information, visit: FatBastardBurrito.ca; Starbucks.com and ChurchsTexasChicken.com.

Richard and Colleen Peddie are continuing to help change the face of historic downtown Amherstburg. First, they opened River Bookshop at 67 Richmond Street and followed that with The Panetteria, a European-style bakery, at 248 Ramsey Street. Now, they have plans to construct a new building at 63 Richmond Street, replacing a former travel agency and a frozen yogurt shop, which will house a candy maker and another tenant — yet to be determined.

There will also be two apartments on the second floor of the new building.

A redeveloped parking lot and alley will allow space for a small patio for bakery customers. Richard is the former President of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment, while Colleen is the President of a Toronto-based public relations and advertising agency. The projects will cost in the neighbourhood of $1 million. The couple now lives on Boblo Island.

B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

Station Restaurant, a long time staple on the city’s west side at 1350 Pelletier Street, has changed hands and re-opened in August under new management. Satel Singh has purchased the building, which also includes a residential component, with Luigi Montini stepping in to run the restaurant. Former owners Isa and Merita Berberi operated the restaurant, which was built as a train station in 1929, for 25 years.

“It has been a very difficult decision to make, but the time has come to leave Windsor and move closer to our family,” according to the Beris. ’We’ve served meals for first dates that later turned into family dinners and we’ve hosted memorable birthday parties, served routine weekend brunches and everything in between.” Montini, who has previous experience working at a restaurant and a bakery, says he will retain the Station name and the menu, but has undertaken some renovations including new floor tiles and a paint job. Read about the latest updates on the restaurant on their social media page: Facebook.com/ChefLMontini.

Franca Pheby, a Sales Representative with Platinum Realty Inc. Brokerage, who handled the trans-action, believes “it’s a great opportunity for the right buyer.”

Skippy’s Restaurant, a popular breakfast spot at 954 University Avenue West, across from the old Grace Hospital site, has been sold and recently re-opened as the Rise N’ Shine diner that also focuses on serving breakfast and lunch dishes. Former owners Daniel Sims and Melissa Martin closed Skippy’s in March 2020 after 40 years.

Get further details on the new biz here on: Facebook.com/risenshinecuisine.

Accountant Stephen Funtig is the new owner of Maidstone Tree Farm & Garden Centre after purchasing the business from Vic and Kathy Bellaire in late July. The Bellaires bought 16.5 acres of farmland in 1988 and started planting White Spruce, Blue Spruce and Ash trees on the property. They opened the garden centre in 1994. The business is located at 7010 Highway 3 in Maidstone and online at: MaidstoneTreeFarm.com.

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY

NEWSFLASH THE RUNDOWN Westervelt College’s new “Film and Video Production, Storytelling in the Digital Age” diploma program, is offered in partnership with the Windsor Centre for Film, Digital Media & the Creative Arts. The 12 month condensed program launches on September 27, 2021. People living in Essex, Kent or Lambton counties may be eligible for a $10,000 bursary through the Windsor Centre for Film, as well as short-term paid internships and free access to industry-based mentors. This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. For additional information visit: https://info.westervelt.ca/london-film-and-videoproduction-storytelling-for-the-digital-age/ The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County Inc., 19th annual “Face to Face” campaign, kicked off August 15 and runs until September 30, 2021. Canvassers are pounding the pavement (while keeping their physical distances and following all health guidelines) and generous sponsors are on board to support the cause to make sure this year’s “Face to Face” campaign is another resounding success! Funds raised support the Hospice, so they can continue to provide care, programs and services at no cost to patients and their loved ones. The 2021 “Face to Face” campaign (supported by YourTV and “Face to Face” TV Host John Fairley) operates similarly to previous years (asking 10 people for $10 each) with canvassers able to collect donations both online and in person. Community members can show their support by making a pledge to a specific canvasser, or supporting the cause as a whole, either online or in person. To access the canvasser kit or for more information, log on to their website: TheHospice.ca or follow

the Hospice on Twitter (@HospiceF2F); Facebook (HospiceWindsorEssex) and Instagram (thehospicewindsor).

ON THE MOVE The offices for Silicon Direct and Data Recovery Guy, relocated in June from 220 Tecumseh Road West to 2571 Jefferson Blvd. in Windsor. Owner Rui Pereira, a Certified Data Recovery Expert, offers computer sales/service and specializes in data recovery on all storage devices for residential and commercial clients, worldwide. Pereira began the business in 1999 and the new location allows him to be more centrally located to serve his clients better. Learn more about these two businesses on: SiliconDirect.com and DataRecoveryGuy.com.

As of July 2021, Michael Anthony’s Hair Salon can now be found in the newly renovated, home-base location of 1790 Partington Avenue in Windsor. Though the location has changed from 139 Tecumseh Road West, the staff remain the same as does the quality service and business phone number. Owner Michael Maio and his team hope to see you and your family soon for all your hair care needs. Their service includes access to complimentary bottled water, ice cream, espresso coffee, and who know what else is cooking up! You can book your appointment via: Facebook.com/MichaelAnthonys.Salon.

The Town of Essex (Essex.ca) announces the appointment of Doug Sweet as the new Chief Administrative Officer, effective

September 7, 2021. Sweet has served the Town as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)/Director, Community Services, since 2019. Prior to being Deputy CAO, he served as Director, Community Services, since 2013, and Director of Parks and Recreation from 2004 to 2008. He also served as Manager of Arenas and the WFCU Centre for the City of Windsor. Sweet replaces Chris Nepszy, who recently accepted a position with the City of Windsor.

NEW IN BIZ Renaldo Agostino, owner of Turbo Espresso Bar, 285 Ouellette Avenue in downtown Windsor, recently announced that their wonderful assortments of hand-crafted coffee, delicious paninis and fresh Italian gelato, are now available for Devonshire Mall shoppers to enjoy. With this new expanded location that opened in the summer, Turbo Espresso Bar Devonshire Mall is the first new LCBO licensee, in the main artery of the mall, to offer alcoholic beverages and local wine, beer and spirits in over 20 years. It can provide these offerings thanks to the cooperation of the City of Windsor and the relentless work of Valerie Dawn, Principal Architect at Glos Arch + Eng. A liquor licence was able to be obtained using shared restrooms and without a formal exterior exit — both items that traditionally made applying for a licence, challenging. As Dawn explains: “This is why no one else has done it — licensing a small space in a shared environment was rendered impossible by costly and impractical architectural upgrades. As a professional who

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B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

Making businesses better.

is new to this region, I was able to bring in some perspective from other municipalities, and I was happy to find that the City of Windsor’s building department was filled with bright, good-natured, critically-minded individuals who were open to dialogue”.

Together, they came to a solution that satisfies the requirements and intent of the Ontario Building Code, while also relaxing existing restrictions for café spaces under 30 seats.

“Devonshire Mall is excited to welcome Turbo Espresso Bar to the centre’s strong retail mix and are happy to support local retail,” says Chris Savard, Associate Director of Cushman & Wakefield, the management company for Devonshire Mall. The comfortable lounge feel of the mall location was designed by NXT Level’s Ramy Yacoub and only the best, genuine Italian coffee and gelato crafted locally by Enzo Palumbo from Gennaro’s, is served. In addition, Turbo Devonshire Mall is also working towards offering local wine, beer and spirits ’to-go’. Shoppers will be able to take home a bottle of wine from North 42, a six pack of beer from Walkerville Brewery and products from other local participating merchants as well. Find further information on: IDrinkTurbo.com.

In mid-July Brampton Immigration Consultancy opened the doors to its new Windsor branch at 1610 University Avenue West. The firm opened to bolster immigration support to Canadian newcomers, as the federal government plans to welcome 1.2 million immigrants to Canada by 2023 to boost the economy, reunite families and provide refuge. As part of its commitment to bolstering support to those navigating the Canadian immigration system, a five-strong team of licenced immigration consultants, lawyers, paralegals and administrative staff are on hand to provide custom, caseby-case guidance locally, via in-person appointments, and internationally via virtual consultation. “Brampton Immigration Consultancy’s mission is to fulfill people’s dreams from all around the world, of moving to, living and working in Canada,” says Sandeep Singh, Immigration Consultant at Brampton Immigration Consultancy. “Our team of experts at the new Windsor branch will provide tailored immigration assistance from the first conversation to navigating legalities and then accustoming them to Canadian life, once here, making the process of moving a painless, seamless and financially savvy one.” Globally, Brampton Immigration Consultancy has 13 offices (with Brampton, ON housing the head office) with a 70+ strong international team of experts in India, Nigeria and Sri Lanka, and is proactively seeking new partnerships to establish a presence in other countries. Find out all their locations on: BramptonConsultancy.com.

B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

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NEW IN BIZ

Let’s Go Glamping With Lungovita And Go For A Swim With Pro Fit Pools

By Zander Kelly

The ongoing pandemic has been hard on local businesses, however some are seeing open windows instead of closed doors. (And after you read the article here be sure to see the cover story of this issue for even more success stories!)

Lungovita (225 East County Road 50, Harrow, ON) is a newly-founded “Glamping” (glamorous camping) company founded by David Haas and Andrew Facca who also partner with Craig Higginbottom and Chantal Vallée, Head Coach of the

The beach retreat features stunning views of Lake Erie and guests have access to onsite biking, kayaking, volleyball facilities and more. Pictured are the owners of Lungovita (from left): David Haas, Andrew Facca, and Craig Higginbottom (missing from photo is Chantal Vallée) setting up for a busy weekend of bookings and potential new clients. Photo by Julianna Bonnett.

Pivoting from glamping by the lake to having your very own backyard swimming paradise, three local men have started a pool installation company.

Pro Fit Pools, founded by Chris Marcus, Jeremy McLean and Brian Edwards opened earlier this summer, after the three co-owners spent several years working for another local pool company.

“We’ve been absolutely swamped,” indicates Marcus, when speaking with Biz X, alongside McLean and Edwards while on the way to another job. “It’s every day, no days off, right?

It’s been steady and it’s been great so far.”

During the summer months, the trio have been offering installations for pools, as well as maintenance services. As the summer months wind down into fall and winter, Pro Fit Pools will also be offering services regarding decks, fences and properly closing pools for the winter. However, they’re not set on this yet, and might keep their services summer-only if there’s enough revenue for it.

There’s also a possibility in the future of retail sales for the business, selling pools and

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University of Windsor Lancers women’s basketball team.

Lungovita (pronounced “Loon-go-veeta”) is a portmanteau of Italian and Latin words, translating roughly to “Long Life.”

The company offers comfortable local camping without the challenges of the wilderness, providing instead 10 to 16 foot wide Bell Tents on Lake Erie with a lake or forest view (or you can bring your own tent if you choose).

“I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was 16,” recounts Haas, who is also owner of the Treehouse Bar & Grill, downtown Windsor since 2001. “Between Facca and I, we’ve had the idea to open up a resort/retreat for a long time. We’re both life coaches so we’re always looking for venues for events and we had a vision to create our own.”

As a result, the dream soon became reality.

This new biz now offers, at their own venue, corporate team building; corporate retreats/leadership training; yoga/healing retreats and workshops. This is in addition to the glamping options and resort fee amenities like bike and kayak rentals, volleyball courts and bonfire pits.

Lungovita opened officially on July 31, 2021 and just a few days later they hosted their very first clients. The owners of a local

business, Pure Cycle & Yoga Studio, spent time paddle boarding, taking local wine tours and even invited some of their friends to visit the tents with a day pass.

“You get all the benefits of camping and fresh air, with these nice big Bell Tents all furnished with queen beds, electricity, and running water close by,” says Haas. “It was a soft opening, but reservations are rolling in quickly.”

Lungovita aims to be open year-round in the future, but for this year, its rental season ends October 31, 2021. See rates and contact information at: Lungovita.com.

potentially even doing work on hot tubs in the coming months or years.

As for partnering with other local businesses, Pro Fit Pools is already working with Rogers Pools & Spas, and are recommended by a few other local pool distributors, as well as Quality Rentals, who have been a huge help with equipment needs.

“The biggest challenge so far has been finding the work,” says McLean. “We had to do a lot of searching to find interested clients. And we do our best to leave every customer as happy as possible.”

“Satisfaction guaranteed!” adds Marcus.

Connect with Pro Fit Pools via their social media page: Facebook.com/pro.fitpoolsinc.

Lungovita Bell Tents (pictured) offer a glamping style stay that allow guests to enjoy optimal fresh air sleeping with comfortable bedding and pillows for a good night’s rest. Plus the tents keep the bugs and rain out!

Photo by Julianna Bonnett.

Get ready to jump in to your new pool installed

by Chris Marcus (left), Jeremy McLean and Brian Edwards, owners of Pro Fit Pools. Photo

by Della Jones-Goulet.

B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

COVER STORY By Dave Hall

© Can Stock Photo /tomwang

CELEBRATING

espite the fact that as many as 20% of small businesses fail in the first year, there is never a shortage of entrepreneurs willing to take a risk and establish their own businesses across Essex County.

Many of those are in financial services, automobile sales, construction, and retail clothing sales.

“Starting a new business can be intimidating and exciting at the same time,” says Sabrina DeMarco, Executive Director of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre (Refer to: WeBusinessCentre.com), a division of Invest WindsorEssex. “But there’s more involved than having a great idea, registering your business and opening the doors.”

DeMarco’s agency provides business planning advice, marketing strategies, financial and succession planning, business preparedness information, all with an eye towards helping small businesses in Windsor Essex survive those early years.

According to the Business Development Bank of Canada, almost 67% of new businesses survive to celebrate their fifth anniversary, however getting past that initial 12 months can be a major challenge.

Further, goods-producing companies have higher survival rates than servicesproducing businesses with 49% still operating after 10 years compared to 44%.

And finding ways to help small businesses survive is an important part of the Canadian economy, with small businesses creating more than 470,000 jobs between 2014 and 2019.

There are ways to help ensure a business survives through those early uncertain years.

DeMarco recommends that anyone thinking about launching their own business consider thinking one or two years ahead, when it comes to capital expenditures and cash flow.

“If sales aren’t as high as you anticipated or planned for, you need to have cash in reserve to get you over the rough spots,” DeMarco advises.

In the second and third years, business survival rates fall, and by the time a business is five years old, it is often wellpositioned to survive.

Those that don’t survive, often fail because of poor planning, poor management and a lack of vision on behalf of the owners.

The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre also provides ongoing support, as well as business retention and expansion advice, including marketing and advertising suggestions.

Demarco suggests: “It is critically important to have a digital presence on social media and you have B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

to engage those customers in new ways.”

For this edition, Biz X magazine takes a look at four companies in a variety of sectors, celebrating between five and 90 years in business this year.

Each have different reasons for their success, but all have something in common — a dedicated commitment to customer service.

Closet Cravings Upscale Consignment Boutique & Gift Shop Inc. Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

Lisa Berbynuk’s five year old consignment business grew out of her longtime interest in clothes and luxury-brand fashion accessories.

Previously, she spent 16 years working in a completely different field — at the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Clinic.

But back to her current interests: “I noticed that a lot of my friends had beautiful clothes that they wore once, weren’t wearing anymore or had never worn, and had hanging in their closets with the tags still on,” she recounts. “I saw a

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© Can Stock Photo/Hannamariah

D

great opportunity to offer these clothes to other women who had an interest in fashion and quality clothing.” Berbynuk adds, “We offer these items at less than retail.”

Berbynuk takes clothing in on three month seasonal consignment contracts with sizes ranging from zero to double and triple X. She also offers a wide range of purses, shoes, active wear and jewellery.

In addition to standard mall brands, Berbynuk stocks clothing and accessories from brands such as: Coach, lululemon, Juicy Couture, Michael Kors, Banana Republic, Cole Haan, French Connection, Laundry and Club Monaco, as well as luxury brands such as Gucci, Prada, Celine, Chanel and Louis Vuitton.

She points out: “The fastest-growing segment of the business is on the luxury brand side.”

And in order to protect customers and preserve her store’s reputation, Berbynuk makes sure all the luxury brand items are independently authenticated.

“Knock-off clothing and accessories can be a major problem so we are very careful before we put anything out in our store to make sure it’s been authenticated,” she explains.

Berbynuk feels that protecting her reputation is one of the secrets to her ongoing success, along with

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At Closet Cravings Upscale Consignment Boutique & Gift Shop Inc., Owner and Operator Lisa Berbynuk makes sure her shop is filled with the latest and greatest styles to fit all her customers’ needs.

Berbynuk prides herself on selling the best upscale consignment items, including a wide selection of footwear and clothing.

Photo by Julianna Bonnett.

word-of-mouth advertising from a legion of satisfied customers.

“When our customers leave here happy and satisfied with what they have bought and tell their friends, it’s the best kind of advertising and promotion you can get,” she adds.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Berbynuk was forced to close her doors, but her website — ClosetCravings.ca — brought in new customers and also enabled her to open up a customer base in the U.S. “We ship across Canada and the U.S. and that helped keep us going during the various closures,” she reports.

Keeping the website current is time-

B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

consuming because of the store’s high turnover rate, and only five-to-10 percent of her products are posted on the site at any given time.

Berbynuk posts everyday items and hard-to-find luxury products on the website to give clients a taste of what they would find during a personal visit to the store.

A large part of her stock includes clothing and accessories that have never been worn or used and still have the original sales tags in place.

All items are in mint condition and steamed for extra sanitization. Berbynuk has three employees and relies on added help from family members when necessary.

To help keep her customers in the loop, she also posts a variety of incoming items on Facebook and Instagram.

“We dress people for special occasions, new employment opportunities and job interviews, especially people who may have been out of the job market and their professional wardrobe needs updating,” she describes.

Berbynuk has been actively involved with fundraising drives since she was a student at Assumption High School and continues that commitment today with contributions to New Beginnings, Street Help and Windsor Youth Centre. She also runs a Christmas gift program and makes donations to schools across the area.

Closet Cravings is located at 25 Amy Croft Drive in Tecumseh (adjacent to the Sobeys plaza) and online at: ClosetCravings.ca.

Alpine Construction (Windsor) Inc. Marks 30th Year

A graduate of the Architectural Technology program at St. Clair College,

Lou Savoni decided to strike out on his own 30 years ago after spending seven years working for another construction company.

“By that point, I had become the company’s unofficial general manager so I was pretty confident in my abilities, but it was still a leap of faith to go from a steady pay cheque to working for yourself,” explains Savoni.

Savoni launched his business, which specializes in relief and mitigation services following floods, fires and other disasters, with the help of his wife Ivanna Savoni and two carpenters.

Today, Alpine Construction has 20 employees, including son Chris and daughter Lauren Underwood.

“We worked out of our house for the first 18 months and now we have a 20,000 square foot shop and warehouse,” he expresses.

Savoni recalls his first project was a $3,500 claim to fix two small aluminum awnings that had been badly damaged during a hailstorm.

“It went smoothly and we just grew from there, largely through word-of-mouth at the beginning and then through referrals once our reputation was firmly established,” he says.

The majority of the restoration work is handled by Savoni’s own staff with the exception of specialties, such as electrical

In 1991 Lou Savoni launched Alpine Construction from his home at 268 Moy Avenue in Windsor. He and his wife Ivanna had two carpenters as employees at the time. They worked out of this location until 1993.

services, roofing and heating, ventilation and cooling.

One of the key components of Alpine’s success has been developing strong, committed relationships with subcontractors such as Encore Mechanical & Building Services and RSK Electric.

“Our work is generally not planned and scheduled, so when our phone rings at 2 a.m., we need to be able to count on people to be available to step in and do the work,” Savoni emphasizes.

Scott Kennedy of RSK Electric has been working alongside Alpine on restoration and disaster mitigation projects for 17 years, providing electrical services after fires, Lou Savoni, President of Alpine Construction oversees the finishing touches to a home located on the 900 block of Bridge Street in Windsor that was ravaged by fire and smoke.

Photo by Rod Denis.

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floods, storms, rebuilds and emergencies.

“During this time, we have come to see firsthand how Alpine is dedicated and truly cares about each project and the community,” adds Kennedy. “We look forward to another 30 years of providing electrical services for Alpine projects.”

In 1993, Savoni moved his business to 2998 Grand Marais Road East and stayed there until 2008. Building photos courtesy of Alpine Construction.

Jeff Cecile, Vice-President of Encore Mechanical, which itself has been in business for about 40 years, says that Alpine has been a great company to work with over the years.

“We do all their plumbing and heating restoration, as well as some electrical and it’s been a great relationship,” he comments.

“They take care of their clients and we work very closely with them to make sure all the work is done properly and efficiently.”

But, even that can be challenging at times given the nature of Alpine’s projects.

“Our projects aren’t new builds, so we’re generally working in homes and businesses that are still occupied by residents or employees, which can make the work challenging at times,” says Savoni.

“As a result of COVID-19 protocols, we are limited to how many people can be on site at any given time, which means that a week-long job can sometimes take three or four weeks.”

Since 2008, Alpine operates from 2645 North Talbot Road in Tecumseh.

“Emotions can run high at times and we need to be able to work efficiently and communicate with our customers to help mitigate the problems,” he states. “We’re a little like mice — you know we’re there, but you’re not supposed to hear us.”

COVID-19 has added a new layer of challenges because of the limited availability and cost of materials.

Alpine’s jobs are generally all diverse and require different materials, so having B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

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B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

55 Years For Essex’s DPM Insurance Group

At the end of every tour of duty an artist would create and donate a picture to every soldier. On this occasion in 2014, retired Warrant Officer Ward Gap decided he wanted to donate the artwork to Lou and Ivanna Savoni. Pictured from left are: Lou and Ivanna’s daughter, Lauren Underwood; Ivanna Savoni; Ward Gap; Lou Savoni and Lou and Ivanna’s son, Chris Savoni. Photo courtesy of Alpine Construction.

a fully-stocked warehouse is virtually impossible.

“They are custom jobs for the most part and that makes it difficult to preorder and that can be an issue at times,” Savoni indicates.

Largely as a result of Alpine’s reputation in the industry, Savoni is a founding member of Ontario’s Elite Mitigation & Restoration Group (EMRG.com), which pulls together contractors from across the province and responds to disasters across Canada when needed.

Along with his son Chris, Savoni spent six weeks in 2013 working in High River, Alberta when excessive flooding caused millions of dollars in damage to businesses and residences throughout the town.

Savoni, one of the group’s catastrophe managers, ran a large emergency team during the restoration efforts, and while it was extremely complicated to bring all the

trades from various jurisdictions together as a team, he says he wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.

“Outside help can be essential in these circumstances, but one thing I’ve learned in over 30 years is don’t underestimate the quality and capabilities of local vendors and trades people,” says Savoni. “We are local, we are staying local and we are as qualified as anyone, anywhere in the province to get the work done.”

In addition to providing his company’s expertise to home and business owners, Savoni makes contributions on an annual basis to In Honour of the Ones We Love and Crime Stoppers, in addition to sponsoring house-league level sports teams.

Alpine Construction is located at 2645 North Talbot Road in Tecumseh. For more information, refer to their website: AlpineConstruction.ca.

B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

Launched as Barnett Brown Insurance in Essex in 1966, this long-established agency is now part of DPM Insurance Group, a cluster of six local agencies.

The cluster allows the agencies to approach insurance companies as a group, thus enabling it to make the best possible insurance deals for its hundreds of clients across the region.

“The cluster was started 70 odd years ago by agencies in Tilbury, Chatham and Blenheim,” explains Cindy Marchand, whose grandmother Faye Barnett established the company when she bought H.R. Johnson Insurance 55 years ago.

“William Brown was her business partner at the time and it was unheard of for a woman to own an insurance agency in those days.”

Marchand remembers hearing stories about her grandmother working all day in the office and then going door-to-door in the evenings selling policies to neighbours and town residents.

Marchand’s father Jim and his brother Mark joined Barnett Brown in 1977. Cindy Marchand, who is the owner/principal of the Essex office, joined the business in 1996 and was followed in 1997 by brother Doug, who recently retired.

Essex joined the DPM cluster in 2005.

Its official name for industry purposes is DPM Insurance operated by Brown Barnett.

Even before joining the agency 25 years ago, Marchand often worked in the office after school “doing all the crappy jobs!”

However, she knows: “It was a great learning experience and over the years,

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The Owner and Principal of DPM Insurance Group’s Essex office, Cindy Marchand, is surrounded by décor items that she and her office staff decided project a positive, complementary vibe for their one-on-one personal service that makes all their clients feel like family. Photo by Julianna Bonnett.

I’ve probably done all the jobs in the office at one time or another.”

Over the years, insurance needs and offerings have changed, but house and automobile insurance remains DPM’s stock-in-trade.

“People have to have car insurance and if they have a mortgage, they have to have house insurance,” Marchand points out.

Lately, however, the company has started to offer insurance for e-bikes, golf carts and cyber liability.

“Fifteen years ago, when computer usage became more and more prevalent, who knew it would open up people to all kinds of online and identification issues!” states Marchand. “Now, identity theft and online scams are very common and there’s insurance available for individuals and businesses to cover some of the losses incurred as a result of those issues.”

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As a result of being a locally-owned agency, Marchand and her 17 employees are able to offer one-on-one personal service with a hometown feel.

“We’re your friends and neighbours, we understand the local market and we can offer personal attention at a time when so much is being conducted online today,” stresses Marchand.

For Nelson Silveira, Economic Development Officer for the Town of Essex, having a stable business climate in town is important for the businesses themselves, as well as residents.

“I can’t speak specifically about one business, but obviously small businesses are the fabric of any community and any contribution to business resilience and success is very important.”

Long-term businesses create consumer confidence and also confidence within the

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business community, which can only be good for everyone, adds Silveira.

This level of success takes a lot of commitment from staff, in these circumstances, and Marchand is quick to heap praise on her co-workers, especially now that everyone is slowly emerging from an 18 month long pandemic, which created its own set of business challenges.

“We stayed in the office the whole time following strict protocols and we became an even tighter group than we had been before it all started,” she says.

Marchand recently joined DPM colleagues Jay Dillon of Tilbury and Bob Pickering, who own agencies in Blenheim and Wallaceburg, in purchasing DPM’s Harrow office from long-time owners Tim and Tracy Ferriss.

“It’s an investment in the future and helps ensure the Harrow agency retains its local feel and flavour,” believes Marchand.

As a community-minded company, her insurance agency is a supporter of Essex County Community Living and the Essex Food Bank, in addition to sponsoring house-league teams in minor sports.

DPM Insurance is located at 29 Talbot Street North in Essex. To view a list of their products and services go to the website: DPMins.com/locations/essex.

Reaume Chevrolet Buick GMC: 90 Years In Business

Launched in 1931 by Joseph Reaume in a small building at 1820 Front Road in LaSalle as Sunnyside Garage, where he sold Chevrolet and Oldsmobile vehicles, as well as Frigidaire appliances,

Reaume Chevrolet Buick GMC is still run by members of the original founding family. They include, from left: Richard, Craig, Jenn and Jeff Reaume. Steve Reaume retired in 2017, but you might see him around the dealership from time to time. Photo courtesy of the Reaume family.

the dealership’s sales and services staff are now selling and servicing vehicles bought by the grandchildren of early customers.

“I guess you could say it’s in our blood and we are very proud to have been around for as long as we have,” expresses Craig Reaume, Dealer Principal as of 2020. “I started here as a teenager washing cars and I’ve slowly worked my way up through the dealership doing just about every job that needs doing.”

There have been numerous management changes over the past 90 years, but there’s one inescapable fact — the dealership has always been a family business.

Today, it’s run by brothers Craig and Jeff Reaume, sister Jenn Reaume and uncle Rick (Richard) Reaume.

Last year, they struck up a partnership with the Lally Auto Group, another veteran area automobile dealership family.

The Lally dealership was established by

Ray and Rita Lally, in 1946 in Comber.

Their son Vince opened a Subaru dealership in 1970, grandson Adam Lally came on board in 2007 and over the years, the business has expanded to encompass numerous dealerships in Chatham, Leamington and Tilbury,

selling a variety of vehicle brands.

“When we heard the Reaume family was interested in a partnership, we reached out and found out very quickly that their goals, philosophies, history and values were aligned with ours,” explains Adam Lally.

“It’s been a seamless transition and we are very comfortable being a page in their long history.”

According to Jenn Reaume, customer service lies at the heart of their longstanding history of success in a highly-competitive marketplace.

“Our philosophy is simply to do the next right thing,” notes Jenn. “If we make that our commitment and operate with that mindset, our customers and employees will be treated with respect.”

For long-time customers Roger Rocheleau and Gord and Marilyn Renaud, customer service is top of mind and it’s why they keep going back to Reaume.

“I’ve always had a great experience,” he indicates. “I bought my first car — I think it was a rear-engine Corvair in 1964 — and I’ve been buying there ever since,” says Rocheleau. “I probably buy a truck and car every three years or so and I guess I must be up over two dozen vehicles at this point.”

Gord Renaud, meanwhile, bought his first car from Reaume about

A blast from the past, the dealership back in the early 1990s. Photo courtesy of the Reaume family.

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40 years ago when he was a student at St. Clair College.

“It was a Malibu and I’ve stayed loyal to the brand ever since,” Renaud states. “There have been the odd minor problems, but it’s how they dealt with them that always brings me back.”

“It’s the same in life — it’s not what you go through, it’s how you react to it,” he adds. “At this point, I’ve probably been buying my cars there longer than anyone who has been employed at the dealership.”

Craig Reaume believes that treating customers with respect and fixing whatever problems they have is one of the secrets to the dealership’s long-term success.

“We faced a few layoffs because of COVID, but we never really had to shut down completely,” adds Reaume. “We’ve always been a family-oriented business and our employees are an extension of that philosophy.”

And it’s a business that has undergone many changes over the years, including different names and management personnel.

Five years after the Reaume business opened, Joseph’s son A.J. Reaume and Louis Pajot (A.J.’s brother-in-law) took over the reins of the company and then in 1944, A.J. bought out Louis along with the Sunnyside name and renamed it A.J.

Reaume Motor Sales & Service. A.J.’s son Don would later join the business.

Don’s son Steve followed his father into the business in 1977, becoming the company’s ninth employee and together with Ed Jones, Steve’s brother-in-law, they would oversee more changes with the gas pumps being replaced by an improved new vehicle showroom.

Three years later, Don bought out A.J., changed the name to Reaume Chev/Olds and began looking for a larger LaSalle location, which he found at 500 Front Road on the site of the former Conklin Lumber and Discount Dave’s.

In 1998, Steve and Ed bought out Don, added a customer drive-thru lane and changed the company name again, this time to Reaume Jones Chev/Olds/Geo. Four years later, Steve was joined by wife Gail and brother Rick and they bought out Ed. With sons Jeff and Craig and daughter Jenn already in the business, the employee count reached 32 and the name changed to Reaume Chev/Olds.

Another major facelift was completed in 2007 to mark the dealership’s 75th anniversary and the name became Reaume Chevrolet.

In 2012, more renovations took place and the name changed to Reaume Chev/Buick/GMC. After 38 years in the business, Steve retired in 2017 and Jeff Reaume became

Joseph Reaume started the car business as Sunnyside Garage at 1820 Front Road in LaSalle. He started by selling Chevrolet and Oldsmobile vehicles, as well as products

by Frigidaire, which was then a General Motors Company.

The original 1931 building is shown. Past photos courtesy of the Reaume family.

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1915 Front Rd. LaSalle 519-734-7774 petro-canada.ca

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In 1977, Don’s son Steve Reaume joined the business, becoming its ninth employee, and alongside Ed Jones, Steve’s brother-in-law, they proceeded to grow and expand the dealership. They added a new vehicle display area and upgraded the building.

From left: A.J. Reaume, Don Reaume, Steve Reaume and Ed Jones.

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In 1944, A.J. Reaume took over the dealership when he bought out Louis Pajot, A.J.’s brother-in-law, and changed the name to A.J. Reaume Motors Sales & Service.

A few years later, A.J.’s son Don joined the business after attending the General Motors Institute in Flint.

Dealer Principal, working alongside Craig, Jenn and uncle, Rick.

This ultimately led to the partnership with the Lally Auto Group and more changes in 2020 (Craig Reaume becoming Dealer Principal).

Throughout the years, the dealership has been actively involved in the community.

Reaume Chevrolet Buick GMC offers auto body collision repairs through its tenant, CARSTAR Collision. From small dents to heavy collision repairs, Co-owner David Carlini (pictured) and his team can handle repairs to all makes and models. They work with all insurance companies and their repairs come with Nationwide lifetime warranty — they even have car rentals onsite! Photo by Rod Denis.

“We’ve participated in food drives, sponsored sports teams and hosted countless car washes,” says Jenn. “I don’t think we’ve ever said no. We believe in supporting our community because without them, we wouldn’t be here.”

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

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The Best Is Yet To Come

From five years to 90 years and many more to follow, these local family-owned businesses have been serving the needs of countless clients and customers across Essex County.

And odds are, their stories are not yet complete.

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HAVE A CUP OF JOE WITH JOE

The Downtown Windsor Farmers’ Market . . .

“Market” On Your Calendar To Attend Story And Photos By Joe McParland

S

o after years of searching for their new forever home, the Downtown Windsor Farmers’ Market (DWFM), a non-profit Farmers’ Market partnership of the DWFM and the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association (DWBIA), has now been a fixture on Pelissier Street and Maiden Lane Avenue since 2016.

This year it has been operating on Saturdays, since May 1, and continues to do so until December 11, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

I recently attended the market and was amazed by what I saw as I approached the intersection of Pelissier and Wyandotte. As far as my eyes could see, there was an endless line up of tent after tent after tent housing a very diverse assortment of market vendors and their products.

The street was alive and filled with masked (COVID-19 safety protocols) market shoppers of all ages, genders, and ethnic backgrounds. This was a microcosm of the Windsor I know and love!

Due to previous pandemic restrictions (and the fact that I also officiate weddings on Saturdays) I finally had the chance to visit the market in July 2021 . . . and what a pleasant surprise it was for me.

There have been palpable, positive vibes felt in the downtown Windsor core in the past few years. The DWBIA and their ally partners have undertaken new and exciting initiatives to help bring this new vitality and energy to a downtown, too long neglected.

I don’t have the space here to describe all these initiatives — except for one major one — The Downtown Windsor Farmers’ Market.

While I was at the market, I sat down and chatted with DWBIA Executive Director, Debi Croucher and Steve Green, DWFM Manager. They helped me understand the sense of optimism I was experiencing for downtown and the role the market was playing in its resurgence.

One of the payoffs for the city in terms of the market’s success is an increase in the occupancy of unoccupied properties in the area.

Croucher indicates: “There is no longer a vacant property in the vicinity of the market. This is something that changed within the first year of the market on Pelissier. At that time there was a 30% property vacancy rate in the area and by the end of the first year there was only one vacant property left.”

DWFM customers George Shabow and Emily Borland are pictured receiving their pre-ordered baked goods via “ShopDWFM” (a multi-vendor e-commerce platform) from Alexandrea Anber of Auntie Aldoo’s Kitchen.

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A southward view of Pelissier Street filled with DWFM vendors and patrons, taken from the rooftop of the Pelissier Street Parking Garage.

She also points out the DWBIA made a significant infrastructure investment in the city with respect to the two ground-level parking garage sections (a subject of enormous controversy a few years back): “The ground level of the parking garage can now be activated, whether it’s for markets, parking, or any other event, because it now has hydro consumption. We’ve been able to demonstrate this effectively and safely.”

From a financial perspective, the DWFM has been a great success.

“Our totally self-funded market — (with the exception of some grants received this past year related to implementing COVID-19 initiatives) — turned a year-end profit of $40,000,” Croucher reports. “All of this money goes right back into the market to fund new initiatives like our new e-commerce platform.”

Green adds, “The appeal of the market also brings 2,000 people into the downtown core each week who not only shop at the market, but at existing businesses as well, and dine in our restaurants.

Vendors can earn $1,000 on a good day. Multiply that by the 33 market dates times 70 to 80 vendors — well, you do the math and see what kind of money can be made by these local small businesses in a year’s time.”

Since my last visit to the market a year ago, the number of vendors has grown significantly.

When I asked Green about the current vendor status, he proudly tells me: “We are two empty spots shy of 80 vendors currently, and will soon have to activate 12 more spaces from our current inventory of available spots.”

My next question to Green was if he required city or DWFM board approval for additional vendors.

He replies: “No, I have set parameters from Wyandotte to Park and the Parking Garage; so, anything I can do to add additional vendors within these parameters, safely, is my prerogative.”

Green maintains a waiting list inventory of potential vendors, which has reached as high as 45 in recent times.

To become a vendor, the process and fees required are clearly

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spelled out on the DWFM website. There is also an online application that must be completed and submitted.

Their website can be accessed through the DWBIA via: DowntownWindsor.ca or on their own stand-alone URL: DWFM.ca.

This year the market has been extended from early October to December 11 — an addition of five more weeks.

This was not in response to COVID-19, although in some ways it helped in lengthening its schedule, since outdoor markets are a category that are permitted to remain open (with mitigation restrictions) during shutdowns. However, even without the pandemic this past year, plans were already in place to extend the market year to mid-December.

A new feature to the market this year is the ability for shoppers to purchase items from the comfort of home, from the downtown market, with “ShopDWFM” — a multi-vendor e-commerce platform.

Here is how it works. By Friday of each week, place your order of favourite foods, artisan crafts, etc. by placing the items in your virtual shopping cart; next you pay for the goods and they will be waiting for you at the various vendors the following morning.

“They can place their order online and then on the day of market, they bring their order ID with them, they go pick the items up directly from the vendors,” Croucher explains. “So, they can skip the line for one; secondly, they can guarantee whatever products or produce they’re looking for is in stock; and finally, their purchases have been paid for and reserved for them.”

This e-commerce platform also operates during non-market months, allowing registered vendors to sell their products online from their stores or homes, to their clients, 12 months a year.

During my walkabout at the DWFM I was delighted to see a significant cross section of our population represented as buyers and

A snapshot of the ground level Pelissier Street garage, hosting various artisans and food vendors.

sellers of one another’s goods. Windsor has long been known to be in the top four ethnically diverse cities in Canada, on a per capita basis, and this diversity shines through at the market.

Green comments that the market has established solid relationships with local social organizations, collaborating with new immigrants to our region. They assist the newcomers to Windsor to help them start up their own businesses and sell their wares at the DWFM. Eventually, many of them branch out from the market to their own “brick and mortar” businesses.

As Green says with a big smile, “The DWFM is the ‘farm team’ for their future businesses.”

If you haven’t had a chance to attend the market this year, I urge you to do so to discover some new friends and support local businesses at the same time.

“Market” on your calendar and enjoy our locally grown farm fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers, and unique artisan food, and browse the art exhibits, crafts vendors, community booths, entertainment, food demos and kid’s corner. You will not be disappointed and it will make you proud!

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A

FOOD FOR THOUGHT THIS ISSUE FEATURES…

Stathis Grill 1657 College Avenue, Windsor

By David Clark

Photos courtesy of staff at Stathis Grill

Pete Stathis, Owner/Operator presents the headliners at the Stathis Grill — the “champion” Gyro Pita (left); with a close second for the Souvlaki Dinner (right) and the Village Salad (at the back) is always a perfect score for a healthy option.

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must-stop eatery in the west end prides itself on providing their customers with superior Greek cuisine and other fare, featuring Gyros and Souvlaki.

Stathis Grill has been open for business since May of 2013, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, open six days a week, (closed Mondays).

The Grill was deservedly recognized last year as a 2020 Biz X Award nominee in the category, “The Greek God of Grub.”

A cozy and warm place to dine, soft Greek music playing in the background greets you as you find your seat. This is a family-oriented diner where your kids are always looked after.

According to Pete Stathis, Owner and Operator: “Takeout and curbside traffic are welcomed too, making up for a lot of overall sales at Stathis Grill.”

A family run business, other members of the Stathis family have a stake in the Grill’s success, including Co-Owners Celia (Pete’s wife who runs the dining area) and Jimmy (Pete’s father who magically orchestrates the making of all the wonderful food heading to your plate).

Jimmy has been in the kitchen a total of 50 years with 25 years at the Stathis Grill and other restaurants.

The Grill also has several employees who are also vital to their success.

Now let’s get to the food!

When Stathis talks to customers about specialties at the eatery, you will pay attention to the details.

On deck, of course you will salivate over the description of the Gyro, a popular item. It’s a homemade mixture cooked on a gyro spit, shaved and placed on pita with homemade Tzatziki and topped with onions and tomatoes.

You can also choose the Pork Souvlaki or Chicken Pitas. Also a real treat are the Stathis Feta Fries, topped with feta, black olives, onions, tomatoes, and drizzled with our homemade Greek Salad Dressing.

Three popular dinners include Spinach

Resembling a plate of Lasagna, the Pastichio has pasta and a wonderful sauce on top.

Pie and Cheese Pie, Cabbage Rolls, and Baby Beef Liver.

Regarding burgers and sandwiches, the Lamb Burger is traditional with ground lamb and beef inside, seasonings and homemade garlic sauce.

For the sandwiches, one to try would be the Real Turkey Clubhouse.

Some of the favourite specials at the restaurant are rotated over weeks, including all homemade food to choose like Moussaka and Pastichio.

Additionally, they serve Stuffed Peppers, Chicken and Ribs and Cabbage Rolls and Perogies.

With salad and soup, they serve Chicken Lemon Rice, as well as a soup of the day.

The very popular Greek Salad with their own dressing, is a great healthy choice and the Village Salad is a leafless alternative.

Two appetizer starters include of course the crowd pleaser, Saginaki (Flaming Cheese) and also Loukaniko (Flaming Sausage). Both are flambéed at your table making it a fun experience!

Along with the classic breakfast and more, Stathis offers the popular homemade Greek sausage with special potatoes.

Be sure to ask about their BBQ sauce that brings it all together.

And supporting local is very important to the owners.

“We do use locally-sourced food products including all of the meats and produce — honey too for the Baklava,” says Stathis, adding, “It is obviously great to have customers coming in again, since COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed somewhat, to add to those totals in years we have served.”

They have initiated delivery services because of the pandemic lockdowns and use Jubzi and SkipTheDishes.

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Who doesn’t love ooey, gooey, buttery melted cheese?

The Saganaki (served with pita bread) is a sure-fire way to kick start a great meal!

In addition, Stathis indicates: “We do small catering orders. Perhaps if there is another location in the future, we will look at doing more in that regard.”

Their website: StathisGrill.com is up-to-date, but a part of it is under construction. Since menu items can change, it is best to view their hours and daily specials on their social media page at: Facebook.com/StathisGrill-448607808565281.

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© Can Stock Photo /sergey_peterman

THE PARENTING BIZ

By Jim Murphy

How To Cope With Your Child's Anxiety

S

ince the pandemic began in March 2020, kids have been in and out of the classroom — while remote learning has become the new norm.

With most children back to school this month, they may be experiencing several emotional and physical side-effects.

These may include anxiety surrounding the return to in-school learning, sleep disruption from lack of a routine, eye strain from too much screen time, worrying over social distancing, mask wearing, and sadly, weight gains due to inactivity and inadequate nutrition. On top of all this is the usual stress of socializing, dealing with bullies, getting good grades and extracurricular responsibilities!

This issue we feature several businesses in the Windsor Essex area that can help your little ones better adapt to the current pandemic scholastic environment.

the highly-structured environment of the classroom.

“Many students are afraid in-school learning may be more difficult than online learning and are therefore feeling insecure about potentially falling behind and not getting good grades,” Carreira indicates.

He continues by stating: “My best advice to parents worried about their

Gain Peace Of Mind With Carreira Psychology Professional Corporation

Many parents understand that kids thrive on structure. Unfortunately, over the last year and a half, their regular routines (sleep schedules, homework/study habits and mealtimes) have been upended

by COVID-19.

According to Dr. Chris Carreira, Clinical Psychologist at Carreira Psychology Professional Corporation this lack of structure and routine can lead to counterproductive habits in some children — especially as they return to

Dr. Chris Carreira, Owner of Carreira Psychology Professional Corporation can give parents rock solid advice on reducing a child’s anxiety about going back to school. Photo courtesy of Brooks Hoste.

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children struggling in a very structured school environment would be to begin implementing the same type of environment they encounter at school, as soon as possible. For example, parents should begin preparing their children by setting bed and meal times at the same time their children will be doing these activities during the academic year. This will help ensure the smoothest transition.”

Carreira also tells Biz X that parents should remind their kids that all children are “in the same boat” when it comes to learning and to acknowledge and validate their feelings.

Separation anxiety among children is another very significant concern when heading back to school, since many kids haven’t strayed beyond the home in nearly two years.

“Change can be very anxiety provoking, and many children, especially the younger ones, may experience separation anxiety (from their parents, homes, pets, etcetera) when being forced to leave the safety of their homes after this extended period of at-home learning during lockdowns,” says Carreira. “Some children are going into grade one having never been to a physical school building. For these children, doing ‘practice runs’ where the parents take them to the school, introduce them to their teachers and show them their classrooms can really help reduce some of this anxiety.”

Another source of stress and anxiety

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THE PARENTING BIZ for kids returning to school is making new friends; the lack of socializing with people other than family members since 2020 contributes to this. This also includes worries over contracting COVID-19 at school and bringing it back home.

“In general, children suffering from depression and anxiety are less adept at managing their emotions than adults, because they lack experience in coping and emotional regulation learned through socialization, formal education or life experience,” notes Carreira. “Isolation from friends and family has been particularly difficult on children, as has been the fear of contracting COVID-19 and spreading it to their friends and family.”

Carreira began working as a psychologist in a clinic in the Detroit area in 2006. He then transitioned back to the Windsor area where he was employed at a local private practice between 2010 and 2015. He opened his own private practice in 2016.

“I have really made a name for myself in this community in the area of marriage or couples’ therapy,” Carreira says. “My master’s program was called ‘Marriage and Family Therapy,’ and I received very specialized training (classes as well as internships) in these areas. In addition to this, I have also really developed a name for myself in the area of trauma treatment (PTSD).”

Located at 3063 Walker Road, Unit 202, Carreira Psychology Professional Corporation — with a staff of six psychologists, psychologists in training and psychoanalysts — offers services for individuals as well as couples and family therapy, assessment of children, adolescents and adults, ranging from psycho-educational attention assessments (evaluations to help identify school related diagnoses like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and

learning disabilities) to evaluations of veterans and individuals involved in motor vehicle collisions.

For more information, log on to his website: DrChrisCarreira.com.

Sleep Tight With Bliss Wellness & Sleep

As previously mentioned, the pandemic disrupted many youngsters’ daily routines, not the least of which was sleep.

Proper sleep is key to focusing and regulating emotions, so getting your kids on a good sleep regimen is vital for good grades, happiness and success.

“Studies have indicated that lack of sufficient sleep can mimic symptoms of ADHD in children,” states Kelly Bartnik, a Certified Sleep Consultant at Bliss Wellness & Sleep. “Babies and young children have higher sleep needs than adults. We all know that feeling of a foggy brain and lack of concentration when we are overtired — so it’s easy to see how it’s not ideal for learning.”

According to Bartnik, educators are quick to note that well-rested children do better in school. Plus, most parents see more emotional control in their children when they are well rested.

“Overfatigue is the other challenge,” Bartnik tells Biz X. “Overtired children tend to have a harder time going to sleep and staying asleep, so a vicious loop is easy to fall into. A child doesn’t know how to sleep so they don’t, until they eventually fall asleep out of exhaustion (or a lot of work on the part of the parent). However, they often awake a short while later, even though they should be tired enough to sleep!”

Before becoming a sleep coach in 2019, Bartnik — a Registered Nurse — spent more than 10 years working with infants and children. In the summer of 2014, she and her husband welcomed their first son into their family.

“Armed with my knowledge of newborns

Parenting can be hard - this past year has made it even harder.

and the strict schedule we keep them on in the hospital environment, I was confident we would have our newborn on a schedule in no time,” Bartnik says. “Imagine my surprise when there was no routine, naps were non-existent and overnight sleep came in one or two hour blocks, for months!”

In the winter of 2015, after reading several books and trying a variety of products directed at increasing sleep (all with no success), Bartnik and her husband decided to call Michelle McAvoy, Owner of Bliss Wellness & Sleep.

“Michelle was incredibly patient when helping us develop a plan that would work for our family,” says Bartnik. “She was

Ask us about our parenting study.

We have solutions that can help you.

34

Kelly Bartnik, a Certified Sleep Consultant with Bliss Wellness & Sleep Consultant, can help you get your little ones on a regular sleep schedule when school starts. Photo courtesy of Melissa Apthorp.

519-250-1850 info@children-first.ca children-first.ca

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THE PARENTING BIZ subsequently able to get our baby to sleep 12 hours overnight on the third night of his sleep plan — after that we were sold. Our family has been blessed to have Michelle work with our next two as newborns. Michelle helped us guide them into positive sleep habits from an early age and gifted us with sleep much earlier than we had with our first child.”

It was these positive interactions with McAvoy, along with her passion for working with children and their families that sparked Bartnik’s interest in becoming a Certified Sleep Consultant.

Started by McAvoy in Ottawa back in 2013, Bliss Wellness & Sleep offers sleep coaching services for babies and children aged 10-weeks to 10 years of age. Bartnik and her team of two here in Windsor work to assist families in solving any sleep challenges their children present. This includes difficulties falling asleep at bedtime, staying asleep overnight, naps and bedtime stall tactics in preschoolers and older children.

“Many families refer to us as marriage coaches in addition to sleep coaches,” Bartnik explains. “We love being able to restore the balance for families because sleep makes us the best versions of ourselves and makes parenting a more manageable journey. Nothing feels better than the thanks we receive

when parents have well-rested children.”

To “discover bliss” in your family life and to read up on their sleep packages, go to: BlissWellnessAndSleep.com.

Break A Sweat At Windsor CrossFit

When organized sports were cancelled and gyms were closed, children were stuck inside during lockdowns. As a result, keeping kids fit and active is a real and ongoing concern for parents.

Luckily, Windsor CrossFit, located at 1106 Laramie Street in Windsor, offers the “GRIT (Growth, Resilience, Integrity and Toughness) Windsor Youth Program” — the city’s first youth CrossFit program.

“Throughout the pandemic, children have spent a lot of extra time in front of screens and a lot less time socializing with other kids,” points out Maya JachPopovich, Head Coach of GRIT Windsor and the only CrossFit trainer in Windsor Essex with a CrossFit Kids Certificate.

"This means they are spending a lot more time in general being sedentary, which can often lead to long-term consequences for both mental and physical health. I think it’s important for everyone to stay physically fit and active. When we prioritize physical fitness for children, we are teaching them important lessons that they will

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Maya Jach-Popovich, Head Coach of the “GRIT Windsor Youth Program” at Windsor CrossFit, knows the importance of developing physical fitness in children. Photo courtesy of Clear Rock Studios.

keep with them for the rest of their lives.”

In addition to the health benefits, she believes the “GRIT Windsor Youth Program” is a great way for kids to socialize and challenge themselves.

“In CrossFit, while it may not be a team sport, it is a team atmosphere and children learn the importance of teamwork, friendship, kindness, patience and a whole host of other life skills that will shape them into adults who make a difference in the world,” she says. “It is a place

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THE PARENTING BIZ where they can learn and grow and fail without judgment, where they can try new things and be proud of even the smallest accomplishments.”

The “GRIT Windsor Youth Program” offers classes in two different age groups: nine and under –— on Monday to Friday 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and 10 to 14 years-old — which runs from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., as well as Saturdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

“The nine and under class focuses on fitness through game play and fun, and incorporates learning the basics of the movements done in CrossFit,” JachPopovich explains. “The 10 to 14 year old class is structured more like a standard adult CrossFit class, but is specifically tailored to the needs of kids in terms of warm-ups, movements, weights, workout structure and instruction.”

Windsor CrossFit also operates a program called the “Youth Performance Program,” which is designed for groups looking for sport-specific training.

“I am currently working with a group of figure skaters who have made such incredible progress in the eight months I’ve been working with them,” she comments.

“This program is structured differently for each group.”

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Before becoming a Coach in 2018, Jach-Popovich was an athlete at Windsor CrossFit for seven years before she was approached to see if she was interested in an administrative position at the gym.

“Given my degree in Business Administration, I was of course thrilled to meet and discuss the position,” says JachPopovich. “After talking with them, the idea of me becoming a coach for the youth program came up and I was completely on board with obtaining the certifications I would need and learning how to fill the position.”

Along with the “GRIT Windsor Youth Program”, Windsor CrossFit (which opened in 2011) offers the following classes: CrossFit WOD Classes, Gainz Strength and Conditioning Classes, Olympic lifting classes, mobility classes, The Master Class (for those 50 and older), fascial stretch therapy, nutrition programs, personal training and small group training.

For more details, check out the website: WindsorCrossFit.com.

See Things Clearly With Rana Eye Care

Digital screens are a constant presence in both the lives of kids and parents.

With the COVID-19 lockdowns forcing kids into online school, screens

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Dr. Kreeshna Rana, Owner/Optometrist of Rana Eye Care, specializes in keeping your kids’ eyes sharp.

Photo courtesy of @villabelmara.

became an even more prevalent part of many children’s day-to-day activity.

Unfortunately, prolonged focus on screens can cause eye strain, which can lead to several negative health consequences.

“We have noticed a great increase in

THE PARENTING BIZ the number of children needing glasses, with complaints of symptoms consistent with eye strain,” states Dr. Kreeshna Rana, Owner/Optometrist of Rana Eye Care who has been practicing full scope optometry in the Windsor area since 2012.

“We are not meant to be working all day staring at something 16 to 20 inches away.

It causes our eyes to over focus, which can lead to unpleasant symptoms causing adults and children especially to lose focus — deterring them from wanting to do online activity.”

These symptoms can include sore or tired eyes, blurred or double vision, headache, sore neck/shoulders or back, increased sensitivity to light and difficulty concentrating.

Rana also mentions that with increased screen time due to online schooling, she and their staff of five are finding a large increase in children with dry eyes specifically. This is caused by prolonged periods of not blinking, which is linked to excessive staring at a screen.

“It’s a bit harder to treat dry eyes in kids since they don’t like drops, so we are trying to work on and emphasize computer hygiene,” says Rana. “That’s why I recommend the 20-20-20 rule.”

This rule means that for every 20

minutes of screen time, one should look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

“Obviously, you should also try to consciously blink while you are working,” she advises. “And try to limit screen time outside of the necessary time spent for work and school.”

For the past five years, Rana Eye Care (1303 County Road 22, Unit 170 in Belle River’s Lakeshore MedArts facility) has provided comprehensive eye health examinations for all ages, beginning at six months. They also provide Lasik referral and follow up care, retinal health checks, monitoring of eye diseases, contact lens exams, fitting and training and glasses selection.

“My main focus is on eye health examinations and the majority of my patients are children,” she indicates.

“I love kids. I enjoy seeing them grow up and develop over the years. When I can correct their eye issues it makes my heart full.”

For further information on their services see: RanaEyeCare.com.

Healthy And Tasty Lunches With Green Heart Lunch Club

Many parents understand the importance of proper nutrition for their children’s capacity to learn at school. However,

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Dennis Rogers, Owner of Green Heart Lunch Club and Green Heart Catering, has built his businesses around ensuring children are eating healthily. Photo courtesy of @greenheartlunchclub

during the pandemic healthy eating may have become disrupted. It might have been too easy to grab a bag of potato chips, pop and chocolate chip cookies!

“Hopefully kids have been able to receive more home cooked meals with them being at home,” comments Dennis Rogers, Owner of Green Heart Lunch Club and Green Heart Catering.

“Unfortunately, the side effect is that so many kids rely on snack programs for food, as food insecurity is a big problem in our area.”

Green Heart Lunch Club and Green Heart Catering, located at 28 Main Street West in Kingsville, offers whole and

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THE PARENTING BIZ

Two good examples of Green Heart's lunch boxes are (Left): Cucumber Avocado Sushi with fruit, veggies and organic Apple Oat Cookies. (Right): The “Turkey Snackable” with nitrate free Roasted Turkey, Canadian Cheddar bites, whole grain pita pieces, fresh local fruit and vegetables. Photos courtesy of @greenheartlunchclub.

locally sourced healthy meals, one to five lunch days per week at participating schools. All meals are made from scratch with whole real ingredients and come with a full serving of fruit and vegetables. All packaging is biodegradable, so no waste is created in schools.

“What we do as kids sets the tone for the rest of our lives,” believes Rogers.

“Healthy eating is at the front of that.

A healthy, balanced diet in children can help them in every aspect of their lives.”

Green Heart Lunch Club selections include their Avocado Turkey Box, Banana Berry Smoothie, Bean Tacos, Beef Chili, Beef Tacos, Bolognese Pasta, Butter Noodles, California Roll (Sushi), and more.

To view a menu and pricing, refer to: GreenHeartLunchClub.com.

For more tips on healthy eating and

preparing a nutritious lunch for your children please also read our articles on healthy school lunches on Page 37 and the advantages of microgreens for your family on Page 44 of this issue.

Hand In Hand, Together You Can Manage Anxiety

With kids now back in the classrooms, make sure they have the best chance at tackling some of the new challenges they face in the current pandemic environment.

As parents they need you to always be their pillars of strength.

Your support is essential in helping your child manage his or her anxiety, nervousness and stress.

We hope this article has given you some great advice and we wish every child a healthy, happy and productive school year!

You do so much to care for your children...So do we!

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B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

THE PARENTING BIZ LIFEST YLE ISSUES

Using Creativity To Help Kids Learn

(NC) Fractions are more fun when you’re using slices of pizza as an example. A child who loves video games may be interested in learning a basic coding program.

It’s no surprise that kids are more easily engaged in learning when they’re having fun. Check out these simple tips to support their lessons and make learning at home fun.

Let Your Kids’ Interests Lead The Way When introducing a new skill or subject, consider using their current interests as a starting point. A child who loves animals may be more motivated to pick up a book if it’s about tigers or sharks, while one who loves superheroes may be more excited to write if it’s a story about a superpower they’d like to have. Use their current interests to build their curiosity in other topics as well.

When you let them lead the way, learning becomes much more engaging for everyone.

Find Teaching Moments In Daily Activities There are many household chores and activities that can be turned into fun lessons.

For example, baking with your child can become a math lesson as you measure cups of flour and teaspoons of baking soda.

Counting the coins in a child’s piggy bank can turn into a lesson on basic savings.

Planting flowers can lead to a conversation about the environment and things we can do to help the planet. Perhaps the most important thing they’ll learn is that spending time together is fun.

Be Attuned To How They Learn Different kids learn in different ways.

Some may pick things up faster through visual cues, while others will do better seeing things in writing. Some kids like to build things with their hands, while others prefer to use their imaginations and create with their minds. It’s amazing what kids come up with when you give them the space to learn their own way, so try to be flexible and give them choices to support their unique styles.

Find more tools and tips to help keep young learners engaged at: Staples.ca/ NewsCanada.com backtoschool.

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THE PARENTING BIZ HEALTH MATTERS

Packing A School Lunch For Success Supplied By The WECHU

S

tart the school year right by making packing a school lunch an easy task.

School lunches are an important part of the school day — they give students the nutrients they need to learn.

Why Is Nutrition Important?

Food provides nutrients that our brain needs to be able to learn. Nutrition deficiencies happen when our bodies do not have enough nutrients.

Some nutrition deficiencies can make it hard for students to concentrate and stay awake.

To avoid deficiencies, it is important that students eat a variety of different foods, because different foods provide different nutrients. We call this a “Balanced Diet”.

How Can School Lunches Help A “Balanced Diet”?

Students spend almost a third of their day in school.

This is why lunch time is an important time to help students get the nutrients they need to concentrate and stay alert.

Use Canada’s Food Guide (refer to: Canada.ca/foodguide) to help you pack food for school.

A balanced lunch will have different foods, including vegetables and fruit,

Be sure to send your child off to school with a balanced lunch of whole grain foods, protein foods and plenty of vegetables and fruits. © Can Stock Photo/4774344sean

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foods that give you protein, and foods with whole grains.

For example, a soup can have foods with protein (e.g., chicken, beans), vegetables (e.g., celery, carrots, spinach), and whole grain foods (e.g., barley, rice, pasta) all mixed in one cup!

Types Of School Lunches There are two main types of eating schedules in schools: one is the “Balanced Day” and the other is the “Traditional Day”.

The “Balanced Day” is different from the “Traditional Day” by breaking lunch time into two “nutrition breaks”.

This means instead of having two recesses and a lunch, the balanced day has two breaks during the day with approximately 20 minutes at each break to eat.

Since the “Balanced Day” has two “nutrition breaks” many parents wonder whether they need to pack double the amount of food.

The answer is no — you just need to pack it differently.

Helpful Tips Here are some tips to help you pack for a Balanced Day” . . .

Organize the food — you can pack a breakfast for “Break 1” and a lunch for “Break 2” or a snack first and then lunch, or divide lunch into two portions (e.g., dividing a sandwich into two portions).

To help you decide, ask your child how they would like their lunch and snacks divided.

Pack lunches into easy to open containers and label them as “Break 1” and “Break 2”.

This way your child knows when to eat from each container.

Always check with you child to make sure they are getting enough food.

You can change the portions based on how hungry they get during the day.

Don’t forget to keep COVID-19 safety measures in mind! Remind children to wash or sanitize their hands before eating, and to not share foods.

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 unit is located at 1005 Ouellette Avenue in Windsor.

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THE PARENTING BIZ

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

PROFILING LOCAL WOMEN AT WORK

KAREN KAMEN

Keeping Students On Track To Success

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Story And Photo By Julianna Bonnett

ince 1984, Oxford Learning Centre has been providing supplemental education for students in JK to Grade 12.

With two available locations, one in LaSalle (5844 Malden Road) and another in Tecumseh (13300 Tecumseh Road East, Suite 290), Centre Director/Owner Karen Kamen’s inspiration for opening the two Oxford Learning Centres was because of her youngest daughter.

“She attended Oxford Learning many years ago and it totally changed her academic career path,” she says. “Not only did her grades improve, but she became a more independent learner and she obtained wonderful study skills.”

With customized tutoring programs at Oxford Learning, designed to move at your child’s pace, your child will learn to think actively and critically about the process of learning.

The lessons that her daughter learned while attending Oxford Learning motivated Kamen to want to open her own locations.

“When I decided that I wanted to open a business I knew without hesitation that I wanted to be part of the Oxford family and be able to provide a service that I had such a profound faith in,” she states.

After purchasing the Tecumseh franchise in December of 2011, Kamen then purchased a second franchise in LaSalle in December of 2015.

“At Oxford Learning, we focus on developing skills that extend far beyond the classroom,” explains Kamen. “We don’t just teach our students’ academic skills — our unique programs teach them how to learn. Our students will build skills that will help him or her from elementary to post-secondary education and beyond, providing them with the tools they need to achieve success throughout life.”

Before becoming part of Oxford Learning, Kamen graduated with an accounting degree from Michigan State University and following graduation, worked for a large accounting firm in Detroit, Michigan.

“I obtained my Certified Public Accountant certification after completing

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Karen Kamen, Centre Director for the Tecumseh and LaSalle Oxford Learning Centres, is all smiles as she is happy to be a local business owner in such a wonderful community. In her words, “I don’t think of my position as Director of the two centres as a job. It is a joy for me to go to work each day and see the incredible success that our students achieve.”

the exam and time requirements,” she says. “I then got married and moved to Toronto and worked for a large accounting firm, and for the Office of the Provincial Auditor. During this time, I obtained my Chartered Accountant certification.”

She adds: “After having my first child, my husband and I moved back to Windsor.

It was important to us for our daughter and future children to be close to their grandparents.”

Now, Kamen is a widow with three wonderful adult children who are the centre of her world.

“They are all adults and established in their careers,” she mentions. “I am so excited about the upcoming birth of my first grandchild. It is a wish that will come true.”

As for making career dreams come true for others, Kamen has this advice for other female entrepreneurs — choose a business you are passionate about.

“Loving what you do is the key to B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

success,” Kamen indicates. “I believe that if you have the passion, success will follow.

Being successful requires commitment, extremely hard work and focusing on the positives. It is not about the stress, but how you choose to handle the stress that matters.”

She continues by stating: “It is also important to hire a great team and treat your team with respect, understanding, fair compensation and support. Without great employees, you will struggle to succeed.

I cherish my staff and know they play a big part in the success of my centres.”

While adapting as necessary to keep business going during the pandemic and the various lockdowns, Oxford Learning offered their services online, but now is slowly transitioning back and re-opening for in-centre classes as well as online classes.

For more information on their tutoring services, refer to their website: OxfordLearning.com.

XX FILES

THE PARENTING BIZ FROM THE BOOKSHELF

“Be Proud You’re Canadian” Author Corinne Isaacs takes young readers on a fascinating journey into the heart of Canada

“Clarity begins at home and ends there,” according to local author Corinne IsaacsFrontiero who moved as a teenager to the United States with her family.

Isaacs spent the next 40 years in the United States, never quite feeling “settled”.

It was during a Social Psychology class that Isaacs learned why.

“The United States and Canada, although bordering countries, are two completely different types of societies,” she asserts.

The U.S. operates on the “Individualistic Society” belief system whereas Canada, much like Europe, operates on the “Collective Society” belief system.

A “Collective Society” is founded upon the notion of “teamwork” whereas an Individualistic Society is founded upon the notion of “Individualism”.

“Born into a Collective Society with different core values I found it much different living in an Individualistic Society,” shares Isaacs, “not to mention I missed home immensely.”

She adds, “While living and travelling in the U.S. and abroad, I came to realize not many knew much about Canada. When I returned home and started teaching at a local college I also realized Canadian children, themselves, are not always aware of how Canada differs, considerably, from other countries.”

It is for this reason Isaacs decided to write the children’s book — “Be Proud You’re Canadian”.

“There are so many reasons to be proud you’re Canadian!” opines Isaacs “Our Collective Society Belief System is only one of many.”

“Be Proud You’re Canadian” honours the heart of Canada and takes a peek into what makes Canada so special. The book, which features photos by Stephanie Smallman, describes our nation’s open-mindedness about diversity, our bi-lingual heritage, our education system, our worldwide reputation of peacefulness, gives insight to our important inventions, historical contributions, and our natural resources.

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Whether your child was born in Canada or your family is coming to Canada for a visit and/or live, this book is a great learning tool for everyone who wants to learn more about what it means to be Canadian.

It also defines our socialized government and healthcare and puts a spotlight on our love for nature and Canada’s wildlife, and how that plays into our nation’s currency.

And naturally, the book talks about our history in hockey!

As well, it defines our “separatism” from Britain; although we still remain a member of the British Commonwealth, for those unaware — Canada has been its own country since 1867!

Isaacs invites all to join her as she explores, through a child’s lens, what makes Canada unique and why we Canadians fondly refer to our home as “The Great White North”.

“Be Proud You’re Canadian” can be purchased via the Friesen Press Bookstore by searching under “Corinne IsaacsFrontiero”; Barnes & Noble; the Google Play Store; Google Books; I-Tunes and Amazon.ca.

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THE PARENTING BIZ TECH BY TES

An Easier, Tastier Way For Families To Eat Healthy

By Carina Biacchi

W

ith a new school year underway, many frazzled young parents are facing a frustrating, and familiar, conundrum . . . How can we provide healthier lunch options for our children? And how can we keep up with our own healthy meal goals?

This is where microgreens come in.

Never heard of the term? Let’s break it down. Microgreens are vegetable and herb greens (not to be confused with sprouts) harvested just after the cotyledon leaves have developed.

In other words, they are the first leaves born to every vegetable or herb, but let’s not sweat the jargon.

All you really need to know about microgreens are three things . . .

1) They’re convenient.

2) They’re SUPER nutritious.

3) They’re delicious.

Microgreens provide plants with the nutrients they need to grow.

They’re easier to eat, easier to prep and, most importantly, up to 40 times more nutrient dense than the same plants in their adult lives.

As a result of that nutritional concentration, microgreens are bursting with flavour. However, to get the most nutrients and flavour, make sure to buy them fresh, at a local supplier.

A lot of the greens you purchase at the supermarket can be tasteless due to the fact they’ve been travelling and sitting on a shelf for so long.

Convincing a child to open wide when leafy greens are on the menu can be a challenge. And for busy young professionals raising a family, taking the time to whip up healthy meals can be exhausting.

Even something as small as a carrot or a broccoli floret eats up serious prep time.

You can eliminate all of these problems with microgreens. They’re easier to prepare, easier to consume and easier on the tastebuds — you can even sneak them into some yummy recipes (check out the accompanying banana bread recipe with kale microgreens).

Microgreens can be added to any dish, at any meal. They can be incorporated into smoothies, sandwiches, wraps and countless other snacks. Microgreens can even be sprinkled onto indulging dining options — such as burgers and pizza — in order to enhance their flavour and nutritional value.

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So, when you’re making your child’s lunches this school year, consider adding microgreens to your grocery list.

As well, save yourself some time with your own meals!

“Tech Bytes” is powered by WEtech Alliance (WEtech-Alliance.com).

The author of the article in this edition, Carina Biacchi is the Cofounder of Ortaliza, a vertical farm start-up in Kingsville. She and her partner, Alvaro Fernandes are in quest of changing people’s relationship and access to fresh food. For more information, visit: Ortaliza.ca or follow @ortalizafarms (Instagram and Facebook).

B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

portfolio corner

It’s A Fascinating World

By Steven Mayo Each year we hear and read about interesting global topics. From this we can all deduct that the world is experiencing rapid technological advancements and a variety of social and economic changes.

Let’s look at the auto industry to begin.

It’s always “unintended consequences” that throw off the best laid plans. For example, there’s nothing like a pandemic to accelerate the purchase of home appliances that results in a microchip shortage for the auto industry.

How did this risk come to be? Well it took 20 years.

In 2000, electronics per car was 18% of the total cost. By 2010 it was 27% and by 2020, 40%. Electronics are expected to comprise 45% of the total cost of a car by 2030. (Source: IHS, Deloitte analysis.)

Thankfully, our cars and trucks are lasting longer. The average age of vehicles on U.S. roadways rose to a record 12.1 years in 2020 according to IHS Markit.

As a result of the higher prices of new and used cars/trucks, people hold onto their vehicles longer. This is also possible because they are built much better and are more reliable, lasting 200,000 miles or more versus approximately 100,000 miles 20 years ago.

Next we’ll look at the global innovation race.

The U.S. is accelerating their government research and development spending to stay ahead of China. Countries are now favouring self-sufficiency in the production of critical goods and leadership in key industries.

China’s R&D spending from 2008 to 2018, has been staggering, going from $137 billion to $439 billion. The U.S. still leads at $460 billion of spending, Japan is at $331 billion, and then the remaining countries are much lower. (Source: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.)

On top of government spending, there are also billions of dollars being spent by corporations to improve technology and

processes to reduce the impacts on the planet.

Collaboration between corporations has also increased to achieve environmental goals. Consider this recent media headline: “Ralph Lauren Revolutionizes How the Fashion Industry Dyes Cotton.”

Ralph Lauren partnered with Dow Chemical and two other companies, Jeanologia and Huntsman Textile Effects, to develop a process called “Colour on Demand.” The waste water from dyeing chemicals is staggering. This new process reduces the amount of water, chemicals, dye, time, and energy used in the cotton dyeing process. Ralph Lauren is a member of the G7 Fashion Pact and is an example of companies using their technological strengths for the benefit of society.

Indeed, fascinating and complex times in an ever-changing world.

As usual I will sign off with a quote to consider: “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” ~ Albert Einstein Steven Mayo is a Vice President, Director, and 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.

You’re looking out for your patients’ future. Who is looking out for yours?

Today’s decisions have a significant impact on your future. With the help of experienced advisors, you can get the strategies and insights you need to take the right steps and meet your goals.

Rosa Marra, CPA, CA | Walter Benzinger, CPA, CA, CFP Suite 200 – 2565 Ouellette Ave., Windsor, ON | 519.967.0388 MNP.ca

B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY

ask the experts

Absolute Comfort Is A Long Deep Breath Of Clean Air

By Dave Halliday our home is your safe haven. When you walk through those doors at the end of a long day you want to forget all your troubles and kick up your feet, sit back and take a deep relaxing breath . . . but, hey, wait a minute . . . just what are you breathing? Are there indoor pollutants within your home that you don’t recognize?

Do you or others in your household often seem to be dealing with a variety of unexplained symptoms? Have you noticed the symptoms often appear or worsen during periods of extended time at home? It can become a vicious and tiresome cycle if left unchecked.

There are several airborne hazards within your home’s airspace that can have a wide range of effects upon you and your loved ones. What can we do to protect our families?

We at Biz X decided to contact the qualified professionals at Absolute Comfort Control Services to measure the risks and determine what we can do to mitigate the risks.

Bryan Hazzard, Owner of Absolute Comfort Control Services, located at 4080 North Service Road, Unit 2 in Windsor, was kind enough to share his 30 plus years experience with us. Absolute Comfort has been serving the needs of the residents of Windsor and Essex County for the past 15 years. (Find out more about this family owned and operated business on: AbsoluteComfortCS.com.)

Briefly list the services you provide.

“We offer residential and light commercial heating, cooling, duct cleaning, and Indoor Air Quality services,” states Hazzard adding, “Our reputation for honesty and integrity, as well as our commitment to customer satisfaction has made us a highly rated, locally owned HVAC company in Essex County.”

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© Can Stock Photo/AntonioGuillem

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Indoor Air Quality becomes poor with the increased presence of airborne particles, pathogens, pollutants, volatile organic components, and other invisible contaminants directly linked to discomfort, reduced productivity, and poor health conditions. Companies such as Absolute Comfort Control Services can help remove the majority of airborne particles from within your home with cost-effective solutions such as air cleaners, filters and duct cleaning . . . allowing you to sit back and breathe easy!

What are some of the dangers that exist pertaining to the indoor air quality of our homes? “Unfortunately, there are several,” he replies. “Dust, pet hair accumulation, odours, bacteria, and viruses are just a short list of the potential hazards.”

Are there certain individuals who are more affected by poor indoor air quality than others? “Yes, those with known breathing issues such as allergies and asthma for instance, are particularly affected,” indicates Hazzard. “Individuals with more sensitive lung conditions should certainly be protected.”

How can one detect if there is an issue with the air in the home? “There are things that the occupants should watch for and recognize,” informs Hazzard, noting they need to: “Be wary of signs of mould, which could include musty smells, sneezing, itchy or

B I Z X M A G A Z IN E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

watery eyes that improve when you go outside, and multiple people in the home regularly sick is never a good sign.”

What measures can be provided to improve the quality of one’s air space?

“There are several things, such as a good air filter (checked/cleaned often), UV lights, electronic air cleaners, humidifiers/ dehumidifiers, Heat Recovery Ventilators, and having your ducts cleaned,” he suggests.

“In the summer switch your fan to ‘on’ so that your system is continually filtering the air in your home. Also consider having your ducts cleaned every three to five years.”

What are the benefits of employing a professional such as you to deal with these issues? “Informed knowledge of the products and the professional ability to properly install are obvious benefits,” he says. “Also, having the comfort of knowing that we utilize the proper equipment and that you are dealing with a locally owned and trusted company.”

What are your keys to ensuring a satisfied client base? “We have a 100% money back satisfaction guarantee with everything we do,” Hazzard asserts. “Our duct cleaning services provide before and after pictures and our team will keep you actively engaged in the process, not only discussing what we do, but why we do it.”

Well, calling in the professionals has really made a difference in the quality of your home life. Not only have the mystery ailments and symptoms dissipated, but you haven’t had to use your asthma inhaler in weeks.

You can feel the difference in your home and you certainly feel the benefits of techniques employed. Now you can finally breathe easily . . . home life is good!

Prepare Your Home For Colder Weather With

These Fall Maintenance Tips (NC) When the calendar hits September 22, 2021, fall officially arrives and that means it’s time to get your new home ready for winter before the inclement weather arrives.

Check out these key maintenance reminders to keep your house in top shape.

Inspect windows and doors inside and out for any cracks or separations around the frames. Apply caulking to any damaged areas. This will prevent water penetration or heat loss.

Look for damage or wear to the weather-stripping on your exterior doors and replace if necessary. This keeps warm air from seeping out of your home.

Check eavestroughs and downspouts.

Remove any leaves and debris that can create messy, smelly blockages that could build up over winter. If you see cracks or seam separations in your eavestroughs, fix them with caulking.

Shut off your home’s exterior water supply and drain all exterior water lines and hoses. You should leave the taps open a bit — this will prevent any remaining water in the lines from freezing and damaging the water supply line.

Have a professional roofing company inspect the roof to ensure that shingles, flashing and chimney caps are all in place and properly sealed.

Clean and test all your exhaust fans, including dryer, stove and furnace vents.

Clean or replace your furnace filter and consider having your furnace serviced to prepare it for winter.

Inspect your gas or wood-burning fireplace and chimney dampers and have them serviced or cleaned if necessary.

Test all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are in good working order.

Following these home maintenance tips is especially important for new homeowners, who are protected by a seven year warranty.

Provided by the builder and backed by Tarion, the organization that provides warranty assistance for new buyers, it covers everything from shoddy workmanship to major structural defects. However, it only applies to issues that can’t be traced back to a lack of proper homeowner maintenance.

Find more information at: Tarion.com.

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JUST SAYIN'

O

Cannabis Credit Op-Ed By Steven Bezaire

n October 17, 2018 the Canadian government passed the Cannabis Act, making the purchase, possession, cultivation, and consumption of limited amounts of marijuana legal for Canadian citizens.

In so doing, we became only the second country in the world (after Uruguay — that vanguard of enlightened social awareness) to legalize recreational cannabis use. Although criticizing every level of government, at every turn, is as Canadian as poutine and milk in a bag, every once in a while a level of government gets something almost-nottotally-wrong.

As we approach the three year anniversary of Canada’s legalization of marijuana, it is worthwhile to note that the predicted disintegration of modern Canadian society has not yet occurred.

Communities are not reeling with the foretold mass homelessness and compounded addiction problems that decriminalization was to bring; no evidence has established an increase in the number of impaired driving accidents or fatalities attributable to marijuana consumption (drug use in accident statistics is only collectively tracked with alcohol and drug impairment statistics are virtually impossible to isolate); and schools have not suffered the truancy and disciplinary problems forecasted by education administration experts.

In short, no significant social harm has been identified at all with the change in legislation.

Many politicians decried the anticipated seedy storefronts that would lead to the decline of neighbourhoods and the distasteful and unsightly clientele whose aimless loitering would intimidate children, increase crime, and devalue neighbourhoods.

Locally, the municipalities of LaSalle and Tecumseh only just passed by-laws this spring and summer to reverse their initial opt-out decisions.

In the United States, formal Attorney General Jeff Sessions was on record, in 2017, as saying marijuana was “devastating our kids and devastating whole communities”, that “good people don’t smoke marijuana” and that the plant was only “slightly less awful” than heroin (in which case, I can make a stronger argument for broccoli or cauliflower).

Have you seen, or been inside one of these dispensaries?

They are virtually all new or retrofitted commercial stores, cleverly named, with impressive signage, tastefully obscured windows, modern cladding, and sleek

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colours. They epitomize the words of Ernest Hemingway as “clean, well-lighted space.”

At the worst possible time for retail storefronts and merchant plazas during the pandemic, they have been a stirring boon to local property owners and commercial landlords.

Inside, they are classy showrooms with glass display cases, digital scrolling menus of product, secure checkout, plain and opaque packaging, all admirably staffed with knowledgeable and helpful salespeople.

They have rigorous security protocols with manned entry personnel checking ID, redundant alarm systems, mandatory daily inventory counts and security cameras throughout (which, by law, are required to be functioning, and perpetually recording, with rules about maintenance of daily logs and preservation of footage).

I can’t be the only one to notice the virtual explosion of new retail outlets.

As of April 1, of this year there were 572 retail outlets in Ontario with applications for a further 940 in the approval pipeline.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s (AGCO) website shows 46 open in the local municipalities including, and west of, Chatham, with another 26 pending applications. It predicts that Ontario will have as many as 1,000 retail outlets before Labour Day. A Statista.com study in 2017 surmised that an average Canadian dispensary generated about $3 million in sales against $1.2 million in operating expenses.

Nationally, it is predicted that legal sales of marijuana have captured 44.1% of the previous black market (I say “previous” because studies indicate that legalization has likely increased total consumption levels in both markets, although less so in the black market).

Ontario’s cannabis tax revenue for 2021-22 (its share of federal cannabis excise duties) is predicted to be $420 million, in addition to $170 million more from direct sales by Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation, the government’s own, and the only, online sales provider.

In 2020 alone, Canadian sales of cannabis products topped $2.6 billion, up 120% from the year before. These sales — representing 35 tonnes of cannabis for the year — are divided by the following types: dried flower accounts for 59% of all sales; vapes 16%; pre-rolls (actual marijuana cigarettes) 12%; edibles 4%; oils 4%; capsules and concentrates each 2%.

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If you have a comment on this column and want Steven to see it, please visit the “Biz Blog” section on: BizXmagazine.com where you can have YOUR SAY on the topic too!

Surprising, despite millions of dollars spent developing cannabis-infused drinks over the last year, they only account for just under 2% of sales.

Socially, cannabis is slowly gaining acceptance.

Government of Canada survey results show that for the 2020 year, Canadians between the ages of 16 and 24 reported using cannabis twice as much as those over 25 (48% compared to 24%), with 31% of male Canadians partaking, against 23% of female Canadians. Reported use increased over the previous year among those 25 years and older (by 3%), and among both sexes (both increased by 2%). Surprisingly, regular use (defined as daily or near daily), however, was highest among Canadians 25 and older, than by either 16 to 19 year olds (21%) or by 20 to 24 year olds (23%).

Wherever you come out on the use of cannabis, it cannot be denied that the Canadian regulatory experience, although not without hiccups — such as kinks in the initial supply chain and enforcement of potency rules — has been largely successful in appropriating much of the previously illicit sales into tax revenue.

As well as providing a safer supply of cannabis for all users, reducing the number of Canadians with criminal records (with the attendant savings to the criminal justice system), and keeping the legal supply carefully controlled, monitored and away from minors — to say nothing of the draw-dropping investments into the sector, employment opportunities throughout the production and supply chain, and newfound source of revenue.

From where I sit, though, the single greatest accomplishment of this legislation is a dent in the ever-paternalistic, alarmist, and infuriatingly unimaginative conservative mindset that seems to pervade government policy in all matters of social freedom. Now, if only the provincial government could release its ridiculous monopoly on retail alcohol sales.

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. For further information on the effects of cannabis please visit: Canada.ca/en/services/ health/campaigns/cannabis/health-effects.html

UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE REGION

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EVENT PROFILE

“CIBC Run For The Cure” Returns Again Virtually

By Sarah Krzysik

F

or the second year in a row, the Canadian Cancer Society “CIBC Run For The Cure” takes place virtually on Sunday, October 3, 2021.

This marks the 24th year that Windsor Essex individuals, businesses and organizations are taking part in the largest, single-day, volunteer-led event dedicated to raising funds for breast cancer research, support programs, health education, and advocacy initiatives in Canada.

Run participants are encouraged to tailor their experience this year by walking or running in their own neighbourhoods, rather than gathering at the Riverfront downtown Windsor (as they’ve done in years past).

“Fundraising efforts and awareness campaigns are already underway to show Canadians facing breast cancer that we will never stop running,” says Volunteer Run Director, Community Engagement Nicole Dziamarski.

To maintain a sense of community, the reimagined “Run Day” includes a nationally

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hosted, live-streamed opening ceremony in the morning that can be viewed through the Canadian Cancer Society’s Facebook and YouTube channels.

The opening ceremony features performances from talented musicians, testimonials from people affected by breast cancer and high-energy activities featuring fitness leaders from across the country.

“One of the most important aspects of the annual ‘CIBC Run For The Cure’, aside from raising funds for breast cancer research, is in being able to rally together as a community, in whatever form that takes, and we are hopeful that we will return next year in full force and in-person,” Dziamarski adds.

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In the last few decades, we have seen cancer death rates slowly decrease, likely due to increased screening and treatment improvements that have been made possible through research and programming supported by fundraisers like these.

Dr. Lisa Porter, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Windsor, and Executive Director of WE-SPARK Health Institute specializes in cancer research, including breast cancer.

“The hundreds of survivors I get the pleasure of meeting every year are proof that we have made important progress,” Porter states.

Porter has received direct funding from

the Canadian Cancer Society/Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance to research how aspects of normal mammary gland development can lead to breast cancer. This kicked off a large research program currently funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

“My lab in Windsor has been fortunate to be supported by the Canadian Cancer Society,” Porter indicates. “The organization can’t fund the research needed to drive progress against this disease without the support of generous donors.”

Last year, Windsor Essex participants

came together to raise over $84,361, adding to the $4.2 million raised throughout the years in the region. The “CIBC Run For The Cure” Executive Committee is hopeful that not only will these goals be met, but exceeded in 2021, and they encourage everyone to sign up early to maximize their virtual Run experience.

You can register on the website: CIBCRunForTheCure.com.

To keep up with the latest event information, follow them on Facebook at @WindsorRun and on Instagram at @runforthecure_windsor.

The “Wall of Hope” invites everyone who has been touched by breast cancer to share a message. This year the wall is virtual, hosted on the event website.

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BIZ BITS

New To Online Shopping?

Here’s How To Stay Safe

(NC) If online shopping makes you a little nervous, you’re not alone. Though it’s been around for years, not all of us have embraced the world of online shopping.

If you’re interested in doing more online shopping, here are a few tips to shop safely and with confidence.

Comparison Shop Just like you might check different stores at a local mall or plaza, check out various

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websites selling the product you want, so you have a realistic sense of pricing.

Read The Terms And Conditions Make sure to read the fine print before you pay so you know your options if you have to return the item. Some stores will cover return shipping, while others will not.

Some outlets will have a quick 14 day turnaround for returns or exchanges, while others will give you more time.

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Some might advertise free return shipping, but charge you a restocking fee instead, or charge for taxes and duties if the product is crossing the border.

Take Online Reviews With A Grain Of Salt Online product reviews can sometimes be paid for by the company selling the product, so they may not always provide the best insight. Don’t just look at the highest and lowest ratings, and check if the product has reviews from a wide range of time.

Check a few different sites and sources for reviews.

Pay With Your Credit Card It’s best to pay online with your credit card or a secure service such as PayPal. They have consumer protections that allow you to dispute the charges if you need to, unlike your debit card or an e-transfer.

Review your banking and credit card statements regularly and you’ll notice if anything is amiss.

Online shopping is usually safe and secure, but it’s important to keep your eyes open to stay safe.

If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contacted by a scammer or misled by marketing tactics, report it to the Competition Bureau at: CompetitionBureau.gc.ca.

NewsCanada.com

THE WAY IT WAS

History Launched From . . .

Coastal Defence To Channel Rig

By Andrea Grimes

T

hrough the royal assent of May 4, 1910, the Royal Canadian Navy was created.

Canada needed to draw on a number of resources “to make ready for sea.”

Our country experienced a period of technological change in 1914, transforming most aspects of our naval defence preparedness. As such, many of Canada’s ships earned their rightful places in our naval history. One vessel in particular was the HMCS Shearwater.

Prior to being put into service with the Royal Canadian Navy on September 8, 1914, as a sloop and later as a submarine tender, Shearwater sailed into many ports along the Pacific Coast and through the Indian Ocean. An article published in the Windsor Daily Star on June 23, 1936 described the vessel has having “had a colourful career as a minesweeper, fruit trader, sealer, rumcarrier and salvage ship.”

The vessel was decommissioned on June 13, 1919 and made available for mercantile ownership.

In 1924, Windsor’s Harry Low purchased the vessel, renamed it S.S. Vedas and launched his entrepreneurial interests on the Detroit River. Low profited from his Probation-era activities transporting liquor into the U.S. and Montreal, and although the government had their suspicions about his lucrative “investments”, he was just resourceful enough to stay one step ahead of the chase.

The Marsh Historical Collection (MarshCollection.org) archives of June 1, 1934 confirms, “She was lying in Canadian

waters and would have been unharmed except for the fact that there had been no duties paid on her cargo. Under the dateline of August 14, 1930, it is noted that Government Prevention boats came alongside. Then on the next day, proceeded to Windsor and tied up at the C.P.R. wharf.”

This put an end to the vessel’s purpose as Low’s rum-running rig.

Another article published in the Windsor Daily Star on July 17, 1937 announced: “In December 1932, while docked at the foot of Brock Street, the ship started to sink and was only saved by 18 hours of pumping.

In 1934, Captain James Earl McQueen of Amherstburg purchased the Vedas from the government and docked it in Amherstburg.”

Laurie Cavanaugh, President of the Royal Canadian Legion Fort Malden Branch 157 confirms: “In 1953, Captain McQueen presented our Legion with the wheel of the Vedas. We mounted it to the ceiling in our sports lounge.”

(For information on the legion, refer to: Facebook.com/RCLBranch157.)

When the vessel’s register was finally “being closed” in 1937, a Windsor scrap dealer bought the Vedas for personal reasons.

So what does the Vedas have to do with our local naval history?

“I knew the Shearwater’s 114 foot cedar aft mast ended up being erected as a memorial in Assumption Park in 1937,” says Stephen Lamarche, a retired member of the Royal Canadian Navy (Reserve), formerly of Windsor, with a keen interest in the history of the HCMS Shearwater. “Weather and time

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The HMCS Shearwater/SS Vedas, Canada’s first naval ship. Photo courtesy of the Marsh Collection Society, circa 1937.

took a toll on the 150 year mast and one day in February 2006, a severe storm blew the mast over and it crumbled to pieces on the ground. A crew from Parks and Recreation carted off what was left of the mast. A ground marker with the ship’s fittings is located in Assumption Park on the north side of Riverside Drive West at California, with a plaque commemorating HMCS Shearwater’s WWI naval service. One section with iron fittings was loaded aboard HMCS Ville de Québec and off loaded in Halifax. It is now at the CFB Shearwater Museum (Nova Scotia). I retrieved some pieces of the mast and donated them to HMCS HUNTER as an historic keepsake. International artist Ron Suchiu (of Essex, ON) also received pieces of the mast.” (Find out more details on Suchiu’s painting for sale on: Suchiu.com/product/hmcs-shearwater.)

In honour of all “who crossed the bar” Lt (N) Reverend Bruce Jackson, (MDiv, BA), Padre serving HMCS Hunter ship’s company, quotes Psalm 107:23 (King James version): “They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;” 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. She volunteers for various military family service-support organizations including: the North Wall Riders Association, Windsor Veterans Memorial Service Committee, Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment Association, Military Institute of Windsor, the Royal Canadian Naval Association, the Korean War Veterans Association and the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association.

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Make Your House A Home With NOMAD OF THE MONTH

By Matthew St. Amand

A

fter two decades working in the world of finance — which took her around the world — Melinda Rauch returned home to open NOMAD, in November 2019.

The idea for selling furniture and artisan-made home décor, had always been a dream since she was very young. After 20 years away, Rauch came home to renovate a house and asked friends and family: “Where do people buy furniture and home décor?”

When she found few options that appealed to her, Rauch realized there was a niche here that she could fill.

“Your home is a reflection of who you are and the memories made there,” believes Rauch. “I advise homeowners to mix new pieces with old, to incorporate memories in their decorating. Make it you, not a reflection of what you’ve seen in magazines or on TV. That’s what NOMAD does: we help you make your house a home.”

During her years of travel, Rauch cultivated her singular design sense.

“At various times, I’ve lived and travelled to Mexico, Guatemala, New York and countries in Africa,” she lists. “I walked through the back streets of these places, stayed in their boutique hotels, checking out the local markets. I love all the hand-made things and bespoke details. So often, I would think: ‘Why can I not buy this at home?

It’s so beautiful!’”

Rauch now designs textiles and rugs with collective groups in Mexico and Guatemala. Social impact is at the core of NOMAD’s mission.

As protocols ease, Rauch is optimistic about the future.

“I sell beautiful furniture and décor!” she expresses. “I’m a great resource to get it from. There’s no need to go to Toronto or Michigan to find something unique.”

Although NOMAD’s website is comprehensive, customers have asked: “Is that everything you have?”

“The website reflects our highlights,” Rauch points out. “If you’re looking for something special, but don’t see it on the website, give me a call. I have access to much more. We can do a private session and look at absolutely everything available to me.”

NOMAD is more than a home furnishings store. Rauch does all the legwork for homeowners and offers a bespoke (custom-made) service.

Typically, the process starts with a complimentary in-store consultation where she can get to know her client and the space she is working with. Rauch helps with design concepts and room layouts, keeping projects within budget.

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NOMAD Owner Melinda Rauch loves to help families furnish their homes with items sourced globally and domestically, all the while supporting artisans who are creating handmade textiles, furniture and home décor via social impact initiatives in small villages. She is especially proud of her number one selling items — pillows and rugs, which she designs. Photo by Rod Denis.

“Take a rug home and try it,” she suggests. “Shopping here has many benefits.”

One of those benefits is Rauch’s home décor and styling services.

“If you need help furnishing and decorating your home, and you purchase your furniture from NOMAD, the design fees go toward the furniture,” Rauch informs Biz X. Many clients have distinct ideas about what they want and simply need someone to help pull it all together. However, if a client has a large project, she can also help them find the right interior designer to work with them on their renovations and builds.

She supports the design community by helping with sourcing, logistics and installation, so they can focus on what they love — designing beautiful spaces.

“I give homeowners a design concept and room layout with our selections and show them ‘Here’s how your space will look,’” Rauch describes. “I lay out the entire room — furniture, lighting, pillows, the throw — it’s a collaborative process and takes a few back and forths with the client to get it exactly how they want.”

NOMAD also offers “white glove delivery”, where all items are pre-delivered to Rauch’s warehouse.

After being inspected for damage, they are delivered to the homeowner. All items are arranged to the homeowner’s specifications.

For larger projects, Rauch is onsite, personally overseeing delivery and set up.

In addition, NOMAD has expanded into wedding registry and corporate gifts and real estate closing gifts.

For more information visit the website: NomadForHome.com or stop by the store at 9 Main Street East in Kingsville.

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K C A B E M WELCO

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