Biz X magazine April 2016

YOUR ONLY INTERNATIONAL BORDER CITY PUBLICATION

Celebrating The Best In Tourism: TWEPI Winners Announced There’s No Place Like It! Discover Heritage Sites Right Here In Windsor Essex Dr. Wonham’s Inside Story Of Chimczuk Museum Will

Let The Good Times Roll . . . Drop Dead Famous / Rick Labonte Concert, April 2016

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Windsor-Essex Gift Of Life Association Festivities & All Kinds Of Events You Can’t Miss This Spring!

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“Your Home Away From Home!”

Area Bed and Breakfast establishments put out the welcome mat for business travellers, local families and visiting relatives. — PAGE 18 B IZ X M A G A Z IN E • A P R IL 2 0 1 6

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table of contents April 2016 volume 19 • issue 4

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4 Funny Stuff 5 From The Publisher: The “Biz West Networking Night” 6 Editorial Viewpoint Columnist Alan Halberstadt concludes that City of Windsor nemesis Dr. David Wonham deserves credit for dictating the Ontario Superior Court Minutes of Settlement that finally triggered the opening of the Chimczuk Museum.

8 On The Mayor’s Mind: In The Swim Of Things With FINA 9 Front Lines 11 Heard On The Street 12 Charity Profile: Windsor-Essex Gift Of Life Association 14 Newsflash 16 Dates To Remember 24 Awards Spotlight: The “Best of Windsor Essex” In perfect timing with our tourism celebration for this edition, Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island (TWEPI) revealed the winners of its first ever “Best of Windsor Essex.” The “Best Chef” Award went to Benjamin Leblanc-Beaudoin (middle in photo by Rod Denis). He received his plaque at an official ceremony from Nelson Santos (left), Chair of TWEPI and Mayor of Kingsville, and Adriano Ciotoli, TWEPI Board of Directors member and Co-owner of WindsorEats. The winning Chef is also Co-owner, with his wife, Ginette Tremblay of the Iron Kettle Bed & Breakfast, profiled in our B&B cover story.

27 Have A Cup Of Joe With Joe: Take A Tour In Local History 28 On The Entertainment Scene: Area Band Takes It To The Next Level Drop Dead Famous has been busy writing and recording their own original music. Their new song, “The Other Side” is dedicated to everyone who has felt the pain of losing a loved one too soon.

The band is set to perform their new original songs at The Olde Walkerville Theatre on April 30. The concert celebrates local musical talent Rick Labonte’s record release as well. Both bands are excited to play their new music for their fans and be part of a rocking night in their hometown.

30 Lifestyle And Health Issues: Get Healthy With Konnected Workplace Wellness 32 Portfolio Corner 33 Ask The Experts: Affordable Home Services 34 Hot Shots: “The 18th Annual In Honour Of The Ones We Love Annual Gala Dinner” 36 Hot Shots: The “12th Annual International Women’s Day” Event

Recognizing “International Women’s Day” in March this special event included a fashion show, vendor booths and tributes to local women to raise funds for the Windsor Regional Hospital Breast Health Centre.

One of the hard working committee members, Anna Vozza (left in photo below by Della Jones-Goulet), poses for a quick shot with Laura Andreozzi, just before the fashion show began. Since the evening celebrated women, it also honoured great friendships including our BFFs photographed here!

38 Hot Shots: Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc. (WEST) “International Women’s Day Gala” 40 Event Profile: The “Windsor Corporate Challenge” 41 XX Files: Charmaine Gillis, Ocean Bottom Soap Company 42 Your Local Biz Forecast: A Little Sweet Talk With Sunrise Bakery 43 Power Lunch: Tropical Hut Philippine Cuisine 44 Generation YKNOT: Think Windsor & Be Proud!

45 Corporate Spotlight: The Relationship Of Business Incubators To Start-Ups 46 From The Bookshelf 49 The Way It Was 50 Biz Of The Month: Roy-Trans Global Logistics Inc., (a Landstar Agency)

ON THE COVER — “Your Home Away From Home!” — 18

In the business world, work can require travel and overnight trips, but sometimes you need more than an hotel can offer. Whether you’re travelling on business or even exploring your own backyard with the family, you may want more than just a place to lay your head down. Staying at a bed and breakfast in Windsor Essex may give you that personalized comfort of home and the relaxing escape you’re looking for! LOCATION: Bondy House Bed and Breakfast, 199 Dalhousie Street, Amherstburg. Thanks to Owners Carolyn Davies and Merv Richards for use of their Victorian styled B&B. MODEL: Scott Thompson LUGGAGE: We also wish to acknowledge Rhonda Fabischek of the Samsonite Outlet Store at Windsor Crossing Premium Outlets for supplying our model’s luggage; a Firelite 20 inch spinner and a Samsonite Pro 4 DLX 2 Gusset mobile office case.

Cover Photo by Rod Denis.

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from the publisher

Making The West End The Best End!

By Deborah Jones Photos By Rod Denis Back in late February, Our West End Neighbourhood Renewal (OWE) hosted a free networking event.

As part of their new “Biz West” business engagement program, established in partnership with Biz X, OWE is a program of Life After Fifty and fully funded by the United Way Windsor-Essex.

OWE is a place-based revitalization strategy in West Windsor that seeks to build capacity for urban renewal. To achieve this goal, it is vital to engage the

business community and empower them to be strong, united, and supportive of one another. One way to do this is through creating opportunities for business owners and entrepreneurs to network, building meaningful and sustainable relationships.

Enter Biz X. I love to support local companies and organizations, so if an initiative helps businesses grow, then Biz X will always be there to lend a hand!

The “Biz West Networking Night” was the first attempt to provide an opportunity

for relationship building for business owners in West Windsor. Taking place at Rock Bottom Bar & Grill, 3236 Sandwich Street, the event featured free drink samples, appetizers and door prizes from Colio Winery, Voula’s Hair Plus Studio, Nantais Source for Sports, Life After Fifty, Walkerville Brewery, and Rock Bottom.

Please view the accompanying photos here for a few highlights and keep watching for updates on this program on the pages and website of Biz X magazine.

Nickolaus Mammonas, Sales Representative and Tour Guide for Walkerville Brewery also served plenty of beer samples.

The committee responsible for organizing the “Biz West Networking Night” were from left: Allison Groulx, St. Clair College student and Round Table member (made up of residents and stakeholders); Andre Mallet, Owner of Black Bench Coffee Roasters; Joan Mavrinac, Regional Physician Recruiter and Round Table member; Julian Franch, Outreach Coordinator; Tamara Murray, Outreach Coordinator; Karlene Nielson, Ford City Neighbourhood Renewal Community Co-ordinator; Meagan Hugall, Outreach Coordinator OWE and Rita Higgins, Round Table member and West End Crawlers President.

John Doyle, Sommelier and Area Manager from Colio Estate Wines in Harrow happily provided wine tastings.

Jennifer Hutchinson, Owner of Westside Foods Olde Towne Grocer, supplied the attendees with fresh veggies and cold cuts.

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Of course the event would not have happened without the support of Rock Bottom Bar & Grill who are also making another significant investment in their own business with an on site micro-brewery. From left were: Jenny Sekela, Consultant and Instructor at St. Clair College (her husband Jason co-owns the bar with his sister pictured here); Emma Roung, staff; Nicole Sekela, Owner of Rock Bottom; Emily Loebach, staff and photo bomber Robert Parent, President of Ambassador Bicycles.

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editorial viewpoint

The Unsung Hero In Chimczuk Museum Saga

By Alan Halberstadt

“It’s my motto to be gracious in victory and defeat . . . in this case I won,” deadpans Dr. David Wonham in resisting the final temptation to publicly lampoon the City of Windsor in the wake of a satisfactory ending to a war of words, lawyers and political pettiness that (sit down for this) lasted one quarter of a century.

I’m referring to the glorious occasion of the official opening of the Chimczuk Museum on February 18, 2016, when Mayor Drew Dilkens actually mentioned Wonham twice in his speech. The good doctor was there to donate a framed collage, costing $700 out of his own pocket, that included the original hand-written will of Joseph Chimczuk, bequeathing $1 million to the city upon his death on December 2, 1990.

Never mind that Wonham felt compelled to ask the City Solicitor if he could show up on the occasion, or that not a whisper was uttered recognizing the corporation that he heads, Chimczuk Museum Inc., and the critical part it played to ensure that Chimczuk’s name was attached to the exterior of the museum building at 401 Riverside Drive West.

The city still hasn’t really acknowledged the corporation exists, let alone the legality of the Chimczuk Museum trademark, which Wonham acquired in 2006 from the Canada Intellectual Properties Office after he and a handful of other Chimczuk Inc. directors got fed up waiting for the city to act upon the will.

There is not nearly enough space here to delve into all of the twists and turns of this saga. The overriding point is this — the original donation of $1 million accumulated interest and soared to $3.3 million over 25 years. When combined with a $2 million grant from the Government of Canada’s Cultural Space Fund and $400,000 or so from the city, the funds were used to renovate the ground floor of the Art Gallery of Windsor and convert 11,000 square feet into the long-coveted museum space the city deserves.

To press Chimczuk Inc.’s agenda over the last 10 years, Wonham developed a website and distributed a brochure that read as follows: “Poor Joe, leaves his money to the City of Windsor, But 15 Years On his vision is still only a Dream. Get the message?”

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He also arranged for a billboard high up on the Walker Power Building on Riverside Drive chastising the city for its foot-dragging.

We cannot forget that the man I once called irascible ran against incumbent Mayor Eddie Francis for Mayor in 2006.

When Francis refused to debate him, Wonham showed up at a Council meeting with his 18 year old neighbour dressed in a chicken costume.

Wonham, who turns 79 in April, is shown with equalsized signs displayed from the southern exterior.

“I got 10,000 votes, about 18%,” chortles the retired surgeon, who admits this stunt earned him a reputation as a flake, or worse.

But, he didn’t go away.

Drawing on his pig-headedness, he kept insisting the corporation and trademark gave him and his small band, including Eric Buchholzer, the man who helped the Ukrainian tinsmith write his will, the ultimate say on how the estate would be spent. The city’s legal beagles and Francis kept dismissing him, but eventually found it prudent to apply to the Ontario Ministry of Consumer Affairs to strip away any status on the grounds that you can’t incorporate and trademark a private name without his permission.

Dr. Wonham, who once cared for Joseph’s wife Anna, hired lawyer Jeff Hewitt to help fight his battles, and caught a break. The city decided it had to apply to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to win a variance on the will, based on evidence that it was impossible to carry out its strict terms, which entreated the city to “Build a Building to be known as the Chimczuk Museum for use as a Cultural Museum and Archives and Library.”

In 2013, Wonham and company showed up before Justice Steven Rogin and asked B IZ X M A G A Z IN E • A P R IL 2 0 1 6

to be a defendant in the application. Rogin granted that status to Chimczuk Museum Inc., which set off elongated negotiations involving Hewitt and city lawyer Myron Shulgan.

When the city decided to turn the bottom floor of the Art Gallery into a museum, Wonham demonstrated his ability to compromise by agreeing that a renovation, rather than building a building, would satisfy the will.

He resisted, however, a recommendation from the city’s project consultants that only a room or section of the museum be named after Chimczuk. He insisted that the entire museum be named Chimczuk, rather than MW (Museum Windsor), and that the name must be displayed on the exterior of the building.

Also part of the minutes of settlement, approved by Justice Christopher Bondy in 2015, was the stipulation that the Chimczuk Museum name must be in a location, as well as the size of the font lettering, as prominent or more prominent than any other name.

At this writing, side-by-side signs heralding the Chimczuk Museum and the Art Gallery of Windsor, which now occupies the second and third floors, are equally prominent on the south and southeast exterior. A City Hall spokesman told me that similar-sized signage will be erected this spring on the northeast side of the building, facing Riverside Drive West.

Wonham will believe it when he sees it, and he will not agree to transfer the trademark to the city (so it will not be in breach of the will) until there is an undertaking from the city that it will perpetually abide by the signage requirements. The city’s contention to the province that Chimczuk Inc. was not valid has faded into bureaucratic oblivion.

The minutes of settlement also dictate that the city pays the defendants $10,000 to cover legal costs. Wonham estimates that he will be out of pocket $2,000 to $3,000 when all is said and done.

He is okay with the fact that the library and archives portion of the will are satisfied by a small area inside the museum entrance, including a book of proverbs the benefactor wrote, his wedding picture, a dark painting he drew and a copy of the signed will.

“The important thing is that he wanted his name on a building and that has been fulfilled,” says Wonham, who got involved in all this because “I like museums.”

What a pity that the city — hidebound by whiffs of arrogance and an entrenched habit of easily getting its nose out of joint — couldn’t give the good doctor proper credit.

If you would like to comment on this topic, please post it under my column in the CITY section of BizXmagazine.com

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ON THE MAYOR’S MIND

Representing Canada, Hosting The World

By Mayor Drew Dilkens If you have any thoughts and ideas on this article, post a comment under my column in the CITY section of BizXmagazine.com.

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stanbul, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, Athens, Moscow, Shanghai, Manchester, Dubai . . . what do these cities have in common? Most people, when asked, would probably identify them as famous cities, or maybe even world class cities. Let’s add Windsor to this list. Now what do they have in common? They are all host cities of the “FINA World Swimming Championships (25m).”

Windsor may not have the population of Toronto, or Vancouver, or Montreal, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have the expertise, the facilities or the civic pride to represent Canada on the world stage. The “FINA World Swimming Championships (25m)” is the largest international swimming-only competition in the world and is an extremely prestigious event Windsorites should be proud and excited to be hosting.

The Championships will attract up to 1,000 of the world’s best swimmers from over 175 countries, many of whom will also compete at the “Rio Olympic Games.” These athletes, competing for 46 gold medals over six days, are expected to attract more than 35,000 spectators and to showcase Windsor to millions more around the world.

In addition to the World Championships from December 6 to 11, 2016, Windsor has also been chosen to host the 2016 “FINA World Aquatics Convention” December 3 to 5 which includes the “FINA Gala Awards Dinner,” the “FINA Swimming Coaches Golden Clinic” and the “FINA World Sports Medicine Congress.”

These events will attract an additional 700 to 800 delegates from the global aquatics industry as well as senior representatives of National Swimming Federations, high performance

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swimming coaches and sport scientists from around the world.

It is anticipated that FINA’s “4th World Aquatics Convention,” the first ever in North America, will be the biggest yet, due to Windsor’s strategic location and readily accessibility for all involved in the world’s largest aquatics marketplace.

Securing this additional portfolio of events is a major plus for the City as these were not a part of the original bid for the Championships and are fully-funded FINA events bringing significant additional visitors, profile and economic benefits to Windsor.

The significance of bringing these events to Windsor should not be understated. Their importance has been recognized by both the provincial and federal governments who have made large financial contributions to the hosting of the events based on their significant local, provincial and national benefits, which include stimulating our economies, encouraging participation in aquatic sports and promoting healthy lifestyles for our residents.

Over the nine days of these events, Windsor hotels will be filled to the brim with visitors from across the world. These visitors will support Windsor shops and restaurants and will hopefully extend their stay to take in some of the City’s tourist attractions.

Downtown will be alive and bustling with the fashion and dialects of hundreds of different countries gracing its streets. The atmosphere will undoubtedly be electrifying and will give Windsorites a taste of what our downtown can be as we continue our revitalization efforts.

Though some may dismiss the benefits

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to the local economy or the promotion of sports participation and healthy lifestyles, the one benefit that cannot be argued is the international media attention the City will garner. A spotlight will be shining on the City as millions of viewers from across the world tune in to see how Windsor is capable of putting on one of the best swimming shows anyone has ever seen.

The Championships is a premiere sporting event, and as such, FINA has certain expectations and standards with regards to the event’s execution. This includes the quality of the broadcast, the condition of the training facilities and security for the event. In order to ensure the City meets these expectations, experienced individuals must be hired. The costs of these contracts are factored in to the budget as part of the City’s bid for the event.

The talented and proven team the City’s Steering Committee has assembled will ensure that Windsor stages a Championship of which the City can be proud — one that showcases swimming as theatre, as a show, and sets the gold standard for all future global swimming events.

By hosting the Championships at the WFCU Centre, where a temporary pool will be installed in the main arena bowl, thousands of spectators will have the chance to watch the world’s best swimmers compete in a thrilling, high-energy “show time” atmosphere enhanced by the dramatic use of vision screens, light and sound. A unique setting and a oncein-a-lifetime experience for both swimmers and spectators alike.

As the City inches closer to representing Canada and hosting the world in December, it’s time for an attitude change. We need to stop looking at ourselves as “just a short drive from two major cities” and realize our identity as a major city that’s about to welcome the world by supporting this event and showing our united Windsor spirit.

I invite you to embrace all the opportunities presented by this world-class event coming to our city and mark it in your calendar. Windsor is on the world stage — don’t miss out!

FRONTLINES Windsor Business Owner Pays It Forward To Flint A Windsor business owner has schools and private individuals. pitched in to help residents of Flint “When you have to commute with their tainted water crisis by to a laundromat or visit relatives offering his fashion business on outside Flint to do your laundry Howard Avenue as the official or take a shower, it makes even the drop-off spot for bottles of water. most mundane tasks that much Carlos Puckerin, who owns more time-consuming,” states Exclusive Fashions in the Devon Puckerin. “It changes your entire Plaza at 2639 Howard Avenue, daily existence.” collected more than 100,000 He continues by saying, bottles of water in a six-week “If nothing else, this terrible period beginning at the end of crisis has made people even more January. cognizant of the need to conserve “We believe strongly at water and that we can’t ever take Exclusive Fashions that fresh it for granted. It’s like putting water is a basic human right, a Band-Aid on a bullet wound which everyone should enjoy at the moment, and the focus access to,” says Puckerin. “After Ellis Ricketts, employee, left, and owner Carlos Puckerin of Windsor’s Exclusive Fashions, now should be on making sure prepare another load of bottled water for delivery to residents of Flint, Michigan. seeing the brown sludgy water Photo by Dave Hall. this never ever happens again pouring out of people’s taps to another community and the — water that is completely unusable for Puckerin decided to step up and volunteer people who live there.” consumption, bathing or even washing his business.

For those wishing to help, bottled water clothes — we decided to do something In the first month, Puckerin, a Detroit or cash donations can be dropped off at about it.” native who carries both U.S. and Canadian Exclusive Fashions.

After realizing there were no droppassports, collected 10,000 bottles and the For further information, and information off points in Windsor for those wishing water has kept pouring in. on their “gofundmepage” visit his website: to help their Michigan neighbours, Donations have come in from businesses, TheRealExclusive.com/water-challenge.

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FRONTLINES

Local Freelance Photographer Hits 30-Year Career Mark After spending more than 30 years as a professional photographer, Rod Denis is now celebrating a quarter-century as owner of his own freelance business — Rodney L. Denis Photography.

A graduate of the photography program at Fanshawe College in London, Denis has worked in Toronto and Halifax for such clients as Mt. Sinai Hospital, the former Chrysler Canada, Labatt Breweries, Sears, Hiram Walker, Canadian Tire, St. Clair College as well as advertising agencies and numerous business publications, including Biz X magazine.

“For a couple of years, I worked as what we call a blue-collar studio, which basically means working a steady nineto-five,” says Denis. “But, over the years, I’ve become accustomed to working whatever hours the job dictates, which includes evenings and weekends.”

He moved to Windsor in 1989 and was a partner in DenCor Photography for two years before opening his own agency in 1991.

Denis was also the official track photographer at Windsor Raceway for 10 years, beginning in 1989.

“The business has had its ups and downs over the years, but, overall, it’s been a very good profession,” says Denis.

“I love the fact that I have complete

Playing on a TV commercial idea, Rod Denis supplied this creative shot with the caption as follows. “He lives vicariously through his camera. He is the most interesting photographer in Windsor. Stay focused my friends!”

Photo credits: model Missi D. and painting by local artist Marc Lacourciere, entitled “Riders on the storm” (based on Jim Morrison and The Doors).

freedom as owner of my own agency and that it also allows me freedom of artistic expression.”

Over the years, Denis has shot everything from fashion shows to industrial settings and from food to classic cars.

“You always have a outlet for your

artistic and creative juices,” says Denis.

“There’s a challenge to every assignment, but for the moment, I enjoy glamour photography as much as anything I’ve ever shot over the years.”

For more information and to view a selection of his work, visit RodneyLDenisPhotographer.com.

New Biz Gets Personal With Customers In mid-February of this year, Bienka Jones-DiGiovanni, Owner/Technician of Uncover U Lasers Inc. hosted an Open House at her new location, 2097 Shawnee Road in Tecumseh, to show attendees how her laser business (which operates out of her home) is unlike others in her industry.

“I have the feel of a business location in the comfort of my home,” states Jones-DiGiovanni. “It’s separate from my home as well, which has been convenient as I can truly accommodate my patients while being a part of my young family’s life.”

Another reason for the open house was “to answer questions people may have

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and give them an opportunity to see the equipment and talk to me,” she explains.

Open since June 2015, Uncover U Lasers focuses on laser hair removal, vein removal and skin tightening.

“Coming up on my first year, I’ve been very excited with the number of sales obtained!” exclaims Jones-DiGiovanni.

“I can say I’ve reached my goal and have already set new ones. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s paying off.”

She plans on having three or four open houses per year.

Find out more information on her website: UncoverULasers.com.

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Technician Bienka Jones-DiGiovanni is pictured explaining how the Quanta Light A Star System works to guest Melanie Kizis. The system is used for laser hair removal, vascular treatments, wrinkle reduction, acne treatments, pigmentation removal and age/sun spots.

Photo by Della Jones-Goulet.

BRINGING YOU UP TO SPEED ON THE LATEST BUZZ AROUND TOWN! Last month in this space, it was reported that Kelsey’s Neighbourhood Bar and Grill, 5001 Legacy Park Drive in Windsor, had closed its doors. That space was quickly filled

by Chuck’s Roadhouse Bar and Grill. Now we can tell you that a new and improved Kelsey’s will re-appear a few blocks north on Walker Road with the transition of Casey’s Grill Bar, 4115 Walker, into a re-worked version of Kelsey’s original roadhouse. “The Kelsey’s on Legacy Drive (which closed on December 31, 2015) was older and smaller and the lease ran out,” says a spokesman for the new franchisee.

Casey’s was built approximately seven years ago. “It’s a beautiful building with great bones,” mentions the spokesman, noting that the makeover will entail mostly freshening up the colours and internal materials.

Both the Casey’s and Kelsey’s assets are owned

by Cara Operations Limited, headquartered in Vaughn, Ontario. Cara franchises also include Harvey’s, Montana’s, Swiss Chalet and East Side Mario’s. The other Kelsey’s in the region is located at 9 Amy Croft in Lakeshore.

Jerry Wachowicz, Owner of Purple’s Lounge, at 2462 Tecumseh Road East, across the street from the Chrysler assembly plant,

has sold the building to Calgary investors.

“I’m 75 — I’m getting a bit too old,” says Wachowicz of his decision to get out of the bar business after 30 years. “I had a heart attack three years ago, and a triple bypass.

I’ve been taking offers on the business for about three years.” Purple’s has quite a history. When Wachowicz purchased the building 30 years ago, he converted Golden Mile Transmission, which had been operating at that location for 50 years. An athletic trainer and football team equipment manager at the University of Windsor since the 1960s, Wachowicz decided to get into the bar business in the mid-80s, almost on a whim. He named the place Purple’s Lounge after watching an episode of Eliot Ness on television featuring Chicago’s notorious Purple Gang. The lounge has been sustained by clientele, mostly from the skilled trades, toiling at nearby auto plants — Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. The leasing of a large billboard on top of Purple’s has been another consistent revenue producer. The Calgary investors, two Vietnamese families, were scheduled to take over April 1. Mike Sleiman, of Valente Real Estate, who listed the property, says the family is in the habit of purchasing older businesses and sprucing them up. The renovations at Purple’s Lounge will not be extensive, says Sleiman, but it will probably entail adding a breakfast service in one section of the footprint.

Like many outside investors these days, the Calgarians were attracted by Windsor’s bargain commercial real estate prices.

One of the families has already purchased a home in the city.

“Oktoberfest,” which has been synonymous with the Teutonia Club, 55 Edinborough Street, for over 70 years, will not be held this fall. Mid South Land Development Corp., headed by Dino Maggio, has purchased the 9.6 acre property with plans to convert it into a 40,000-square-foot business centre. The deal, to be closed on May 1, means Teutonia’s “Oktoberfest,” plus “Carrousel of the Nations” festivities in June, will be no more, says Club President Christine Erdmann.

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Other activities for the 175-member German club — for seniors, youth, auxiliary, shuffleboard, yoga, choir and pretzel making — will occur in various rooms at the Fogolar Furlan Club, 1800 North Service Road. The rooms will be leased on a monthly basis.

The sale of the sprawling Edinborough property, which includes a full-length soccer field, has been coveted by the club for several years due to high operating costs and a dwindling membership. Erdmann says club officials will consider reviving the festivals in the future, but right now “it’s too much to grasp all at once.” The Bavarian Club, a splinter group, has recently purchased a much smaller building on Drouillard Road and is planning to stage an Oktoberfest event this year. Maggio, meanwhile, has no plans at the moment of making use of the Teutonia Club soccer field. He is kept busy with other projects in the city. “I have four mega deals on the go,” he says. One of those is a bid to build condominiums at the corner of Fairview Blvd. and Wyandotte Street East. In mid-March, he officially opened 50 town house units on the Pillette Road property on the former site of Adstoll Arena and adjacent city parkland.

The tenure of Koolini Catering as the caterer of the City of Windsor’s Willistead Manor has been short lived. Koolini has decided to walk away from the five-year contract after barely two years, to concentrate on its other catering business, and reportedly to open a new restaurant. Owner Leo De Luca closed his popular restaurant at 1520 Tecumseh Road East, when he secured the Willistead contract, converting the space into a larger kitchen to service take-out and catering customers. City Council has named Thyme To-Go, 640 Chilver Road, owned wby Julie Meyers, as the replacement for catering weddings, bar mitzvahs and corporate parties, etc. at the manor. Thyme To-Go, which was beaten by Koolini in the tender two years ago, this time outpointed Other Place Catering. Meyers is also one of the caterers at the Art Gallery of Windsor along with Koolini, St. Clair College Centre for the Arts and The City Grill.

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CHARITY PROFILE

Be A Life Saver!

By Harmony Peach

O

ne local family is using their personal experience with organ transplantation to encourage others to join the donor registry.

Founded in September 2014, the Windsor-Essex Gift Of Life Association (W.E. Gift) Chair Niva Segatto intimately knows the hope and fear associated with waiting for the call that a match has been found. Her husband Dennis Segatto, who is also the Director of W.E. Gift, is a two-time kidney transplant recipient.

“He’s lived it and I’ve lived it on the other side of the bed holding his hand,” says Segatto adding, “You always have the hope, the hope that phone call will come in.”

Dennis Segatto stands in front of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa as part of a Windsor expedition to climb the mountain for “KiliKlimb, 2015.” Photo courtesy of Niva Segatto.

Segatto says one person dies every three days in Canada while waiting and hoping for that all important call. She wants to get more donors registered locally, noting Windsor is below the Ontario average of registration.

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April is "Be A Donor" Month

“In Ontario it’s at 27% and in Windsor we’re only at 25%,” informs Segatto. April is “Be A Donor Month” and W.E. Gift is promoting organ donor registration and education locally on behalf of the Ontario Trillium Gift of Life Network.

To register to become an organ donor log onto BeADonor.ca/wegiftoflife.

Events are being held throughout Windsor Essex in an effort to achieve a goal of 1,000 registered donors by the end of April and include . . .

• On April 6 a “Caboto Charity Pasta Night” fundraiser takes place for all you can eat pasta (take-out included) from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Cost to attend: Adults $9; Seniors $8; Take-out $10; Children 5 to 12 are $6 and under 5 can enter at no charge.

• A flag raising ceremony is scheduled at Windsor City Hall on April 12 at 11 a.m.

Mayor Drew Dilkens, area MPs, MPPs, and the public are invited.

• W.E. Gift hosts an information booth at Devonshire Mall April 22 to 23.

• A documentary about an expedition climb up Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, featuring Dennis Segatto and other Windsorites, plays at Lakeshore Cinemas April 26.

Get the latest information on all events at Facebook.com/WEgiftoflife.

W.E. Gift also focuses on public education and offers free information brochures.

Segatto wants to stress “the [donor’s] family has to know that these are their wishes because you can go ahead online and register to be an organ donor, and if you should happen to have that death, and you could be a potential donor, and not tell your family, the family has the last say. [If] they say no they don’t want the organs to be

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W.E. Gift Chair Niva Segatto and her husband, Dennis, W.E. Gift Director posed for this photo after he won a medal at the “Canadian Transplant Games” in Quebec City, 2010.

Photo courtesy of Bianca Segatto.

retrieved then [the hospitals] don’t retrieve them.”

Segatto continues, “We can be contacted for lunch and learns or to do workplace consent drives.”

W.E. Gift can also help with registration for “The Canadian Transplant Games” being held in Toronto this year from August 8 to 13.

Local transplant survivors and donor families are asked to email w indsoressexgif tof life@gmai l.com for more information about games registration. (You can also use this address if you have any questions about the events listed).

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY

NEWSFLASH

THE RUNDOWN Festival Tent & Party Rentals (4595 County Rd. 46, R.R. #3, Maidstone; FestivalTent.com) recently joined forces with UHaul to offer truck and trailer rentals as a UHaul dealer. Whether you are planning a move, or need a large vehicle to transport furniture or appliances, they carry both trucks and trailers, available to be rented for in-town moves. As well, you can rent for a one way trip without needing to return the truck to their store.

Yvonne Pilon, President & CEO of WEtech Alliance is shown taking a cheque presentation photo of Anna Morle, Financial Service Representative, City Centre and Becky Langlois, Marketing and Community Relations Manager from the Motor City Community Credit Union with Irek Kusmierczyk, WEtech Alliance Director of Partnerships. Photo courtesy of John-Marc Vachon of WEtech Alliance.

Using Motor City Community Credit Union’s deposit anywhere feature via their mobile app, WEtech Alliance in just one simple “snap,” received a big boost. In March Motor City came on board as a “Tech Titan” with a $5,000 sponsorship. “WEtech Alliance is focused on helping tech entrepreneurs in our region,” says Yvonne Pilon, President and CEO of WEtech Alliance. “These entrepreneurs play a vital role in diversifying our economy and creating jobs. Having an important industry partner in Motor City Community Credit Union helps us accelerate that mission.” WEtech Alliance is one of 18 Regional Innovation Centres (RICs) in the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE). RICs advise technology startups, share entrepreneurship programs, develop business contacts, facilitate access to investment capital and create new opportunities in target markets. WEtech

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Alliance supports over 140 clients in diverse sectors, including Advanced Manufacturing, ICT & Digital Media, Life Science, Clean Energy and Agriculture. Learn more by logging onto: WEtech-Alliance.com.

ON THE MOVE In early March Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex (HFHWE) opened the South Essex ReStore at 1 Iroquois Rd., Unit 2 in Leamington (the old Sears Appliance Centre). This location houses the ReStore and South Essex administrative offices. “The idea of Habitat for Humanity WindsorEssex was started through a conversation 25 years ago” says Mike Van der Vlist, Executive Director, HFHWE. “In that time, HFHWE has grown to build 59 homes in Windsor and Essex County, in addition to running a very successful ReStore in Windsor. We felt that it was time to come home to where it all started,” Van der Vlist adds. With the support and encouragement of the Municipalities of Leamington and Kingsville, HFHWE is finally coming home. In addition to the opening of the South Essex ReStore, HFHWE will break ground on a Leamington Building Project in September 2016 and a Kingsville Building Project in September 2017.

Recently thyssenkrupp Materials NA, Inc. relocated to a new 50,000 squarefoot facility at 4155-4165 Walker Road in Windsor. Transportation Services, Inspection Services and Value-Add Warehousing Services teams began operations at the new facility as of March 1. The site will maintain its (CTPAT) and ISO 9001 certification standards to benefit their key customers. As well, the company’s corporate, sales and administrative offices moved to 2491 Ouellette Avenue, also in Windsor. “We are proud of thyssenkrupp Industrial Services’ 10 year history in Windsor and are excited to start the next stage of our company’s journey from our new facilities,” says Brian Diephuis, President of thyssenkrupp Industrial Services. “We look forward to continuing our tradition of fast, agile support for industrial service needs for companies across Ontario, especially in the Windsor/Essex County and Eastern Canada markets.” For additional information visit TKMNA.com.

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HALL OF FAME CenterLine (Windsor) Limited (415 Morton Drive, Windsor; Cntrline.com) announces that as a winner of “Canada’s Best Managed Companies” program in 2013 it has again requalified in 2015 to maintain its status as a “Best Managed Company.” This prestigious national award is sponsored by Deloitte, CIBC, National Post, Queen’s School of Business and MacKay CEO Forums.

CenterLine congratulates its dedicated and talented staff for its outstanding work and commitment to excellence, as well as its many valued suppliers and customers that contribute to their overall success.

In mid-February 2016 at Pointe West Golf Club, the Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce celebrated their “11th Annual Business Excellence Awards” and the overall winners are . . . “Small Business” (sponsored by TD Canada Trust) Midway Home Appliance Centre; “Large Business” (sponsored by Windsor Essex Economic Development Corporation) Meloche’s No Frills; “Excellence in Customer Service” (sponsored by Nancy Greenaway, BMO Nesbitt Burns) Romano’s Specialty Meats & Italian Deli; “Most Attractive Improvement” (sponsored by the Dalhousie Bistro and Pied a Terre Decor) Amherstburg Dental; “Community Service/Community Involvement” (sponsored by the River Town Times) Society of Saint Vincent de Paul; “Growth and Expansion” (sponsored by Business Resource Centre, Essex CFDC) Families First Funeral Home; “Investing in a World Class Workforce” (sponsored

by Workforce WindsorEssex) Sobeys; “Excellence in Food Services” (sponsored

by Libro Credit Union) Artisan Grill; “Business Legacy” (sponsored by WFCU Credit Union) River Town Times and “Chamber Director’s Choice” (sponsored

by Dollars & Cents Investments) “River Lights Winter Festival” and “Art by the River”/Gibson Gallery. Read more about the chamber on their website: AmherstburgChamber.com.

Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) announced the 2016 “Top 100 Festivals & Events” in Ontario including Amherstburg’s “River Lights Winter Festival,” November 19 to December 31. This award comes on

the 10 year anniversary of the “River Lights Winter Festival.” Sarah Van Grinsven, Project Coordinator states, “We are planning new and exciting programming for the 2016 season that will make this event and its anniversary unforgettable! In keeping with what you would expect from a ‘Top 100’ festival, the region will have something very special to look forward to starting in November.” For more information, please visit RiverLights.ca. Other area festivals in the “Top 100” include “Carrousel of Nations” (June 17 to 26) and “Tecumseh Corn Festival” (August 25 to 28).

A 29 year old Windsor researcher was recognized in November 2015 for her groundbreaking work demonstrating that cancer patients may benefit from dandelion root and long pepper extracts when used as therapeutic interventions to treat some forms of highly aggressive cancer, including blood, colon and pancreatic cancers.

Pamela Ovadje, a postdoctoral student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Windsor, was awarded the prestigious “Mitacs Award for Outstanding Innovation–Postdoctoral,” presented by Mitacs (Mitacs.ca), a national, not-for-profit organization that partners companies, government, and academia to promote Canadian research and training.

Ovadje says her positive findings have

The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, Government of Canada (left) in Ottawa presented Pamela Ovadje with her award on November 24, 2015.

Photo courtesy of Mitacs.

since led Health Canada to approve human clinical trials, with the ultimate goal of providing widely available, effective and less costly cancer treatments.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO. . .

Sandy Pepper made her life-time dream become a reality on May 1, 2015 by opening her gift store known as The Treasure Nook. As her first anniversary approaches, she decided to celebrate by launching a new product line, Skinny Coconut Oil, which has a multitude of uses from health benefits

B IZ X M A G A Z IN E • A P R IL 2 0 1 6

to everyday skin care. It is natural and safe for everyone from body rub for babies and creams for nursing moms to adults looking to boost their energy and brain clarity. Products include alkaline coconut oil (for cooking), peppermint oil pulling (for teeth and gums), body butter, lip balm, shampoo bars, soap, facial oil and more. As always, The Treasure Nook houses a variety of unique gifts and jewels to be discovered the moment you walk through the door.

Stop by the shop, 575 Notre Dame Street in Belle River or visit their “Facebook” page to find your treasure!

Happy second anniversary to Blimeys British Store & Gift Shop! Carl and Rita Hulme opened up the store in April 2014 in downtown Harrow. Since then Blimeys has gone through one expansion and has now expanded again to add a further 600 square feet of retail space. This allows the couple to carry a more varied selection of foods, such as haggis, black pudding, sausages and bacon, along with their selection of imported foods and pies. They are also adding more giftware from Britain including leather goods, jewellery, sweaters from Ireland and the Canadian jewellery line, Kameleon.

The shop is also the Biz X Award winner for “County Biz Worth The Drive” in 2015.

Check out their website, Blimeys.ca to see even more products you can purchase.

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY

APRILtoMAY2016 D AT E S T O R E M E M B E R

Biz X has the list of business events (and some fun stuff) that you shouldn’t miss! Please be sure to confirm all events before attending.

VISIT BIZXMAGAZINE.COM UNDER EVENTS” AND ON INPLAYMAGAZINE.COM VIEW THE “SPORTS CALENDAR” TO SEE EVEN MORE EVENTS IN THE BORDER CITIES! WINDSOR ESSEX *unless noted the area code to dial is 519 April 9, 10 & 16: Postmedia’s “Raise-a-Reader Book Sale” at Devonshire Mall in Windsor on April 9 from 9 to 6; April 10 from 10 to 5 and April 16 from 9 to 6. 100% of proceeds support literacy initiatives. Cash only please. Visit RaiseAReader.com for more information.

April 11, 18 & 25: The “Spring 2016 Lecture Series” continues at the Caboto Club, 2175 Parent Avenue, Windsor. Each lecture is free to attend and takes place from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Topics are: “Major Battles and Soldier Memoirs” on April 11; “Friuli/Veneto Occupation Suffering, Refugees & Post War Treaties that led to WWII” on April 18 and “Torneranno I Prati” (Longing for Green Fields) on April 25. Call 252-8383 to learn more.

April 15: Culmone Law, in association with Turnkey Entertainment and Promotions and Autism Ontario Windsor-Essex present, “Absolute Journey” live at the Capitol Theatre in downtown Windsor. Enjoy all the classic Journey hits including “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Wheel In The Sky,” “Anyway You Want It,” “Open Arms” and many more! Riccardo Curzi captures the look and sound of Steve Perry circa 1980s. Doors open 7 p.m. and show time 8 p.m. Admission $30 balcony and $35 main floor. All proceeds to support Autism Ontario Windsor-Essex. Tickets available at the Capitol Theatre Box Office or the offices of Autism Ontario Windsor-Essex, or on-line: TicketScene.ca. More info at LegendsLiveTribute.com OR call 250-1893.

April 17: The 4th Annual “Run for Rocky” starts at Dieppe Gardens in Windsor and proceeds along the riverfront to Ambassador Bridge. One of the first run/walks of the year, “Run for Rocky” funding goes to help support Gay Straight Alliances (GSA) in the local high school and post-secondary school systems. Early check-in or onsite registration at St. Clair College Centre for the Arts Lobby on Saturday April 16 from noon to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pre-Event activities begin in Dieppe Gardens on Sunday at 11 a.m.

Run/Walk begins at 1 p.m., $5 Run/Walk pasta dinner begins at 2 p.m. at St. Clair College Centre for the Arts. This is a family event for all ages — all are welcome including dogs on leashes. For a list of prizes and to register go to: RunForRocky.com.

April 20: The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce “26th Annual Business Excellence Awards” at Caesars Windsor, Augustus Ballroom beginning at 5 p.m. Cost: $150. Register online at WindsorEssexChamber.org OR call 966-3696 ext. 221.

April 21: The Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County hosts the “14th Annual Herb Gray Harmony Award Gala” with the ’Jewel of The Nile”

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theme at the Ciociaro Club, 6:15 p.m. Event honours Marty Komsa of WFCU and Vince and Olivia Rosati of Rosati Construction. Tickets $90 and corporate tables are available by contacting the MCC office in person: 245 Janette Avenue; on the web: TheMCC.com OR by calling 255-1127.

April 22, 23, 24, 29&30 and May 1: Ghost Light Players, directed by Jeffery Bastien, are proud to present a classic “play within a play” — the farce, “Noises Off” at the Walkerville Brewery, 525 Argyle Road, Windsor. The title of the play, written by Michael Frayn, comes from the theatrical stage direction indicating sounds coming from offstage. Featuring some of the best and brightest talent, Ghost Light Players strives to give you an experience you’ll never forget! Show times: Friday & Saturdays 8 p.m., Sundays 4 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door, online at TheatreWithoutFear.com; or by calling 982-1212.

April 24: The Essex Region Conservation Authority hosts “Earth Day Tree Planting Celebrations” in Windsor; Little River Corridor at Florence Avenue and McHugh (just east of the WFCU Centre) from 10 a.m. to noon. Dig out your shovel and join them in planting 2,000 trees to celebrate “Earth Day” and help continue to make our community a little greener. Make nature crafts and enjoy other “Earth Day” themed activities.

For more information visit: ERCA.org/earthday OR phone 776-5209.

April 29: Hosted by Houida Kassem, The House of Sophrosyne presents the “9th Annual Pajama Party” from 7 to 11 p.m. with doors open at 6 p.m. at the Fogolar Furlan Club, 1800 North Service Road, Windsor. Tickets $60 in advance or $70 at the door. Girls only please. Facials, makeup, hair design, psychic readings and more! Go to Sophrosyne.ca for more details. For tickets call 252-2711 ext. 100.

April 29 to May 18: Point Pelee National Park (Parks Canada) and the Friends of Point Pelee present the “Festival of Birds” at Point Pelee National Park (1118 Point Pelee Drive, Leamington). Celebrate the wonder of spring migration at Point Pelee National Park during May 2016. The park is a major resting point for warblers, vireos and other songbirds. For more information visit FestivalOfBirds.ca on including details on birding hikes and other workshops for both novice and seasoned birds.

April 30: “Miss Lizzy’s Crop” is a fundraiser event for paper crafters of all genres to enjoy the camaraderie of a shared hobby, as well as raising funds for Miss Lizzy’s Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to provide support to families affected by cancer. Event takes B IZ X M A G A Z IN E • A P R IL 2 0 1 6

place at the Roma Club Pavilion in Leamington and runs from 9 a.m. to midnight. Tickets are $60 per person ($15 tax receipt issued) and a catered lunch and dinner as well as beverages throughout the day and more such as a raffle table, silent auction and prizes. For more details call Liz, 326-1955 OR see: MissLizzys.org/miss-lizzys-crop-2016.

April 30: The 2nd Annual “Spring Craft & Gift Show” with 50 vendors takes place at the Teutonia Club, 55 Edinborough, Windsor from 10 to 4.

Admission is free, but donations appreciated to help support Autism Ontario Windsor Essex. Questions?

Email: jewelry.by.janine@hotmail.com.

April 30 and May 1: C.C.’s Events presents the “Fourth Annual Handmade Spring Extravaganza” at The WFCU Centre, 8787 McHugh Avenue, Windsor on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Over 100 local artisans are on site with handmade products including wood crafts, spring decor, candles, gourmet food items, jewellery, bath & body products, home decor, children’s items, and more! Win handmade prizes donated by participating artists and lunch is available for purchase. Admission is free but a donation to aid a local charity is appreciated. For more info visit Facebook.com/CCsEvents OR phone 945-1001.

May 1: The Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Foundation presents the “5th Anniversary Gourmet Gardens, A Celebration of Food, Wine & Spring.”

This is Essex County’s premiere spring culinary event at Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery, 7258 County Road 50, Amherstburg beginning at 1 p.m.

The event features a Chef’s Reception and a four course lunch served by Chef Don Kumarasinghe paired with Sprucewood wines. As well a “Chef’s Competition” between Artisan Grill, Caesars Windsor and Iron Kettle Bed & Breakfast.

Entertainment includes renowned Detroit vocalists, Charles & Gwen Scales and the sounds of the Tristan Taylor Trio. Tickets $110 and can be ordered by emailing: mclark@wecas.on.ca. Proceeds benefit the “You Can Write A Child’s Story” campaign impacting programs for children and youth. For more info contact 252-1171 ext. 3210.

May 4: “McHappy Day” at all participating McDonald’s restaurants in Windsor Essex. One dollar from every Big Mac sandwich, Happy Meal and all hot McCafe beverages sold goes to support the new Ronald McDonald House of Windsor.

May 5: The “29th Annual Windsor Marine Event” sponsored by the Windsor Port Authority and the Windsor Transportation Club includes 18 holes golf at Ambassador Club for $95 and a dinner at St. Clair College Centre for the Arts for $75. All event proceeds to benefit the Sandwich

Towne Community including the Mission to Seafarers and the WTC Scholarship Fund. More info can be found at PortWindsor.com OR by calling 258-5741.

May 5 to 8: Windsor’s “Second International Writers’ Conference” at the Holiday Inn Select, 1855 Huron Church Road, Windsor. For a full list of speakers, costs and/or to register, visit their website: Wi-Wc.org.

May 6 to 15: Fringe has returned to Windsor!

Get to the Olde Walkerville Theatre this May for the “Windsor Walkerville Fringe Festival.” From music to theatre to comedy, there’s an artistic performance for everyone! Individual tickets for each show and passes for the entire festival are available. For ticket and schedule information view: WindsorWalkervilleFringeFest.com.

May 7: “Science Rendezvous” at the University of Windsor is part of an annual Canada wide festival celebrating science and technology. Located in the Education Gym on the University of Windsor Campus, the event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Events featured include hands-on exhibits, interactive shows, robots, and much, much more! Admission is free. For more information and details for free parking check out: ScienceRendezvous.ca/Windsor.

May 8: Happy “Mother’s Day!” Treat your mom or grandmother, sister, aunt or even a friend to a meal out. Don’t forget the flowers too!

Join a team.

Plant a tree.

Make a difference! april 24, 2016

erca.org/EarthDay

METRO DETROIT & REGION April 14: Sterling Heights Regional Chamber’s “Chamber CARES Charity Event,” Joe Dumars Fieldhouse (45300 Mound Road) Shelby Township.

Family-friendly community evening for all ages welcome. No registration necessary, $5 donation at the door with proceeds to benefit the Josephine Ford Cancer Institute. Additional details at: SHRCCI.com.

April 27: Sterling Heights Regional Chamber’s “Spring Grub Crawl” with eight fantastic restaurants offering food samplings and soft drinks with a cash bar from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Travel by trolley, bus or make your way on your own. Log on to SHRCCI.com to learn more.

May 1: The Fort Street Chorale and Chamber Orchestra presents J.S. Bach’s Mass in G Major paired with the Handel Organ Concerto in F Major with Dr. David Wagner as organ soloist.

Richard Householder conducts this 3 p.m. concert at Fort Street Presbyterian Church, 631 W. Fort in downtown Detroit. Tickets are $20 ($15 students and groups of 10 or more) and can be purchased online: FortStreet.org or by calling 313-961-4533.

May 3 to 4: “Career Focus Luncheon,” partnered with the Sterling Heights Regional Chamber and the Utica Community Schools Foundation. Annual business leaders luncheon aim to make a difference in the lives of more than 2,100 sixth graders, introducing them to a variety of career options. Palazzo Grande (54660 Van Dyke) Shelby Township. Refer to website for additional information at: UCSFoundation.org.

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Cover Story By Rebecca Wright

Local Bed & Breakfasts Make Guests “Feel At Home” Whether you’re travelling for business or leisure, sometimes you’re looking to stay overnight at a place with a bit more character and ambiance than a cookie-cutter hotel. It’s about more than just laying your head to rest.

It’s about feeling at ease and being taken care of in a quaint and nostalgic environment — something local Bed and Breakfasts (B&B)do best!

And for the business person on the go, not much starts your day and sets you up for productivity better than a hearty homemade breakfast, which is included with your stay at a B&B and typically tastier than the on-the-road grub you may be forced to grab otherwise.

Gordon Orr, CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, informs us that there are about 40 to 50 Bed and Breakfast businesses throughout the region. (log onto VisitWindsorEssex.com to view all!)

“Bed and Breakfasts provide a comfortable home-away-from-home experience at an affordable price point, and Bed and Breakfast operators act as great ambassadors for the region as they help tell our story,” says Orr. “They fulfill a need, especially in the county, where there is a lack of hotel product and their success at repeat visitation is key in helping grow our overnight visitor market.”

Whatever your reason for staying at a Bed and Breakfast in the area, join Biz X now for a ride around Windsor and Essex County to discover a few B&Bs definitely worth checking in to really soon.

La Roos Maison Bed & Breakfast, Harrow ON

Though Bed and Breakfasts accommodations are typically known to have a more traditional old-fashioned style, La Roos Maison Bed & Breakfast is quite the opposite.

Sprawling lakefront patios surround La Roos Maison.

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Welcome to La Roos Maison! In the Bed and Breakfast Great Room we find Owner Madalyn Coulter-Roos and her husband Bill.

Photo courtesy of Ashley Roos.

“All of our rooms are decorated with contemporary flare,” says Owner Madalyn Coulter-Roos.

Located at 309 Martin Lane, R.R. #3 in Harrow, right along Lake Erie’s North Shore, La Roos Maison (LaRoosMaison.com) boasts cathedral ceilings, an open concept layout and patios overlooking the waterfront and countryside.

Coulter-Roos claims her establishment is one of the largest Bed and Breakfasts in the area at 7,000 sq. feet of living space and most B IZ X M A G A Z IN E • A P R IL 2 0 1 6

people refer to it as a “hidden gem” when they first discover it.

“This area has something to offer everyone, whether you’re a cyclist, a birder or wine enthusiast,” explains Coulter-Roos adding their breakfast has been likened to one at a five star restaurant.

“Most of our guests who have had our most popular dish, eggs benedict, have said that it’s the best they have ever had,” states Coulter-Roos. “Our guests always leave the table full and satisfied.”

The Bed and Breakfast can accommodate up to 12 people in their five bedrooms, each with a private balcony. It’s an ideal, spacious location for those with bigger families or for large groups.

While a majority of their guests are from Ontario, Michigan, Ohio and Illinois, they’ve had people stay with them from as far away as the U.K. and from all over the U.S.

Inside one of several lakefront suites at La Roos Maison. Photos of La Roos Maison interior and exterior courtesy of Windsor Home Tour Inc.

“We have many locals that stay with us,” notes Coulter-Roos. “It’s just a 30 minute drive from Windsor, so it is a relaxing getaway for city people looking for a quiet and relaxing destination without the long drive.”

Nearby attractions include restaurants, wineries, beaches, shops, local museums and historical sites. With Point Pelee, Pelee Island, Fort Malden, John R. Park Homestead and Holiday Beach all within a very quick walk or drive, there’s something for every guest who stays at La Roos Maison, advises Coulter-Roos.

“And staying at La Roos Maison Bed & Breakfast is a great opportunity to meet new people,” Coulter-Roos suggests. “Guests are able to mingle with one another and enjoy the tranquility of relaxing outdoors.”

Their rooms range in price from $129 to $199 a night, but the type of experience Coulter-Roos aspires to provide guests is priceless, she believes.

“Your pleasure is our goal,” says Coulter-

Roos of her business’s motto. “We even offer a secluded area with an excellent view and stunning sunsets. It becomes your own private paradise with the sound of waves lapping on the shore.”

The Woodbridge House, Kingsville ON

Long ago, in much different era — pre-electricity — The Woodbridge House was built with expert craftsmanship using local brick, timber and glass. The Bed and Breakfast was recently sensitively restored in a way that preserved its historic link to the past.

“The gothic Victorian style resonates worldwide due to the British Empire influences,” explains Owner Cathy Basskin. This year, The Woodbridge House (TheWoodbridgeHouse.ca), located at 608 Seacliff Drive in Kingsville, celebrates its 135th birthday.

The Woodbridge House is an elegant property that invites you to step back to the past. Photo courtesy of Anna Lamarche.

“Visitors are intrigued by parlours and guestrooms with 12 foot ceilings, elaborate moldings and trims, original stenciling and faux finishes,” Basskin mentions. “Period antiques and contemporary art throughout help to link the past to the present and stimulate conversations.”

The high-efficiency upgrades to the property include WiFi, as well as five new ensuite guestroom bathrooms, which match travellers’ expectations today, states Basskin.

“The Woodbridge House is known for its

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Breakfast is served at The Woodbridge House.

Photo courtesy of The Woodbridge House.

memorable breakfasts,” Basskin says. “Using our local, seasonal ingredients, guests are delighted by the delicious, creative and healthy start to the day.”

Basskin has also established thriving Bed and Breakfasts in Alberta and British Columbia and has managed a resort property in Mexico, helping to build and promote sustainable, quality tourism experiences that have led to broader economic investment.

Her worldly background has given her an understanding of how to best serve guests, along with insight into how much thriving tourism exists in Windsor Essex.

“The natural advantages, culinary and agricultural talents, and cultural opportunities we have here are tremendous,” indicates Basskin. “And Kingsville’s comfortable proximity to larger centres, airports, major highways and the border mean the country and the world can easily visit.”

The Woodbridge House relies on excellent support service and guest experiences offered by local festivals, attractions, suppliers of culinary and wine adventures, explains Basskin — which never disappoint.

The B&B has had many local visitors and some have become regulars, but guests have also visited from 18 different countries — the farthest being Papua New Guinea.

Basskin expresses that “relaxed nibbles, sips featuring a local pour, shared laughs and stories are some highlights” of staying at The Woodbridge House.

“Some of the comments guests have written or sent include: ‘So glad we came’;

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‘Great conversations, We’ll be back’; and ’Every detail just right,’” proudly states Basskin. “We utilize all forms of media of course, but increasingly it’s referrals and word-of-mouth that bring guests to us and our community.”

Iron Kettle Bed & Breakfast, Comber ON

SEE ALL OF OUR FAVOURITE SPOTS IN WINDSOR ESSEX, AS CHOSEN BY YOU!

Another historic property from the 1800s now transformed into a Bed and Breakfast, Iron Kettle Bed & Breakfast, is providing locals with a chance to experience the charm and nostalgia of the past with a vision for the future.

The 140 year old red brick Victorian style home was built in 1876 and has been welcoming guests to Essex County since 1994. It’s been called Iron Kettle since 2009 and has been run by current Owners Benjamin Leblanc-Beaudoin and his wife Ginette Tremblay, since 2014.

“We have brought a fresh new professional approach to running a Bed and Breakfast,” says Leblanc-Beaudoin, who is also the property’s Chef. “We have a commitment to service excellence and pride ourselves on our passion for local food.”

As a skilled award-winning culinary professional, Leblanc-Beaudoin aims to provide guests with a scrumptious breakfast that is sure to please every palette. He has recently won the Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island’s Award for “Best Iron Kettle Owner and Chef Chef” of Windsor Benjamin Leblanc-Beaudoin. and Essex County (see contents photo of this issue) and was a contestant on Food

bestofwindsoressex.ca

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Network’s “Chopped Canada.” As a bed and breakfast, Iron Kettle was awarded the 2015 “Trip Advisor” Award, was a finalist for an Ontario Tourism Award and is a 2016 finalist for the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award for “Tourism & Hospitality” Award.

This Victorian home built 140 years ago is now The Iron Kettle Bed & Breakfast, which is conveniently located near Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, Point Pelee and the port to Pelee Island.

“We create a tourism experience where you can feel at home, but also feel like you are in a charming space and enjoy a great breakfast,” comments Leblanc-Beaudoin.

“Locals should send their visiting guests, or themselves, here, for a getaway.”

Located just off Highway 401 at 7005 County Road 46 in Comber — which Leblanc-Beaudoin describes as “the gateway of Essex County” — Iron Kettle Bed & Breakfast (IronKettleBB.com) has hosted people from all over the world.

“The majority of our guests are from the Greater Toronto Area — people who are hearing great things about us and about the region and are curious to check it out,” states Leblanc-Beaudoin. “We have had people come from Alaska, Austria, United Kingdom, but also people from just down the road, such as Belle River, Ruscom, St-Joachim, etc.”

The property boasts a swimming pool One of Iron Kettle’s modern, yet traditionally inspired rooms. Iron Kettle photos courtesy of Brooke Windibank.

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and hot tub. The nightly cost is $135, which includes breakfast the next day. Local attractions include more than 18 wineries — four of which are within a 20 minute drive — Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens, Point Pelee and more.

“Essex County has everything that tourists seek out,” explains Leblanc-Beaudoin. “We have world-class wineries, great restaurants, a huge local history, great weather, beautiful landscapes, water, biking and a major international city at our doorstep.”

Leblanc-Beaudoin and his wife also give guests the opportunity to use the property to host special events and offer catering at the B&B and off site too.

“We have created a destination for people to visit from near and far,” he says.

Ye Olde Walkerville Bed & Breakfast, Windsor ON

While many local Bed and Breakfast establishments are located in the county, Ye Olde Walkerville Bed & Breakfast is tucked away near Windsor’s city centre.

Owners Larry and Joyce Duffield purchased the turnkey Bed and Breakfast six years ago. The home was built in 1903 and has been designated an historic property in the community. It has served guests as a welcoming Bed and Breakfast since the early 1990s, says Larry.

At the heart of trendy Walkerville at 1104 Monmouth Road, Ye Olde Walkerville Bed and Breakfast (WalkervilleBB.com) is an ideal location in the city, located particularly close to the Via Rail Station and conveniently close to Windsor Airport, the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel and downtown Windsor. Restaurants, pubs, shops in Olde Walkerville, Erie Street and Ottawa Street are all within walking distance, making for a great cozy and comfortable stay in a traditional home with all the amenities and conveniences of a big city at your doorstep.

“Many of our guests are visiting for

Ye Olde Walkerville Bed & Breakfast Owners Larry and Joyce Duffield. Photo courtesy of Ye Olde Walkerville.

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Ye Olde Walkerville Bed & Breakfast is centrally located in Walkerville, an area of Windsor with many historic homes.

Photo courtesy of Ye Olde Walkerville Bed & Breakfast.

family-related events, but more and more are coming from the U.S. and as far away as Metro Toronto for tourism,” states Larry.

“They are attracted by the favorable exchange rate, our moderate prices, waterfront, wines and attractions like Point Pelee, Underground Railway and ‘War of 1812’ historical sites.”

He and his wife are very pleased that Ye Olde Walkerville Bed & Breakfast was awarded “Best Windsor Essex Bed and Breakfast” in a recent survey sponsored by Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, as well as winning the Biz X Award for “Best Bed &

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Breakfast” in 2001. He says they work very hard to ensure their guests are taken care of in every way possible, and these awards just prove they’re doing it right!

Larry stresses that he and Joyce, “treat our guests as friends and family providing them with excellent value for money and outstanding breakfasts using as much local product as possible.”

He says he and his wife are committed to providing wholesome food and beverages and preserving upscale ambiance, offering guests a tranquil respite from everyday life.

Their mission is to make every guest’s stay a pleasant one and they say they enjoy helping people find that perfect restaurant to eat at or attraction to visit.

Larry continues by saying, “Whether your stay is for business, vacation or that wonderful romantic weekend, we are committed to provide you with an informal, friendly and relaxed atmosphere, while preserving your unique privacy and individual requirements.”

Bondy House Bed And Breakfast, Amherstburg ON

Old world charm with modern amenities is what you’ll find at Bondy House Bed and Breakfast, claim Owners Carolyn Davies and Merv Richards. (Publisher’s note: please also see cover photo of this issue)

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Owners Merv Richards and Carolyn Davies are photographed beneath the sign to their historic Bed and Breakfast. Photo courtesy of Bondy House.

Located at 199 Dalhousie Street in Amherstburg, the century-old Victorian home offers a relaxing and inviting atmosphere in a serene riverside setting right along the shore of the Detroit River.

“The historic town of Amherstburg is not only packed with many award-winning and fascinating events and sights, it is also

one of the most charming little towns in Canada,” describes Carolyn. “Bondy House Bed and Breakfast is snuggled into the very downtown where many of the scheduled and serendipitous activities happen. Guests can choose romantic walks, dining, cycling and exploring trails with kayaking and canoeing just minutes away.

Bondy House Bed and Breakfast (BondyHouse.com) won the 2007 Biz X Award for “Favourite Overnight County Getaway,” and consistently receives extremely complimentary feedback from guests, says Carolyn — something she and her husband take pride in and work very hard to achieve. The B&B has also been designated as a five-star establishment based on feedback from guests on TripAdvisor.ca.

“Many of our guest referrals are found through word-of-mouth by the community,” states Carolyn. “Local residents want the best experience for their family, and local businesses refer their clients and executives to the Bondy House Bed and Breakfast because we provide quality guest rooms, a relaxing retreat from travel, and a comfortable setting to work in or just to wind down.”

end is the 700 square foot Tree Top Turret Executive Suite, which boasts a luxury apartment-style feel with its own entrance, spacious balcony overlooking the garden, fireplace, galley kitchenette, en-suite and sitting area.

“Vacationers and business folks can take advantage of our promotion, ‘A Week In The ‘Burg’ and stay with us for seven consecutive nights and only pay for six,” suggests Carolyn.

A tailored breakfast tops it off at the Bondy House, and Carolyn says she and her husband make every effort to meet every guest’s individual meal preferences.

“Guests will feel welcomed and at home when staying at the Bondy House Bed and Breakfast,” she says. “Whether you are an individual, couple or family, on business or wanting a group retreat, we strive to meet all your needs.”

The Wandering Pheasant Inn, Pelee Island ON

Looking to detach, leave everything behind and experience a getaway like no other? If so, The Wandering Pheasant Inn Owner Sandra Laranja says a visit to her establishment on Pelee Island — “the most isolated corner of Canada” — has just what you’re looking for!

“It’s all about what we don’t have, not what we do have,” states Laranja. “We do not have noise and light pollution, only the pure sounds and glows of nature, like fireflies and the stars.”

At her inn, fresh baked goods, fruit, coffee and tea are served for breakfast to guests in the morning, which can be enjoyed while watching the most amazing sunrise over the water.

Serenity awaits you at the Bondy House’s exquisite garden pond. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Davies.

While most guests travel from all corners of Ontario and the U.S. — and some from far parts of the world including New Zealand, Australia and Germany — Carolyn says, increasingly there are many from Essex County who visit the Bondy House for some downtime and relaxation without the added commitment of driving a long distance, to give themselves a well-deserved getaway from the stresses of busy everyday life.

“Many families and couples want a getaway closer to home and have a unique experience staying here,” notes Carolyn. “The charm of Amherstburg with its choice of quality restaurants, pubs and independent shops, as well as the close access to large urban centres, such as Windsor and Detroit, provide many options for vacationing exploration.”

Prices range from $100 to $200 a night, depending on the needs of the guest, explains Carolyn. For instance, at the higher

The Wandering Pheasant Inn is Canada’s southernmost business and commercial building.

Located at 1060 East West Road on Pelee Island, The Wandering Pheasant Inn (TheWanderingPheasantInn.com) has been personally recommended as the place to stay in the Southwestern Ontario region in the book “Canada — Lonely Planet,” claims Laranja. Plus, her inn has also been featured on the show “My Retreat” on the Cottage Life Television Network.

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This room’s style brings the outdoors in with its featured nature-themed mural. Wandering Pheasant photos courtesy of Liwordson Vijayabalan.

The adult-only inn has rates ranging from $115 to $175 a night and is also available for rental as a whole for private or closed-door functions such as weddings, reunions or retreats.

Guests are mainly from out of the country; from as far as Africa, Egypt, Italy, Germany, the U.K. and more, but there are also many from the Toronto area, she says.

“I have some people that return every year; some will come to the inn three or four times a year, for three or four days at a time,” Laranja comments. “They feel like it’s home to them.”

The Wandering Pheasant Inn is the perfect location for a nearby getaway because you don’t have to travel too far and it’s very inexpensive, she believes.

“Think about it, you get to take an hour and half cruise to a remote island, still be in Canada and feel like you have travelled to a different part of the world,” describes Laranja. “We have been referred to as the Canadian Caribbean and the other California.”

The inn is one of the oldest sites on Pelee Island, dating back to the mid-1800s. It has been fully restored, but holds a great deal of history and charm.

Laranja explains how her business is the true definition of “labour of love,” and there’s an amazing energy and sense of excitement with every guest that arrives.

“Although the inn has many old stories to tell, it also creates a wide variety of new stories for the guests it welcomes,” she says. “I believe this is why it becomes so memorable for those who visit us. Everyone has some kind of experience to relate.”

Treat Yourself And Make A Reservation Now

So next time you’re looking for a place to stay — whether you’re in Windsor Essex on business, visiting the region, or living in the area and looking for a staycation destination —try out one of the many Bed and Breakfast establishments in the region for something a little different.

You’ll be glad you did!

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AWARDS SPOTLIGHT

The First “Best of Windsor Essex” Awards Photos by Rod Denis

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ourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island (TWEPI) recently announced the winners of the first ever “Best of Windsor Essex,” a new campaign that ran from November to December 2015 with the ambitious goal of putting together the most comprehensive list of the “Best Of” things to see and do in the region. And since timing is everything, keeping with the tourism theme of this issue of Biz X, now is the perfect opportunity to share the complete winners list with our readers!

The “Best of Windsor Essex” campaign engaged local residents and visitors to share their favourite attractions and drew a tremendous response during phase I, with over 1,000 people filling out a 61 question survey, nominating over 3,500 businesses.

Those nominations were then pared down into the top five in each category. Phase II then began with over 3,000 people voting again on the top five in each category for their favourite spots in Windsor Essex — where they like to eat, shop, dine and play.

For further details, visit TWEPI’s microwebsite: BestOfWindsorEssex.ca which

features a mini-profile and photo of each winner and a highlight of the top five finalists per category.

A few of the winners are shown here along with TWEPI representatives involved in the plaque presentations. Positions of individuals in multiple photos are as follows: Nelson Santos, TWEPI Chair of Board of Directors and Mayor Town of Kingsville;

Scott Fischburg, Director-at-Large, TWEPI Board of Directors and Director, Resort & Hotel Sales Caesars Windsor; Adriano Ciotoli, TWEPI Board Member and Owner, WindsorEats; Danielle Stuebing, TWEPI BOARD MEMBER and Director of Community Outreach Services, Essex Region Conservation Authority.

All people in photos listed from the left.

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1. Group shot (top right) taken at the official Award Ceremony at Caesars Windsor February 17, 2016 when winners received commemorative plaques and a letter of congratulations.

2. Santos; Anne Waters, Owner of Anne’s

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on the Avenue earned the top spot for “Best Women’s Clothing Store” and Stuebing.

President The Rotary of Windsor (1918) shown also with Fischburg.

3. Santos; Colleen Mitchell, Art in the Park Chair accepted the “Best Independent Art Event” Award with Mike Drake, Current

4. Santos; Renu Anderson, Owner of Thai Palace, awarded the “Best Asian Spot” and Ciotoli.

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5. Santos; Claudine Thibodeau, Owner of The Shoe Box for the “Best Shoe Store” and Stuebing.

6. Santos and Tom Bain, Board Member TWEPI & Warden, County of Essex with Maggie Durocher, Windsor Parade Corporation who happily accepted the “Best Festival” Award for the “Ford Fireworks/Summerfest” event.

7. Santos; Tom Graziano, City of Windsor, Senior Manager of Facilities accepted the “Best Architecture Hot Spot” Award for the Willistead Manor, and Fischburg.

8. Santos; Alex Herrera, General Manager of The Keg Steakhouse & Bar downtown Windsor recipient for the “Best Restaurant for Ambiance” Award and Ciotoli.

9. Santos; Chantelle Wigle, Administrative Assistant for Kingsville Golf and Country Club, winner of the “Best Golf Course” Award; Adam Charles, Back Shop Supervisor, Kingsville Golf and Country Club and Stuebing.

10. Danielle Grossi Tartaro, Owner of Lakeside Bakery, “Best Cupcake or Dessert Spot” with Santos and Ciotoli.

11. Adventure Bay Family Water Park received the “Best Water Activity or Water Sport Spot” Award. Pictured were: Santos; Jelena Payne, Social Development, Health, Recreation and Culture Leader; Jen Knights, Manager of Adventure Bay; Michael Chantler, Assistant Manager of the Windsor International Aquatic and Training Centre & Adventure Bay, Recreation & Culture posed with Stuebing.

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12. Gordon Orr, Chief Executive Officer, TWEPI in a congratulatory shot with Sharron White, Windsor Light Music Theatre; Mary Riley, Caesars Windsor; Dina Butler, Windsor Light Music Theatre and Tim Trombley, Caesars Windsor.

Windsor Light Theatre took top honours for the “Best Dance or Theatre Group” Award and the Colosseum at Caesars Windsor was chosen for the “Best Concert Venue” with Caesars Windsor also selected as the “Best Hotel or Motel.”

13. Santos and Stuebing with Laurean Stobbs of Timeless Treasures, winner of the “Best Antique Shop.”

Please note a photo of Benjamin LeBlanc-Beaudoin for “Best Chef ” can be seen on the contents page of this issue.

(Awards are continued on next page)

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(Awards continued from Page 25)

“Best of Windsor Essex” Award Winners*

(*not photographed individually, but shown in group shot on Page 24 if present at awards ceremony) Holiday Beach, Best Campground or Cottage Jose’s Bar and Grill, Best Appetizer & Cocktail Place

The Lumberjack, Best Breakfast Joint Mamo Burger Bar, Best Burger Joint Rock Bottom, Best Wing Stop Mazaar, Best Business Lunch The Penalty Box, Best Restaurant On A Budget Smashed Apple, Best Food Truck The Twisted Apron, Best Locally Sourced Restaurant Spago Trattoria, Best Pasta House Armando’s, Best Pizza Place Shawarma Palace, Best Shawarma Koi Sushi, Best Sushi Taloola Cafe, Best Vegi Friendly Restaurant Dale @ The Bull & Barrel, Best Bartender Walkerville Brewery, Best Brewery or Brew Pub The City Grill, Best Cocktail Lounge The Coffee Exchange, Best Coffee House The Squirrel Cage, Best LGBT-Friendly Bar or Restaurant Pelee Island Winery, Best Winery Wineology, Best Wine List Downtown Windsor Farmer’s Market, Best Farmer’s Market Amherstburg Santa Claus Parade, Best Parade Capitol Theatre, Best Theatre Ye Olde Walkerville B&B, Best Bed & Breakfast

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Point Pelee, Best Attraction Peace Fountain, Best City Photo Op Tembo, Best Community Art Piece The Old Harrow Mill, Best County Photo Op Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens, Best Family-Friendly Attraction Gibson Gallery, Best Art Gallery The Walkervilles, Best Band from Windsor Essex Chris James, Best DJ AM800, Best Radio Station Windsor Spitfires, Best Local Sports Team Karen’s 4 Kids, Best Children’s Clothing Store (shoes) Precision Jewellers, Best Jewellery Store Devonshire Mall, Best Mall Freeds, Best Men’s Clothing Store Cabello Hair, Best Salon Serenity Lavender Farm, Best Store for Locally Made Products Estetica Day Spa, Best Spa Ojibway Park, Best Birding or Look-out Point Ganatchio Trail, Best Cycling or Hiking Trail Windsor Riverfront, Best Public Park or Garden Vollmer Centre & Recreation Complex, Best Outdoor Sports Field Congratulations to all winners from Biz X.

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HAVE A CUP OF JOE WITH JOE

Windsor Essex Historical Tourism

By Joe McParland

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n my March column, Mark Baker from Encore Productions pointed out “Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island’s motto is ‘One Region. Countless Stories’ . . . few people realize that the Windsor Region is the oldest, continuous European settlement west of Montreal. Now that is a fact deserving of a story.”

With the warmer months quickly creeping up on us, families are starting to plan their summer holiday getaways. One of the best getaways doesn’t require you to get away at all; it is the Windsor Essex region! Stay at home and plan your itineraries to explore an area steeped in all forms of history, telling our story as a region and as a country.

So, with that in mind, I am going to propose just a few of the many historical places for you to visit in Windsor Essex in the upcoming months. This is by no means an exhaustive list — just some of my favourites.

(401 Riverside Drive West in the Art Gallery of Windsor) both located centrally in the City of Windsor, house many exhibits and artifacts from this period in our history (MuseumWindsor.ca).

BLACK HISTORY • John Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad Museum at 859 Puce Road East, Lakeshore, Ontario. This is a family run museum operated by the descendants of John Freeman Walls and Jane King Walls who traveled on the famous Underground Railroad from Rockingham County, North Carolina to Canada. Rosa Parks, “the first lady of civil rights” and “the mother of the freedom movement,” was a frequent visitor to this site.

(UndergroundRailroadMuseum.org).

FRENCH SETTLEMENT HISTORY • The French Connection Tour presents an entertaining and educational five hour active tour of Windsor’s earliest French settlements in the late 1700s.

(TheFrenchConnectionTour.com).

“WAR OF 1812” HISTORY

Rosa Parks at The John Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad Museum. Photo courtesy of Anna Walls.

Newlyweds fire a Cannon during a “War of 1812” Re-enactment at Amherstburg’s Navy Yard. Photo by Joe McParland.

• The Amherstburg Freedom Museum established in 1975 at 277 King Street has been another exciting place to learn and explore the black history of this region.

(AmherstburgFreedom.org).

• Fort Malden is the location of an historic meeting between Major General Sir Isaac Brock and Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, the British stronghold on the Detroit frontier during the “War of 1812” and the “Rebellions of 1837-38.”

It is located in the heart of Amherstburg, along the shores of the Detroit River.

(Pc.Gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/on/malden/index.aspx) • Maison François Baby House (254 Pitt Street West) and the Chimczuk Museum

OUR REGION’S “EARLY YEARS” AND AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY • Heritage Village, 6155 Arner Townline in Essex, boasts over 20 buildings filled with furniture and artifacts from the late 1700s up to the late 1920s. While you’re there be sure to visit the Canadian Transportation Museum, which hosts one of the finest collections of antique vintage and hot rod cars and trucks in southern Canada. It provides a fascinating insight into our many decades B IZ X M A G A Z IN E • A P R IL 2 0 1 6

of involvement in the automotive industry.

(CTMHV.com).

AERONAUTIC HISTORY • The Canadian Historical Aircraft Association, or CH2A is located at #104-2600 Airport Rd at the west end of the Windsor International Airport. It is home to Windsor’s own Lancaster bomber and Mosquito KB161. It occupies the original hangar of #7 Elementary Flying Training School, which was built in 1940 as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

(CH2a.ca).

THE 1920s & PROHIBITION DAYS HISTORY • The Rum Runners Tour is a five hour active tour of Windsor’s prohibition days of bootlegging, blind pigs and speakeasies. As part of the tour you visit the Canadian Club Brand Centre, 2072 Riverside Drive East, or you can choose to take a tour of this historic facility by itself. (RumRunnersTour.com and CanadianClub.com).

SPORTS HISTORY • The Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame in the main lobby of the Windsor International Aquatic and Training Centre in downtown Windsor (401 Pitt Street West), with satellite locations at the WFCU Centre, and the Leamington Kinsmen Recreation Complex. The hall showcases the sporting accomplishments and stories of our best local athletes, both amateur and professional.

(WECSHOF.org).

MUSIC HISTORY • The Motown Historical Museum, 2648 West Grand Blvd., Detroit, Michigan.

It’s the hometown of Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross and Madonna. This is where Berry Gordy Jr. and Motown gave us Diana Ross and the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and the Jackson 5. There, you’ll see Motown’s first recording studio, known as Studio A, and one of Michael Jackson’s hats.

(MotownMuseum.org).

As indicated earlier, these are just a few of the many, many historically significant venues in the Windsor Essex area you might want to visit. For a full description and listing of everything here, plus many other wonderful attractions, please check out the website: VisitWindsorEssex.com.

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ON THE ENTERTAINMENT SCENE

Drop Dead Famous And Rick Labonte Unite For April Concert

By Liz Daniel

In February 2013 Drop Dead Famous was on the front cover of Biz X. Three years later we catch up with the band — Dave Sinewitz, Rob Higgins, Chris Holmes, Chris Blais and Scott Holmes — to see exactly what they have been up to.

Cover photo courtesy of Gene Schilling.

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laying local bars and events since 2010, many of us in Windsor Essex can remember the local band Drop Dead Famous for their covers of songs by U2, The Killers, Kings of Leon, Nine Inch Nails, and Depeche Mode, just to name a few.

They have a great fan base and following, and could have played gigs for years doing covers of their favourite musicians. But, as front man and lead singer Rob Higgins says, “with all the passion and dreams Drop Dead Famous have, it was time to go to the next level.” With that, they began writing and recording their own original music.

Drop Dead Famous was formed six years ago when Higgins and Chris Blais (keyboards), formerly of Vibe-A-Tribe and No Ordinary Machine, joined talent with Dave Sinewitz (guitar) and brothers Scott

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Holmes (bass) and Chris Holmes (drums), formerly of Heat Mizer.

They have stayed together because they respect one another’s opinions and rely on each other beyond the band issues. They keep one another accountable and everyone has each other’s back. Combined, they have almost 100 years experience in the music industry.

As with most artists, the band members also have their day jobs. Higgins is a Firefighter and Manager of The Hook and Ladder, 3690 Seminole Street. Scott Holmes is also a Firefighter and his brother Chris, an Engineer. Sinewitz is a Pharmacist who graduated from the University of Toronto.

Blais is a Visual Arts Digital Technician and has produced music for television, radio and independent films.

Higgins recalls playing gigs as small as a B IZ X M A G A Z IN E • A P R IL 2 0 1 6

wedding in Toronto, where they made sure everyone had a great time, to opening a sold out July 2014 show for Theory of a Deadman in Barrie at Sound Empire, which was like a dream come true for the band. They used this to drive them to want to be known for their own music and not just the covers they have been famous for in the area.

Drop Dead Famous has been recording original rock/pop songs at SLR Studios for over two years and have 13 songs mastered.

They release them electronically as they finish each song to get them into the hands of fans as soon as possible.

Blais is a technology genius and works hard to get their music good exposure. Their songs are on “iTunes,” “Songkick” and many other sites and have been downloaded all over the world, as far away as New Zealand.

The feedback has been extremely positive and it gives the band inspiration to keep working on their art. Singles on “iTunes” include: “Better Go,” “Find Myself,” “Lost Your Way,” “Survive Tonight,” “For You” and “Dream.”

One of their newest songs, “The Other Side,” was written to reflect all the losses of family and close friends the band members have experienced over the years.

Higgins says, “The Other Side is a little heavier type of tune as it is okay to be sad and angry about losing loved ones. People will try and console you, tell you that in time it will get easier, it is all with great intentions.

But, it doesn’t always help. The song goes out to everyone who has lost someone too young, too soon.”

They are very self-sufficient, handling their own marketing, digital presence, video sync for live performances, posters, programming and more.

When asked how long they will keep

Local Musician Rick Labonte in the studio recording his new record “On A Mission.” Photo courtesy of Ryan Frith.

playing, Higgins states “every time we work on a new song, we start getting so excited. As long as we still get that feeling, we will keep going. I will be in a wheelchair still singing and hoping my false teeth don’t fall out! If we ever win the equivalent of the lottery in this industry, we want to give back as much as possible to the community.”

Drop Dead Famous’ guitar player extraordinaire Dave Sinewitz opening up in summer of 2014 for Theory of a Deadman at The Sound Academy in Barrie, Ontario.

Photo courtesy of Zack MacPherson.

For the first time since June 2015, Drop Dead Famous will be playing a full-blown show with amazing lights and sound on Saturday April 30 at The Olde Walkerville Theatre, 1564 Wyandotte Street East. Fans are excited, not only to see the band, but each other as they have a tight following.

The band is joining good friend Rick Labonte who is celebrating the release of his new record, “On A Mission.”

After the bands play, Drop Dead Famous’ own “DJ” Blais will be spinning tunes and the dance floor will open for more fun. The crowd will be full of many mature music lovers ready to dance and have a great time.

The concert will donate a portion of the proceeds to The Windsor Professional Firefighters Honour Guard and tickets are $10 in advance and available at The Hook and Ladder or at The Olde Walkerville Theatre. Tickets will be $15 at the door the night of the concert. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m.

Labonte will be performing with his band The Formula and other special guests at the “On A Mission” CD release party April 30.

He wrote, arranged, produced and financed the album himself, recording at Polaris Recording Studio in Windsor. The Formula includes Chris VanLare, Wayne Bracewell, Al Kenney and Dan Laframboise. Labonte was been fortunate to have 26 additional local great musicians on his album including Jeff Burrows of The Tea Party, with The Formula being the core band on the record.

A self-described father, musician, singer/ songwriter, trade unionist and social and environmental activist, Labonte’s day job is at FCA Windsor Assembly Plant.

He says “every song is different and so I brought in different musicians to suit each song. The support in the local musician

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Drop Dead Famous’ lead singer Rob Higgins singing his heart out at The Sound Academy in Barrie.

Photo courtesy of Zack MacPherson.

community is incredible. With the economy the way it is and with less venues to play, you would think it would be more cut throat.

But, there is so much solidarity, support and collaboration. I wanted as many of my friends on the record as possible. ‘On A Mission’ is a statement of my experiences along the way from 20 years in experience in the music industry.”

Drop Dead Famous and Rick Labonte are eager to play for their loyal fans and followers and celebrate their music together on one exciting night. Both bands can be found and liked on “Facebook” as well as the website: DropDeadFamous.org to keep up with current music releases and events such as the April concert.

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LIFESTYLE AND HEALTH ISSUES

Why Your Business Needs To Implement A Workplace Wellness Program

Story And Photo By Dave Hall

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ombining workplace wellness programs with locally-sourced products and services is the focus of Konnected Workplace Wellness, 763 Walker Road, a two year old Windsor company, which helps connect employees with wellness services such as nutrition, fitness and psychological counselling.

“Our community-based approach is focused on driving employees to buy and use local products and services geared towards improving and sustaining optimal health and wellness,” describes Konnected President Jason Rivait, who established Konnected along with fellow Windsorite Dr. Matias Golob.

“In collaboration with the employer, we create a work environment that encourages employees to achieve effective life and health balance,” says Rivait.

This can include physical health as well as psychological, environment and social factors, all of which can affect a person’s health as well as their productivity in the workplace.

Much of the support material is available on Konnected’s online wellness portal, which provides research material, questionnaires, events, activities and focuses on local products and services.

But, the company also offers hands-on wellness programs such as its nutritional service, which encourages employees to eat healthily by delivering customized lunches to a workplace, two days a week.

Kate Paquin, Konnected’s Workplace Co-ordinator, is currently working with employees at CenterLine (Windsor) Ltd. on a physical well-being program designed to target key lifestyle risks such as obesity and weight loss.

“We started out submitting a health-risk questionnaire to every employee, and based on about 300 responses, we narrowed down the key risks and decided to tackle those in the opening phase of the program,” explains Paquin.

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Working from the Walker Road office, Kate Paquin is the Workplace Co-ordinator at Windsor’s Konnected Workplace Wellness.

Employees are able to order a healthy lunch twice a week from local restaurants such as Thyme-to-Go and House of Pad Thai. The lunches are largely paid for by the employees, with a partial subsidy from CenterLine.

“Depending on where an individual works, fast food restaurants are often the only choice in the immediate neighbourhood, so our program bypasses those options and provides healthy choices instead,” states Paquin.

Konnected also offers fitness options through local businesses such as Windsor CrossFit, Rose City Sports Leagues and Mady’s Karate.

“Konnected came in and made a presentation to our wellness committee, explaining what they could do for us and how it would be beneficial,” says Melissa Dupuis, an accounting administrator at CenterLine and a member of the company’s wellness committee. “And once they mentioned their commitment to local products and services, we were on board because that is huge for us here at CenterLine.”

Paquin says that many employer-paid wellness programs can be extremely expensive, but the online opportunities offered by

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Konnected reduces those costs considerably, thus making it available to more employers and their employees.

Dupuis comments that CenterLine’s investment in its employees will pay off in the long run with healthier employees, which in turn, reduces the amount of money the company has to spend on benefits and premiums.

“It’s been all we could have expected and more,” indicates Dupuis. “From our perspective, it couldn’t have worked out any better.”

For Rivait, it’s a matter of utilizing new technologies to deliver wellness programs in an entirely new way.

“Health care is in the midst of a gamechanging transformation,” believes Rivait.

“The proliferation of wireless and mobile health technologies provides enhanced opportunities for individuals to self-assess, monitor and improve their health.”

He continues by saying, “We see this evolution in health care as an opportunity to support positive health outcomes in the workplace, namely by drawing on new technologies to connect individuals to a range of local support networks, services and products.”

Paquin adds that Konnected is constantly creating online programming and a library of research materials to help meet the needs of employees and that questionnaires are repeated annually so that programming adjustments can be made where necessary.

Konnected also conducts on-site educational seminars and encourages employees to become involved in recreational and social activities in order to expand their circle of friends, particularly those with similar interests.

Local businesses, organizations and service providers are also invited to join Konnected’s roster by visiting:Konnected.ca.

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portfolio corner

Strummin’ The Ol’ Banjo!

By Steven Mayo

Picture an old timer sitting on a stool, on his porch. He has a piece of straw in his mouth and a banjo in hand. You can’t help but see the wisdom on his face.

As he slowly plays, he’s also watching the markets, watching for bargains. Of course he has his favourite stocks he likes to buy again and again. But, on this sunny day, he feels there is no rush. Clear skies and sunny days, does not a bargain make.

His banjo playing is slow and precise.

Then one day the skies become dark.

The markets are down, and it happens quickly. The reasons are many. Volatility has spiked. The banjo player starts to increase his tempo. He’s ready; he’s practiced, and is focused. The banjo player, we’ll call Warren B., looks downright giddy! What does he know that we don’t? Nothing! It’s how he reacts to the information we all have that distinguishes him from the herd.

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“Everyone has the brain power to make money in stocks — not everyone has the stomach.” ~ Peter Lynch Warren B. has likely added to his favourite stocks during the period of volatility, when the skies were ominous. He’s content with his purchases for the long-run, without concern for further short-term movements.

He’s chewed his straw to its end. Now it’s time to review, go over the research again, and let the markets do their “thing.”

This may sound simplistic, but it’s not.

Each portfolio has a certain allocation to equities, but the timing of buying and selling for a portion of that allocation is important to overall performance. Buying is better when emotion is high. Being opportunistic matters, as it did in October 2014, August 24, 2015, January 1 to 20, 2016, and February 20 to 24 this year.

The Dow Jones Industrial and S&P 500 indices are very close to the same levels they

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were at two years ago. Meanwhile, many stocks and sectors have had their own bull and bear markets since 2014. I expect more of the same. The importance of individual stock selection, and focusing on certain groups, cannot be overstated.

As we look back to Warren B., he’s not playing his banjo today. He’s reading, and learning about a new song (stock), just in case he wants to add it to his portfolio of songs (stocks).

“History never repeats itself, but it often rhymes.” ~ Sir John Templeton Our banjo player’s title song is “Man, I Love a Bargain,” and the chorus is “high emotion, low expectations.” It sounds like a country song that’s been played over and over again. The bargains may take time to evolve, but the banjo player is patient. Be picky, both in your timing and your selections.

“Volatility is a symptom that people have no idea of the underlying value” ~ Jeremy Grantham Steven Mayo is a Vice President, 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.

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Inspiration Towards Renovations!

By Dave Halliday

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f you find yourself contemplating renovations to your home this spring, you certainly have a lot on your mind. It’s not enough that you have to look at your home and somehow prioritize what systems and features require upgrade, but you also have to consider the almighty dollar!

Sorting through your needs, wants, and downright necessities in this situation can be a difficult process. Incorporating the experience and expertise of a professional contractor can be the key to tackling your requirements in a logical, cost effective manner.

For the purpose of this article we intend to focus on less of the wants, such as room renovations and concentrate more on the necessities. With that said we can still focus on an integral component that can also add to the esthetical beauty of your home.

We had the opportunity to sit and discuss the various options and considerations associated with windows and doors with Domenic Palomba, Owner/President of Affordable Home Services (AffordableHomeServices.ca) located at 1030 Walker Road in the City Market building, in Windsor complete with displays.

Affordable Home Services have been providing quality service to the residents of Essex County for the past 22 years and Palomba was kind enough to allow us to pull from his 27 years of personal experience in the business.

What should one expect from their professional installer prior to the start of the work? “The client should expect them to arrive on time and prepared to start the job,” says Palomba and he continues, “They should clearly explain to the customer what is going to happen throughout the day’s procedures.”

Once the work begins what should the client anticipate? “The contractor should have drop cloths placed down to protect the surroundings,” Palomba explains. “Typically they should work on

The addition of new doors and windows can enhance the performance and the beauty of your home.

Photos courtesy of Affordable Home Services.

one opening at a time. They should properly clean up as they go and always be courteous answering any questions the client may have pertaining to the window installations.”

What are the signs that one’s existing windows are no longer energy efficient? Palomba states, “Some of the obvious signs include condensation in the windows, units not closing properly or locking securely, worn out tracks, worn weather stripping, and any incidence of rotted wood associated with the existing window assembly.”

Will new professionally installed windows save the home owner money? If so, how? “The installation of new windows will absolutely save the homeowner money,” indicates Palomba. “It all starts with proper installation, which should be airtight, stopping air leakage and helping to reduce your heating and cooling costs. Professionally installed windows should also eliminate any moisture leaking into the walls creating the costly probability of rotten wood, development of mould, and any other problems that arise from water damage.”

Should one expect their window professional to assist them in sorting through the various options available? “There are several factors and components that require consideration regarding one’s new windows and doors and certainly we assist the client,” he replies. “Low E (emissivity) coatings to

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reduce the effects of UV (ultraviolet light), different glass options, tinting, gas filled, and types of spacers are all factors to be considered.”

What are some other benefits to installing new windows and doors? Palomba concludes, “Obviously there is an upgrade in energy efficiency, however, you also benefit from a higher level of functionality, increased resale value for your home, a probable higher degree of home security, and of course curb appeal as esthetics are important.”

You absolutely love your new windows! There are so many things about them that make your life more comfortable and easier. The ease with which you can clean them due to their design is amazing. The effortless manner in which they operate is a major improvement over your previous windows.

You are certain the combination of the new doors and windows are going to have a positive effect on your energy costs and you swear that you already feel fewer drafts in your home. Combine the energy savings with the elegant look it all provides, from both the interior and exterior, and you couldn’t be happier.

As is the case with most home owners — despite being very content with your recent upgrade to the windows and doors — it isn’t long until you are contemplating further renovations to your home.

Hmmm, what comes next? Could it be time to redo the kitchen? Should you install new tile in the bathroom? Haven’t you always wanted a Jacuzzi tub?

Nothing like a new deck in the back yard is there?

Installing a pool would be nice wouldn’t it?

The possibilities are endless and your desire is off on a tangent!

As your mind races through the various possibilities, you write the cheque for your most recent improvements. Moments later you complete a quick check on your bank account with your phone.

Perhaps you better wait a little before you shop for pricing on the Jacuzzi, deck, and pool!

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HOT SHOTS HOT SHOTS HOT SHOTS HOT SHOTS HOT SHOTS “The 18th Annual In Honour of the Ones We Love (IHOWL) Annual Gala Dinner”

February 6, 2016 at the Ciociaro Club, 3745 North Talbot Road, Oldcastle, ON. Photos by Rod Denis. All people in photos listed from the left.

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1. This fundraiser supports diagnosis and treatment by raising funds and awareness to enhance the lives of those suffering from cancer and other life threatening illnesses.

The Motor City Community Credit Union (MCCCU) once again generously sponsored the gala and along with their guests was represented by: Steve Schincariol, Commercial Banking Account Manager; Becky Langlois, Marketing Manager; Don Langlois; Sonia Lenhardt, Branch Manager; Charles Janisse, CEO; Mary Janisse; Matt Senechal, Marketing/Online Content Administrator; Stacey Graziano; Joe Graziano, Chair of the Board of Directors and Professor of Accounting and Finance at St. Clair College; Don Fraser, Vice Chair Board of Directors; Mike Powis, Commercial Lending Manager and Sue Mancini, Assistant Branch Manager.

3. The “Community Recognition” Award recipient was John Fairley, Vice President of Communications & College Relations of St. Clair College. Over the years he has contributed to the success of the event and to projects for the community. In the congratulation photo were Tom Connelly, Angelina Caviedes, John Fairley and Adrian Vido.

2. Each year this annual event pays tribute to individuals who have lost their battle with cancer. Roger Salter was honoured by his family: Craig Miller, Carly Miller, Deb Salter, Andrea Meloche, and Craig Meloche.

5. Another honouree was eight year old Maiysn Spencer and his family paying tribute to his life was: Jane Bowen, Les Spencer, Patricia Spencer, Brad Spencer, Mackennze Spencer, Laura Spencer, Maddisyn Spencer and Gord Rivait.

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4. Ivan Janes was also honoured by his family (Top Row): Jamie Poulin, Melody Janes-Poulin, Barbara Janes, Janey Gilbert, Ashley Poulin and Gerry Gilbert. The children in the front were: Emily Pouli, Kayden Gilbert and Jaylynn Gilbert. Proceeds from this event benefit IHOWL and the new Ronald McDonald House at Windsor Regional Hospital. Visit InHonour.ca to read more about this wonderful organization.

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6. Over 1,000 supporters attended the fundraiser including the team from Beam Suntory, manufacturer of Canadian Club.

Cheers to Cleo Peebles, Karen Smallwood, Rahul Singh, Mary Anne VanWattegham, Tish Harcus, Manager at Canadian Club Whisky Centre; Ed Harcus and Art Jahns for also sponsoring the event too!

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7. The “Hand And Hand” Award is presented annually to a member of the community who, over time, has had a significant impact on the success of In Honour of the Ones We Love. This year the winner was Mimmo Casagrande Bei. The well known local Chef was cheered on by his family and co-workers at Koolini Catering: Erica Sartori, Leana and Leo DeLuca, Lisa and Shawn Voakes, Connie and Sam Bonadonna. Also, in the picture, seated were: Manuela Casagrande Bei, Irena Casagrande Bei and Marianna DeLuca.

8. A moving candle lighting ceremony, along with a tribute video, is a key element of this event and offered those in attendance a chance to reflect on our collective losses and our relentless determination to support those coping with the devastating consequences of these life threatening illnesses.

The family of Jeanne “John” Meloche was remembered by his family – (Back Row): Annette Colombe, Ray Meloche, Albert Colombe and Noreen Meloche. (Front Row): Roseanne Bondy, Theresa Meloche, Bernadette Kotow and Doreen Sartor.

9. After a delicious gourmet dinner, The CIAO band took the stage. On the dance floor we found another family who are big

supporters of IHOWL — Vince Moceri, President of Windsor Disposal Services Ltd. (gala sponsor) and his wife, Margaret and his family members, Marylena, Kathy and Frank Moceri.

Absent: Virginia Moceri.

Missing from photos • *The family of honouree Tony Catalano • *The “Above and Beyond” Award is presented to individuals with a generous heart who are there for the organization at all times. This year’s award recipients were Cathy Hendy and Dan Castellan.

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HOT SHOTS HOT SHOTS HOT SHOTS HOT SHOTS HOT SHOTS The “12th Annual International Women’s Day” Event March 4, 2016 at the Ciociaro Club of Windsor, 3745 North Talbot Road, Oldcastle, ON. Photos by Della Jones-Goulet. All people in photos listed from the left.

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3 1. Celebrating “International Women’s Day” a few days before March 8 (the official day), this evening was filled with amazing food, a fashion show, tributes to local women, shopping (naturally!) and a cheque presentation of $10,000 to the Windsor Regional Hospital Breast Health Centre. The wonderful ladies who spent countless hours putting the whole event together were the Ciociaro Club of Windsor International Women’s Day

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Committee: Anna Vitti, Ilde Mariani, Rita Petrilli and Anna Vozza.

2. In the vendors’ area there were plenty of shiny necklaces and bracelets to entice the gals to spend a few bucks.

At the Park Lane Jewellery table, Jonna Brennan and Fashion Director Ellen Laporte were two smiley faces ready for a Biz X photo-op!

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3. Janet Lutfi, Owner of Pearla’s Fashions was one of the many local companies that brought items from their stores for purchase.

Pearla’s showed off a stunning collection of clothing, bridal jewellery, purses and other accessories.

4. Since there is something for every woman at this event, young and old are present including this little lady, Mila Guadagno

6 (second from right) who has been attending the “International Women’s Day” (IWD) celebration since she was a toddler with her family. We’re sure the “candy bar” was Mila’s favourite! Pictured from left were: Anna Vozza (IWD committee); Diane Colasanti (grandma); Mila’s sisters Tavia & Cinzia Guadagno; Mila and Ilde Mariani (IWD committee).

5. Jennifer Pomerleau was on site promoting the book, “Art In Survival: Beauty Behind The Reality” which features photos of local breast cancer survivors. She and photographer Steve Pomerleau teamed up together to create this inspirational piece to help breast cancer survivors feel a sense of beauty. Proceeds of the book sales are donated to The Windsor & Essex County Cancer Centre Foundation.

6. A vibrant and exhilarating walk through fashion show was put on by Anne’s On The Avenue. Owner of the boutique, Anne Waters (black and white outfit) stands proudly in the middle of the group surrounded by the models, which are her clients and a few are local breast cancer survivors. The show featured clothing from designers — Frank Lyman, Michael Phillips, Tricotto, Raffinalla, Esprit and Simon Chang — which can be found at Anne’s On The Avenue in Tecumseh.

7. The emcee for the night was the beautiful Alana Hadadean, a News Reporter for CTV Windsor.

She made all 600 women in attendance feel welcome and thanked all the vendors, sponsors, committee and the Ciociaro Club staff for a successful evening.

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7 For more photos on events in the Windsor and Essex County region please visit the City Section of BizXmagazine.com under “Biz X Was There!”

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HOT SHOTS HOT SHOTS HOT SHOTS HOT SHOTS HOT SHOTS Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc. (WEST) “International Women’s Day Gala”

March 8, 2016 at St. Clair College Centre for the Arts, 201 Riverside Drive West, Windsor. Photos by Lori Deschaine. All people in photos listed from the left.

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1. This year’s theme was “Accelerate Gender Parity.”

The event took place on “International Women’s Day” and highlighted the accomplishments achieved by women in the past, present, and those to come in the future; advancing women further towards equality and gender parity in all aspects of life and work. To kick start our photo pages here, we have a great shot of a group of VIPs — Honourable Madame Justice Micheline A. Rawlins; Honourable Dr. Jean M. Augustine (Keynote Speaker); Gemma Grey-Hall (President, WEST Board of Directors) and Rose Anguiano Hurst (WEST Executive Director). Augustine was the first African-Canadian woman to be elected to the House of Commons and was appointed as the first Fairness Commissioner for Ontario in March 2007 from which position she is now retired.

2. Roth Mosey Chartered Professional Accountants & Business Advisors and their guests were among the sponsors for the gala and their ad in the program book summed up the purpose of the night — “there may be no accounting for some things, but it’s clear that equality and gender parity in the workplace equals success.”

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3. Another one of the amazing sponsors of the event was the outstanding team from RBC Royal Bank: Danielle Demartin (Branch Manager); Melanie Renon (Regional Sales Coach); Andrea Schuld (Branch Manager); Anna Bodnar (Branch Manager); Margaret Corio (Regional Vice-President); Fran Savoni (Branch Manager); Vian Wonsch (Branch Manager); Kim Watters (Manager of Market Operations); Shaminder Boparai (Assistant Branch Manager) and Alison St. Louis (Executive Assistant to the Regional Vice President).

4. BMO, was the “Lead Event Sponsor” and out in full force showing their support for the cause were (back row): Remo DiPaolo and Tony DiPaolo.

(Front row): Kavaughn Boismier, Christine Gignac, Ann Diab, Jen Mallen, Rose Hilderley and Stella Olubunmi. All proceeds from ticket sales assist WEST programs and services and go towards providing training to women in Windsor and Essex County — “investing in our community.”

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5. The gala celebrated WEST’s businesses and community partners within the Windsor & Essex County area, who demonstrate a commitment to embracing diversity in our community. One of those partners was The Benefits Company, (Gala Sponsor): Lisa Dinchik and Kevin Delaney (right) photographed with Lisa’s husband Steve.

6. The main highlight of evening was the presentation of the “Journey Towards Success Awards” in front of the 430 guests in attendance. The “Sisterhood Award” recipient was Shantelle Browning-Morgan, a teacher who was presented with her award by Ann Diab (Vice President, WEST Board Member and also with BMO) and Kelly Gregoire, VP, Human Resources Caesars Windsor, Award Sponsor.

The rest of the “Journey Towards Success Award” Recipients were . . .

• The “Trailblazer Award” (Corporate): CenterLine (Windsor) Limited, Sponsored

by BMO • The “Trailblazer Award” (Small/ Medium): DeMonte Fabricating Ltd. and Zione Mupesa, Sponsored by RBC • The “Innovation Award”: Nour Hachem Fawaz, Sponsored by TD Canada Trust

7 7. Priyanka Philip, WEST Board Member was on stage helping to congratulate Susan Garlatti, one of the winners of the “Phenomenal Women Award” given by Award Sponsor, AM 800 represented by Patty Handysides.

Judith Obatusa (not pictured) was the other recipient of this award.

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• The “Visionary Award”: Rob Paglia of Power Traxx Electric, Sponsored by Biz X • The “New Business Partner Award”: Sutherland Global Services, Sponsored by CTV. Biz X magazine congratulates all winners!

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EVENT PROFILE

“Windsor Corporate Challenge” Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

By Dave Hall

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ive years after starting life with just 23 teams, it’s expected that more than 75 teams will participate in this year’s “Windsor Corporate Challenge” at the Vollmer Centre and Recreation Complex in LaSalle.

From its early, humble beginnings when $50,000 was raised for charity, the Challenge has now turned over more than $330,000 to the Sunshine Foundation after expenses, including more than $100,000 from a year ago. And in 2015 another accomplishment was added to the successful fundraiser’s accolades after earning the Biz X Award for “The Most Wonderful Event of the Year.”

“There has been remarkable growth and we’re expecting this year’s event to be even bigger and better,” says Meighen Nehme, President of The Job Shoppe and founder of the “Windsor Corporate Challenge.” “It’s all a tribute to the corporations and employees who join together to make this event the premier team-building activity in Windsor Essex.”

This year’s recipient of the funds raised will be The Ronald McDonald House Windsor, indicates Nehme, who modelled the Challenge after a similar event held annually in London.

It’s also very similar to the former “Challenge Cup” competition in Windsor, which pitted many teams of employees from businesses across Windsor in a day-long series of fun and challenging events.

Nehme says she launched the event after many of her company’s Meighen Nehme, President of The clients inquired Job Shoppe and Chair of “Windsor about staging a Corporate Challenge.” Photo tea m-bu i ld i ng courtesy of Heike Delmore.

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Team members from Valiant Corporation and CS Wind participate in an obstacle course challenge at the 2015 event at the Vollmer Centre and Recreation Complex in LaSalle. Photo courtesy of LS Photography.

and employee retention event on an annual basis.

“People love events such as this because it places employees and supervisors on the same level footing for an entire day of fun activities,” states Nehme. “Most of the original 23 teams, which came on board at the very beginning, are still with us.

“It’s a fantastic way for employees to get to know one another in a relaxed, fun atmosphere away from the workplace,” says Nehme. “It’s also a great networking event for companies hoping to expand their business opportunities.”

In addition to a full day of competitions, which are timed to help determine a winner, there are also fund-raising activities held throughout the year including car washes, raffles, bake sales and garage sales.

Activities range from scavenger hunts to obstacle courses to a tug-of-war, all designed for different levels of ability so that everyone has an equal chance to participate and have fun.

In addition to a trophy for best aggregate

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time of the day, there are also awards for team spirit, best dressed team and volunteer activities.

Participants will also be able to track their progress in real time during the 10-event competition by accessing the Corporate Challenge app on their smart phones.

The entry fee for the June 18 event is $350 and teams of eight to 12 individuals can register by visiting WindsorCorporateChallenge.com.

Teams are also required to raise $1,200 before the event begins and companies can register up to five teams.

Nehme adds that sponsors are still being sought and anyone interested in becoming a sponsor can visit the same website.

This year’s sponsors include The Job Shoppe, St. Clair College, Caesars Windsor, Dakkota Integrated Systems, Accu-Label, AM800, Cogeco Cable, CTV and Biz X magazine.

“It’s getting close to time for everyone to lace up their sneakers, rally their co-workers and step away from the workplace for a day of fun and team-building,” says Nehme.

Story And Photo By Rebecca Wright

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Helping People Be Naturally Beautiful

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ccording to a local business owner, the average woman uses hundreds of chemicals on her body before her first cup of coffee in the morning. But, Charmaine Gillis is hoping to change this by offering products to help people live chemical-free lives.

Gillis is the Owner (along with her husband Mike) and Master Soap Maker of Ocean Bottom Soap Company, located at 152 Lesperance Road in Tecumseh, (OceanBottomSoap.com). She specializes in making organic, all natural and handcrafted soaps, deodorants, lip balms, lotion bars and more.

“We are chemical free and plastic free right down to our packaging — which is 100 percent biodegradable — and our products are cruelty free and contain no dyes,” stresses Gillis.

Her products reduce the amount of chemicals you put into and onto your body, as well as into our water system.

The health industry doesn’t regulate the use of “all natural” with products — sometimes used on labels for products that include chemicals — and so it can be confusing, sometimes, for consumers, believes Gillis.

She explains how most commercially manufactured soaps are full of chemicals and your body’s skin, which is your largest organ, can absorb up to 90 percent of what you put on it.

“Most women use half a dozen personal care products a day, exposing themselves to hundreds of synthetic chemicals,” comments Gillis. “As the skin will ingest products and the body mass can store them, chemicals add up over time, so to reduce potential health issues, the safer and healthier route is all natural.

And at Ocean Bottom Soap Company, 100 percent natural is taken very seriously!”

Gillis only uses ingredients that are found in nature, either in their original form or that

In her shop, Charmaine Gillis holds up some deodorant and soap items she made, which are just a few of the many all-natural products she sells.

which can be extracted from plants, such as essential or botanical oils. She does not use fragrance oils or synthetics in her products.

“If you suffer from dry skin, dermatitis or eczema, you will find that all natural soaps have the oils to moisturize your skin,” informs Gillis. “By using all natural, you will find your skin conditions will improve, and in some cases can be reversed.”

While she opened Ocean Bottom Soap Company in September 2015, Gillis says she’s been creating these natural products for 25 years. She offers her customers a unique perspective because the reason why she became involved in this industry in the first place was that she had bad skin, herself. It’s her compassion that really drives her.

“We make custom-blended products for people with special skin needs right in our shop,” describes Gillis. “We have lots of products with Dead Sea mud and essential oils for their healing benefits and we also carry a full line of unscented soaps, deodorants, etc.

As well, we have an aromatherapy blending bar with essential oils from all over the world.”

Gillis works closely with Dr. Natasha Zajmalowski, a local Naturopathic Doctor,

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to provide natural supplements for her customers. For Gillis and her team it’s about meeting the ever-growing need to keep your family healthier, inside and out.

“Our soaps are hand-crafted from custom blended formulas using natural, organic ingredients, found all over the globe, for their unique properties,” states Gillis.

And whenever possible, she supports farmers dedicated to the principles of sustainable agriculture through fair-trade in creating her products.

“It is our goal to create wholesome, natural products that are environmentally friendly and safe, as well as aromatic, artistic and cleansing,” explains Gillis. “We pride ourselves on creating soaps that are moisturizing and promote healthy, clean skin.”

Her soaps are packed full of high quality oils, butters and botanical ingredients with excellent lathering power for a wonderful skin care experience.

“Natural soaps are good for your skin because glycerin, a natural humectant, remains in the soap as a result of our unique process, helping to moisture your skin,” says Gillis.

Gillis describes her experiences as sheer joy in owning this business because she is constantly helping people. She sees her customers as more like family and they inspire her to be the best she can be.

While Ocean Bottom Soap Company’s soaps are now commercially available, Gillis assures each small batch is always handmade using organic, all-natural and exotic ingredients to produce only the highest quality soap.

“And while the bar sizes may be uneven, and the edges a bit rough, it is through these small imperfections that you can be assured of our homemade quality,” notes Gillis.

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YOUR LOCAL BIZ FORECAST

Local Baker Rises To Meet Customer Demand

By Arms Bumanlag

I was never a dessert guy. There, I said it.

I enjoy a hearty meal, bring on the appetizers and a few drinks, but rarely do I indulge in dessert afterwards. Usually just a coffee and that’s about it. Even when growing up, the concept of dessert never really appealed to me.

This has changed however, in the last year. Recently, my mother-in-law brought a huge tray of desserts from a bakery I heard about, but never actually checked out — Sunrise Bakery on Tecumseh Road at Moy in central Windsor (their main location).

After we ate at a family gathering she set down this tray and it looked amazing with the widest selection of baked pieces of heaven — from macaroons to cannoli to cookies to tarts. Then I saw it. The one dessert I absolutely love, the one sweet treat that brings me to my knees like Superman facing kryptonite . . . a pecan butter tart.

I thought “how good could this be?” as I reached for it among the cornucopia of desserts. I was blown away at the freshness, taste, texture and flavour of the tart. I was hooked. I was now a “Dessert Guy!” Now, at any family get together, my mother-in-law brings a specific pecan butter tart just for me and my mouth waters.

I wondered, now that I am addicted to this, how someone could make a delicious treat so perfectly?

I decided to visit Sunrise Bakery and chat with Owner/Operator Ali Bazzi. As soon as I walked into the shop the smell of fresh baked goods was wafting through the air.

Sunrise offers some of the finest selections of pastries, pies, cookies, biscotti, cheese cakes, truffles and bread.

“Our cakes and pastries are made with care and attention to detail by our team of highly qualified and talented bakers and pastry chefs — we use only the best ingredients and that shows in the tastes and the quality of our products,” boasts Bazzi.

Ali has been in the business for quite some time and has learned from the best.

He takes us back in time to explain how his career began: “I started working parttime at the International Bakery on Erie Street while I was going to school, over 20 years ago. In 2000 I was hired by Thom Racovitis to work as his Bakery Manager at TBQ’s Pastry Place. Finally, in 2008

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I decided to go out on my own and open Sunrise Bakery.”

The wide variety of delicious — and magnificent looking — bread, was amazing to see at Bazzi’s bakery.

Sunrise Bakery: a sweet destination for baked goods in Windsor Essex. Photo courtesy of Sunrise Bakery.

“We have a large variety of loaf of breads, buns, rolls, and pretzels,” he states. “People enjoy getting things fresh and daily.”

After falling in love with the baking business and venturing on his own, Bazzi says Sunrise remains popular among the customers because of a few key ingredients to success.

“You have to be available to customers all the time especially on holidays and special occasions....” – Ali Bazzi “It’s about the freshness of the product, customer service is key, and availability,” he advises. “You have to be available to customers all the time especially on holidays and special occasions. Sunrise closes only for two days a year, Canada Day and Christmas Day. In other words, when everybody is having fun and relaxing we have to work the hardest.”

If you are looking to sink your teeth in a cake, tart or specialty dessert you’re sure to be delighted with the choices offered, including the famous Strawberry Romanoff cake, a TBQ tradition that Bazzi continues.

As you can imagine with an ample range of products and fresh goods the biggest challenge for Bazzi is time.

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“As a baker I need a 48 hour day instead of 24 — it’s labour and time intensive and it requires my full attention seven days a week,” he notes. In addition to daily sales and service, weddings are a very large part of his business.

Bazzi informs us that they “cater about 100 weddings a year and are looking to expand even more. From cake to fruit and pastry trays for special occasions we even do pastry table setups. Our staff will never refuse last minute orders. We’ve had people ordering wedding cakes from us a week before their wedding — it’s a challenge, but we get it done.”

It’s clear when you talk to Bazzi about his business and the level of customer service he offers that it’s all about hard work and not giving up on what he loves.

He proudly declares, “I believe in my business. I constantly look for better ingredients and always try to improve and build on my successes and continue to grow with my staff.”

Bazzi has three locations that he looks after and all are different in terms of the clientele and products sold. As he explains, “Our main location deals more with large parties such as weddings, anniversaries and so on. The south Windsor location sells a lot of Mediterranean pastries and sweets, next to our other products. Downtown, we offer coffee, tea and some lunch options. It keeps things busy!” (Note: other locations at the City Market and in Lakeshore.)

Part of Sunrise and Bazzi’s business acumen is to serve our great region as his quote nicely sums this up: “We try to make our products accessible to all and whenever we can we like to support local businesses and charities. To us it is all about Windsor.”

If you are all about your sweet tooth view their scrumptious looking photos at SunriseBakeryAndPastry.com online to see what you fancy, or head over to Sunrise in person to any of their various local bakeries.

When you go, ask for the pecan butter tart and tell them Arms and Biz X sent you.

And yes, you can blame it on me if you get hooked!

Arms Bumanlag is a Radio Host and Reporter for over 10 years at AM800 CKLW and CTV Windsor Weatherman and Entertainment Reporter at CTV News at 6 p.m.

SHOWCASING SOME OF THE BEST CUISINE IN WINDSOR & ESSEX COUNTY

POWER

LUNCH Where to dine for a business meeting or a quick bite with co-workers

THIS ISSUE FEATURES . . .

Tropical Hut Philippine Cuisine 618 Goyeau Street, Unit 3 Windsor, ON Story and Photos by David Clark

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t now is time for us to look into the exotic taste of genuine Philippine food. Tropical Hut Philippine Cuisine specializes in the creation of authentic Filipino dishes, which are well worth exploring right here close to home.

In the downtown core, Tropical Hut arrived on the local scene in March of 2014 after renovating property near the tunnel to accommodate 60 people. The first sit-down Filipino establishment in Windsor, two very experienced restaurateurs, Leny and Rodolfo Inting, Owner/Operators, are at the helm of this full-service dine-in, take-out, delivery and catering operation. (learn more on “Facebook”) According to Rodolfo, “We enjoy introducing people to Filipino food.” The variety of dishes available is noteworthy, including the all-day breakfast, appetizers, including spring rolls, salads, noodles, pork, beef, vegetables, soup, desserts and a la carte items.

Considering the reasonable prices, the opportunity is there to try a few menu items in one sitting. A few highly mentionable items, the Pork Barbeque ($7.99) from the a la carte menu, is marinated pork on skewers with rice and mango salad to start.

BUSTAURANT & TAKEAWAY

In the near future, there will be lunch items available to be packaged together for an affordable meal with a wide variety of your Filipino favourites to choose from.

Regarding delivery and takeout, Leny says, “Tropical Hut is powered by Just Eats where you can do your online ordering or if you’re familiar with the menu, you can call the restaurant directly. Visit TropicalHutCuisine.ca to place your order for pickup or delivery.

Try the shrimp wrapped Fresh Lumpia, a gift from the sea.

The Fresh Lumpia is a vegetable dish that is sautéed mixed vegetables with shrimp wrapped on fresh crepe, topped with fried garlic and sweet garlic sauce for a tasty $6.99. Another vegetable medley, Okoy is pan fried bean sprouts with shrimp and tofu at $6.99 also.

A favourite noodle dish, Pansit Bihon is rice noodles cooked with chicken breast strips and vegetables at $7.99.

Off the grill and on a skewer, the Pork Barbecue skewers are served a la carte for only $7.99.

Previous to opening this restaurant, Leny and Rodolfo ran a successful takeout/catering business. Today, Tropical Hut will cater for up to 100 people and they have seating for 60 at the restaurant. The couple offers an extensive selection of native Filipino food to choose from for all your special events.

Enjoy the rice noodles of Pansit Bihon, an authentic Filipino dish mixed with chicken breast strips and veggies.

For the business person who needs to find a quick lunch, Leny recommends the Chicken Adobo ($7.99) with chicken thighs cooked in vinegar, soy sauce and spices — the national dish of the Philippines. Also, the Spring Rolls and the Bistik or lemon flavoured beef strips topped with onion rings is an a la carte meal deal for $9.99.

“These dishes can be prepared in 10 minutes,” says Leny.

All meat is locally sourced and the produce is as fresh as it comes. And at the Tropical Hut, you can use a “Vicinity’ card to get points to be applied towards future food purchases.

CANADIAN AND CARIBBEAN

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Another shrimp delight, Okoy is dressed with pan fried bean sprouts.

A notable event, Rodolfo is proud that they “represent the Filipino community at ‘Carrousel of Nations by the River’ and were given the award for best tasting food at the festival.”

Hours of Operation Sunday: Noon to 8 p.m.

Tuesday to Saturday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

SUSHI & JAPANESE CUISINE

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GENERATION YKNOT

Attracting People To Windsor Starts With Swagger, Vision And Team Work

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impact

development

teamwork

understanding

choices planning

talent sources tools

Six months ago, my husband and I made the decision to move our family and careers to Windsor after a decade of living in cities like New York, Dallas and Toronto. As relatively new Windsorites, we often get asked what the community needs to do to get others to think Windsor.

To me, it comes down to these three things . . .

We Need Swagger!

This is an incredible community and I don’t think many people in Windsor-Essex realize how good we have it.

The combination of affordability, proximity to the U.S. and the Great Lakes, phenomenal community organizations, fantastic restaurants, and a warm and supportive community feel makes this an incredible place to live — and if you don’t believe that, I actually encourage you to move away for a period of time.

investment learning

By Justine Janssen

help

work

passion

to take responsibility for developing a coordinated, bold vision for this region to give both private and public sector investors something to invest IN. I have been blown away by how much talent and passion there is in this region — that is not the issue.

We need to declare what we want to be when we grow up and allow that vision to guide our priorities and investments as a region.

We Need To Work Together!

We can declare a bold vision, but we all need to move in the same direction to achieve it.

We have a massive opportunity to tear down silos and barriers between organizations to transform Windsor-Essex with a unified vision that respects our roots and enables the innovations we need to move forward.

Whether you are in the public or private sector, we ALL have a role to play in celebrating Windsor’s strengths and supporting the entrepreneurs who create value in our community.

Justine Janssen is a technology executive and strategist. She is passionate about community stewardship, entrepreneurship, and women in tech. You can reach her via email: justinejanssen@outlook.com.

vision experience

WINDSOR

technology swagger feedback public private sector resources community

Go learn and grow somewhere else, then come back and appreciate this incredible community and share with it what you’ve learned from being away. We will all be richer for it.

It took us moving away for my husband and I to realize what a treasure southwestern Ontario really is.

We Need Vision!

It was sad to see Windsor excluded from the Innovation SuperCorridor in the 2016 Ontario February budget, but we need

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CORPORATE SPOTLIGHT

Social Capital Drives Start-up Success

By Arthur Barbut

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tart-ups are becoming a key driver of Canadian economic development and job creation and our provincial and federal governments are spending huge dollars to stimulate this segment.

As such, identifying what factors drive start-up success is of vital importance.

Over the past four years, my attention, both academically and practically, has focused on how business incubators create ecosystems that drive start-up success.

My research is rooted in social capital theory, which is based on the premise that a network provides value to its members by allowing them access to resources embedded within the network.

Research shows social capital fosters an environment that is conducive to information and knowledge exchange (Anderson, 2008), start-up and network formation (Liao & Welch, 2005) and firm performance (Batjargal, 2003). Business incubators by their very nature create social capital for the start-ups residing within.

Over the course of the past four years I’ve identified three major ways in which business incubators create social capital for the start-ups located within . . .

1) building trust between start-ups 2) expanding the network of start-ups 3) providing opportunities for knowledge transfer and experience sharing between start-ups.

Building Trust

Business incubators can build trust among tenants by creating a sense of community and a culture of resource sharing. In their study of three Finnish business incubators, Tötterman and Sten (2008), found that trust was established within the incubator community and tenants were willing to share company related information with incubator staff and other tenants.

An entrepreneur that has achieved a higher degree of trust and trustfulness can leverage relationships to her or his advantage (Liao & Welsch, 2005).

The Accelerator is a networked incubator that is built on a foundation of trust and collaboration. This culture has manifested

Jen Levitt began her own company, Precision Drafting and Mike Hoppe formed an architectural design firm called Siren and now they have formed a partnership after connecting at the Accelerator. Photo courtesy of Jaquelyn Bezaire, Accelerator Marketing Co-op Student.

itself in a number of significant ways. . .

• Companies at the Accelerator have done work for fellow tenants free of charge or at discounted rates; • Companies at the Accelerator have referred business to fellow tenants; • Companies at the Accelerator joined forces to bid on larger jobs they could not secure on their own.

Expanding The Network

A business incubator can provide an entrepreneur with the appropriate internal and external networks necessary to succeed (Lyons, 2002). Since start-ups find themselves at a resource disadvantage, one of the most critical tasks performed by a business incubator is to identify local and external partners and build linkages to them.

In my role as the Managing Director of the Accelerator, I connect our start-ups with mentors, potential funders, media contacts, and most importantly the existing Accelerator community.

By providing access to the broader Accelerator network, we have helped startups secure funding, attract the right mentors, and gain mainstream publicity.

In addition, by being part of the Accelerator network, tenants benefit by having access to fellow tenants services (i.e. marketing, social media, web design, sales, etc.) at a significant discount.

Entrepreneurs may encounter difficulties in locating the right individuals in a complex network, therefore we make it a priority

of the Accelerator to support the creation and development of these very important network relations.

Opportunities For Knowledge Transfer And Experience Sharing

Researchers (Hansen et. al., 2000) suggest that business incubators generate networking attitudes, which foster partnerships among start-ups located in the same facility that can lead to sharing of information and talent. Knowledge sharing occurs only if the business incubator can create a shared culture and norms.

The Accelerator has an incredible culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing.

There is constant exchange of information and feedback between the Accelerator team and the tenants as well as among the tenants themselves.

There is a genuine desire by everyone who is part of the Accelerator ecosystem to not only be successful, but to help others succeed.

This spirit is captured in some of the phrases that are commonly used at the Accelerator: • “The rising tide lifts all boats.”

• “Anything is possible.”

• “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

There is no magic formula for creating entrepreneurial success, but the chances of start-up success appear to greatly increase when we create spaces for start-ups, such as the Accelerator, that can build trust, expand their network and encourage knowledge and experience sharing among start-ups.

For more information regarding the Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator, 720 Ouellette Avenue and how you can become a positive contributor to the region’s entrepreneurs, please contact Managing Director, Arthur Barbut by emailing: Arthur@downtownaccelerator.com.

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from the bookshelf

Calm Waters To Dragons, Witches & Wizards

By Marlene Markham-Gay

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BUSINESS IS TOUGH

Working with a PRINTER shouldn’t be.

Annex Printing specializes in magazines, catalogues, newsletters and reports.

Our one-stop print shop offers a complete menu of printing and fulfillment services.

Let us help you make BUSINESS easier.

Frances Edmonds or Laurie Bouck Sales/Customer Service

salesprint@annexweb.com

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indsor resident and English teacher Denis Robillard is a recent winner of the “2015 Poetry Chapbook Contest” sponsored by Cranberry Tree Press. His winning poetry book, “The History of Water” spans decades with some personal poems, but all sharing one common thread — the aspect of water.

Robillard was raised on the water and the love of the outdoors runs in his blood.

His poetic works have appeared in publications not only in Canada, but also in England, Scotland, and the United States.

Obviously, he celebrates water in each of his poems, however, sometimes they are the dreamy images that he saw as a child, whereas other writings tell of the fear and anguish of flood waters as they rise and threaten your home and personal belongings. Robillard writes, “Your difficult voice muffled and weak now, defeated by water’s destructive path.”

“The History of Water” will enlighten and tease the reader as the winding river and sparkling lakes that flow through the pages entice and carry you along, bobbing, dipping and then bringing you back to shore safely.

You may purchase Robillard’s book of poetry at Juniper Books, 1990 Ottawa Street and Biblioasis, 1520 Wyandotte Street East, both in Windsor. You can contact him via his “Facebook” page under “Denis Robillard Author.”

If you have a young reader in your family that appreciates an exciting story about dragons, witches and wizards, then our next book will intrigue them.

Elizabeth J.M. Walker lives in Windsor and has written her first novel,

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“She Dreamed of Dragons.” As a teen she discovered “zines” ( small circulation self-published works reproduced by a photocopier), which inspired her to publish her own “litzine” (a zine publishing literary works) of odd fairy tales, for over a decade.

A 15 year old dragon mage named Trina has a dilemma, she has fire powers and is desperate to find a fellow dragon mage to teach her the ways to use her powers to restore the kingdom now ruled by witches and wizards. These are same people who have driven dragons and magical creatures to near extinction.

A competition is created by the Queen called “The Royal Tourney” to find a successor to the throne. Trina heads the tourney and becomes involved in all kinds of situations, including falling for a wizard! The evil witch is not pleased with Tina who is becoming the front runner in the competition. Tina must decide if she can really win “The Royal Tourney!”

This exciting book can be purchased locally in Windsor at PB Books, 3947 Tecumseh Road East; Juniper Books, 1990 Ottawa Street; From Our Hands to Yours, 8444 Wyandotte Street East and Storytellers Book Store, 1473 Ottawa Street or online at MirrorWorldPublishing.com.

Marlene Markham-Gay is the former host of CFTV’ s “Storyteller.” She promotes local authors through the book corner at the Essex Railway Station, which allows them to display and sell books. Marlene is an avid reader and encourages her eight grandchildren to read. So many books and too little time prevent her from reading the same book twice.

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THE WAY IT WAS

To Live In Freedom . . .

Te Leven In Vriyheid

By Andrea Grimes

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lthough WWII took its toll on people and countries spanning the four corners of the world, the Netherlands became the most recognized target of war atrocities.

Notwithstanding the wide destruction that took place throughout Holland and those unimaginable indignities committed against humanity, the Dutch put up a good fight against the Axis powers “on all fronts.”

The Dutch resistance delivered key support to Allied forces carrying out well-executed sabotage. A strike was staged when the Dutch railway, transport and shipyard workers refused to continue working for the Nazis. In retaliation, the Nazis blocked the supply of all food and fuel to the Western Netherlands.

With the Allied advance into Holland, Canadian soldiers encountered fierce fighting, faced unbearable weather conditions and collapsed under the constant threat of ever-present death as bullets whizzed overhead and as whining mortar shells turned every inch of soil over, in all directions.

This hard-won campaign exacted a heavy toll with the loss of more than 50,000 to 60,000 Dutch lives as a direct result of their courageous efforts to live in freedom . . . “te leven in vriyheid.”

Local author Mies Geraedts of Harrow, Ontario endured bitter struggles and hardships as a 16 year old girl living through five years of Nazi occupation of Holland. In her book, “The Way It Was,” (published by the University of Waterloo in 2010), Geraedts writes, “Life continued on the fringes. When the Germans were searching properties for bicycles, mother put a sign on the front door which said, translated into German: ‘scarlet fever’. Our bicycles were spared.”

As a resilient teen, Geraedts supported the Dutch resistance by bringing food to a number of neighbourhoods on her bicycle. She recalls, “When I was nearing the end of the long track from the north, I caught sight of the dreaded S.S. soldiers standing on the road with guns at the ready. They were taking all the food from the women’s bikes. I thought, over my dead body will you get my precious peas. I gathered as much speed as I could, rode straight past them and slammed myself forward over the steering wheel. I heard shots but I was not hit. I just kept going as fast as I could, darting into one side street after another and got home safely.”

During the “Hongerwinter” — hunger winter of 1944-45, temperatures dipped to 6.8°C completing destroying crops. With little food reserve to sustain Dutch populations and; through the German blockage of fuel, food and medicine, more than 20,000 Dutch people perished. In a desperate attempt to stay alive; the Dutch resorted to eating tulip bulbs and sugar beets. As Geraedts describes, “Two of my girlfriends and I crawled on our stomachs to dig up sugar beets from a polder (field) that was full of landmines. I put small sticks beside the landmines to know where they were.

We made it home.”

With the advance of Allied forces, Canadian troops observed horrific signs of malnutrition in Dutch civilians. As a result, a full-scale aerial relief plan (known as “Operation Manna”) was put into operation. Through an understood truce, German soldiers were instructed not to “fire upon” pilots flying within designated zones.

On April 29, 1945 RAF and RCAF pilots (who flew Lancaster bombers at low altitudes) opened their bomber doors to drop

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WWII Veteran, David Oke of the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry meets 19 year old Mies Lankamp in Bloemendaal, Holland after the troops had liberated the town where she lived. Photo courtesy of Mies Geraedts (née Lankamp) May 1945.

thousands of tonnes of food to grateful Dutch families huddled in the frozen fields. And on May 8, 1945 the Netherlands were liberated.

Tanks rolled into the towns and our battlehardened Canadian soldiers “of all stripes” were welcomed by jubilant crowds.

Seventy-one years later, grateful Dutch families continue to remember how much our Canadian veterans had sacrificed to come so far to liberate them. To this day, those memories are never far behind.

Geraedts reflects, “Sometime after the war, while sitting in a bar with a fellow (who was later to become my husband), and whose whole family had been involved in underground work, we said to each other, “If we knew we would come out of it alive, we would do it all over again.”

In remembering her life in Holland during WWII Geraedts states, “The lessons learned during those years stayed with you the rest of our life. Material things may make you comfortable, but do not give you the inner happiness.”

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OF THE MONTH

By Rebecca Wright

Roy-Trans Global Logistics Inc. Celebrates Five Years Of Worldwide Shipment Services

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ooking to ship something customers, Roy mentions locally or abroad, but not their strategy is a simple, sure who to trust take on this no-pressure approach. sometimes tricky task?

“We don’t sell hard; we A local business owner simply share our service and promises his clients tailored capabilities that our clients transportation logistics services enjoy every day,” comments Roy. and seamless shipping solutions “It would be a shame for us not that he claims can meet any to share the great service our company’s delivery needs. company offers with companies “Let us take the stress out in Essex County. Since our reach of your shipping decisions is global it can help companies and leave it to our logistics make one call to handle all their specialists to get your products shipping needs.” to their destination, on time Celebrating five years in and cost effectively,” says Steven operation in April, Roy attributes Roy, President and Owner of Steven Roy, (on right) President and Owner of Roy-Trans Global Logistics Inc. beams his success to his very supportive Roy-Trans Global Logistics with pride on the success of his five year old company. One of his keys to success is family and wife and passionate his dedicated employees including Operations Manager, Scott Lachapelle, shown on and Inc., (a Landstar Agency). dedicated Operations the computer. Photo by Rod Denis.

Roy owns the company, Manager, Scott Lachapelle, situated at 1539 Erie Street With access to more than 41,000 available along with the rest of his East in Windsor, with his wife, Jennifer. capacity providers, Roy says his company hard-working team — and of course, Roy-Trans Global Logistics Inc. (website: has a unique advantage to offer the amazing clients!

RoyTransGlobal.com) opened in the community. They are qualified to meet all “We started the business with no community in April 2011. of your transportation and logistics needs planned clients, but through hard honest For companies looking to ship locally to in a safe and secure manner, he claims. work we have been lucky enough to any province in Canada, state in the U.S. or “As a Landstar Agency, Landstar handles experience steady growth every year since a location in Mexico, Roy and his team have back office services, compliance, recruiting, 2011,” informs Roy. what it takes to get the job done right — no software and our company handles sales Roy maintains that he and his team matter how big the job or load! and operations, which allows us to provide get the job right every single time, and in “We move heavy machinery, steel, auto all the attention our clients deserve while a quick and efficient manner: “Our staff parts, consumer goods, building materials, being part of a larger, financially secure moves fast and takes great care of the most hazardous material and much more,” organization,” explains Roy. urgent shipments in North America.” states Roy. The local agency provides premium He is proud of his staff and believes they Landstar is a worldwide multilogistics services to manufacturers, are the most honest and friendliest team in billion-dollar business specializing in machinery companies and third-party the industry to deal with. They all love what transportation services driven by a network logistics providers to anywhere in Canada, they do — as does he. of independent agents, such as Roy. USA and Mexico, says Roy. He adds that “We love Windsor and Essex County and According to Landstar’s website, their his company also provides global air and this business was created to participate in “network of independent entrepreneurs ocean services, are open 24/7 and handle the business community,” Roy expresses. provides customers with personalized service just-in-time and very urgent shipments all “Please give us a chance to treat you and at the local level with the global reach and day, every day. your staff right and give you the best resources of a multi-billion-dollar company.”

When it comes to dealing with transportation service in the industry.”

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