The
DRIVE
ISSUE 132
THE REKO WAY INNOVATIVE VISIONS OF THE FUTURE LIFESTYLE | CULTURE | PEOPLE | TRENDS
To all our Frontline Workers, thank you for keeping us safe.
Your smile says it all We built our business on transparency and gained your trust. We challenged our process and won your hearts. The difference is in the Rose City Ford experience, thank you for your continued support.
Experience the difference www.rosecityford.com • 6333 Tecumseh road east, Windsor • 519.948.7800
The
DRIVE
PAUL ST-PIERRE
Publisher
KEN STEWART
Managing director
BREANNE MCGINTY
Sales
SABINE MAIN
Editorial and creative director
SHAWNA BEECROFT
Graphic designer
CONTRIBUTORS JEN HALE
Copy editor
SYX LANGEMANN
Lead photographer
DEVON PASTORIOUS
Photographer
ANTHONY SHEARDOWN Photographer ALLEY L. BINIARZ
Writer
JEN BRIGNALL-STRONG
Writer
LINA DIMOPOULOS
Writer
CHRIS EDWARDS
Writer
MADISON MARCUS
Writer (student contest)
GAVIN MACDOUGALL
Writer
KATRINA MANZOCCO
Writer
DEVAN MIGHTON
Writer
JESSE ZITER
Writer
The
DRIVE
ISSUE 132
THE REKO WAY INNOVATIVE VISIONS OF THE FUTURE LIFESTYLE | CULTURE | PEOPLE | TRENDS
THEDRIVE#132_TEXT.indd 1
2020-09-29 9:04 PM
On the cover: Diane Reko took over her dad’s business, Reko International group, added her leadership skills, and did it the the Reko way. Photo of Diane Reko: Syx Langemann
Edits in issue 131: Our previous Factory House ad incorrectly thanks the Elkadri family instead of the Kobrosli family. Follow and like us: Twitter @thedrivemag Instagram @thedrivemag Facebook @thedrivemagazine
The DRIVE magazine is delivered direct to nearly 50,000 select homes and businesses throughout Windsor-Essex exclusively through Canada Post. Mail subscriptions available on line at www.thedrivemagazine.com/signup or by emailing info@thedrivemagazine.com CANADA POST Delivery agreement no. 43497602. Printed in Canada. Owned and operated by the Landscape Effects Group of Companies. 1125 County Road #42 RR#1, Belle River ON, N0R1A0, 519.727.4769 All advertisement content to appear are subject to approval of the publisher and the publication assumes no responsibility for content included. We do not necessarily share the opinion or views of such advertising and assume no liability of this content or messaging.
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Our world is in an altered state that most of us have never experienced—the health pandemic, the racial pandemic, the economic pandemic. It can feel frightening and troubling to witness it as all of it unfolds before our eyes. Yet, as we speak to and meet several members of our community, it’s evident to see how resilient we are in finding ways to pivot and adapt. Our frontline workers are soldiering on, doing what they can to keep us safe, and we, at The Drive, are incredibly grateful for all their work. One person in particular who has become a staple on our television screens and computer monitors is Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. We checked in on our local authority for communicable disease control to see how he’s holding up during his strangest summer on record as Southwestern Ontario’s unlikeliest celebrity. Dr. Ahmed shares how he balances the pressures of his work, delivering the news on surviving the next phase of COVID-19 and his time at home with family. While the pandemic is giving us the opportunity to write about a handful of fun and creative Covid-19 community stories, we continue to celebrate our locals who have stood the test of resilience and lived to tell. This issue focuses on the technology and automotive sector as we explore stories about Diane Reko, Ikjot Saini, Scott Ohler, and Elizabeth Moses. We hope you enjoy this issue as we unpack each story, and share how our community continues to thrive, despite a world pandemic.
Sabine Main, Editorial + Creative Director
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CONTENTS
ISSUE 132: FALL II 2020
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LOCAL DRIVE 9 What’s happening around town?
PEOPLE DRIVE Dr. Wajid Ahmed, Southwestern Ontario’s unlikeliest celebrity
TREND DRIVE 10 Fall recipe: Walnut Pumpkin Pie Crumble 12 Local couples adapt wedding plans amid pandemic LOCAL DRIVE 18 Toni Wells: Painter and “Incurable Hope Addict” 20 T WEPI, local BIAs, and chambers of commerce work together to fight the pandemic and support local business 22 Shop local as YQG businesses get ready for the holiday season PEOPLE DRIVE 38 Cybersecurity Expert Ikjot Saini 40 Rose City Ford GM Scott Ohler discusses surviving the pandemic through a team effort—both at work and at home 44 A machinist apprentice dives headfirst into the trades: Elizabeth Moses SPORTS DRIVE 46 Winning the Stanley Cup: hometown Billets proud of their Russian “son” STUDENT DRIVE 49 Libro Financial contest: Madison Marcus HOME DRIVE 52 Stylish bedrooms: chase away the chill with cold-weather décor inspiration from our favourite local designers HISTORY DRIVE 56 Windsor Fire Station #6 INVENTION DRIVE 58 Elijah McCoy: The real McCoy
30 PEOPLE DRIVE A look into Diane Reko’s journey as she began taking over the reins of her father’s company THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM
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LOGIC EXECUTIVE SEARCH As a Certified Personnel Consultant with over 14 years experience in Professional and Executive Recruitment, President and CEO Jennifer Charron understands the importance of finding the right fit between a candidate and the organization. Logic Executive Search and Workplace Solutions are your valued and strategic business partner providing the highest level of executive recruitment expertise and customized workplace strategies. Community focused. Global Reach. www.logicexecutivesearch.com
LINDA'S FASHIONS & ACCESSORIES Linda's Fashions & Accessories is celebrating 20 years in business; an amazing milestone for a boutique focused on primarily Canadian fashion designer brands. Linda’s long standing focus has always been to have women “love their look” by ensuring that her customers receive personal attention from her experienced staff. Her fashionable stylists you leave feeling expectational, feminine and at your best. Visit Linda’s Fashions at 2492 Dougall Avenue or on Facebook @LindasFashionsAccessories
SPARK PEDIATRIC SERVICES SPARK Pediatric Services is a new and growing private practice, the creation of three passionate professionals, Jenna Tolmie and Sara Crawford, registered Occupational Therapists, and Caitlin Keanie, a registered Social Worker, serving children and their families within the Windsor-Essex area. SPARK (Sparking Pivotal Achievements in Remarkable Kids) offers Occupational Therapy, Speech Language Therapy, and Counselling services to meet children's unique needs! The child-friendly space consists of multiple treatment spaces, including a large sensory gym, with a variety of equipment, games, and materials to help children develop skills, build capacity, and meet their goals! New location is in the Lakeshore MedArts building at 1303 Essex County Rd 22 in Belle River. THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM
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TREND DRIVE
WALNUT PUMPKIN PIE
Crumble By Mona Elkadri
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TREND DRIVE
Warm and cozy vibes, changing leaves, and a light breeze always has me craving my favourite fall desserts. This year, I’m upping the ante with a different take on pumpkin pie by adding a layer of sweet buttery walnut crumble to the top. A guaranteed crowd pleaser.
For this recipe you will need: PIE CRUST ½ cup cold unsalted butter 1½ cups all-purpose flour ½ tsp salt 1 tsp granulated sugar ¼ cup ice water PIE FILLING 1 can of pumpkin purée 1 cup extra fine sugar 2 eggs 2 tsp pumpkin spice ½ tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla extract 2
Directions •
Preheat oven to 375°F.
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Butter a medium casserole dish or large pie plate and set aside.
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In a food processor, combine the cold unsalted butter, flour, salt, and sugar until mixed into a crumbly powder. Add water and finish mixing by hand until a dough is formed. If you do not have a food processor, a bowl and hand pastry blender will work as well.
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Roll the dough into a ball, then wrap and place in the fridge for 30 minutes.
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In a medium bowl, combine the topping by mixing flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and walnuts. Once combined, add melted butter.
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Mix by hand or with a fork, until a crumble texture forms. Set aside.
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In a large bowl, whisk together the pie filling ingredients, leaving the heavy cream to whisk in last. Set aside.
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Remove the pie dough from the fridge. Dust flour onto your work surface, and onto a rolling pin and roll out the pie dough to 1.5 cm thickness.
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Lay the pie dough over casserole dish or pie plate and form a shell.
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Lastly, pour the pumpkin pie filling into the dish and top with the walnut crumble.
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Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes.
⁄ 3 cup heavy cream
TOPPING 1 cup flour ¾ cup granulated sugar 2 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp salt ½ cup unsalted butter 1 cup chopped walnuts
This dessert is best served warm but also tastes just as amazing right out of the fridge. Happy baking!
D
Mona Elkadri is a lifestyle blogger with a fondness for everyday living and entertaining, from sweet recipes to home décor and DIY, and everything in between. ohsomona.com THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM
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TREND DRIVE
Tanya & Chantel Schuchard —Spry Photography
Tanya & Chantel Schuchard wedding party —Spry Photography
Sean Hartigan and Terri Renker
Holly Trepanier and Larry Giacalone
Emmanuel Ledoux and Shawna Beecroft
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Katie Jackson and Ryan Viselli —Nicole Vallance Photography
TREND DRIVE
LOVE IN THE TIME OF COVID Local couples adapt wedding plans amid pandemic. By Jennifer Brignall-Strong
They say rain on your wedding day is a sign wedding to an intimate 78-person outdoor of good luck, but what about a global pandemic? event in early September. Hand sanitizer While many local couples chose to and masks were everywhere, and guests were postpone their big day amid COVID-19 seated according to their social bubbles. The restrictions, others decided to carry on with couple was also able to include extended their nuptials, albeit not how they had origi- family and friends virtually by livestreaming the ceremony. nally envisioned. For Sean Hartigan and Terri Renker, a wedding was the only way they could be together. The cross-border couple spent 169 days apart after Canada/U.S. land borders closed to non-essential travel on March 21.
“We hadn’t seen each other before the “It’s not what we initially planned, but ceremony, and walked out wearing the same it turned out so much better than I could thing,” laughs Tanya. have ever imagined,” recalls Jackson. “It was extremely special.”
As a nurse at a Detroit-area hospital, Holly Trepanier saw firsthand the devastation the “We were originally planning the wedding pandemic was causing. for the fall,” says Renker. When the couple saw that restrictions weren’t changing, they “We had no intention of going through decided to expedite the process. with the wedding this year,” says Trepanier, Though it would normally take Hartigan who was married on June 6. “After a serious 20 minutes by car to reach Renker’s house just sit-down we decided, let’s go for it. We don’t outside Detroit, the Windsorite spent 14 hours know what next year will bring.” travelling by plane from Toronto to Chicago to Flint to reach his bride-to-be. The couple then drove to Ohio for their marriage certificate. As part of the “Faces of Advocacy” reunification group on Facebook, Hartigan and Renker have seen so many international families in their position struggle. “We feel very fortunate we were able to do this,” says Renker. “Families and fiancés should be allowed to see each other. Our marriage certificate doesn’t make us free from Covid.” Frontline Workers
The change of plans meant a change of wardrobe as well. When their original gowns weren’t going to make it on time due to Covid shipping delays, they decided to improvise and order dresses online. Unbeknownst to each other, they chose the exact same dress.
The Honeymoon Isn’t Over While Shawna Beecroft and Emmanuel Ledoux are waiting until 2021 to tie the knot, they were still able to move ahead with their Paris honeymoon… sort of.
Disappointed at the thought of missing their two-week getaway, the couple chose to recreate some famous Paris landmarks here As a precautionary measure, Trepanier at home and documented their “trip” on had been quarantining from her fiancé Larry social media. Giacalone in a separate part of the house until “We were so looking forward to going,” just before the wedding. They replanned their says Beecroft. “I didn’t want to feel sad about wedding during distance visits in their yard. it so I said, ‘let’s just go!’” The new plan came together quickly and After a small family dinner on what would involved converting the bridal shower to a have been their wedding day, the couple drive-by. embarked on a tour of local versions of some “The shower was actually really fun,” of Paris’s most famous sites, including the reflects Trepanier. Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, The couple’s original 250-person reception Versailles, and more. They even indulged in turned into a mini get-together in their garage, classic Parisian fare like baguettes, croissants, with spaced-out seating and food individually and, of course, wine. plated to avoid shared utensils.
Healthcare professionals set to wed this For Tanya Schuchard, a nursing home spring were dealt a double whammy: working support worker, postponing wasn’t an option on the frontlines of a novel virus outbreak either. With ailing loved ones and a desire to while having to replan their big day. start a family of their own, she and fiancée “Working in healthcare, we knew the Chantel Elgie decided to downsize their reality of the situation,” says Katie Jackson, an original plans to a small ceremony on August ICU nurse. 29 at Sandpoint Beach, a special location for After contemplating multiple backup the couple.
Happily Ever After Although their celebrations hadn’t turned out quite as planned, the couples all say their “pandemic wedding” still had all the magic they hoped for, with many fun stories to tell the grandkids one day.
“I’m very happy we decided to go through with it because ultimately, Covid can’t stop dates, Jackson and her fiancé Ryan Viselli “We had our first date there, at Stop 26 Ice love,” says Trepanier. D chose to convert their large 400-person indoor Cream,” says Tanya. THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM
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LOCAL DRIVE
Bad times don’t last as long as the good times. If you can look upon death and say, ‘I need to go through this, feel bad, grieve, and know that it’s not forever,’ things will get better again.
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BUSINESS LOCAL DRIVE
TONI WELLS: PAINTER, AND “INCURABLE HOPE ADDICT” What a “Wonderful World” it really is. By Alley Biniarz Photograph by Syx Langemann
Toni Wells had always wanted to paint a “Bad times don’t last as long as the good times. If you can look upon death and say, portrait. ‘I need to go through this, feel bad, grieve, Though normally her medium is and know that it’s not forever,’ things will get landscapes, as an artist she felt that if she better again. With that attitude, it really can could paint an accurate portrait, she “really be a wonderful world and a wonderful life.” had it.” When painting a tree, you can interToni says at times people get sick of her pret it whichever way you’d like, but the positive attitude, but she is proud to call difference between Jane and Jane’s sister is in herself an “incurable hope addict.” Her a single stroke. optimism and positivity can be drawn from When Toni attended Peter Olsen’s open her gallery paintings, which are colourful, studio, he suggested that she find a photo or full of life, and inspire us to rise up and move two that spoke to her, and she turned to The beyond the rough moments in life. This will be Toni’s first solo show, and she Drive, as it’s one of her favourites. Her goal was to find one male and one female—one feels so grateful to the LAC for their support happy and one sad. When flipping through to new artists. Having been retired for three the last four issues, the cover with filmmaker years now, she is finally doing what she’s Gavin Michael Booth on the front stood out wanted to do when she enrolled in her Fine Arts degree when she was 18. to her because his expression reminded her Her art is drawn by the world around her, of loneliness, which she pulled from it for her respective painting, Tears. Brandi Bechard’s and often by her photographer friend Jenny photograph, in the article about saving the MacDee’s work, whose “bumblebee” inspired the art for her show’s flyer. pollinators, grabbed Toni because she said No matter what Toni is doing or where that Brandi radiated the joy of a young mom who’d just received flowers from her child. she goes, she says that her art never leaves her. She named this one The Simple Things, as a She’s gone years without painting but she’s always sketching or doodling something. Now reminder for us to stop and smell the roses. that she has her own studio, she’s never away Both images had an impact on her, and from it for longer than a week. “It becomes an she feels the same will happen for anyone addiction. It’s not about painting when I’m in who visits these two portraits at her upcoming the mood. I have to paint. I have to draw. It’s Leamington Arts Centre show titled, “What a part of me. a Wonderful World” from October 1 to “Art has always been there. It was my first December 22. career and it will be my last.” D The inspiration for the show came from when her oldest boy was in the first grade and was in a play based on the Louis Armstrong song. She says he would walk around the house belting out “What a Wonderful World” and “Baby Beluga,” which became his two favourite songs. Toni couldn’t listen to this song for years as her son passed away when he was eight. Toni has endured many traumatic events in her life, and looking back now she says that no matter what crisis she’s been through, she has chosen to be thankful for everything that she does have.
THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM
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LOCAL DRIVE
THE BEST WAY TO BEAT COVID-19 IS TO SUPPORT LOCAL TWEPI, local BIAs, and chambers of commerce work together to fight the pandemic. By Devan Mighton
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LOCAL DRIVE There’s been a lot of pain to go around with the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless of who you are—your status in life, your wealth, your age—the disease has affected you in some way. Across the world, tens of millions of people have been sick, roughly a million have died, and the global economy is suffering from major trauma. Here in Canada, there has been much of the same—sickness, social distancing, and livelihoods under threat. Two of the hardest-hit work sectors are the tourism industry and small business. “We’re not alone in it; it’s a global pandemic,” explains Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island (TWEPI) CEO Gordon Orr. “At the end of the day, it really crushed the hospitality and tourism business to the point that entrepreneurs have had to pivot and small businesses have had to look at how they do business and how they can proceed going forward.”
the Tecumseh Dollars, and once they spread the word around to their customers or clients, hopefully, they get additional business and that is really the whole idea of it.”
Armando’s Pizza, and Kabobgy, among many others. “It’s encouraging me to shop in my town and keep my dollars in the town,” says Sabga. “As opposed to going outside of Three Lambs Baby Registry and Boutique [Tecumseh], I get to support local. owner Jeanine Jodoin has been able to weather “For me, supporting a local business the COVID storm. “It was initially scary when means supporting a local family. Most of these they shut everything down and all the big box businesses here in town are run by families stores were forced to shut,” she explains. “I and so it’s not supporting a big corporation was able to quickly pivot and start offering where we don’t know who the people are, curbside [pickup] immediately. I was making it’s supporting the family next door who is Easter baskets and all that kind of stuff. As running maybe a skate shop or the family scary as it was, I was able to pivot and adapt, down the road who has the hardware store.” which was really good.” The Belle River On The Lake BIA ran
Jodoin says that Tecumseh BIA Dollars have been a big help in retaining customers. As a small business owner, she faces customers who have a habit of trying to haggle down her prices when it’s not really a possibility for her. “I say, what I can do is I can give you a tip. This is what your total is . . . if you drive down the road to the BIA, tell them you need $300-400 He says the tourism industry has been worth of BIA Dollars, they’ll charge you 20 decimated by the pandemic. Hotel occupan- percent less.” “People are grateful because they’re saving cies are very low and major hubs of commerce that rely on an open border—like Caesars 20 percent. You can’t get a UPPAbaby Vista anywhere in Canada at 20 percent less. Here, Windsor—are taking monumental hits. During the summer, TWEPI joined forces I can send you down the road, and you come with the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of back and buy it—and it doesn’t cost me a thing.” Commerce and launched ShopYQG to help stimulate commerce during the pandemic. Anyone who tagged themself on social media with #ShopYQG after shopping local was entered into a weekly draw. Combined with their Summer Staycation initiative and the coming Fall Roadtrip Guide, Holiday Gift Guide, and WE Made It brochure, TWEPI is pushing for a resurgence in the local economy. TWEPI vice-president Lynnette Bain has met with local Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) to discuss collaborative efforts, show them how TWEPI can provide education and train them to better equip their staff, and share best practices. “Tecumseh business owners are facing many of the same challenges as other communities,” says Tecumseh BIA chair Candice Dennis. The BIAs have been doing what they can to fight COVID-19 on the street level to help save their local businesses and restaurants with programs like BIA Dollars. Dennis explains that the Tecumseh BIA Dollars program gives the consumer a 20 percent discount for every dollar purchased.
LaSalle’s Natasha Iannicello loves to support local businesses when she shops and feels that supporting them during the pandemic is important. “I messaged Jeanine about getting a Veer wagon for my kiddies and she had mentioned Tecumseh BIA dollars,” says Iannicello. “I figured this would be a great opportunity for me to not only support her but [Tecumseh] as well. The purchase was expensive and the people that run the BIA Dollars were fantastic…I think it is just amazing that they are doing this to keep people supporting their local mom-and-pop shops.”
a similar program this summer, offering 15 cents on every dollar. BIA chairman Moe Mailloux, who also owns Moe Mailloux Financial Services in Belle River, says the program was a success and was run similarly as to how they do their Holiday Dollars during the Christmas holidays. “COVID’s been a challenge for everybody, especially these small shops,” states Mailloux. “We put $6,000 into a fund to offset 15 percent of [purchases] for the local community.” He says they were able to generate $43,000 in sales for their district. In addition, the BIA distributed hand sanitizer to their businesses and helped provide COVID-19 signage and forms, social media contests, Stroll the Street events, and have hired on Digital Mainstreet Service Squad to help Lakeshore businesses build their online presence.
The Windsor-Essex Small Business Centre is also providing excellent resources to help small businesses that are struggling through the pandemic. Their COVID-19 Response & Business Support page provides business owners with advice on how to reopen and how to keep COVID-19 out of their workplace as well as providing information on where to find government support, job programs, employRose Rennie enjoys hitting up Tecumseh ment insurance, how to collect CERB, work stores like Tabouli’s by Eddy, FRANK sharing, WSIB, taxes, and local municipal Brewery, Johnny Shots, Zehrs, and Home programs, among other things. Hardware. “It’s a win-win situation. It brings Gordon Orr reminds us that the best way you into the local businesses, supports local, to help our local economy and keep our local and you, as a customer, also get a discount. businesses going is to keep supporting local.
“It’s going to be a long road ahead of us for this recovery and that’s why the response phase has been so important, and the restart phase, to try to get locals to celebrate and support local,” he states. “We’re really “To me, it’s a win for the businesses,” Kristie Sabga is also all about local. She counting on Windsorites and our friends in explains Tecumseh BIA coordinator Paula shops at them all—Closet Cravings, The the county to support the businesses right Rorai. “They don’t lose any money by accepting Dandelion, Atlantis Hot Tub and Pool Centre, here in our own backyard.” D THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM
“I think it shows you’re invested in your community. It keeps the community thriving,” she adds. “You get those familiar faces and Tecumseh’s a great place to live so you want to keep the businesses open and doing well.”
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LOCAL DRIVE
LOCAL MATTERS YQG Businesses gearing up for the holiday season
LINDA’S FASHIONS & ACCESSORIES
By: Jen Brignall-Strong
THREE LAMBS BOUTIQUE
Even after 20 years as a small business owner, Linda Innes wasn’t sure what the While “big box” stores were left waiting for head office to implement COVID-19 closures would mean for her store, Linda’s Fashions & Accessories. Thankfully, safety procedures, Three Lambs Baby Boutique owner Jeanine Jodoin was able Innes was able to weather the storm by selling facemasks from Frank Lyman, a to pivot quickly, offering online ordering and curbside pickup. Canadian fashion brand she features in her store. “Some of the things that are normally considered a downside to being a small “Within one hour of reaching out to my customers, I sold 137 masks.” To date, business actually worked to our advantage,” recalls Jodoin. “I was able to connect she’s sold over 5,000. Innes is grateful for the support she’s received since with customers on social media and make fast decisions on how to proceed.” reopening her storefront. “Our customers were excited to return. It’s been such Jodoin learned a lot from springtime challenges and began planning early for the a positive during a negative time.” As business resumed, Innes adjusted her holiday season. In addition to quality clothing, baby gear, and nursery furniture, seasonal fashion events to allow for safe social distancing. She hopes to continue the store now carries a wider selection of toys for infant to age 10. With gift hosting intimate in-store events throughout the holidays; helping women look wrapping and registry pickup available, Three Lambs offers a local one-stop and feel their best for their social bubble gatherings. “I think it’s important to solution to holiday shopping. “Before people click ‘add to cart’ online, I hope they get dressed for the day,” says Innes. “It makes you feel good, no matter what take a minute to see if it’s is something they can get locally instead.” you’re doing.” St. Clair Beach Shopping Centre, 13444 Tecumseh Rd. E, Tecumseh 2492 Dougall Ave., Windsor facebook.com/threelambs Instagram @threelambsbabyboutique facebook.com/LindasFashionsAccessories
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LOCAL DRIVE
As Windsor’s small businesses struggle to rebound from COVID-19 closures and restrictions, the act of shopping local has never been more important. With the holidays now approaching, many home-grown shops continue to show resilience; gearing up for an unconventional gift-giving season with products and services designed to make shopping local easy and convenient.
LITTLE FOOT FOODS
SUGARFINA X ESTETICA
As others businesses were left wondering how to move forward amid COVID-19 closures, the new co-owners of Estetica Day Spa were busy taking on an all-new venture. After using the shutdown as an opportunity to completely renovate the space, Nicole Dell and Alison Depooter set their sights on adding to the spa’s retail section. “We wanted to offer luxury brands that were unique to the area,” “If we had product for our customers, we still got it out to them,” explains Rob. explains Dell. “We looked at Sugarfina and thought it would be a perfect fit.” As they re-opened and ramped up production, the couple leaned on their retail partners and supported other businesses, utilizing local suppliers as much as Sugarfina is an internationally renowned luxury candy boutique for grown-ups, specializing in gourmet sweets and perfectly packaged gifts including their signapossible. They also revamped their specials to give families more value. ture bento boxes and world-famous champagne gummy bears. “Our 4 for $35 offer now includes not just pierogi but cabbage rolls, stuffed peppers and new items like our jalapeno poppers and mac and cheese,” says Rob. The spa now carries a full line of Sugarfina products and will feature a wide selection of holiday gifts, both as standalone options and combined with their Little Foot will be stocked up with all their best-selling pierogi for the holidays, spa packages. “It’s like instant gifting,” says Dell. “They have a gift box for including seasonal flavours like pumpkin pie and holiday stuffing. every occasion.” 1404 Tecumseh Rd. E, Windsor 40 Amy Croft Dr., Tecumseh facebook.com/littlefootfoods Instagram @littlefootfoods facebook.com/esteticatheluxuryspa Instagram @esteticaluxuryspa Specializing in pierogi and ready to heat meals, Little Foot Foods has grown a big following over the last seven years. Although they initially shut down for the first month of COVID-19 closures, owners Rachel and Rob Myers continued to offer delivery of their existing stock through their partnership with The Mushroom Hub.
THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM
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PEOPLE DRIVE
Feeling the burden of responsibility to make decisions—to make choices—for people with very limited information available has not been easy.
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PEOPLE DRIVE
THE PANDEMICIST AT HOME: HOW DR. WAJID AHMED STAYS SANE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 As Medical Officer of Health for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, Dr. Wajid Ahmed is our local authority under the Health Protection and Promotion Act for communicable disease control and managing outbreaks of public health significance. Lately, the champion athlete, vintage video game enthusiast, marathon Zoomer, and devoted family man has also become Southwestern Ontario’s unlikeliest celebrity. The Drive checked in with Dr. Ahmed to see how he’s holding up at the end of the world’s—and his— strangest summer on record. By Jesse Ziter Photographs by Syx Langemann
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Every morning, thousands of WindsorEssex residents look hopefully to an increasingly distant-seeming future in which they never again have to look at Dr. Wajid Ahmed’s face. This past spring and summer, in these uncertain/unprecedented/challenging times (choose your own euphemism), the WindsorEssex County Health Unit (WECHU) has laid foundations on prime real estate at the forefront of our region’s public consciousness. Rarely in living memory have healthcare workers been this visible, and no local healthcare worker is more visible than Ahmed. If you’ve watched Ahmed speak, you’ve likely seen him do so against a flat grey backdrop in what looks like a dimly lit room, a local-news-style column counting grisly case and death totals filling the right of the screen. While most of the WECHU’s approximately 240 full-time-equivalent staff are now safely working from home, Ahmed records a live YouTube briefing every morning from the WECHU’s Windsor headquarters. These missives have become an essential part of collective timekeeping across the county. On screen, in that sea of negative space, Ahmed cuts a lonely figure: A solitary captain steering a modest vessel more or less steadily, bracing half-blind against wave after wave after wave of invisible chaos. “I’m generally a private person,” Ahmed explains. “I like to keep things to myself. But the community needed that face and needed that message and it basically just forced me to be that person. It’s not something that I enjoy.” I’ve stolen a bit of Ahmed’s valuable time for a quick Zoom conversation. Today, he’s backdropped by an illustrated “wild west” town centre, the sort with flat, vertical facades that look like stage decorations propped up from behind by perpendicular two-by-fours. An early Model T preens in front of more than one building that might be a saloon. The Wild West backdrop is arbitrary, Ahmed says, but almost too on-the-nose. “I
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PEOPLE DRIVE wouldn’t say the work has slowed now, but where there were a lot of uncertainties in the beginning of this pandemic, there is now a lot more structure,” says Ahmed, who notes that many levels of government have centralized decisionmaking responsibilities, and who was heartened to see many of the WECHU’s early interventions become broader public policy—de facto or de jure. In person—well, “in person”—Ahmed emits measured, reluctant confidence and very little of the bravado you’d normally expect of a person experiencing the rising action of sudden local celebrity. If anything, he’s excessively humble, quick throughout our conversation to defer credit to a series of mentors from his public health education. While I am in no position to assess his performance, I never doubt his intentions. Ahmed’s “new normal” involves spending most of his days in Zoom meetings and on phone calls with various stakeholders, including his staff. Otherwise, he’s buried in reading. Typically, the communications begin first thing in the morning and carry on until ten or eleven in the evening. “It’s basically become my day, my weekends, and my night,” he admits. Theresa Marentette, the WECHU’s chief executive officer and chief nursing officer, has worked with Ahmed for several years. In the Before Times, Marentette’s role was quite different from Ahmed’s, but the two of them “have worked closely together on all aspects of the pandemic with the primary goal of protecting our community,” she says. “I have definitely seen Dr. Ahmed grow as a person both professionally and personally,” she tells The Drive. “Dr. Ahmed has had to provide leadership and make decisions that impact people at individual and community levels during this global pandemic. I have learned he handles stress very well, always sees the best in people, and always listens to others.” “Feeling the burden of responsibility to make decisions— to make choices—for people with very limited information available has not been easy,” admits Ahmed. “Being the centre of every discussion, every news item, and every debate took a personal toll on me. My family, my children, everyone else could see that in my face.” Ahmed lives in LaSalle with his wife, Sana; their three sons, Adi (13 years old), Ariz (10), Aazil (2.5); and his mother, Asiya. “I love my family and I think that’s my most precious treasure,” he says. “Everything I do is with my family.” Earlier in the pandemic, Ariz made a habit of popping into this room to offer a hug for ostensibly no reason. “I just feel like it; you need that,” the younger Ahmed would say. Adi, the eldest, was less forthcoming. “It reached the point where he didn’t want to come talk to me,” says Ahmed. “He said, ‘Okay, you’re already stressed, I don’t want to come and talk to you about my problems.’ Hearing that helped me think maybe I’m not realizing how the situation is impacting my personal life. I said, ‘I’m your dad. It’s my job to listen to your problems!’” 26
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PEOPLE DRIVE Ahmed was born, grew up, and attended medical school in Karachi, Pakistan’s most populous city and one of the largest and most densely populated urban centres anywhere in the world. As a young doctor, after a few years of practice, Ahmed grew disillusioned with the country’s inequitable private healthcare system. “Without knowing a lot about public health, I recognized some of the challenges in the healthcare system,” he says, “which gave me the perspective we could do more.”
of extended family members living elsewhere be surprised to learn Ahmed played high-level cricket in Pakistan, occasionally brushing in Southern Ontario. shoulders with regional stars and nationWhen he’s not helping coordinate the al-team-calibre athletes. As a medical student, regional COVID-19 response, Ahmed spends he won his college’s badminton championship. some stolen-away evening and weekend hours He’s continued to play both sports in working with a team to rally a sizeable army against a terrifying existential threat—in a Canada. “I still like to play with better players,” he says, smiling, “but now I'm getting old! I’m computer game. not as fast as I would expect myself to be on During the pandemic, Ahmed and his sons have built a local-area network across the court, but I’ve made my name among the three household computers to play Command people who know my play.”
After a gentle push from his brother, then a PhD student at the University of Waterloo, & Conquer: Red Alert, a wildly popular 1996 Ahmed moved to Canada in 2004 to begin real-time-strategy game in which players work on a master’s degree of his own at the contest an alternate-history World War II. same institution. “My sons obviously need my time as well,” he explains. “We have a few games we are After graduation, he completed a fellowplaying as a team, which they really enjoy. ship at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Right now, they’re playing my game, a game Health in Toronto before winning a place in from my time.” the ultra-competitive five-year Public Health
and Preventative Medicine postgraduate The trio also spends a fair bit of quality residency program at the University of Ottawa. time with the family PlayStation. (Family physicians, as a point of comparison, While this is a fittingly nerdy pastime complete two years of residency.) for an epidemiology policy wonk, when time Ahmed moved to Essex County in August allows, Ahmed maintains a degree of equilib2014, shortly after completing the program. rium by also playing competitive sports. His relocation brought him closer to a number (“Whatever I can get,” in his words.) You may
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At press time, Ahmed is dealing with another ritual of middle age: getting ready to send his oldest two sons off to school for the fall. “It is definitely a nervous time for all parents,” admits Ahmed, who remains optimistic that the region’s collective progress will keep area children safe. “I can totally understand.” It will mark the end of a strange, stressful season for the Ahmed family—as it has for all of ours. “Dr. Ahmed has sacrificed a great deal of time with his wife and boys these past six months,” says Marentette. “I know they all must be very proud of him.” D
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Perhaps there’s a slight maternal approach to my leadership. But I’m good with that—I think motherhood is wonderful.
PEOPLE DRIVE
FAMILY MATTERS —THE LIFE OF DIANE REKO The manufacturing CEO speaks to her roots, rise to leadership, and visions of the future. By Katrina Manzocco Photographs by Syx Langemann
Diane Reko is remarkably down-to-earth. Friendly, humble, and quick to laugh, Diane is the CEO of Reko International Group, an established Lakeshore-based manufacturer known for innovative approaches to automation, mold, and precision machining.
Born in 1936, Steve was one of seven children from a family in Gávavencsello, a tiny village in Hungary. During his childhood, a failed revolution against Russian rule made it clear to him that to make a new life for himself and his future offspring he needed to find a way out. At age 20, Steve left behind everything he knew when he escaped under the cover of night into neighbouring Austria.
When I meet her at Ortona Café and wave her over to our table, Diane’s smile is wide and “When he made it across the border, relaxed, and when she tells me she’s thrilled to he came to a Red Cross Camp for refugees, meet me, I believe her. We begin chatting and where they could apply to different countries I find myself grinning as well—her effusiveness for citizenship. My dad went to the tents for is infectious. Australia and Canada, and the woman at the When she tells me her story, it’s familiar Canadian tent looked at him and told him, and deeply relatable, and the way she tells it ‘You’re exactly the type of person Canada makes me feel as though I’ve lived it along needs,’” says Diane. with her. “He spent the rest of his life trying to prove her right. He tried to be the best Canadian he THE STORY OF STEVE could by raising a great family and giving back Diane is a born-and-raised Windsorite, and to the community that embraced him.”
the first-generation daughter of a Hungarian Steve was a machinist, having attended immigrant, Steve Reko. technical school while in Hungary, between THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM
playing soccer. “When he came over in 1956, all he had was a suitcase, a few pairs of underwear, and his trade,” laughs Diane. These humble beginnings shaped the way that Steve raised his family and played a large part in forming Diane’s value system. “He would tell stories about how his dad was taken during the war and his mother had raised seven kids on her own. They didn’t have a lot. He instilled the importance of treating everyone well regardless of their station in life.” Arriving in Canada with no command of the English language made Steve feel like an outsider. Diane remembers his determination to overcome the language barrier, diligently working on crossword puzzles and occasionally looking to her for assistance with unfamiliar words. In 1976, Steve began Reko Group International, setting in motion the new course for his family, just as he’d dreamed. Within his company, Steve believed in 31
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I struggled with losing him. He was my mentor and I never felt ready to take the reins
fostering a family-oriented culture. He felt that honesty and respect were the cornerstones of a good business. He took great pride in helping his customers and he celebrated Reko’s success with all employees.
father encouraging her and her sisters to forge computer, she understood the implications of their own path in the world—that they were how travel would be disrupted. capable of anything. “I saw what this computer was capable “I’m grateful that my dad never imposed of, and in it I think I saw the future of the the idea that we were girls and bound to industry. To me it was obvious people were Despite the success of his manufacturing gender roles. He and my mother were incred- going to book their own travel online. The venture, Diane says that her father was never ibly progressive, though he never would have writing was on the wall and I needed to extravagant. “Even when he finally had the admitted to this.” change course.” means to do it, he was never the type to show The one thing Diane’s father did demand In this moment Diane realized that the rise off. It’s funny, he would always talk to my of his children was hard work. of technology was not only going to change mother about what he would do when his “I’d come home from school with a 90 on her own life’s plans, but the world as a whole. ship came in, and then when it finally did, he a test and he would ask me what happened to Intrigued by what this future had to offer, remained as humble as ever.” the missing 10 percent,” says Diane, smiling a Diane enrolled in a coding class, to which she little. “I know that he wanted me to achieve credits her first grey hair. things he never could in his own life due to Noting his daughter’s search for a new HER FATHER’S DAUGHTER his circumstances.” direction, Steve encouraged Diane to come When I ask about her childhood, Diane Like her father, Diane spent her early work for him. Diane was surprised by the remembers the entrepreneurial spirit of her years dreaming about distant lands—albeit for offer, never having considered this path but neighbourhood. different reasons. A travel enthusiast, while realizing the value she could bring to her “I grew up in an area that was home to a in university Diane worked at AMEX Travel, father’s organization. ton of immigrants and other first-generation where she envisioned one day owning an Not long after she walked across the stage at kids like me—almost everybody else was Italian agency of her own. graduation, Diane joined the family business. and I remember wishing I was Italian too,” she “This was when agents had giant books of laughs. “The neighbourhood was completely full of small-business owners. So many of them itinerary details to look through, and bookings UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT wereMoore like Davis my dad had Irene Local who educator and come from away needed to be made manually,” laughs Diane. As a self-admitted ‘behind-the-scenes president of the Essex Countynew Blackhere.” and decided to start Diane’s dream, however, was short- person,’ Diane says that she was never Historical Research Society
During her early years, Diane recalls her lived. When her office received its first-ever someone who gravitated towards positions of
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PEOPLE DRIVE power and leadership. This, she says, has taken ‘How are you doing? What’s that? How does most of her life to change. it work?’ were my constant questions. This In 2007, the time came for Diane to start allowed me to close the gap between what I raising her hand—her father had fallen ill, didn’t know from a technical standpoint, and with no specific succession plan in place for to become a more confident new leader.” the future of Reko. It was not long before his passing that Steve named Diane as his successor—she would be CEO and leader of the organization. It was a role she felt wholly unprepared to assume. “I struggled with losing him. He was my mentor and I never felt ready to take the reins.” Diane notes that Steve’s technical background and her lack of it was a huge stumbling block in the beginning of her tenure. Interestingly, it was a consultant Reko had enlisted for strategic planning support who said, “Diane, your team needs you to step up and lead. They need you to get over your fears and just do it.” This prompted Diane to start channelling her father, emulating his approach to running the business. This began with walking the floor of the production facilities, something Steve used to do regularly to connect with his employees. “I made it my mission to be curious:
would overcome our struggles and others who didn’t. You can talk as much as you want to the non-believers, but sometimes you just can’t change their perspective.”
Diane leans back and takes a sip of her Filling her father’s shoes was only one of coffee. “The best revenge against those who many challenges that Diane has faced. As she doubt you is being a success and living well.” navigates the struggles of the pandemic’s effects on her business in 2020, Diane is reminded of WORKING MOM a massive 2011 restructuring for Reko. When asked about how her own leader“We were in bad shape in 2011. We ship style differs from her father’s, Diane is lost a lot of money and people, and when it thoughtful. “There are tons of similarities—so happened, I vowed to myself that I would much of what I do I learned from watching do whatever I could to prevent this from him. I’d say I probably worry more about my happening again. I’m proud that we’re still employees and their feelings and personal here after some very hard times, and thankful situations,” she says. to be surrounded by such an incredible team.” “Perhaps there’s a slight maternal approach The struggle of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought back some of those feelings for to my leadership. But I’m good with that—I Diane, even though business is better than think motherhood is wonderful.” it was then. There may be challenging times This checks out; Diane is a mother of three ahead, but she won’t forget the valuable lessons women, a role that she has balanced alongside she learned through weathering that storm. her leadership of Reko. “Remember, keep your balance sheet clean, While raising her daughters as a working and pay attention to your results and to your mom, Diane recalls occasional feelings of people. There were some who believed we judgement from mothers who chose to stay at home. “Reading Lean In [by Sheryl Sandberg] has helped me realize that each mother needs to do what’s best for them, whether that’s staying at home, working part time, or working full time.” Diane admits that she still wonders whether she spent too much time working but is comforted that her kids have assured her otherwise. “I struggled trying to be all things to all people for many years, but balance does not mean an exact split of time day-by-day and hour-by-hour. What I’ve learned is that each of us just needs to be present wherever we are, whether it’s at home or at work.” When asked about what it is that’s enabled Diane to endure through her life’s tough times, she chalks it up to a resilience instilled in her by her parents. “Whenever I’ve been down, my mother has encouraged me to look back on my accomplishments and to find strength in seeing how far I’ve come.” Diane credits her husband as a major source of support, saying that she’s always inspired by how hardworking he is and how humble he remains. that therapist when she JenniferShe White,shares family-based reaches her breaking point, he’s the one who often talks her down and keeps her grounded.
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PEOPLE DRIVE When all else fails, Diane admits that to allow you to lead. What you must do is sometimes you’ve just got to laugh. She’s inher- surround yourself with great people, and don’t ited her father’s optimism, and credits it for her try to do it all yourself,” says Diane. ability to bounce back from the tough times. “Remember, leadership is a team sport.” “It’s a gift to be born with this outlook, and one that I’m always grateful for.” WOMEN IN STEM Diane champions the importance of the I ask Diane what she sees as the greatest people we surround ourselves with, underscoring that the collective knowledge and challenges of being a female leader in a historinnovative spirit of Reko’s employees is what ically male-dominated sector: manufacturing. has allowed the organization to thrive. From her perspective, the obstacles that
policy at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. She also is the author of The Martian’s Daughter, a memoir exploring the intimate life of her father, John von Neumann, one of the famed Hungarian mathematicians behind the Manhattan Project—a story Diane loved for its similarities to her own father. When the two met, von Neumann Whitman mentioned that one time she hadn’t been hired because of her engagement ring—after graduating with a Master’s of Economics, no less.
face current female leaders in STEM are “She did a ton of trailblazing throughout remarkably similar to those of male leaders. her life and the course of her career. I admire “I truly believe that the greatest challenge that she didn’t give up and found another is the stories we tell ourselves in our heads. way,” says Diane. “Some men of a different If you can tell yourself that you belong, you era continue to expect a women’s role in an work hard, and you’re ready to be part of any organization to be different than CEO. To Diane sees this perspective for its advan- conversations that are required, you can do it.” those who ever doubt you, the best thing you tages—it enables her to perceive her organizaShe has been fortunate not to encounter can do is prove them wrong and accomplish tion from a unique lens, similar to the view of any overt prejudice, even though she is the what they don’t expect you to.” an outsider seeing Reko for the first time. She minority in the sector. Diane recognizes how Above all else, Diane notes, women need notes that this has encouraged her sense of far women have come in the working world to compete the same way men do. This could curiosity, as well as a dependence on her more and understands that it wasn’t always possible mean offering the best price, quality, delivery, technically-minded team members. or service. This is still required of any business, for others like her to rise professionally. “This can be intimidating, but no matter She recalls having the privilege of meeting regardless of who is at the head of the table. what kind of leader you are, you can’t be an Marina von Neumann Whitman—an Now that Diane is at its helm, Reko is a expert at everything. Just accept the fact that American economist, writer, and professor female-run company. This is certainly rare your strengths are good, and they are enough of business administration and public in the manufacturing industry; however, it is “I was asked to participate in the Woman’s Global Trade Empowerment Forum in September, and while on a planning call with other female panellists from Mexico and the USA we realized that all of us were non-technical leaders of technical companies.”
I struggled trying to be all things to all people for many years, but balance does not mean an exact split of time day-by-day and hour-by-hour. What I’ve learned is that each of us just needs to be present wherever we are, whether it’s at home or at work.
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not enough to make people run to a business, employee about their families, projects, and make things in this country, especially during according to Diane. lives—and whenever we do, Diane’s team what we learned through the COVID-19 crisis,” she says. “We need to be more innovative and members look genuinely pleased to see her. bring something the competition doesn’t. As a leader of an organization, you need to think about things in that way. They might remember me as the only woman who pitched them, but that’s not the reason I want them to remember us. I want them to say ‘Wow, that’s a company I want to work with.’”
“I have witnessed that our people do whatever it takes to build a customer out of a crisis—sometimes not even a crisis related to them at all. Seeing that level of commitment and problem-solving makes me proud to be part of a group like that.”
“We don’t want to be dependent on other countries. We were in a precarious position that we don’t want to be in again.”
glad that they and others like them have the option to do so. Increasingly, through local ONWARD organizations like RISE and Build A Dream, Looking back at her life’s accomplishments young women are being encouraged to pursue to date, Diane Reko has much to be proud of. STEM track opportunities—a shift Diane is The team she has built at Reko is among glad to see. her greatest achievements. When Diane and I discuss the future and how things will look in a post-pandemic world, As we tour the floor of Reko’s facilities, we she says that if this past year has shown us stop to greet every person we pass, including anything, it’s that manufacturing is here to stay. Diane’s husband, who smiles warmly when
independence. A loss of independence is a loss of freedom.”
Diane recalls a day at school where she learned about the evolution of societies, and the transition from farming, to industrial, to On a personal level, Diane emphasizes service-based economies. She came home and A great organization is one that can differ- how proud she is of her daughters. shared this with her father, who was horrified. entiate itself by what it offers. Diane has very Like her own father before her, Diane has “I distinctly remember him saying ‘If little time for women lamenting the challenges always encouraged them to find their own the country loses manufacturing, what will of living in a man’s world; instead she calls for path in this world. So far none has followed become of it? If there’s a war and the country action: “Why not do something about it? in the tech footsteps that she’s left, but she’s can’t produce its own products, it loses
Living through a failed revolution firsthand was more than enough to convince Steve of the importance of a nation’s independence, built from its ability to create. “He was a product of what he lived through, and he used to tell me that everything shapes us—I know this experience certainly has,” says Diane.
we’re introduced. Reko employs 200 people, “Above all else, the greatest opportunity “Maintaining our capabilities is key. It just and Diane knows the name of each one. with tech and manufacturing is the freedom Regularly, we pause our walk to ask an it offers. We never want to lose the ability to took a pandemic to make believers out of us.” D THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM
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FILTERING OUT THE NOISE AND GOING WITHIN: Cybersecurity Expert Ikjot Saini By Alley L. Biniarz Photographs by Syx Langemann
Cybersecurity mogul Ikjot Saini doesn’t follow the status quo; she’s a curious questioner who isn’t afraid to go against the grain while working towards a future for women in tech. Most in the computer science field are tapered down to fit the mold of “logical thinker,” but Ikjot has always seen beyond the equation in front of her and says that computer science is actually quite abstract. When she was completing her undergraduate degree in India, she had deep “whys” fluttering around her head, but says her teachers wouldn’t go beyond explaining the concept. “In India you can’t question out loud, or even challenge those types of questions. Teachers may not like that… and they control your marks and grades.” She explains that back home, many people expect youth to do what they’re told and not wander off the predetermined path. 38
PEOPLE DRIVE Her parents, however, had a different encrypted code and all-around cybersecurity career in computer science. This is where the philosophy when it came to her upbringing. to prevent danger to the driver. idea for a local chapter of Women in Cyber While other parents were choosing their Cybersecurity affects—or will affect— Security (WICYS) was born. children’s streamlined courses in grade 11, Ikjot’s parents let her pick her own trajectory. “At first I felt abandoned!” she laughs. “I told them that they were the only parents who were doing this!” Now she realizes that they were giving her a sense of responsibility, which is a unique privilege for which she’s grateful.
everyone, and one of Ikjot’s main issues as a PhD student was performing academic research without knowing if it was going to be applied in real life. Automotive security is such a grey area in computer science that few educators know how to prepare students for the industry. There’s an entire gap between When narrowing down her decision, she what students learn in academia versus solving thought back to how curious she’d felt when real problems, like coding hacks that could working with computers. It started with the endanger automated vehicles. thrill of playing and beating her older brother Now that she has graduated into at car racing videogames, which increased to becoming an assistant professor in computer an interest in stimulating trivia games, and science, her goal is to prepare students for the moved towards examining the “Pandora’s box” world by seeing beyond the equation in front that was computers. of their eyes. Once Ikjot chose her path, her parents “I’m not the type of teacher who tells you continued giving her more responsibility. what to do. I would actually prompt you to Her father moved around for government question that code so you can keep wondering work and they wanted a stable place for Ikjot deeper and relate it to your life, so you have during high school, so they gave her the that deeper understanding.” Ikjot engages her autonomy to live on her own from the age students in creative discussion and encourages of 15. Living on her own instilled a sense of them to question “why?” but this alternative confidence within herself to make mistakes, to method hasn’t always been well received by align herself with her strengths, and to grow her peers or even some students. She says that initially the backlash really shook her since she into her goals. didn’t expect this experience when moving to Ikjot wasn’t tempted to move abroad at Canada and noticed an increase in her anxiety first, and came to Canada only five years ago. and imposter syndrome. “In India,” she explains, “you are This is when her grounding and spiritual surrounded by people who will tell you self-work, which she gained from living alone, who you are and because of that noise, you guided her. She knew that as an empathic wouldn’t be able to see who you really are. person, she needed to go within and filter That’s why I moved abroad. I didn’t want to out the noise from others to know what was care about what everybody else was thinking truly important to her. This self-work differs and I wanted to listen to my heart and really depending on the day; sometimes it’s sitting do what I wanted to do.” with music and her thoughts, quiet time Once she came to Canada, she knew she alone, or reconnecting with her old hobbies had to carve her mark into the industry, and like guitar playing. After diving into herself, she couldn’t do that without schooling. She she can affirm which pieces of her life are enrolled in a PhD program at the University of missing and how she can continue towards Windsor’s Computer Science program within her purpose. She says that her current mantra the topic of Cybersecurity of Connected is “Focus on what matters,” which for Ikjot is Vehicles, focusing on the development of working towards a future that benefits people a framework for privacy assessment of the beyond herself. Network of Connected Vehicles. This is why she chose her PhD topic wisely To define what a network of connected and made sure that it could contribute to vehicles is, she explains that right now drivers society at large. have full control over when they stop the car, Ikjot is currently in the perfect position to but if we add internet and connectivity to the take on tasks within the tech industry while equation, we could be dealing with personal working towards shifting academia, bringing information and internal machinery hacks. awareness towards cybersecurity, and encourWe’re already seeing hacks in the industry, and aging more women to feel comfortable in a her PhD thesis defended the need for accurate THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM
As the first Canadian student chapter, WICYS seeks to make new frameworks and to research ways they can be applied directly to industry. The ultimate goal is to build Windsor-Essex as the cybersecurity hub, especially with our automotive history. The group is currently made up of 160 people, split equally between women and men, though the entire board is comprised of women. This chapter has won the best student chapter award for this year, and though Ikjot has stepped down as president, she maintains her role as its founder, and will continue her work through opening more student chapters across Canada and increasing the number of women in the industry. Currently, women make up only 24 percent of the cybersecurity industry, which has increased since last year’s 11 percent but is expected to go back down with COVID. WICYS has been successful in their recruitment of women because they eliminate gender barriers from their marketing and networking language. Ikjot speaks from experience when she says that it’s especially challenging to be a woman in cybersecurity, as they continue to work twice as hard without the recognition or appreciation in the industry. Even in the classes she teaches, out of 100 students only four will be women, and they seldom speak up in class. Ikjot has been mentoring some of these students and uses this opportunity to pass on her own spiritual learning and to share her “why” beyond Windsor or even Canada. As she looks back at her home, she sees the need to provide mentors for youth in a variety of career paths. India has the largest amount of youth to date, and Ikjot says that if they don’t get the right guidance, they’ll feel lost and do things that we don’t expect them to. “The worst thing we can give is a lack of responsibility for youth. My parents taught me that responsibility, and usually girls and kids aren’t given this. I was privileged with the gift of ownership of my life.” Her advice for Canadian parents is to tell their kids they have faith in them, that they believe that they can handle their life decisions. Her advice for youth—and everyone—is to go within and listen, so you can know who you are outside of the noise of societal roles. D 39
PEOPLE DRIVE
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PEOPLE DRIVE
GOING FURTHER… BY STAYING PUT
Rose City Ford GM Scott Ohler discusses surviving the pandemic through a team effort—both at work and at home By The Drive staff Photographs by Syx Langemann
On March 12, 2020, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that schools would be shuttered until April. In the days that followed, businesses temporarily shut down—with some never reopening; gatherings were restricted to immediate household family members only; the U.S.—Canada border closed to all unnecessary crossings; and several people experienced what it was like to work from home for the first time. We were suddenly trapped in a “new normal” where fear and uncertainty reigned. For Scott Ohler and his family, the pandemic hit them from several sides, yet he didn’t miss a single day of work. As the general manager of Rose City Ford in Windsor, he still had a business to run, pandemic or no. “The first few weeks of this period were extremely challenging as there were fewer customers in the market and we were forced to rapidly adapt our sales process to an entirely digital one,” Scott says. “Without question, the hardest part of the pandemic was dealing with THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM
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PEOPLE DRIVE the difficult decisions that needed to be made the business was almost entirely back to with respect to our staffing levels.” normal, and he was able to not only hire back As a family man himself—he and his wife the furloughed employees but added some Janette have two children, Lillian (eight) and new employees to the roster to handle the Miles (nine)—he understood the fear his digital sales. employees were feeling, and he sympathized The hospitality Scott showed to his with them. employees should come as no surprise, given his In addition to having to temporarily background. Originally from Kingsville, Scott furlough some employees, “some of our went to school in London, Ontario, graduating team members requested voluntary layoffs from Fanshawe College’s Hotel and Restaurant due to concerns about possible exposure management program in 1996—he had intended to COVID-19 and those requests were to become a chef and restaurateur. honoured,” he says. “In other cases, we took advantage of the slow period to tackle building maintenance projects that needed to be addressed, which allowed us to keep some members of our service team on the payroll until business started to normalize.
“I immediately entered into a culinary apprenticeship, but before long I realized that what I was actually passionate about was building relationships and providing people with outstanding service,” he says. “I also realized that there were many different career paths that could provide me with that opportunity. I had friends and acquaintances who worked in car dealerships who provided me with exposure to the industry and it captivated me.”
“Once we made the adjustment, we were able to become quite successful with selling virtually and our customers enjoyed the fact that they could complete the entire sales process without being required to visit the dealership. Although challenging, the team His career began in 1997 as a sales consuland I viewed this as a great opportunity to tant at a Ford dealership in Leamington. Scott further develop our skills and gain a deeper moved to Rose City Ford in 1998, where he understanding of digital retailing.” By June, was a member of the sales team until he was
I immediately entered into a culinary apprenticeship, but before long I realized that what I was actually passionate about was building relationships and providing people with outstanding service
offered a sales management position with another Ford dealer in Windsor in 2004. He remained there until 2015, when he returned to Rose City Ford as the GM. Scott believes the company is about the team, and not just one person. “I think of myself, rather, as custodian of the dealership,” he says, “and the Rose City Ford Team—they are the stars of the show who deliver our customers with outstanding experiences every day. I view my role as a supporting one. I challenge myself every day to provide our team with the environment, the tools, and the support that they need to be highly effective and to provide our customers with the experience that they expect and deserve—this is how I measure my success.” As Scott was keeping Rose City Ford running during those difficult spring months, his wife Janette had to deal with the fallout at home when schools closed before March Break. “Janette was tasked with simultaneously adapting to working from home and overseeing our children’s education,” he says. “She did an amazing job under the circumstances and I wish I could have been more involved but going into the office every day made this impossible.” 42
PEOPLE DRIVE we’re quite happy to have her back.” Rose City Ford has been part of Windsor since 1981, and as such has been very involved in giving back to the community it has served so well. The company has supported the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for many years, as well as more local initiatives, including the Farrow Riverside Miracle Park. Rose City Ford is also a major sponsor of the 2022 Can Am Games. “The fundraising effort began last year with a golf tournament, which will be held in 2019, 2020, and 2021,” he explains, himself a golfer since he was seven; he is now a member of Essex Golf and Country Club. “This is going to be an amazing community event for the city of Windsor—it provides us with an opportunity to recognize and show our appreciation for our first responders.” Despite the difficulty of this year, Scott has been buoyed up by the resilience of his own team. “I was blown away by their understanding of the situation and the compassion they demonstrated towards me when I was delivering such an awful message that I knew would have major implications on them and their families,” he says. “You really don’t know what people are made of until you’re faced with adversity and I couldn’t have been prouder than I was to be a part of the Rose City Ford team. “The team members who continued to work showed limitless flexibility and a willingness to do whatever was necessary to continue to serve our customers with our reduced workforce. It was all very humbling—I can’t say enough about our team.” D As a teacher at St. Clair College, Janette had to adapt her own curriculum for her students so she could get her classes online as quickly as possible, all while overseeing the online learning for her two children—a position with which many exhausted Ontario parents can certainly sympathize. Not everyone was complaining, however: “Our kids really liked it,” Scott laughs. After months of learning a new routine and being at home all the time, the family decided it was time to get a dog. But just as the case numbers in Ontario were declining and people were beginning to dream of getting away, the new family pet decided to stage an escape—from a friend’s backyard in Kingsville. They’d had their new Italian Greyhound for only a week and a half, but she was already a cherished member of the family, and they began a frantic search that lasted a month before, miraculously, the dog was located and brought back to their home in Essex. “Life was quite chaotic for the month that she was on the run, with most of our free time being spent tracking our lost dog,” Scott laughs, “which was a sharp contrast to the slower pandemic pace that we had become accustomed to. She’s an amazing survivor and THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM
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BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS OF A MAN’S WORLD A young, female machinist apprentice dives headfirst into the trades. By Devan Mighton Photographs by CMHA-WECB/Rob Gurdebeke
At five years old, Elizabeth Moses became a refugee. Her family, fearing the ever-growing war in Sudan, fled to the safety of Canada. “The war wasn’t ending: my parents had to leave because of it,” explains Moses. “Coming from that area and watching my parents struggle has always taught me to be appreciative of life and to pursue education. I know a lot of children who are not fortunate enough to live in Canada and instead struggle to survive every day.” Moses learned to fight for survival from her parents and, at 22, still carries those lessons with her.
Moses is also an ambassador of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) of Windsor-Essex County. “CMHA is working on a few projects and one is removing the stigma surrounding mental illness in the workplace,” says Moses. “There is no shame in seeking professional help when you are in need. Mental illness impacts our entire community.” She says that since the beginning of the pandemic, the CMHA has seen a spike in anxiety and depression among Windsor-Essex residents and she wants people to remember that the CMHA has a lot of tools In July, she was laid off from Windsor and resources that can assist you. Mold, a place where she had earned her As a teenager, Moses attended Assumption stripes for three and a half years as a general College Catholic High School in Windsor. She machinist apprentice. The COVID-19 initially had zero interest in the trades but was pandemic had forced a slowdown in produc- motivated by a teacher. In Grade 9, she was tion, but she is looking at the bright side—she placed in the school’s woodworking class. has her hours in and is looking to receive one She says she was shy at first and even tried of the top credentials a tradesperson can earn. to switch classes. “‘Why would you want a “I’m hoping this year to have the red seal, woman to be in this class or even do this job?’” finally, after all of these years of working in she had asked. “It’s not something I wanted the trades,” she beams. “The trades are hard to to do. I didn’t want to be a part of this at all.” work in. It’s a challenging workplace, but, hey, She wasn’t comfortable being in a room full of we get through it and we do it because it is for unruly boys, but her teacher, Michael Costello, our lives and to better ourselves—so, why not?” changed her perspective. Moses is a mentor, a motivator, and an inspirer of other women who enter the trades. “When I’m not being a machinist, I do several things, actually,” she states. “I do work with Build A Dream and for the past three years, I’ve been speaking on their panels in different cities across Ontario. I work with other organizations, such as WIST. I tutor their students in the Women in Skilled Trades program at St. Clair College. I’ve been doing that since last year.” THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM
“He really encouraged me and when I started off in the trades, he supported me in that as well,” explains Moses. “I did the class—I did the best that I could—and the teacher invited me to join First Robotics. I went home to think about it and I decided to give it an opportunity. I wanted to see what it was about.” She tried it and its influence stuck with her. For her final three years of high school, she was a First Robotics whiz. The experience inspired her to take up the trades. “I know I
have some knowledge of how machines work, I love working with my hands, I might as well do this,” she thought at the time. As a general machinist apprentice, Moses says she is constantly having to prove herself again and again to her male coworkers in order to earn their respect. “That’s what the trades have taught me—you have to keep trying,” she explains. “If you’re not good at something, keep trying—you’re going to get there one day. It takes time, it takes skill, it takes a lot of knowledge to get [a concept] and build something too.” Where men can simply take on trades and work their way up, Moses realized women need to work harder, and she knew that everything she did—or didn’t do—would come to represent all women. “I wanted to show the guys that I can do the job as much as they could,” says Moses. “I’m one of the only women who work there. If I don’t do well, it gives [the men] a negative perspective of women, but if I do a great job, they realize that women can do the same jobs [as the men] and they deserve that respect as well.” As she continues in the trades, she sees many avenues to follow. She has an interest in continuing as a women’s advocate for the trades, working on panels to inspire other women, leading a program as a teacher or mentor, or even picking up another red seal or two. “Encouraging other women, showing that women can do the job—I want to prove my point, I want to get my red seal, I want to complete the journey.” D 45 45
SPORTS DRIVE
“MISHA” WINS THE STANLEY CUP Home town Billets proud of their Russian “son” By Gavin MacDougall
As the last minute of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final ticked away at Edmonton’s Rogers Centre the evening of September 28, Brian Reid finally got comfortable with the idea of popping open the champagne chilling in the rec room bar of his and wife Michelle’s Tecumseh home. For her part, Michelle—eyes welling with prideful joy—had been ready to celebrate for most of that Game 6 third period, what with the Tampa Bay Lightning in firm command of what would be a Cup-clinching 2-0 shutout over the Dallas Stars. Her husband, though, was in full “don’t jinx them” mode.
play,” laughs Brian, days later. “But I think that “Amazing, incredible, and just so very during the last minute even I knew it was a proud,” was the way the couple described done deal, and it was time to celebrate.” their feelings watching Sergachev and his Lightning teammates claim the franchise’s Of all the hockey fans across Windsor and Essex County who may have been pulling for second Stanley Cup. As their favourite Lightthe Tampa Bay Lightning, none had more ning player took his turn raising the Cup, the reason to celebrate than the Reids. And Reids’ emotions swelled, and then increased that’s because on the large screen in front of tenfold within the hour when Sergachev called them skated their 22-year-old “adopted son,” them to share the very special moment with Lightning defenceman Mikhail Sergachev, his cherished “second family.” the former Windsor Spitfire they had taken “It was just such a surreal and proud into their home in 2015 as a shy and nervous moment,” said Michelle. “To know him for as 17-year-old from Russia. Five years later, the long as we have and the special relationship Tecumseh couple beamed with pride and “She was ready to start celebrating at the watery eyes as they watched their “Misha” we’ve developed over the past five years, it’s beginning of the third period but I kept telling check off another of his long-sought hockey just been so many emotions and so much pride her not yet—there was still a lot of game to goals: Stanley Cup champion. in his accomplishments. We’ve been with him 46
SPORTS DRIVE since the beginning of his hockey journey in North America and we know as well as anyone just how hard he has worked to reach his goals. We’re so happy for him and all he has accomplished at such a young age.” Sergachev is one of 27 Spitfires the Reids have taken into their home over the years, most of them Russian. While the couple remains in close contact with many of them, their bond with Sergachev has been particularly special and lasting. They communicate with him on an almost daily basis during the season, and in normal years make at least two trips to the Tampa area to catch a string of Lightning home games while travelling to as many road games as they can manage. For a moment in this most unprecedented of NHL seasons, the Reids thought they might have an opportunity to see Sergachev compete for the Stanley Cup in person. Instead, they nervously watched the Finals as they had the entire “bubble” portion of the 2019-20 season and playoffs: just the two of them in the comfort of their own home. “We were ready to go,” says Brian. “But they announced that families could attend only three days before the final started, so with the quarantine rules that were in place once you got inside the bubble, it just wasn’t possible. We watched all the games together though and it became a real special part of our lives the past couple of months. But also stressful too! We’re glad it’s over and how it ended.”
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The Reids say what they are most proud of among Sergachev’s many accomplishments to this point in his young career is the way success has not changed the person he was when he lived with them. That, and a work ethic they say was evident from the day he entered their lives, with nary a word of English in his vocabulary. From learning a new language and acclimating himself to North American life, to playing a major role in the Spitfires 2017 Memorial Cup championship and now the Lightning’s second NHL crown, Sergachev’s work ethic has been continuously relentless in all he’s pursued. “He was a 17-year-old arriving in a new country to live with people he didn’t know when we first met him,” says Michelle. “But we quickly realized what a great personality he had, and that he was a young man who knew what he wanted to accomplish. He just wanted to learn so much, whether it was with hockey or learning the language, or any other challenge he faced on or off the ice.” A first-round (ninth overall) pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2016, Sergachev was traded to the Lightning three seasons ago and has quickly evolved into one of the higher-end defencemen in the league— and soon he’ll likely be compensated as such with a new contract from either the Lightning or a handful of other interested clubs. “He deserves being a Stanley Cup champion and he deserves everything he’s about to gain from a financial perspective too,” says Brian. “From the day he got here, his goal was to be an NHL hockey player and while every junior player has that same goal, his drive and dedication were just through the roof. He has always been very, very dedicated to what he wants. He’s just a great kid.” Like all hockey fans, the Reids hope they’ll get to see Sergachev play in person at some point during the next NHL season, which is now expected to start in January. “Hopefully at some point during the next season things open up a bit and we can see him play live,” says Brian. “Regardless, we’ll keep following him and all the other guys we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming into our home who are still playing. They’re all like family to us.” D THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM
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STUDENT DRIVE The Drive magazine in partnership with Libro Credit Union is challenging high school students taking Grade 12 English to write an essay focused on their day-to-day lives. Once a school is selected, the top five articles chosen by the teacher are further reviewed by our editorial team and the winner receives a $500 RESP from Libro Credit Union, along with publication of the essay in our issue. Congratulations to Madison Marcus from l’École secondaire catholique l’Essor in Tecumseh for being our October winner! We are proud of all the participants and will continue to support our community through continued literacy and a path to higher education.
LA DIVERSITÉ À TRAVERS LES YEUX D'UNE ÉTUDIANTE By -Madison Marcus English version available at thedrivemagazine.com
Justin Trudeau a souvent dit que la diversité est la force du Canada. Bien que la diversité puisse être controversée, nous, les canadiens et canadiennes, avons fait un grand effort pour comprendre et partager les expériences qui la crée. Selon le dictionnaire Larousse, c’est “l’ensemble des personnes qui diffèrent les unes des autres par leur origine géographique, socio-culturelle ou religieuse, leur âge, leur sexe, leur orientation sexuelle, etc…” Pour moi, la diversité est ce qui rend une personne culturellement et physiquement différente. C'est pourquoi la diversité est un élément essentiel afin de renforcer nos communautés selon les aspects multiculturels, individuels et sociaux. Pour commencer, que signifie le multiculturalisme? Selon moi, ça veut dire que différentes cultures habitent dans le même pays. Au Canada, je crois que les groupes les plus culturellement diversifiés sont les Premières Nations, les Métis et les Inuits. Chacun d'entre eux a une culture, une langue, une histoire, et un mode de vie qui leur appartient. Les Autochtones représentent le leadership et la tradition, des valeurs qui me tiennent à coeur, faisant moi-même partie d’une famille métisse. Pour continuer, le multiculturalisme se voit non seulement dans nos ancêtres canadiens, mais aussi dans nos immigrants. Selon le site officiel de la ville de Windsor, une personne sur quatre est immigrante. Ces statistiques créent de la diversité linguistique. Vous allez certainement entendre parler nos deux langues officielles (l’anglais et le français), grâce à l'immigration nous vient toute une variété de langues, du mandarin au pendjabi, et ce sont toutes ces langues qui rendent ma communauté unique. Sans immigration, nous ne serions pas où nous en sommes aujourd'hui. Dans mes 17 années de vie, j’ai grandi avec ma communauté qui m’a laissé pleine de témoignages personnelles. THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM
ressens que mon école est en train d’évoluer et d’enfin saisir la diversité que nous possédons. Plus notre population grandit, plus elle se voit influencée par les expériences sociales qui nous entourent. À notre époque, la technologie joue un énorme rôle dans la société. Étant née dans une génération influencée par les médias sociaux, TikTok® est selon moi une application qui célèbre la diversité. À l’origine, un outil pour créer des vidéos de 15 secondes, TikTok® est maintenant une plateforme avec plusieurs millions de créateurs. Milan Mathews est une jeune artiste du Texas qui a lancé un défi aux créateurs de passer de la garde-robe de tous les jours aux vêtements culturels traditionnels. Ce défi a gagné en popularité ce qui a amené plus de créateurs à faire de même avec leurs habits. Cela démontre que les médias sociaux peuvent créer une acceptation de la diversité sociale et une plus grande compréhension des autres cultures et coutumes. Un autre facteur social, serait la diversité dans les écoles. Durant mes années à l’École secondaire catholique l’Essor, j’ai vécu plusieurs moments où ma compréhension de la diversité s’est développée. En dixième année, durant mon cours de religion, nous sommes allés à une mosquée ainsi qu’à une synagogue. Nous avons pu expérimenter et apprécier différentes religions, cultures et nourritures. Cela m’a montré le degrée de diversité qui se trouve tout autour de nous.
Nelson Mandela a dit “Personne ne naît en haïssant une autre personne à cause de la couleur de sa peau, ou de ses origines, ou de sa religion.” Moi, je viens de Riverside, une petite partie de Windsor, là où on voit des centaines de différentes familles de diverses cultures, races et ethnies. À chaque année, la veille du 1er juin, je célèbre la fête du Canada avec mes voisins du quartier. Ma petite communauté se réunit pour allumer ses propres feux d'artifice. La diversité c’est ce qui nous rassemble pour célébrer. Ces moments m'ont fait comprendre que, peu importe d'où nous venons ou à quoi nous ressemblons, nous pouvons tous unir La diversité est essentielle pour que notre pour une même cause. communauté se développe. Pour moi, la Certaines personnes ne réalisent pas que diversité consiste à apprendre les différentes la diversité s’applique aussi quand on parle cultures, les traditions qu'elles partagent et les du genre. Une grande chose que j’ai vécue langues qu’elles parlent. Cela signifie lancer fut la désignation de toilettes de genre neutre des initiatives qui élargissent notre vision de dans mon école secondaire. Voilà un symbole différentes cultures. C’est de créer des souved’une communauté plus inclusive qui aide à nirs personnels à raconter aux générations à sensibiliser les jeunes à la diversité de genre venir. La diversité fera toujours partie de nos qui se trouve à l’intérieur de mon école. Je vies. Que signifie-t-elle pour vous? D 49
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HOME DRIVE
INTERIOR DESIGN SERIES
Stylish Bedrooms Chase away the chill with cold-weather décor inspiration from our favourite local designers. By: Katrina Manzocco Photographs by Devon Pastorius
TIA HUGHES
Drawing on her graphic design background to inform her décor techniques, Tia Hughes applies colour theory and exceptional use of proportion to bring her spaces to life. Tia Hughes Design is centred on creating uniquely beautiful, highly functional interiors and inspired brand identity services for her clients.
For Tia Hughes, a bedroom should be both beautiful as well as functional. As a place to unwind, Hughes wanted to channel a comfortable calm in her design—selecting a Magnolia Homes runner as the anchoring piece for the room. “Its warm rust and charcoal tones were perfect to pull from—I used these colours throughout the rest of the space. It works beautifully with the texture of the woven leather bench at the base of the bed.” Hughes notes that she loves the bench for the character it adds to the space, but also for its utility as a landing spot for any extra toss cushions or throws. No matter the season, Hughes is partial to a layered linen look—citing how simply the look can be refreshed with new elements, including other layers or textiles. As for additional décor, Hughes advises keeping things simple by adding a bedside lamp and a decorative bowl or box to catch your phone, glasses, or jewelry. For anything else—she’s a fan of repurposing items to suit any new design: “A fresh coat of paint and new hardware can give secondhand furniture a new life. When shopping for these, try to choose pieces with classic and modern silhouettes.” Throw pillows and runner available from Nomad in Kingsville; artwork and vase from Mister Style; bench and throw blanket from HomeSense; lamp from Structube. 52
HOME DRIVE Winter is coming — time to try out some fresh design ideas!
DAVID BURMAN
As plummeting temperatures draw us all indoors, it’s only fitting for us to consider the space so many of us look to for comfort: our bedrooms. For perspective on how to create a cool sleep space in which to curl up during the coming cold months, we asked local designers David Burman, Jodi Mason, and Tia Hughes how they would decorate a bedroom for winter.
David Burman is the founder, owner, and operator of Mister Style—the answer to a well-furnished, creatively curated home, whether you’re staging to sell or styling to stay. For those uncertain as to how to attract a home’s best possible buyers, Mister Style offers partial or full home stages designed to highlight the true potential of a space.
Louis Vuitton trunk from Antique Dealer; cowhide rug from Structube; lamp from Kelly Wearstler; velvet stools from At Home; coffee table book from Juniper Books; fur throw from JYSK; throw pillows from HomeSense; art from Megan Cornwall; fresh greenery from Flowers by Design. Rich textures are present everywhere across David Burman’s design. “My favourite trend for winter is velvet,” says Burman. “It’s impactful and can easily be incorporated into an existing design by adding stools and accent pillows.” The overall effect is decadent—beyond the velvet, the space features a thick fur blanket across the end of the bed and a cowhide rug. Inspiration for the design largely came from a favourite antique piece—a vintage Louis Vuitton trunk new to Burman’s collection. Burman shares that incorporating an unexpected pop of colour is a great way to add personality— for this space he selected a vibrant piece of mixed media artwork from local artist, Megan Cornwall. Looking for a design project? Burman has an idea for you: “We are actually in the middle of recreating our own version of the Kelly Wearstler lamp we included—stay tuned on our Instagram for our how-to guide!” THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM
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HOME DRIVE
JODI MASON
Mason is the owner and operator of Urbanhome—a destination for inspired, luxury design services and uniquely chic décor pieces within her shoppable showroom. With a focus on creating fashionable, functional designs, Mason’s leading inspiration for each space is the combination of personalities of the people who will occupy it.
All pieces available at Urbanhome Windsor. R&R was the primary inspiration behind Jodi Mason’s space.
For more home design inspiration, be sure to keep up with Jodi, David, and Tia on Instagram at @urbanhomewsr, @misterstyleinc, and @tiahughesdesign
Beginning with a colour palette largely inspired by winter’s weather, Mason wanted to inspire a sense of calm within the space from the outset. “The monochromatic hues we picked emulate the feel of the landscape outside—the big, fluffy white duvet we chose even mimics a fresh snowfall.” Mason introduced texture to the space with a plush Mongolian lamb’s wool throw and a large floor cushion—a perfect additional seating area for you or a very lucky pet. For those shopping to outfit a bedroom, Mason recommends splurging on the way your bed feels—opting for luxe duvets and sheets. Conversely, she shares that we can save by getting creative and DIY-ing bedroom elements for added personality. “Why not replace a traditional headboard with a wall treatment behind the bed? You could hang a gigantic piece of art, line up teak planks for a rustic feel, or even create an outline of a headboard to fill in with wallpaper.” D
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HISTORY DRIVE
WINDSOR FIRE STATION #6: MILL STREET AT PETER STREET The transformation of the Sandwich Fire Hall and Stable (1921) into the Windsor Public Library’s John Muir Branch (2019) is an important example of what can be achieved by reviving a historic building. John Muir was a pillar of the Sandwich Town community. As a school principal, Muir was an advocate for literacy and education. Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens notes, “His fingerprints are everywhere in Sandwich Town, from the movement to take trucks off Sandwich Street to fundraising to better the area, to being the president of Friends of Sandwich Library when it was formed.” According to project architects Studio g+G inc., “The result is both historic buildings were restored and rehabilitated to their original time periods using historic materials, techniques of construction and
1921 methods, supported by forensic analysis. The new architectural work speaks to the language of both buildings on either side and its current time.” The historically accurate restorations of both heritage buildings include:
2019
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Existing hose-drying tower converted to a glass-capped observation tower
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Sky-lit suspended walkway to a multi-use space on the second floor of the stable, housing the WPL local history collection
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Outdoor piazza constructed with reclaimed granite stones
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Glassed-in community room with built-in digital projector and screen
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Fully accessible heritage building with an elevator between floors
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The second floor exposes the original charred timber from a 1941 fire D
From Windsor Before and After: a new book from Walkerville Publishing Inc., 2019. WPI is owned by Chris Edwards and Elaine Weeks. 56
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DISCOVER THE POTENTIAL
INVENTION DRIVE
ELIJAH MCCOY ‘The real McCoy’ By Lina Dimopoulos
Elijah McCoy was born a free man in 1844 to fugitives who fled from slavery. He went on to establish a successful career in engineering despite the racism and exclusion he faced as a black inventor. McCoy’s high-quality devices and good reputation hailed him as the “the real McCoy.” McCoy’s parents escaped from Kentucky to Canada via the Underground Railroad, crossing through Detroit before settling in Colchester, Ontario, where Elijah was born. He grew up in the Essex area and was educated in the black schools of Colchester, which segregated children in the Upper Canadian schools in 1850. Having demonstrated a strong affinity for mechanics from an early age, Elijah was sent to Scotland for an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering when he was 15 years old. He studied in Edinburgh until he earned his certification, before moving to Ypsilanti, Michigan, in pursuit of work.
regardless of their educational background. He eventually accepted a job with the Michigan Central Railroad as a fireman and oiler. Working in the boiler rooms of trains, he noticed inefficiencies in the pre-existing system of oiling axles, specifically in the lubrication process. Engines required frequent lubrication in order to operate properly; in order to conduct this maintenance, however, the train had to come to a complete stop, which resulted in lost time and resources.
McCoy was inspired to streamline this process. In 1872, he invented and patented his first and most famous invention: an automatic lubricator for oiling the moving parts of steam locomotives. The “oil-drip cup,” as it was colloquially known, distributed oil evenly over the engine’s parts while the train was still in motion. McCoy’s design was highly regarded for its authenticity and good function and became the basis of many inferior copies by Although McCoy was a skilled profes- other inventors. sional, he struggled to find an engineering “McCoy’s patented device was quickly position due to racial barriers that limited adopted by the railroads, by those who career opportunities for African Americans maintained steamship engines and many others 58
who used large machinery,” writes the University of Michigan. “The device was not particularly complicated, so it was easy for competitors to produce similar devices. However, McCoy’s device was an original development and, apparently, had the best reputation.” For most of his career, McCoy lacked the capital necessary for the large-scale manufacturing of his lubricators, typically registering his patents under his employer’s name or selling his patent rights to investors. But even though many of his patents did not bear his name, he was not denied a legacy—he has been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, has a historical marker in Ypsilanti, and a namesake for a patent office in Detroit. McCoy died in Detroit, Michigan, in 1929 and is still honoured by many as ‘the real McCoy’ today. Certainly, he set a standard in the field of engineering, as many mechanical engineers who refused to install imitation lubricators on their locomotives demanded “the real McCoy” original design. The origin story of the phrase may be elusive, but there is no doubt that Elijah McCoy was the real deal. D
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