The Drive Magazine // Winter II // Issue 140

DRIVE

ISSUE 140

LOVE WHAT YOU DO LOVE WHERE YOU ARE LOVE YOUR COMMUNITY

PATTI FRANCE LEADS FROM THE HEART

LIFESTYLE | CULTURE | PEOPLE | TRENDS

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SMILE You’re at Rose City Ford

Celebrating

41

years of excellence

‘

‘

You shared your favourites moments with us. Now it's our turn to share them with our community.

Nothing needs improving. Everyone is very professional and accommodating, starting with suggestions to keep my car safe to offering food and drinks and asking if I needed a ride home. Really upbeat staff.

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The

DRIVE

PAUL ST-PIERRE ................................................ Publisher DAVE HUNTER .................................. Vice President, sales BREANNE MCGINTY.................................................. Sales SONJA POPOVSKI ..................................................... Sales MARNIE ROBILLARD ............................. Director of design SABINE MAIN......................................... Creative director SHAWNA BEECROFT .............................. Graphic designer CONTRIBUTORS NICOLE BESTED .......................................... Photographer ALLEY L. BINIARZ .................................................. Writer TREVOR BOOTH .......................................... Photographer JEN BRIGNALL-STRONG ......................................... Writer CHRIS EDWARDS ................................................... Writer MONA ELKADRI .......................................... Stylist/writer SYX LANGEMANN ....................................... Photographer DEVAN MIGHTON .................................................. Writer KEGUN MORKIN ......................................... Photographer MAXIMUS REID ......................................... Photographer ANTHONY SHEARDOWN ............................ Photographer MATTHEW ST. AMAND ........................................... Writer ANNA STANLEY ............................................. Copy editor

DRIVE

ISSUE 140

On the cover: Patti France, President of St. Clair College. Building on Success.

Photo by Syx Langemann.

LOVE WHAT YOU DO LOVE WHERE YOU ARE LOVE YOUR COMMUNITY

PATTI FRANCE LEADS FROM THE HEART

LIFESTYLE | CULTURE | PEOPLE | TRENDS

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CONTENTS

ISSUE 140

36

AROUND TOWN 13 Noteworthy Mentions Around Town

HISTORY

FOOD 16 Oh So Mona Cajun Sheet Pan Dinner

The Return of The Roaring 20’s – Ford City Revitalization

by Jennifer Brignall-Strong

PORTRAIT 22 Building on Success – Patti France, President of St. Clair College

by Jennifer Brignall-Strong CHEERS 42 Brewed in Windsor – History of Breweries in Essex County

by Chris Edwards CHARITY 60 Circle of 7 Celebrates 25 years Together

by Matt St. Aman BOOK REVIEW 64 A Conversation with Windsor Author Victoria Anne D’Anna

by Alley Biniarz

46 SPOTLIGHT Childhood Friends Lighting Up Windsor

by Devan Mighton

THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

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A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER Welcome to 2022! As we begin a new year at The DRIVE Magazine, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on 2021. While it was indeed filled with its share of challenges, we are grateful for the ongoing support of our team, our valued advertisers, and most importantly, you, our readers.

Thank you for making The DRIVE your preferred local lifestyle publication. We look forward to sharing more engaging stories from around Windsor-Essex, including this month’s cover story about St. Clair College President Patti France. Despite a tumultuous two years of navigating pandemic protocols, Patti and her team have yet again managed to lead the college to another year of record enrollment and expansion.

As we emerge from this latest round of COVID-19 restrictions, we encourage you to join us in continuing to support local. By frequenting our independently owned restaurants and businesses, we can ensure they survive and thrive as we move into the future.

Stronger. Together.

We continue to welcome your feedback and would love to hear your thoughts on how we’re doing and what we can improve on. Feel free to email us any time at info@thedrivemagazine.com.

Yours truly,

Paul St. Pierre Publisher 10

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TOWN Welcome to our custom content page meant to highlight unique news from the Windsor-Essex region AFFINITY CUSTOM DESIGNS Founded in 2020 by owner James Gibb and located in Belle River, Affinity Custom Designs serves the residential and commercial sectors with products and services to improve their living and working spaces by building unique and practical custom products.

As 2022 brings new opportunities Affinity is excited to launch into the outdoor furniture realm by bringing the same core values of their craftsmanship to this area. The Northshore line of premium outdoor furniture is locally built to be eye catching, durable, and practical. “We want to be a part of our client’s space, where family and friends can come together to unwind, relax and find an Affinity to connect”. For more information about Affinity Custom Designs and their offerings please contact James at (519) 564-2878 or visit their web page at affinitycustomdesigns.com.

MERCATO FRESH On February 13th 2020, Marc Romualdi and Jonathan Reaume opened the doors of their first Mercato Fresh location in Chatham, Ontario with a mission to create a unique, fresh, and enjoyable grocery shopping experience for their customers. Five weeks later, the pandemic began. In the face of this new challenge, Romualdi, Reaume and their staff rose to the occasion and continued to provide unparalleled quality, service and value without compromise. The community took notice and in July of 2021, the market was voted best 'Specialty Food Store' and 'Butcher/Meat Shop' in the Chatham Daily News' annual 'Reader's Choice Best of Chatham-Kent'. Now Mercato Fresh has set its sights on Windsor, breaking ground in the 3200 block of Banwell Road as the first phase of a new development housing this burgeoning grocery chain with the aim to open in the fall of this year. Learn more at mercatofresh.com.

STYLE ME MENA Style Me Mena believes in celebrating your individuality and that there is no right or wrong way to be yourself. What you say, wear, and do should honour who you are and what you stand for. What you wear tells a story…Style Me Mena shares her passion as a stylist to give you the confidence and inspiration you need to look good, feel good, and do good. Style Me Mena offers a variety of services that include in-store or online shopping sessions, in home or virtual wardrobe consultations where new looks are created with existing pieces while suggesting additional items you may need, develops company dress codes, offers regular style tips on their IG page, styles you for special events and photo shoots and helps you pack the perfect wardrobe for your getaway. Reach out for a consultation at 519-980-4315 or stylememena@gmail.com @style_me_mena IG and FB. THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

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FOOD

Cajun SHEET PAN DINNER

Photo by Mona Elkadri

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

8 pieces raw jumbo shrimp (peeled, tail on)

• Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and prepare a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.

2 turkey sausage

• Slice your turkey sausage (or sausage of choice) diagonally into 1-inch pieces.

2 cobs of corn cut into thirds

• Add the sausage, shrimp, corn, potatoes and onion into a large mixing bowl, combined with the grapeseed oil, garlic powder and Cajun seasoning. Toss with your hands to make sure everything is coated well with the oil and seasonings.

1 cup halved baby potatoes ¼ cup sliced red onion 2 tbsp grapeseed oil 1 tsp garlic powder 1.5 tbsp Cajun seasoning 1 tbsp butter 1 tbsp chopped parsley

• Next, set aside your shrimp and place all remaining ingredients from your mixing bowl onto the sheet pan. Bake for 15 minutes.

• After 20 minutes, remove the baking sheet from the oven and add the shrimp.

Take the butter and break it into small pieces over the sheet pan.

• Place the sheet pan back into the oven for another 10-15 minutes.

• Once it’s finished baking, sprinkle with some chopped parsley and you’re ready to serve. 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

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The Art of Clean Sponsored Content

By Matthew St. Amand

Photograph by Trevor Booth

“By May, we picked up some equipment,” Sean says, “and did some stuff around our homes and our families’ homes. We got our social media together, put our name out there, and then picked up some jobs.”

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A few jobs turned into a few more jobs, and soon Scrub Power Washing was cleaning Starbucks in Leamington, scrubbing plazas in Kingsville and Amherstburg, Shoppers Drug Mart, and demonstrating their skills washing fleet vehicles from transports and dump trucks to farm and construction heavy equipment onsite.

the process to get the job done. They also provide their own water, which makes it possible to wash at any location.

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It’s no wonder that Scrub Power Washing’s fleet business grew exponentially during the past year.

“We did a ton of farm equipment the first week of January,” Dan says. “We wash with hot water, so the temperature outside isn’t really a factor.”

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They also have a solution for graffiti removal.

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Dan and Sean deep clean and degrease shop floors, too. One client bought a factory, debated about having

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it painted inside, but opted to have Scrub Power Washing clean it first.

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PORTRAIT

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PORTRAIT

BUILDING ON SUCCESS St. Clair President Patti France Credits Team Effort for Another Record-Breaking Year

By Jen Brignall-Strong Photos by Syx Langemann (left) and St. Clair College.

The spirit of community is alive and well at St. Clair College, and President Patti France couldn’t be more proud.

Despite a tumultuous two years of navigating COVID-19 protocols and closures, France says the institution has continued to thrive, thanks largely to the support and adaptability of staff, students and the community.

“I’m very fortunate that we have such a wonderful team here,” she says. “The past few years have had their ups and downs, but I can certainly say I love the people I’ve shared the experience with.”

The College is poised for continued growth in 2022, she says, with over 125 in-demand programs, further enhancements to the campus experience, and a path forward for financial sustainability.

Since her tenure began in September 2015, France has been at the helm of the College during some of its greatest advance-

ments in its 55 year history; with record enrollment nearly every year, the highest financial surplus in the province, and several exciting expansions including three during the pandemic.

“I do think we’ve definitely upped the ante from an academy and a social/student life perspective,” she says, noting that one thing the pandemic has not affected over the past few years is St. Clair’s development.

“We’ve seen three major construction projects carried out in the past two years: the new sports park, the new residence through our Toronto campus partnership, and the new academic tower of the School of Business & Information Technology which includes a state-of-the-art arena for our e-sports team which we’re really excited about.”

The school has come a long way since France herself was a student. A graduate of the Computer Science program, she then became an employee of the College in 1987,

I think women today have the ability to be anything they want to be.

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starting in a support staff position. After various roles in faculty and administration, she became the first female and the first St. Clair alumni to become president in the College’s history.

France is quick to point out that while those are accomplishments she celebrates, she prefers not to get hung up on them; instead focusing her attention on setting a positive example for all those looking to achieve a successful career in a field they love.

“What I’ve really tried to do is just inspire anybody and everybody. To not let anybody tell you you can’t do something.

If that includes females, I think that’s wonderful,” she explains.

“There are still a lot of people who say, ‘men do this and women do that’ and stereotype certain jobs. I think women today have the ability to be anything they want to be.”

France points to the work the College has done in recent years encouraging females to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics.)

“We have several projects with WEST of Windsor; lots of apprenticeship programs to encourage females to take on those non-traditional career opportunities and vocations because they’re very rewarding.”

If you have a skill you will always have a job, she says.

Regardless of gender.

“At the same time I think it’s important to tell men, ‘just because you’re male, doesn’t mean you can’t go into nursing.

So I think removing the stereotyping from any type of job has been really important, in addition to letting people know aspirations are a good thing, and to hang on to your dreams.”

Providing that support and guidance to students has been a focus for France and her administration over the past several years, she shares, adding the school’s service charter is something near and dear to their hearts.

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We’ve seen three major construction projects carried out in the past two years.

“When we talk about our vision of ‘Excellence in All We Do’ it’s certainly teaching and learning excellence, but service excellence is equally important as academic excellence.”

Part of that is being accessible and listening to the concerns of the student body, something France has strived to do even before she became the school’s president.

“Anybody who wants a meeting gets a meeting, whether it’s virtual or face-to-face.

Even during the pandemic, I meet with student leaders once a month,” she says.

“That was something that I started as Vice President and it was really important for me to keep that practice going because I think I know what’s going on in our school, and sometimes the students tell me otherwise and that information is invaluable to me.”

France explains that by meeting with students regularly, it makes it easier for them to bring up any challenges they might be facing.

“It was based on their feedback that we started to offer technology bursaries (during the pandemic.) A lot of Colleges and universities did not do that,” she explains. “It was something that was a struggle for people that didn’t even have the technology to engage in online learning.”

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Staying connected, both virtually and mentally, was an issue for many during the initial COVID-19 lockdowns, she admits.

At a class rep meeting last June, several students relayed to France that they didn’t feel engaged with the online learning model.

“They were graduating but they hadn’t been to the campus in over a year, and that made me really sad,” she recalls. “I thought, ‘We have to, no matter what, get back to face-to-face learning because it was clear that that’s what the majority of students wanted.

It was clear that face-to-face interaction was so essential to the educational process.”

After extensive planning and consulting with multiple public health agencies, St. Clair College became one of the only Colleges in Ontario to offer in-person learning in September.

“It was so nice to just see people in the hallways again,” she shares. “Were things perfect? Of course not. But at the end of the day, I think the benefits certainly outweighed any of the obstacles and complications that we overcame and clearly the majority of our students appreciated the face-to-face.”

Applied learning is what makes a College education so valuable, she says, noting the in-person interaction between teacher and

student is essential to the educational process.

“We believe that it’s so important,” she says, noting that the true College experience is something that can’t be had virtually.

“To be able to sit and chat or to walk the campus, you can’t have that same experience if it’s virtual.”

France says she’s impressed with how students have stayed connected to the community, even through all the hardships of virtual learning.

“When we got back to classes this fall, they jumped right back into the life of the community, with awareness activities and charitable work,” she shares. “Our students in Police Service & Investigation were the largest single and most successful fundraisers for this year’s Goodfellows newspaper sale. They raised $14,000 and the College matched it.”

Being that strong community College that supports local initiatives has been paramount to France throughout her nearly 35 year career, and was one of the driving factors in her applying for the position in the first place.

“I wanted to ensure that was embedded in the culture of our institution,” she says.

“In my job interview, I said, ‘I don’t just want to be president of a College, I want to be

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president of St. Clair College because I love our staff, I love our students. This College means something to me and this community means something to me.”

While the job can be all consuming at times, France says the support of the community and her loved one has kept her grounded and allowed her to fulfill her duties with relative ease.

“You can’t do these jobs without the support of your friends and family. They’re 24-7 jobs and I think when you’re in these types of leadership roles, you have to love what you do. You have to love where you are, you have to love your community. When you do, it’s really not a job. You’re happy to do it.

You’re happy to give.”

With that strong backing and a long list of strategic objectives, France is now looking ahead to future opportunities for the College’s expansion, including continued involvement in local research and development projects.

“One of the interesting facets of the College’s operation in the last little while has been our increasing involvement in research and development projects. Most of them are in conjunction with private sector partners in the fields of business, healthcare, and manufacturing,” she shares.

In 2020, St. Clair College was named one of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges.

“It was our first time making that list and I suspect that we’ll find ourselves on that list again this year given our important role in

THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

some of our new developments in R&D,” she says.

The College has also been a strong partner to the local healthcare sector, not only through their work with Windsor Regional Hospital and the COVID-19 field hospital, but also by training more healthcare workers.

“During the past year, we’ve educated several hundred new Personal Support Worker students and injected them into the healthcare system,” shares France.”I wouldn’t be surprised to see those sorts of opportunities for special funding and training repeated during the next year or two in other healthcare fields, perhaps practical nursing.”

France says that with this additional support from the government, Colleges can bolster their efforts to address labour shortages by recruiting and educating more students in the healthcare sector.

Regardless of what field someone chooses to study, France says that when we do emerge fully from the pandemic, the College be well positioned to accommodate and serve current and future students.

In addition to the developments to the main campus and the Toronto campus, they’ve also expanded their footprint in downtown Windsor, now with nearly 3,000 students studying in the city’s core.

“Just this past September we opened up 333 Riverside Drive. The location is absolutely perfect because it’s within walking distance (of our other buildings),”

she says. “We’ve really tried to have an overt presence downtown and hope to expand that presence in the future.”

France says they’re already off to a great start in 2022, with a recent quality audit awarding St. Clair the highest level in every category.

“We met all six standards and all 32 sub-standards without any recommendations that we didn’t already give ourselves in our affirmations,” she beams. “That sends a message to me that we’re moving in the right direction.”

In addition to their focus on service and academic quality, France says they’ve also been able to put together a sustainability reserve and a reserve specifically for deferred maintenance, another first for the College.

“Being able to make sure you put money away for a rainy day is so important, because there could be another pandemic or something else that comes up.”

While she has no plans of slowing down any time soon, France says that when her time at the College is through, she hopes to ensure it remains financially sound and continues with a strong presence in the community.

“Making sure we maintain that high level of service excellence and making sure we have financial sustainability. If when I retire we have those things in place, I will feel really good about what I’ve accomplished.” D

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The , , Penny less Penny More e best! th l il is st Capri Pizza

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Thank You Patti France for your vision, dedication and leadership that continues to grow St. Clair College to new levels.

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Congratulations Patti France on your continued success at St. Clair College

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35

HISTORY

RETURN OF THE ROARING ‘20S

Ford City Renaissance Continues as New Businesses Flock to Historic Neighbourhood

By Jen Brignall-Strong Photos by Maximus Reid

Marina Maffessanti Co-owner of Pressure Drop

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HISTORY

Lauren Potvin - Owner of Bunch

In the early 1920s, Ford City was a bustling town. Thanks to the burgeoning auto industry and a strong partnership with Henry Ford, the once quiet village had experienced a decade of rapid development; quickly becoming home to over 16,000 residents and an array of retail and services along its main thoroughfare, Drouillard Road.

Now, a century later, the area has once again become a mecca for growth, with dozens of young, motivated entrepreneurs breathing new life into the historic district; refacing aging buildings and creating a vibrant, walkable community.

“It’s neat to watch new businesses come in. Really great businesses too,” says Shane Potvin, Chair of the Ford City Business Improvement Association. “And this is just the beginning. We have at least ten buildings that are going to be renovated within the next couple of years.”

Potvin, a graphic designer and business owner, has been Chair of the BIA since 2018. He was drawn to the area early on in its redevelopment, purchasing a building on the corner of Drouillard and Whelpton Street in 2017 which is now home to The Grand Cantina restaurant.

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“My wife and I were at The Heimat’s biergarten and loved the atmosphere,” he recalls. “We were wandering down Drouillard afterward and noticed that that building was for sale. We looked at it literally on the spot and bought it two days later.”

He says the goal was to find a destination restaurant for the location. Through a conversation between mutual friends, Potvin found the perfect tenants for the building.

In May 2018, The Grand Cantina opened its doors.

“That was pretty pivotal for the neighbourhood,” says Potvin. “When they opened it was a completely other world. There were lineups out the door and cars parked down the street.”

“When we were deciding on a location, we knew we had the opportunity to do something great in that neighbourhood,” says John Alvarez, co-owner of The Grand Cantina. “Looking at what Detroit’s restaurant scene was doing at the time and being able to do something similar and be a part of introducing new life into the area was a great feeling.”

Business owner Michael Difazio notes that while the growth hasn’t happened 37

HISTORY

overnight, the neighbourhood has undergone a substantial transformation since he moved to the area in 2014.

“When I moved here, it was a ghost town,” laughs the owner of Michael Difazio Reclaim Artistry. He was one of the first to open up shop on Drouillard and has since been a part of over a half a dozen real estate transactions on the block.

“It’s an area with an enormous amount of untapped potential. Being a business owner, resident, investor, and developer in this neighbourhood, I couldn’t pass up the opportunities,” he says, noting that he hopes to open up another business in the area by the end of 2022.

The building Difazio is currently renovating is just one of many slated for transformation in the coming year, shares Potvin.

“We’ve got some really big things happening,” he says. “The corner of Richmond and Drouillard is getting a total renovation. That’s going to be a restaurant and a patio and another great business that faces Drouillard. It’s quite transformative for that block because it used to be a vacant auto body shop.”

Potvin says the momentum has picked up substantially over the past two years, with several new businesses opening despite COVID-19 restrictions and delays. He also points out that the street isn’t just filled with one type of business, but rather a collection of businesses that draw in a variety of different people.

Rosemary Woods and John Alvarez- Owners of The Grand Cantina

Seeing others put their roots down in this community, I feel really excited for the future.

Mike Difazio - Owner of Reclaim Artistry

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HISTORY

“The past year has been pretty pivotal for getting things moving,” he says. “Businesses like City Cyclery, Chance Coffee, and The Soda Pop Bros. have brought a new interest to the area. Pressure Drop did such a great job as well bringing people in during Covid.”

Potvin’s wife Lauren even opened up her own business during the uncertainty of the pandemic; an eclectic home décor and clothing store called Bunch, which she has recently expanded.

“Now it’s more than twice the size as when she first opened.”

Potvin also credits grant opportunities from the City of Windsor’s Community Improvement Plan in helping expedite the area’s development.

“The timing was just right; the real estate marketing was shifting upward and the CIP came out so then Ford City just became this perfect spot for someone to buy a building,” he explains.

While all the investors and businesses are on their own timelines, Potvin says they’re starting to see more buildings being renovated in tandem.

“There are probably at least six other buildings being completed in the next year or so,” he continues.

Potvin says the area continues to attract young business owners and notes that many of their newest tenants began as vendors at the Downtown Windsor Farmer’s Market, including The Vegan Gardiners.

“We chose Ford City for a number of reasons,” says Amy Gardiner-Upton, who owns the plant-based deli with her husband Ryan. “We live in Ford City, so we definitely feel a pull to support the area and see it thrive. It’s also a place for mold breakers and makers, and we felt this motto was a great fit for what we do.”

Gardiner-Upton says they hope to see a variety of new business develop over the coming years to create an area where people can spend the day.

It’s a sentiment shared by her other fellow business owners.

“Seeing others put their roots down in this community, I feel really excited for the future,” agrees Alvarez.

“There’s just so much happening; it’s very exciting,” echoes Potvin. “There’s something special about the neighbourhood. It’s not polished, but it feels comfortable. It’s not like anywhere else in this city.” D THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

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CHEERS

BREWED IN WINDSOR A look back at our rich history on Breweries in Windsor & Essex County.

Story and Photos

by Chris Edwards

The rise and fall of Windsor, Ontario’s Original Six breweries is a tale of brew masters, risk-takers, gangsters, roadhouses, and the transformative impact of Prohibition on Windsor’s brewing industry.

Windsor wasn’t exactly a pioneer in the Canadian beer–brewing industry; that would be La Brasseries du Roy started by Jean Talon, in Québec City in 1668. 217 years later, Windsor finally boasted its first full–fledged beer–making enterprise: the British–American Brewing Company, launched in 1885.

Despite a lack of local brewers, it wasn’t as if Windsor was a dry town. Our forefathers could easily enjoy fresh beer in this

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CHEERS

region. “Back kitchen” home brew, neighbour Detroit’s well-established brewers, London, Toronto, Montreal and other regional brewers helped quench our ancestors’ thirst.

British-American Brewery: 1885- 1969 Detroiter Louis Griesinger Jr. erected one of Windsor’s earliest breweries at the corner of Bruce and Sandwich (Riverside), then built a small home across the street.

Griesinger had apprenticed at the massive Christian Moerlein Brewing Company in Cincinnati; his father Louis Sr. was an architect who designed and built many of Detroit’s finer breweries, including the famous Stroh facility. Griesinger Jr. found a market for his first batch of Cincinnati style beer in Chatham; its first six barrels were well received. A spur-of-the-moment conversation with an agent resulted in branding one of his brews as “Cincinnati Cream.”

Before long, Griesinger’s Cinci cream ale appeared locally; within a few years, the brewery shipped considerable quantities of brewed-in-Windsor beer to Detroit. B-A eventually expanded to encompass four city blocks. From a few hundred gallons in its first year, production steadily increased to 5,000,000 gallons annually by the mid-1950s. Cincinnati Cream Ale became a beloved brand on both sides of the border.

PROHIBITION: Brewed in Windsor’s Boom Years During the wild Prohibition years — 1920 to 1933 — savvy local brewers exploited Ontario liquor laws, which forbade public and hotel drinking, but did not prohibit the manufacture and export of intoxicating beverages. Across the Detroit River, the manufacture, sale, and transportation of liquor was banned, which led to the shuttering of every Detroit brewery.

While Windsorites did their fair share of illicit beer drinking during Prohibition, thirsty Americans became our two local brewers’ best customers. Strategically located only one mile from a parched city, Windsor brewers graciously shipped boat loads of beer to our neighbours.

Three breweries sprang up in Windsor and the Border Cities during Prohibition to capitalize on exports to Detroiters — and to brew 4.4% beer for locals.

Riverside Brewery, financed by Detroit’s notorious River Gang, an organized group of Sicilian mobsters. flourished for a time during Prohibition with its strategic waterfront location near Peche Isle. The brewery’s export dock took advantage of its convenient location at the junction of Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River. The River Gang’s speedboats could zip from the brewery to the gang’s operations on Belle Isle.

Hofer Brewery in LaSalle was another brewery that took advantage of Prohibition-era legal loopholes and illegal smuggling for so-called export beer. The Hofer Brewery’s location was ideal; several nearby islands sheltered speedboats loaded with cases of Hofer’s Select Lager, as they glided across the Detroit River downriver to Ecorse and Wyandotte, Michigan in the dead of night. The Hofer Brewery building is the last remaining Original Six brewery structure in the Border Cities.

The Tecumseh Brewery opened in 1927 in a building erected in 1912 by the

On both sides of the strait, proprietors operated blind pigs, speakeasies, roadhouses, inns, and hotels where patrons

Dominion Cannery. The Tecumseh Brewery enjoyed a couple of profitable years but once U.S. Prohibition was repealed in 1933, it was forced into bankruptcy. The building remained vacant until the Old Comrades Brewery formed in 1947 by World War II veterans and colourful local Prohibition-era millionaire Harry Low.

could gamble, dine and drink — at least until the cop raids. Our waterfront became a magnet for American revelers seeking illicit pleasures at our spectacular roadhouses, including Bertha Thomas’ Edgewater Inn, The Rendezvous and Abars, each a glittering jewel strung out along the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair. Rich and famous Americans

Griesinger died from injuries sustained in a fall at his brewery in 1902. In 1912, his brother-in-law Louis A. Irion was named president and brother Raymond Irion became secretary-treasurer. In 1927, the Irions brothers sold their interest in the B-A brewery to brokers in Detroit.

Walkerville Brewing Company: 1890- 1959 Follow ing the success of the British-American brewery, whisky magnate Hiram Walker expanded his extensive business interests into beer brewing in 1889. Walker erected the imposing Walkerville Brewery on a prime parcel at the corner of Walker Road and Wyandotte Street. As with most of his ventures, Walker’s brewery became a great success.

Following Hiram Walker’s death in 1899, his son Edward Chandler gifted a majority stake in the thriving Walkerville brewery to his childhood friend, Stephen A. Griggs, vice–president of Hiram Walker and Sons.

In 1925, Griggs sold the brewery to Detroiter Herman Radner, a purported member of Detroit’s infamous Purple Gang, and father of actress Gilda Radner.

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CHEERS

nightly traversed the mile-wide river to moor their yachts until the first glimpses of dawn, greeted by owners and employees decked in their finery as if from a scene from an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel.

E.P (Excess Profits) Taylor- The Man Who Destroyed Our Local Breweries Before WW I, there were over 300 full-fledged breweries in Ontario. By the end of the Prohibition, only 70 Ontario breweries were left standing, many struggling to survive.

Enter vulture capitalist E. P. Taylor (nicknamed “Excess Profits”), chairman of Canadian Breweries. Taylor became one of Canada’s richest men on the backs of hard-working local brewers, forging one of the world’s largest brewery franchises. He did more to reshape the landscape of local beer than anyone in Canadian history. His means were ruthless, threatening holdouts with price wars then buttering them up with lucrative buy-out schemes.

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Between 1925 and 1953, Taylor acquired 23 breweries and 150 brands, controlling 60% of Ontario’s beer industry through his Canadian Brewing Corporation (Carling O’Keefe). By the 1960s, most of Ontario's breweries were owned by the big three: Molson, Labatt, and Carling O’Keefe.

E.P. Taylor eventually purchased every Windsor brewery. Taylor acquired the British-American Brewery in 1928 as a piece in a long-term plan to control and consolidate Windsor’s beer business. As with other Ontario beer brands, the British-American name eventually disappeared, the plant renamed Brading’s Cincinnati Cream Brewery, a subsidiary of Brading’s Brewery.

Despite its massive production capabilities, B-A was shuttered in the 1960s.

In 1944, E. P. Taylor added Walkerville Brewery to his Canadian beer empire. Walkerville was soon re–branded as Carling’s Brewery, later O’Keefe’s Old Vienna Brewery.

E.P. Taylor’s Carling’s Breweries purchased Old Comrades in 1952, then quickly shuttered its doors.

Walkerville Brewery ceased operation in the late 1950s, while British-American folded in 1969. By the 1970s, Windsor’s Original Six brewers had disappeared from the landscape and eventually, our collective memory. It was the end of an era.

But lately, something unexpected and wonderful has happened. Fifteen local craft breweries have emerged, focused on tastes underrepresented in Ontario’s consolidated beer market. Walkerville Brewery was reborn under the guidance of Mike Brkovich in the same neighbourhood where Hiram Walker brewed his famous beers.

The more things change...

We’ve only scratched the surface of the Brewed in Windsor here; we invite you to read more in our latest book, “Brewed In Windsor.”

To purchase a book, please visit walkerville.com D

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SPOTLIGHT

CHILDHOOD FRIENDS LIGHTING UP WINDSOR Tecumseh Signs Neon brings Windsor's famous Lazares Furs sign back to life.

By Devan Mighton Photos by Kegun Morkin

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SPOTLIGHT

In a world where one person's trash is another person's treasure, old becomes new and vintage is chic. Whether it be fashion, home design, cars, collectables, or what-have-you, it is proven that what once was in style, can and possibly will be in-style again.

Nostalgia is a powerful driver of the vintage trend. For old to become new, the trend in question requires a feel, an emotional texture to grab onto. The cool evening breeze in a convertible, the thrill of finding a rare trading card, the quaintness of a Victorian home, the warm glow of a neon sign.

Luke Piskovic of Piskey's Mobile Detailing and Justin Franzoso of Tecumseh Signs

are lifelong friends. Schoolmates, they both endeavoured to make something of themselves and build small businesses that would become the fabric of their community.

Straight out of high school, Franzoso made his way into the sign industry, learning the trade on the fly.

"Ten years ago, I decided to take a leap and start Tecumseh Signs," he explains. "I started Tecumseh Signs on my own. It was supposed to be a one-man show – one little bucket truck – I was going to go change light bulbs and signs and that was it. It would be my own little gig. I was going to do service calls and that was it. One thing led to

another and now we've grown into one of the biggest sign companies in the area."

Piskovic, with his detailing company, formed a solid clientele and made excellent contacts, to go along with a penchant for design skills and social media. He has joined forces with his lifelong friend to form a new side-hustle – Tecumseh Signs Neon.

"We've been best friends since we were little kids in grade 2," states Piskovic. "We're just two young entrepreneurs trying to use our resources together to push a dying art back to life."

A prime example of these signs on the streets of Windsor are the Yorktown Plaza

Bob Whitehead

We're just two young entrepreneurs trying to use our resources together to push a dying art back to life.

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Luke Piskovic (left) and Justin Franzoso

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SPOTLIGHT

sign on Grand Marais and the Arcata Pizza sign on Walker Ave., both deemed heritage sites by the City of Windsor.

Whitehead did the refurbishment of the Yorktown Plaza sign a few years earlier and was a perfect addition to the team.

With Franzoso as the sign builder and manufacturer and Piskovic handling design and sales, Tecumseh Signs Neon added glassblower Bob Whitehead to the fray.

Even though the new neon business has been operating for a while now, Tecumseh Signs has kept the new hustle fairly quiet, choosing to build a portfolio and grassroots following over jumping feet-first into the fire.

"We've got Bob, who's been in the industry for almost three decades," beams Franzoso. He is the last of the glassblowers that bends neon tubes. He's the only one right now, I think, from Toronto-down that still does neon glass. We decided to move his whole glass shop from Harrow and into our shop here in Windsor."

"Glassblowing is a wild art. It's pretty mesmerizing to see Bob using his own language, bending all the glass into patterns."

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"We’ve already started building stuff on the side that we’ve produced and delivered, we just haven’t really posted much because we’ve been building up our portfolio before we launch," explains Piskovic. "One of our main attractions for bringing back this dying art is, here in Windsor, the Lazares Furs sign on Maiden Lane. That sign’s been in disrepair for 25 or 30 years. The current owner bought it in the early 90’s and he’s never seen it lit up."

Affixed to the building at 493 Ouellette St. in 1942, for decades, the magnificent Lazares neon sign lit up Windsor's downtown. In 2015, the sign was added to the Windsor municipal heritage register.

"I tracked down the owner of that sign and offered a full in-house restoration – on us!" exclaimed Piskovic. "We are two young entrepreneurs, and we want to donate back to the City of Windsor – we want to light up that piece of art. It is one of the nicest pieces of art in Downtown Windsor. The graffiti that we see down there is beautiful and awesome, but when we see the glow of that neon, it’s something else."

Fixing up the sign was kept hush-hush, even from residents who feared that the gorgeous piece of art was being torn down.

Done at their own expense, the duo says

SPOTLIGHT

the job caught the attention of the city and even led to them fixing the "WINDSOR" sign for this year's Bright Lights Festival at Jackson Park.

"The City of Windsor supports our two local small businesses, and this is our way of giving back to the city that supports us and hopefully everyone can enjoy that beautiful sign in Downtown Windsor," adds Piskovic.

"Did it cost a lot of money? Yeah! But once we saw it lit up downtown three weeks ago – it looked so good."

Proudly Celebrating 11 Years in Business

A point of pride for Piskovic and Franzoso has been the work they and Whitehead did to rescue the neon sign from the demolished Tilbury Hotel. Memorable for its bright, fiery glow, the 16-by-five foot red "HOTEL" sign lit up the Tilbury skyline for decades.

"It’s the original one from the hotel back in the day," states Franzoso. "The building is now demolished, but my brother, who’s my main installer here at Tecumseh Signs, lives in Tilbury and found out that they were tearing the building down.

"He went there with one of our cranes and the sign was actually still on the roof of the building. We craned it off right before they tore the building down and salvaged it at the shop. We had Bob restore it all, redo all of the electrical and glass work on it. We have a lot of people who have interest in that thing and are willing to spend big money to buy it, but it’s so cool that we’ve got it hanging on the wall in our shop for now."

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Tecumseh Signs Neon are looking to do their part to bring back this dying art and to light up Windsor once again by making the old new again.

"In 2022, everybody is looking for the vintage look in cars, style, clothing, decorating your house – a lot of people are going with the vintage look," explains Franzoso. "The same thing is happening in the sign industry, where people are chasing that vintage look. People are now buying, selling, and trading old neon signs that are 50, 60, 70 years old, and we figured that if there is a demand for this out there, why can’t we start recreating this stuff? We started it as an experiment to see where it would go, and it’s done nothing but take off."

For more information on Tecumseh Signs Neon, please visit TecumsehSigns.ca, or follow them on social media at @tecumsehsigns, as well as Piskey's Mobile Detailing at @piskeys. D

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MMFS inc.

Has All The Bases Covered Sponsored Content Kevin built his business specializing in individual estate and corporate succession planning. “At a client’s request, for example, I will look at a company, figure out the tax liability if it was sold today.

We put together insurance policies, so the heirs inherit the business debt free.”

Moe Jr. works with employee groups and employers setting up pension and benefits plans for their employees.

“We also have full-time service advisors on group benefits,” Kevin continues. “We have a lawyer on premises to get signatures and assist with wills and estate planning.”

Over the years, MMFS inc. truly became a boutique in the insurance business.

“We choose our suppliers based on our customers’ needs,” Moe Sr. explains.

“As a brokerage agency, we find the best fit for the client. We get prices and plans from fifteen different companies, for instance, and explain the benefits to our client. Cheapest is not always the best.

We help clients find what fits their needs.”

Photography by Syx Langemann

entered the business in 1986. After starting with London Life, he branched out on his own, continuously broadening the focus of the business to accommodate his clients’ needs. Kevin King entered the industry in the early 1990s and merged his business with Moe Sr.’s in 2016. Moe’s son, Moe Jr. came aboard If you need financial services— in 2008. whether it’s insurance, saving for a “Diversification is the key to our child’s education, wealth management, questions about a pension, or even success,” says Kevin, a partner in the pre-paid funeral services—you need firm. “We have a holistic approach to Moe Mailloux Financial Services inc. financial services. Each of the three ( MMFS inc. ) They have all the bases partners at the shop has a specialty.” covered with their Four Pillars: investMoe Sr. is the one to see about wealth ments, insurance, benefits, and pre-paid accumulation. He deals with the more funeral planning. seasoned clientele, managing portfolios Located in Belle River, MMFS inc. for clients who built nest eggs of wealth was founded by Moe Mailloux Sr., who through a lifetime of work.

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For investment clients who have large assets—whether corporate or individual—MMFS inc. prides itself on low fees.

“We educate our clients,” Moe Sr. continues. “There are carriers who charge a 2.5 percent management fee. It’s possible we can provide the same service for 1.5 percent.”

The #1 question Moe Jr. hears from clients is: “How much money do I need to retire?”

The answer to that question is unique to each individual. Moe Jr. concedes: “There are two ways most Canadians believe in retiring: winning the lottery or inheriting the money. Neither is a viable plan.”

Working on the pension side of the business, Moe Jr. is quick to raise the warning: “Not enough people are saving

for retirement. Wages haven’t gone up in twenty years, but the cost of living rises every year.”

Moe Jr.’s approach to helping clients save for retirement is making it affordable.

“People won’t stick to a plan they can’t afford,” he says.

Providing Comfort to You and Your Family for 40 Years

Kevin agrees with this: “The key is making the plan affordable, so people stick to it. Our goal is to educate them about financial products that are available, and what’s affordable for them to put into their annual budget.”

The newest part of MMFS inc. business is pre-paid funeral planning. It is a part of life not many people want to think about but is something nearly everyone will have to deal with at some point.

There are many benefits to a pre-planned funeral. Families have confidence that the departed loved one’s wishes are followed. Costs are locked in. Most importantly, during a family’s time of grief they are not confronted with upsetting decisions. This also spares families from being hit with an unexpected expense.

MMFS inc. has grown into a one-stop shop for the financial needs of Essex County residents. Whether it’s saving for a child’s education, buying insurance for the family home, buying life insurance, or creating pension and benefits plans for one’s business—right up to seeing that clients’ final wishes are documented when they finally leave this life—MMFS inc. has the knowledge and experience to aid clients with some of the most important decisions of their lives.

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“Pre-paid funeral planning is unique in this area,” Kevin explains. “We built this part of the business during the initial outbreak of COVID-19. We work with two licensed funeral directors who answer client questions and address their concerns. As part of the process, they draft a document that gives the funeral home direction on what the family is looking for.”

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Thank you Windsor and Essex County citizens for your Generosity and Compassion!

The past year has been an unprecedented challenge for our local hospital system, but your support has made an incredible difference for all of us. As a result of your generosity through 2021, Windsor Regional Hospital has been able to purchase and fulfill the following needs:

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COMMUNITY

A NEW HOME SWEET HOME Family Respite Services Opens Doors to Solcz Family Foundation Respite Home

By Jen Brignall-Strong Photo by Trevor Booth

After two years of pandemic setbacks, hard work, and an outpouring of generous community donations, Family Respite Services Windsor-Essex is opening the doors to their new community respite home.

The 4,400 square-foot house is located at 4400 Howard Avenue and offers a variety of programs and engaging activities for children with intellectual and physical or mental health challenges.

“It’s a central location; we want to make it as easy as possible for families to access,” explains FRS’s Community Relations Alexandria Fischer, noting the new space is located directly beside their previous home.

Family Respite Services Windsor-Essex works in partnership with 1200 families who have children with disabilities, coordinating support and providing short breaks that strengthen families and contribute to children having meaningful lives in their community.

The organization had been providing these invaluable programs at their previous 56

home for the last twenty five years. Fischer explains that while the outdated home had been maintained and updated over the years, the group was in dire need of a new space.

The organization was thrilled when the opportunity to purchase the property next door became available three years ago.

The group was able to purchase the lot at the same time they sold their existing property to Joe Ciaravino, owner of neighbouring business Antonino’s Pizza. Through their arrangement, FRS was able to operate out of their original home until the new location was built. This enabled families to continue to receive support during the construction process.

the washroom and play space within the home accessible for children with disabilities.

“We’re so grateful that the community came together and we had the donations to make the build possible,” says Fischer. “So many businesses came on as in-kind donors.

The whole roofing system was donated. All of the doors and windows were completely donated. All of the flooring was donated.”

“It just worked out perfectly,” says Fischer. “The stars aligned.”

“These items weren’t any off the shelf items or things these businesses couldn’t sell; these were exactly the things we needed to create a specialized, accessible home,” she continues. “Meloche Windows fabricated a completely new line of windows for us because we needed triple pane shatterproof glass with blinds inside the windows for safety purposes. Incredible.”

The two-million-dollar project was completed through monetary gifts and in-kind donations from individuals and businesses across the area. The only government funding was a grant to assist in making

The Solcz Family Foundation ignited the campaign back in 2019 with a $300,000 gift and made additional donations of $200,000, as well as $225,000 this past December to cover additional expenses that the group

COMMUNITY

didn’t anticipate with their initial projected budget due to the impact of Covid-19.

“We did our feasibility assessment three years ago and then the pandemic hit and our projected budget increased significantly,” Fischer explains.

Thanks to the support of these community donors, the interior of the home is now complete. Fischer says the remaining outdoor work will be completed in the spring, including landscaping and the installation of special rubber ground for the fully accessible play area.

“This is the only respite home for children with disabilities in Windsor that is licensed by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services” says Fischer, sharing that there has been a wait list to utilize the home’s programs for many years. “We’re excited that we can now have increased flexibility and provide a high quality of support in our community.”

“This home is very specialized to offer support for children after school and on weekends. The support is adapted to each child’s needs since every child is affected differently by their disability.”

In addition to after-school programs, Family Respite Services also provides a specialized summer camp program, day support programs, as well as a full weekend program and overnight stays for the children and youth.

Many of the children require support during the day and throughout the night to give their families a much needed break.

child socializes with their peers, builds and develops skills, engages in sport and recreation, and participates in the community.

“Research tells us that families benefit from respite. Parents who have children with disabilities often experience challenges with being able to balance the needs of the child with a disability and their siblings, the financial impact, and the social isolation that often occurs,” she explains. “So, when we hear from families directly and we read the research, we know this home is crucial for so many, giving everyone a short break.”

“It’s a large home. We can have five children sleeping there based on our ministry standards,” says Fischer, noting that the children are scheduled to come in on a rotating basis.

Fischer points out that each family might need something different, so the organization’s goal is to be as flexible and family-centered as possible.

Fischer says that the journey to create this new home has been an emotional one, but the entire Family Respite Services team and the families they support are thrilled to finally be able to utilize the modern, spacious home to its full capacity.

“It’s like an individualized respite support plan; it’s not a cookie cutter program,” she explains. “We want to make sure that we’re offering support that works within cultural dynamics and individual family situations.”

“It’s very exciting to have families walk through the doors of the home. There’s just so much more room to roam. Now we have this beautiful space to get more creative and offer and implement some really amazing learning opportunities,” says Fischer. D

Over the years, Fischer says families have expressed to them the importance of these programs, which allow parents and caregivers the chance to rest and recharge while their

Congratulations to Family Respite Services on the build of the new Family Respite Services Home.

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Names that Impress is located in the heart of Pillette Village. This area has always been known for its antique stores, keeping that reputation my store now features unique home décor, both vintage and new.

High end vintage clothing, luxury items are now able to be showcased. Upscale clothing for both men and women, luxury items, gold sterling and costume jewelry at a fraction of the price.

I have an array of unique antique finds for all my treasure hunters. Everyone is sure to find something they love. I am so thrilled with the expansion and very much look forward to showing you what we have to ooer!

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59

CHARITY

Circle of 7 Celebrates 25 Years Together How a local group of business leaders banded together to quietly make a difference in their community

By Matthew St. Amand Photo by Trevor Booth

“We’ve provided funds for Leone House for teenage girls,” Rob continues. “They need money and food, but we have also helped with renovations, such as a new roof, flooring, carpeting, and plumbing. We have many partners in the city, and quite often a vendor comes in saying they will do the work at cost. Next thing we know, they’re donating their services.”

Galas like Denim & Diamonds have raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Children’s Aid Society, Alzheimer’s and CMHA mental health causes, Connections Early Years and the United Way summer lunch program.

The Circle of 7 is Windsor’s philanthropic dream team. For the past 25 years, this group of Windsor entrepreneurs has worked quietly in the background, funding people and causes that have nowhere else to turn. Their efforts have raised over $4 million during that time. All funds stay in the community.

“We help those people and groups who aren’t eligible for grants, and who are in danger of falling through the cracks,” says Circle of 7 president, Tony Haddad, retired Chief Administrative Officer of the Town of Tecumseh. “Our mantra is: ‘To help those who cannot help themselves, either in the field of health and welfare, youth sports, or the arts.’”

areas of expertise as the Marvel Super Friends gathered around the conference table at the Hall of Justice. They were: John Ferguson former NHL player with the Montreal Canadiens. Ed Agnew, one-time Commissioner of Finance in City of Windsor. Robert “Knobby” Knudsen.

Keith White, general manager of Freeds of Windsor. Tom Williams former NHL hockey player. Don Wiley, retired Windsor Police detective. Rob Agnew, Realtor.

“John Ferguson, Knobby Knudsen, and my uncle Ed are no longer with us,” says Rob Agnew, “having passed away a few years ago.”

“We are all Windsor-proud business people,” says Circle of 7 founding member, Rob Agnew. “All funds we raise stay in the area”.

Newer members include Tony Haddad, president, Gord Boggs, chartered accountant, Mickey Pierre (GM), Gus Revenberg (GMC), Deborah Severs, lawyer, Camille Shaheen, owner of Top Roofing), new secretary Julie Bortolotti, and co-Treasurer Justin Pierre.

The Circle of 7 was formed a quarter century ago following a round of golf. The original members were as diverse in their

The Circle of 7 has also worked for years with many large organizations but has also generously funded much smaller efforts.

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“If we gave them $1000 or $5000, it’ll have a good impact,” Tony adds. “That could be the difference in whether a program will be run or not.”

The Circle has always been creative with fund raising initiatives. The Denim & Diamonds Gala, live and silent auctions, Dine & Drive with Chef Joe in August where donors ordered gourmet meal packages, including wine, and drove up where it was all ready and waiting.

The latest initiative is “25 For 25,” where the Circle is asking people to go to its website (circleof7.com), click the Donate button and donate $25.

“We’ve been around 25 years,” Rob says.

“We’re now asking the community to help us help other people. We have zero overhead, no salaries, every dollar that’s raised goes into the community… often more. At the close of every initiative, we’re digging into our own pockets.”

To learn more about what the Circle of 7 has done in Windsor-Essex, check them out online at www.circleof7.com. And be sure to click that green Donate button! D

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Our strength is their strength.

Chantalle Massaad Manager, Assurance

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Our people are our greatest strength at Grant Thornton LLP. That’s why we’re thrilled when our advisors achieve important career milestones. It’s our pleasure to congratulate Chantalle and Amit on becoming Managers, Nathan for passing the Common Final Examination (CFE), and Patrick for becoming a Tax Specialist. Our strength is their strength—and we’re delighted our clients in Windsor have access to these stellar talents!

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61

EDUCATION

The Drive magazine in partnership with Libro Credit Union is challenging Grade 12 students 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 Mariam Raphael-Bakmaya for being our January winner!

We are proud of all the participants and will continue to support our community through continued literacy and a path to higher education.

Within T he Silver Mariam Raphael-Bakmaya

However, winter isn't as bad as it seems.

Of course, no one would want a runny nose, the flu, cold hands or their car battery dying on them, but what about all the benefits of the sub-zero season? Warm baths after a cold run. The rain and the cold give us the chance to replenish the wildlife and nature around us. It makes our air replenished with moisture, it constructs our streams and rivers and refills our water table when it is dry from the summer. You see, winter is not as bad as it may seem, the pain we suffer during the winter benefits our summer season.

"Every cloud has a silver lining" is a hard thing to say when you are standing here soaked by the rain. These clouds seem like all they ever make is wet puddles for me to stomp in, swim in, and then drown in.

It seems like I am never able to catch my breath, like the storm is always chasing after me. Every corner I turn, there is a puddle; if not a puddle, a storm; if not a storm, a hurricane. The opportunities for me to drown and fail are endless. No matter where I turn, I am drenched in the water the clouds love to pour, especially on my parade.

Unlike the summer, winter intrinsically gives us the cold shoulder. No more 62 62

late-night talks, burning heat and peeling shoulders. Instead, you get cold hands, the flu, runny noses and your car battery dying on you. During summer, you do not have to carry an umbrella with you. Although it may rain from time to time, it is the type of rain that rejuvenates you. The type of rain that grows your garden. The type of rain that gives you that wonderful "after it rained smell". The type of rain that makes all the birds sing right after. The type of rain that you have been praying for. The type of rain that brings rainbows. It is a shame that we only get to see the beauty of summer once a year.

You may be in your "winter season" frustration and hibernation as of now.

Where you are halfway through the school year and losing all your hope and motivation. You may be giving up on your assignments, handing in nonsense just to avoid earning zero and relying on Grammarly and Chegg instead of that brain you once used at the beginning of the semester. You have worked too hard to lose it all right now, why be afraid of a little rain? Remember, you are not so far away from the summer version of yourself. The version of you that glows in the sun, the version of you that thrives in the heat. That version of you who grew from all the trouble and pain you encountered in the winter. You will wipe the rain off your glasses and go into the new year with gratitude and love in your heart. The silver lining may not always be so evident in different cases but in this case, the clouds let the sun shine through. Under these circumstances, you are the sunshine that will shine through these hard times and live within the silver lining. D

Giving young people a head start We want to give the 25-and-under crowd a head start, that’s why we created the Go Free Bundle. A package of free products and services for Owners ages 13 to 25.

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63

BOOK REVIEW

THE FLOWER THAT (EVENTUALLY) GREW Local author explores the theme of belonging and growing at our own pace.

By Alley L. Biniarz Photos by Victoria Anne D’Anna

Victoria Anne D’Anna

We’ve all searched for some form of belonging.

Whether it was through grade school and high school or even through adulthood, most of us can relate to Lily, a character in a locally written and illustrated book, who feels like she’s a weed in a garden full of flowers — growing just a little bit differently than everyone else.

“Everybody goes through something like this in life. You feel like you should be fitting in and you don’t realize that you’ve always belonged in your own way,” Lily’s creator and author of the book The Flower That Wouldn’t Grow, Victoria Anne D’Anna says.

Victoria wanted to celebrate “late bloomers” through this book, which is done through Lily, a flower in a garden who is smaller than the others. While everyone else has a full crown of petals, Lily has but a small sprout atop her head. Worried that she’ll never grow, Lily leaves the garden in search of her perfect place to be planted.

Though, after a few attempts of growing elsewhere, Lily realizes that the soil isn't always richer in someone else's garden.

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BOOK REVIEW

She finds that it’s richest in herself; all she needed was a little patience and acceptance of her own pace of growth.

Just like Lily, Victoria has also felt like a late bloomer, and says that she has based the book on her own experiences around belonging.

During grade school and high school, she had moments where she struggled with self-confidence, Victoria hoped she would feel differently through university. She remembers the defining moment for her — as an artist and a person — while taking her double major in Visual Arts and English Language and Literature at the University of Windsor. Victoria says it happened while she was in school doing work for one of her studio classes; she and her classmates were set up in a circle drawing and observing each other’s work.

“I noticed my style was different from my other classmates’, so I tried to blend my work into their style,” Victoria explains, initially feeling like her work didn’t fit into the arts space. “I thought maybe I shouldn’t be in arts school, that it wasn’t working out for me.”

It was later in her Children’s Literature class, when they’d begun studying Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, where for the first time Victoria saw a style like hers. She became inspired by his linework and storytelling and began mimicking the delicate drawings until she eventually found a style all her own.

Like Lewis Carroll’s work, Victoria brings her illustrations to life through whimsical imagery mixed with realism, which makes her work accessible for both children and adults. This debut picture book showcases her minimalist aesthetic and combines it with an easy to recognize message for all readers. However, the process for publishing her work challenged Victoria, showing her once again that her growth had its own course in mind.

The Flower that Wouldn’t Grow is the fourth book she’s written and illustrated, and her second attempt at getting published.

“I poured my heart into my first book and got rejection letter after rejection letter,” she says, eventually taking a break from her first book to work on The Flower That Wouldn’t Grow. “But the same thing kept happening and I thought, maybe I’m just not meant for the market. It’s not this book’s time. It’s hard when you pour your heart out into something and nobody sees that.”

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After seven months of sending it to publishers, Victoria finally opened a letter of acceptance and a contract agreement. She landed the ideal publisher who recognized her message and vision and worked collaboratively to bring the story to its full potential.

“This book does have a strong message that’s easy to understand, whether for a smaller child or their parent, and I think it’s a message that stands out. Rather than tearing it apart, the publisher gave me constructive feedback and we made it stronger together.”

Victoria shares that releasing the book into the world was more difficult than she’d imagined. She worried that after all the time spent on the book; the six months of writing the book between her job, the seven months of waiting for a publisher, and another year to get the book on the shelves, whether people would take her seriously. So far, Victoria has received encouraging and positive feedback, which has given her more confidence as a writer and illustrator.

Victoria has continuously learned from Lily and has used her book’s message to unpack this notion of embracing growing at our own pace. She adds that it’s especially important in today’s world of social media,

where Victoria says people are constantly showcasing their best lives and comparing their internet realities to others. “Some are having babies, buying a house, landing their dream job, and I felt like I was lagging behind and not catching up to these things.

Now I know that if I go at my own pace and follow my timeline, I’ll get to where I need to be.”

Victoria says there’s nothing worse in the world than to feel like you don’t belong or don’t have an outlet to express yourself.

She hopes this book brings readers a form of confidence to find beauty in all the qualities that make them different from others, but also to see how we’re all alike in our search for belonging.

The Flower That Wouldn’t Grow serves as a resource to empower late bloomers with the beauty and positivity of personal and physical growth. Through Lily’s journey of finding her stride, we’re reminded that we are always in the right stage at the right time. The picture book is available for purchase through Amazon and at several local bookshops in Windsor. The Flower That Wouldn’t Grow can also be signed out to read at the Windsor, LaSalle, and Leamington Public Libraries. D 65

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67

DRIVE

Quality. Experience. Style.

Scott Martindale—3rd Generation

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Today, in Ontario, there are over 1,500 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. This is their only treatment option, and every 3 days someone will die because they did not get their transplant in time. But you can help. When you register your consent for organ and tissue donation, you let those waiting know that you would help them if you could. One donor can save up to 8 lives through organ donation and enhance the lives of up to 75 more through the gift of tissue. Len Martindale passed away two years ago and as an organ donor Len’s generous donation of his vital organs saved the lives of seven individuals. Martindale Window and Doors encourages you to visit www.beadonor.ca today.