The Drive Magazine // Issue 142 by The Drive Magazine

ISSUE 142

CINDY’S HOME AND GARDEN A BIT OF EVERYTHING, FOR EVERYONE, ALL OF THE TIME!

LIFESTYLE | CULTURE | PEOPLE | TRENDS

Preparing for the Future The Odette School of Business is finalizing the creation of a premier Data Analytics Teaching Lab. The lab will support the school’s new undergraduate and graduate specializations in Data Analytics and increase its ability to recruit top business students and faculty from around the world.

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The

DRIVE

PAUL ST-PIERRE ................................................ Publisher DAVE HUNTER .................................. Vice President, sales BREANNE MCGINTY.................................................. Sales SONJA POPOVSKI ..................................................... Sales SHAWNA BEECROFT .............................. Graphic designer SABINE MAIN......................................... Creative director MARNIE ROBILLARD ............................. Director of design CONTRIBUTORS TREVOR BOOTH .......................................... Photographer JEN BRIGNALL-STRONG ......................................... Writer DR. ANDREA DINARDO ......................................... Writer MONA ELKADRI .......................................... Stylist/writer DAVE HUNTER ............................................ Photographer SYX LANGEMANN ....................................... Photographer MADELINE MCCALLUM ............. Writer (student contest) DEVAN MIGHTON .................................................. Writer ANTHONY SHEARDOWN ............................ Photographer MATTHEW ST. AMAND ........................................... Writer ANNA STANLEY ............................................. Copy editor JESSE ZITER .......................................................... Writer

On the cover: ISSUE 142

CINDY’S HOME AND GARDEN A BIT OF EVERYTHING, FOR EVERYONE, ALL OF THE TIME!

We create so much more than closets.

Jason and Tisha Martin owners of Cindy’s Home & Garden By Jennifer Brignall-Strong Photos by Syx Langemann

LIFESTYLE | CULTURE | PEOPLE | TRENDS

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Free In-Home or Virtual Design Consultations WINDSOR 1160 Walker Rd 519.723.2100 californiaclosets.ca ©2022 California Closet Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Franchises independently owned and operated.

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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CONTENTS

ISSUE 142 AROUND TOWN 12 Noteworthy Mentions Around Town PSYCH DRIVE 20 Put a Time Limit on Negativity Story by Dr. Andrea Dinardo THE DRIVE HOME 22 (Re) Making History – Distinguished Riverside Home Undergoes Glow Up of the Century By Jen Brignall- Strong Photos by Trevor Booth

20 BOOK REVIEW The Truth is Out A novel by Gabrielle Chevalier.

PORTRAIT 32 Growing Leaps and Bounds – Business is Blooming at Cindy’s Home and Garden in Kingsville By Jen Brignall-Strong Photos by Syx Langemann

By Matt St. Amand Photo by Dave Hunter

COMMUNITY 42 The Grand Opening of Farrow Riverside Miracle Park By Karen Hall FOOD 56 Red Curry Stir Fry By Mona Elkadri from Oh So Mona Photos by Vicki Bartel PSYCH DRIVE 62 Embracing Change – Moving Forward by Dr. Andrea Dinardo

46 INNER-VIEW L ife isn’t about the Destination, it’s about the Journey. By Matt St. Amand

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SPORTS 66 Locals Bringing Pro Soccer Home. Clanachan, Cirovski Driving Force Behind Windsor Canadian Premier League Franchise Renderings by Joseph Passa of PA Architects EDUCATION 70 University of Windsor – Major Data Reach By Jesse Ziter STUDENT ESSAY 72 Young Canadians and Their Confidence in Financial Knowledge By Madeline McCallum 9

INSPIRELUXURY

Kingsville Open Streets

A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER There’s something about spring that encourages everyone to look forward and set their clocks ahead by an hour, but this season has us looking back. The last couple of years, businesses found challenges like no previous years. Comfort foods sold at an all-time high, while building materials and paper supplies were impossible to order. No matter how big or small our stresses are, we continuously seek ways to keep busy and entertained. And what better way to be happy than to explore all the exciting local sites, shops and soon-to-be bustling restaurants. Let's go out! If DIY projects are your penchant, you are probably eager to dig in the garden. Our cover features a duo who have been slaying the Home and Garden Centre scene for years! Beautify your yard with vibrant plants, flowers, and outdoor décor from 'Cindy’s Home & Garden' in Kingsville - and enjoy their story built on vision and generosity. This issue is full of great stories and photography that highlight our community, including an interview with Belle River author Gabrielle Chevalier's novel 'The Truth is Out'. We soccer-chatter with iconic Windsor sportswriter Bob Duff and get cooking in the kitchen with local lifestyle influencer Mona Elkadri of 'Oh So Mona'. Her Instagram shares delicious recipes! Follow @ohsomona. With so much to cover, we hope every story demonstrates that life keeps going – even when the world around it appears to have other plans. Thank you to our loyal advertisers and supporters; you continue to make The DRIVE your leading lifestyle magazine for #YQG! 22+ years and going strong!

A L WAY S O N D I S P L AY 519-979-4200 marquistile.com 1825 Manning Rd Tecumseh, ON

Yours truly,

Paul St. Pierre Publisher

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AROUND TOWN

TOWN Welcome to our custom content page meant to highlight unique news from the Windsor-Essex region THE DIANE MOTEL Celebrating 60 years in business The Diane Motel has given travellers and residents in Windsor and Essex County a comfortable place to stay for 60 years. Once an apple orchard, Stanley Bogusz, an immigrant from Poland, came to Canada with very little. He had a vision to build a motel at the edge of town to support his family. The 9-unit motel was built with a small one bedroom apartment where the family would live. Stanley and Agnes worked tirelessly and built it themselves. Over the decades the motel has seen many changes. From the growth of the city spreading east to the ups and downs of the economy, and more recently newly renovated rooms. Agnes ran the motel until she passed at the age of 92. Their daughter Diane and her son Andy have been running it ever since. The rooms are now rented weekly by calling 519-945-8814.

LUNGOVITA Founded in 2021, Lungovita is the former Caboto Park located on 16 beautiful acres on the coast of Lake Erie. As we become more and more connected via technology, it has never been more important to set aside time and a space to disconnect. This is exactly what the founders of Lungovita had in mind when they purchased this land. Lungovita (loon-go-v-ta) meaning long life, is a place where you can relax in nature and enjoy many amenities such as hot tubs, saunas, our pool, 600 ft of private waterfront, bikes and kayaks. Lungovita has created unique stays in our geodesic domes and our 16ft bell tents. There is nothing like this anywhere in Ontario and it is right in your own backyard. For more information on bookings dates, please visit lungovita.com today.

TEAM MONTY With over 33 years of real estate experience, Team Monty is your Windsor & Essex County real estate experts. Team Monty is your one-stop shop in Residential and Commercial real estate transactions. They provide their clients with top-notch service, advanced technology, and thoughtful guidance through every step of their journey. In 2021, Team Monty restructured by adding additional support and administrative staff to ensure that their client's needs are always being met and exceeded. Team Monty’s mission statement is “Getting our clients the best results by providing them with the highest quality service, fastest responses, most information, and abundance of care and marketing”. For more information on how Team Monty can benefit you during your purchase and sale, contact Nick Montaleone with Team Monty today at (226) 774-1220, or visit his website at nick-montaleone.c21.ca. 12

AROUND TOWN

PURE FRUIT CAFÉ Pure Fruit Café is the first local café to specialize in a fresh fruitbased menu. Pure Fruit Café fuses a menu of artisanal beverage, baked desserts, and fresh fruit dishes with an ambiance of Parisian chic. Interior design by Pure Café provides a cheerful and glamourous space to enjoy a mid-day break, client meeting, girl’s day out, or celebration. “People want to go out and get together whether it is meeting up with colleagues who need to get out of house after two years of working at home or to celebrate a special occasion or just and relax with some great coffee and a dessert” says owner Manal Hage. Pure Fruit Café is located at 350 Cabana Rd East and can be reached by calling 519-965-0891. Follow them on Instagram @purefruitcafe.

SEADEK Started in 2016 by owner Chad Thomas and located in Belle River, Thomas Custom Marine Inc. services Windsor Essex County and surrounding areas. Thomas Custom Marine Inc. is a SeaDek Certified Fabricator that digitally scans, designs, and CNC cuts custom SeaDek for any boat project. Thomas Custom Marine Inc. also has installers located in various locations across Ontario. SeaDek is a revolutionary product utilized not only by the top boat builders in the marine industry, but also in the aftermarket by boat owners seeking custom products. Made from closed cell PE/EVA foam, SeaDek products offer safe and comfortable alternatives to marine traction products currently on the market. For more information about Thomas Custom Marine Inc. and SeaDek Marine Products please contact Chad at chad@thomascustommarine.com or visit their web page at ThomasCustomMarine.com.

TANYA VAN DONGEN Victory Ford & Lincoln is excited to introduce a rising star Tanya Van Dongen to their team. Tanya comes from a background of hard work, grit and determination, focusing on enhancing the car buying process and giving it a new vibe. TVD as she is often referred, went to school to become a lawyer, and took an opportunity presented to her which has led her to where she is today. Tanya recently earned accolades, specifically in Automotive News being named one of the “Canadians to Watch 2021.” Victory Ford & Lincoln is excited to have her, and invite you in to the dealership to connect with our new Lincoln Sales Manager on any of your new Ford or Lincoln needs. Contact her here: tvd@victoryford.ca, 519-436-1430

VINTAGE GRAPE HOUSEBOAT ACCOMMODATIONS While visiting Key West in 2017 this idea was stolen from ‘Captain Jack’ who rented Brian his houseboat when no other accommodation was available. From that moment he knew, the Vintage Grape houseboat accommodations in scenic Colchester harbour, in the heart of wine county would be a great option for people. Little did he know, it would be the #1 most desired and sought after short term escape in all of Southwestern Ontario. With three huge double deck floating cottages (houseboats) equipped with everything and anything you could possibly need – beach, bars, wineries, bike paths, restaurants, peace and quiet and yes stargazing to new heights – this is a MUST DO EXPERIENCE. Check out the website today thevintagegrapes. ca and see why people are raving about this unique stay. Owner/ Operator Brian McGinty will make sure you have a blast. THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

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PROFILE

LAKEVIEW MONTESSORI Anything Begins Here

How a Lakeshore school started 40 years ago, with a handful of students, is ready to take on the world. By Matthew St. Amand

PROFILE

For more than four decades, Lakeview Montessori has been an oasis of learning in Lakeshore. The school was founded in 1978, in St. Mark’s Church Hall by Ms. Janice Mayhew, with fifteen students. Since that time, the consistent theme of Lakeview Montessori has been growth: in student population, physical space, as well as educationally, creatively, technologically. The word “Montessori” brings to mind an image of toddlers playing contentedly with blocks. That is not far off the mark, but it hardly tells the whole story. The first thing to note is that Lakeview Montessori is an elementary school, with students ranging in age from one year to approximately thirteen—from those learning their ABCs, to those learning how to code and operate robots. The Montessori philosophy was created by physician Maria Tecla Artemisia Montessori in the early twentieth century. The foundation of the philosophy is rooted in the individual student. Maureen Harris, current head of school at Lakeview Montessori, explains: “The first thing, the child is not expected to fit into a box. We take the child where they are. There is no: ‘Well, you’re five years old, so you should be doing this…’ If you’re not good in a subject, you’re not made to feel inferior to others. If you’re exceptional, you’re challenged even further.” She continues: “We operate on a model that shows respect for the child, the child respecting the teacher, and respect for the environment, which requires children cleaning up after themselves, for instance.” When asked how she came to be involved with Lakeview Montessori, Maureen says: “My two children were

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enrolled here as students, and I was one of the first people to go through Lakeview Montessori’s Teacher Education Program.” In 1981, Lakeview was incorporated and registered as a non-profit. The school is run by a Board of Directors. The 1990s saw Lakeview physically grow: construction of a 6,500 square foot, two-storey addition was completed to accommodate its increasing student population. The addition also provided space for six classrooms, a library, administrative offices, reception area, learning materials area, a staff room, and kitchen.

By the 2000s, founder Janice Mayhew retired. The facility underwent renovation once more, and the 13815 Riverside Drive location was purchased. The next decade saw Professor Maureen Harris take on the role of head of school. During her tenure, Lakeview expanded to include a new Middle School Enrichment Program, and embraced the innovative world of global technology by adding coding and robotics to its curriculum. The curriculum at Lakeview Montessori is broad and intended to foster individual

PROFILE

creativity, independent thought, and a respect and appreciation for others. On a more concrete level, Lakeview states on its website: “Our class sizes are small and we offer an exceptional child-teacher ratio.” It goes on to explain: “[W]e believe in thinking differently. The way we push the limits is by making learning fun, specific to each student, personalized to one’s strengths and incredibly engaging.” The curriculum includes (but is not limited to) Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Math, History, Geography, Botany and Zoology, The Great Lessons, French, Mandarin, Coding, Robotics, Art, Music, Physical Education, educational field trips, and community outreach. The school also has a student council, which incorporates all ages. This year, the president is an eighth grader, and the treasurer is a fourth grade student. “The council meets once a month,” Maureen explains. “The younger ones are asked to fi nd out from their peers what they want for the school. The representatives bring those ideas to council. If it’s something they can all agree on, it comes to me, and I say: ‘Show me how it can work, and we’ll go from there!’” Lakeview Montessori staff are passionate, motivated educators. One of them, who taught Maureen’s own children in the late 1980s, is still on staff. Other teachers have been with the school for

As educators everywhere—and the worldat-large—slowly emerge from the shadow After celebrating its fortieth anniverof the pandemic, Lakeview Montessori sary, Lakeview received two major national welcomes the next phase in its evolution. accreditations, one from the Canadian “After ten years as head of school, I will Accreditation of Independent Schools (CAIS), and the other from the Canadian be leaving,” Maureen says. “We’re excited Council for Montessori Administrators that one of our long-standing teachers has (CCMA). The Lakeview Montessori accepted an interim position. It’s time for me Teacher Education Program also attained to move onto my next chapter, and Lakeview a global accreditation: Montessori Accred- needs a fresh, post-pandemic outlook.” itation Council for Teacher Education During her time at the helm of Lakeview (MACTE), which provides the faculty with Montessori, key indicators of the school opportunities to collaborate with Montes- doubled: student population, the school’s sori education colleges in China. finances, the physical space of the school. upwards of twenty and twenty-five years.

Lakeview retains its quality staff members because it encourages and supports educators to be their true, authentic selves, as entrepreneurs, innovators, and community leaders. Because class sizes are small, teachers have the ability to create a family-like atmosphere within their own classrooms. More than a few staff refer to Lakeview Montessori as being “a home away from home.” The majority of teachers are parents themselves. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Lakeview made a virtually seamless transition to online learning. “It was really easy for us to pivot,” Maureen says. “We were already familiar with Google Classroom. Each student received their own iPad. The seniors students chose whether they wanted an iPad or laptop computer. And the learning continued.”

“This is a moment for change,” Maureen notes. “If I could do these things in ten years, with the help of everyone in the school, just imagine what the next ten years will be like.” To learn more about Lakeview Montessori’s past, present, and future, visit the school online at lakeviewmontessori.ca. D Sponsored Content

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BOOK REVIEW

THE TRUTH IS OUT Local Author Tells Her Personal Truth Through Fiction By Matthew St. Amand Photos by Dave Hunter

In the dedication of his novel, It, horror writer, Stephen King, stated: “[F]iction is truth inside the lie…” Windsor novelist, Gabrielle K. Chevalier, is speaking her truth through her novels The Secret is Out and Jackson: Surviving Emotional Abuse. The subject of each is physical and mental abuse, and it’s Gabrielle’s intention to place the reader right in the center of the ordeal. “I wanted to tell a story—my story—and wanted to bring people with me,” Chevalier explains. “I want the reader sitting right next to me, experiencing everything themselves.” The Secret is Out tells the story of a teenaged girl named Charlie. Following her parents divorce, Charlie lives with her father. The situation works—for a while. After Charlie enters high school, her father’s attention takes on creepy overtones. When she has friends sleepover, he buys them alcohol. He leaves pornographic material lying around the house. The suspense increases as Charlie makes other, more disturbing, discoveries. So, what inspired a woman in her mid-twenties, with no previous writing background, to author multiple novels? “Someone doubted my story [of abuse],” she says, “and this fueled a fire in me. ‘This is why victims don’t

Someone doubted my story [of abuse], and this fueled a fire in me. ‘This is why victims don’t come out!’ I thought. ‘This is why they don’t talk about what happened.’ And I decided: ‘I’ll write a book!’

BOOK REVIEW

come out!’ I thought. ‘This is why they don’t talk about what happened.’ And I decided: ‘I’ll write a book!’” Her first novel tells a story similar to her own. To carve out the emotional space, however, to express her feelings, Gabrielle fictionalized her experience. After surviving abuse from her father, Charlie endures a toxic relationship with a mentally abusive partner in Gabrielle’s follow-up novel, Jackson: Surviving Emotional Abuse. “I find readers are drawn to fiction, more than memoir,” she says. “Many memoirs are like a newspaper reporting events. Fiction tells a story. I wanted to tell a story—my story.” Although The Secret is Out would have benefited from the attention of a proof-reader, what the book lacks in polish, it makes up for in power. The emotional truth Gabrielle achieves eclipses the book’s technical irregularities. The story is suspenseful and heart wrenching. The response to the book has been overwhelmingly positive. “So many victims have messaged me,” Gabrielle continues. “They go into the details of their own stories. Nearly a hundred people in this area have contacted me. I shake my head. I don’t understand how this stuff happens and people just get away with it.” Not only is Gabrielle an author, but she is also an advocate for abuse survivors. She believes that increased education is one powerful way to combat abuse.

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“We need to teach this stuff in high school,” she says. “It should be part of sex ed, to teach kids the signs of grooming, conditioning, about narcissistic partners and how they can mentally destroy a person. Bring in guest speakers. Shine a light on the subject.” She also believes the justice system needs to take abuse more seriously. “There are enough resources to help victims report,” Gabrielle says, “but our judges and justice system only give slaps on the wrist to abusers. I’m part of some Facebook groups for abuse survivors and so often people write: ‘I don’t report my abuse because it won’t do anything anyway.’ Judges don’t do anything.” In a case like Gabrielle’s, an abuser who victimized more than half a dozen young women over a period of years was sentenced to three months in jail. The abuser ended up serving a month and a half behind bars. Following the positive response from readers for her first two novels, Gabrielle is completing work on a third novel titled The Final Entry. She anticipates it being available in the summer.

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“The third book is a standalone story,” she says. “It’s a horror novel. The story is based on a family I heard about when growing up. The people directly involved are no longer alive. Nobody even talks about it anymore. Often these stories are so hard to believe. That’s why they need to be told.” Abuse survivors have a fearless advocate in Gabrielle, and she has only begun her quest to raise awareness about the previously taboo subject of abuse. For more information about Gabrielle and her books, visit her online: gabriellekchevalier.com. D THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

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THE DRIVE HOME

(RE)MAKING

History

Distinguished Riverside Home Undergoes Glow-Up of the Century By: Jen Brignall-Strong Photos by Trevor Booth

After a momentous transformation nearly two years in the making, one of the city’s most recognizable estates is ready for the next chapter of its storied history.

industry magnate built the home initially as a summer cottage, later making it his permanent residence and living there until his passing in 1937.

Located in the heart of Windsor’s “Golden Mile,” 6425 Riverside Drive East is a stunning Classic Revival style home with antebellum elements, now updated and completely re-imagined with visionary style, luxurious finishes, and superb craftsmanship.

While not officially designated a heritage home, the Senator William T. McGraw House is recognized for its cultural heritage value and was added to the Windsor Municipal Heritage Register with the first group of non-designated properties in 2007.

“I think that’s part of what makes this house so special,” says listing agent Doris Lapico, realtor for Century 21 Showtime Realty Ltd. “We live in a world where everything is a teardown and I think they did such an amazing job revitalizing the home and bringing it back to life.”

After falling into disrepair over the past decade, the home was purchased by a local contractor who saw the potential of the stately manor and wanted to restore it to its former glory while introducing more modern amenities. The revitalization project began in early 2020 and quickly took on a life of its own, The home was originally built in 1905 eventually wrapping up at the end of 2021. “I love the fact that they took the bones of for Michigan Senator William T. McGraw, a prominent industrialist and real estate owner this house and they believed in it and got it to who was well known in both the Detroit and a level where it’s a piece of art,” says Lapico. “I Windsor districts. The American tobacco think the house gives you this stunning gallery

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PORTRAIT THE DRIVE HOME

space and yet you see the wonder of being able to raise a family here.” The 6,500 square foot home would indeed be ideal for a growing family, with four large bedrooms, five bathrooms, and plenty of space for entertaining with a relaxed, Speakeasy-style family room and light filled reading room. “This house has created the most interest ever,” says Lapico. “There’s been a lot of activity on it.” One of the biggest draws is the ultramodern entertainer’s kitchen by Joe’s Woodcraft of Windsor, complete with built-in appliances, an extra-large island and pantry, as well as an entryway to a huge stone patio. Aside from the reconfiguration of the kitchen, the original footprint of the home remains largely intact, although not many of the interior elements were salvageable. Thankfully, the team was able to restore several key pieces, including the main staircase and a gorgeous bronze sculpture on the king newel post that doubles as a unique light fixture. They also managed to refurbish two of the homes fireplaces, saving the original mahogany wood surround as well as original tiling, which was made in Detroit in the early 1900s. “They kept some really nice elements; those fireplaces and the staircase are really special,” notes Lapico. The home’s vestibule was restored as well, with the original door and sidelights stripped

PORTRAIT THE DRIVE HOME

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PORTRAIT THE DRIVE HOME

I think that’s part of what makes this house so special, We live in a world where everything is a teardown and I think they did such an amazing job revitalizing the home and bringing it back to life.

PORTRAIT THE DRIVE HOME

and refinished. The team even managed to refinish a giant walk-in safe in the basement, taking it safely out of commission and creating a one-of-a-kind sitting area. The exterior of the property also underwent some substantial upgrades: the ornate columns that frame the front entrance were modernized, and the dormer windows were clad with a natural cedar shake to create a warmer, more organic feel. “This house is just such a spectacular meld of history, modern amenities, and cutting edge design,” says Lapico’s colleague, realtor Matt Biggley. “When everyone is flocking to brand new, this is like brand new but with such a cool history behind it.” “I think sometimes people can sometimes misinterpret ‘historic’ as meaning it has to stay the same,” continues Biggley, a former history teacher. “Really history is the story of change and continuity; what stays the same and what continues to evolve.” Lapico agrees. “For us, we want to tell the story of this house. If these walls could talk, we want to be the voice behind them,” she says. “It’s more than just a sale for us, which is why we really dug into the history behind the home. As a team, we want to educate people on the wonders of this beautiful property.” To view this magnificent property, please contact Sales Representative Doris Lapico directly at 519-796-0174 today. D THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

PORTRAIT

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PROFILE

DEFINE YOUR AESTHETIC WITH STUDIO SAVONE A new design studio opens in Windsor to reimagine residential and commercial spaces. By Matthew St. Amand Photos by Heike Delmore

September 9, 2020, saw a world’s-first: the Rolling Stones opened their flagship store in London, England. GH+A Design Studios, headquartered Montreal with an office in Detroit, was tapped to design this one-of-a-kind retail space. At the spear tip of the project team was Windsor native, Lisa Savone. “I was involved in every aspect of the project,” Lisa recalls. “Mick Jagger, himself, approved all the designs.” After twenty years with top design houses in the United States, interior designer Lisa Savone brings her talents to Windsor, opening her own design firm: Studio Savone. Now, area businesses, retailers, and homeowners have access to a top designer and master space planner. 30

PROFILE

Lisa knows her way around job sites because she grew up around them. “My father was a mason and homebuilder,” she says. “In my work, I locate or move walls, design interior architectural elements and details, create meaningful material palettes, and develop and coordinate bespoke millwork detailing. During the construction process, I review drawings and oversee construction progress to ensure the builder is adhering to the design.” Lisa says one of the most common statements she hears is: “Oh my gosh, I should have hired you when I hired my architect!” She shares a recent experience: “I was brought in on a new home build at the stage where the walls were framed, and the roof was on. The client wanted wall-mounted faucets in the ensuite bathroom, but the plumbing was located on the exterior wall. Drawing upon my knowledge and experience, I designed a solution that gave the clients what they wanted.” Lisa has designed spaces for top retail brands around the world. From Hudson’s Bay Company, Ducati, Mercedes-Benz, Alienware, to Dell, Mikasa, FIKA Herbal

Goods, and many others. Within three years of entering the design industry Lisa’s work was featured on the cover of Stores & Retails Spaces 6, and most recently on the cover of Canadian Interiors Magazine. “Design isn’t just selecting furniture, paint colours, and accessories, it’s a holistic design process that begins with a strategic vision,” Lisa explains. “This is the best way to establish the design aesthetic and achieve a cohesive design. There are a lot of moving parts to the process, and I am used to managing all of them.” Even when the COVID-19 global pandemic hit, Lisa didn’t slow down.

Not only does Lisa bring her considerable design skills to every job, but she is also a great listener. “I had a client building a new home,” she says. “At our first meeting, I had her describe what she wanted. I took that information and created two image pages: one showing what she described, and the other showing what I heard. When I showed her what she described, the client said: ‘That’s not what I want.’ When I showed her what I heard, she said: ‘That’s it!’” Not long ago, someone said to Lisa: “But you’ve worked more with retail spaces. How can you work with homes?”

“During that first year, I worked with the team on the Rolling Stones’ store,” she explains. “Afterward, my schedule slowed,” Lisa says. “I had never done any local work—I was always too busy traveling for clients. Then, during the pandemic, I helped a friend with a reno, and work started coming in by word-of-mouth.”

“After you design retail stores for more than twenty years,” Lisa says, “any other segment of interior design is easy! The strategic approach of designing for brands is the same approach I apply to every design scope. This allows me to be aesthetically versatile, offering clients creative design solutions, and providing detailed design instruction.”

That is when Lisa’s husband, Joe, said: “You need to open your own firm.” Soon after, Studio Savone was born.

To learn more about Lisa, her design process, or to schedule a free consultation, visit Studio Savone’s website studiosavone.ca. D Sponsored Content

Dave Hunter – Sales Representative 519-816-0874 dave.hunter@century21.ca Independently owned and operated.

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PORTRAIT

GROWING LEAPS & BOUNDS Business is Blooming at Cindy’s Home & Garden in Kingsville By Jen Brignall-Strong Photos by Syx Langemann

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PORTRAIT

You can’t be everything to everyone, especially in retail. But at Cindy’s Home & Garden, they come pretty close. “You can’t do everything,” laughs co-owner Jason Martin. “But we do have a little bit of everything…something for everyone.” What began as a small greenhouse on Seacliff Drive in Kingsville has blossomed into a destination shopping experience featuring a 12,000 square foot gift shop, fashion boutique, and gourmet shop complemented by an active seasonal garden centre. Over the past several years, Jason and his wife Tish have continuously expanded the popular Kingsville business, which was established by his uncle Ken and late wife Cindy in 1989. After Cindy’s passing in 1997, the business was carried on by Ken and his second wife Christine, with Jason and Tish coming on as partners in 2016. The couple assumed full-time ownership in 2019.

Through lockdown you really had to think outside the box, people’s lives never stopped, even with things shut down.

“Then 2020 hit,” laughs Jason. “When Covid started, we had to flip our business model a little and scramble to figure things out like everyone else did,” recalls Tish. Even amid the pandemic restrictions, the pair was able to adapt; shifting to curbside pickup, offering virtual shopping appointments, and delivering purchases to people who weren’t able to leave their homes. The team also turned to social media to engage with their customers, with Tish hosting two-hour shows each week for the 30,000+ members of the Cindy’s Customer Club Facebook Group. The live streams featured Tish showcasing the store’s latest merchandise while customers called in or messaged to purchase items. THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

SPOTLIGHT PORTRAIT

“It was pretty awesome,” says Tish. “We had thousands of views and people messaging in during the shows. We did giveaways. We had a lot of fun.” “There were people who were literally locked in their homes that would contact us and say, ‘oh my god, this saved me,’” recalls Jason. “We got so many comments from people saying how much they looked forward to those live shows and it became their ‘thing.’ They got their wine and cheese and watched every Thursday.” The “Live with Tish” shows were so well received they garnered multiple accolades, including Tourism Windsor-Essex’s “Best Live Show” and the prestigious “Innovation Award” from The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce. That is on top of their Best of Windsor-Essex Awards’ “Best Boutique Shop,” which they’ve won three years in a row. “Through lockdown you really had to think outside the box,” says Tish. “People’s lives never stopped, even with things shut down. There were still birthdays, anniversaries, memorials. People still needed to shop for those occasions.” Despite t he pandemic’s many challenges, the couple was able to add other new endeavors to their already expansive offering. In spring of 2020, they opened a food truck on the property: T-Jay’z Cookery. The food truck, open from April to October, features food truck favourites, as well as elevated fare including a watermelon salad, fish tacos made with local perch, and unique creations like a coney dog poutine. “My cousin is a chef and he helped us set up a menu so that it would be more than just your standard burgers and fries,” says Jason. “We really wanted to focus on high-end quality and menu items you wouldn’t expect, but that could still be made in a food truck.” The pair is proud to source most of the food truck’s products from local suppliers, including right from their own storefront. Many of the dishes are made with olive oils, vinegars, and spices from their own gourmet food selection, located in Cindy’s Too; a whimsical country store found on the property. Cindy’s Too is home to an ice cream shop, café, gourmet food department, and Cindy’s Olive Oil Company; Essex 36

County’s premier olive oil and balsamic tasting bar featuring over 65 premium flavours of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. “When we came on as owners, that was something we brought in that we thought was really unique to the area,” says Tish, who traveled to San Francisco in 2018 to become a certified olive oil sommelier. “I wanted to be 100% fully knowledgeable about the olive oils so I went away for training because there are so many questions about our selection and I wanted to be able to answer them.” Complimentary tastings of all the distinct oil and vinegar flavours are available in-store, but the selection can also be viewed and purchased online and shipped nationwide. “We ship Canada-wide now. We have people come in from out of town and say to us, ‘we can’t find anything like this back home,” explains Tish, noting she’s had customers from as far as Italy fall in love with some of their unique products. As in-person shopping has resumed and business returns to pre-Covid levels, Tish and Jason are once again looking to build on their selection of gourmet food items. “I’m excited because we have about five or six new brands coming within the next month or so,” says Tish. “We’re trying to offer something nobody else does.”

That same sentiment is carried through to Cindy’s vast garden centre and greenhouse; home to a massive selection of tropical house plants, perennials, herbs, vegetables, hanging baskets, and patio pots, as well as statues, birdbaths, fountains, and patio furniture. “Right now we’re gearing up for the season, doing all our planting and bringing in all the new décor,” says Jason. In between planting and planning, the couple and their staff are also getting set to welcome back customers to their summer night markets, returning after a two year hiatus.

I shop a lot from Los Angeles; I like bringing in things that are different that no one else carries. That’s what our customers really like because when you come here, it’s new every time.

“We have an expanded gourmet selection geared toward charcuterie boards and more,” says Jason, noting they already sell a variety of artisanal cheese. “It will really complement the oil and balsamic selection.”

“Those are so much fun and draw big crowds,” says Jason, noting that in addition to the artisan vendors, food trucks, and live music the markets are known for, they’ll also be adding classic car shows for the first time.

‘Always offering something new’ is a common theme at Cindy’s and a goal the team strives to achieve in each of their departments.

For Tish and Jason, the return of such events brings an opportunity to reconnect with some familiar faces and welcome in new patrons who have yet to discover the unique customer experience Cindy’s has become known for.

“We always have full shelves,” says Jason, adding that the main store is bursting with a wide selection of home décor, gift ideas, memorial items, and baby and kids gift items. Tish also ensures the clothing boutique is well stocked with the latest fashion trends from a variety of Canadian labels, as well as lines that can’t be found locally anywhere else. “I shop a lot from Los Angeles; I like bringing in things that are different that no one else carries,” she shares. “That’s what our customers really like because when you come here, it’s new every time.”

“I love connecting personally with all of our customers. People know me and feel like I’m a friend and that alone keeps me going,” says Tish. “We’re so blessed to have an amazing staff as well. I say that there’s no other business that gives you the personal, helpful service that we do and it’s because of them.” Cindy’s is located at 585 Seacliff Drive in Kingsville or visit them online at cindysgarden.com today. D

SPOTLIGHT PORTRAIT

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PROFILE

THEY ARE WINDSOR’S INSURANCE BROKERS All-Risks Insurance Brokers keeps growing while staying local. By Devan Mighton Photos by Trevor Booth

With grace and humility, Windsor’s All-Risks Insurance Brokers has quietly grown to be one of Ontario’s largest insurance brokers. Founded in 1954 and incorporated in 1965, All-Risks has grown to feature more than 60 branch offices with 320 employees serving over 100,000 policyholders across Ontario. “We have been on a trajectory of growth for the last 20 years and we’re going to continue to do that. In the last seven years alone, we have more than doubled our size,” explains All-Risks owner Paul Lemmon, who joined the company in 1990. “Over the next three-to-five years, we’d like to double our size again by not only adding more offices but adding more personnel and further expansion into the digital marketplace. There are still many areas of the province where we can expand our offering by adding outlets moving forward.” Despite being headquartered in Windsor, the majority of All-Risks’ business is outside of the Windsor-Essex region, with a large amount concentrated in the Greater Toronto Area.

“Our unique business model allows individual insurance brokers to realize their full potential while building an equity position within the group. While many insurance providers are moving to call centres and call centre environments, we strive to bring back the broker as more of a localized professional,” states Lemmon. “Someone who’s accessible to people in small towns and neighbourhood settings rather than being concentrated in one location and only available by phone or online. That being said, we embrace the technological advances being made available to us to offer the complete customer experience.” 38

PROFILE

The company’s name was chosen in 1965 to reflect the adoption of Broad Form/ All-Risks insurance wordings that took the approach of covering all-risks of perils (minus exclusions) rather than specifically naming the risks and perils insured. “To members of the general public, the name All-Risks was identified more so with high-risk automobile and with people who had higher risk insurance needs—mostly individuals with bad driving records or too many claims,” recalls Lemmon. “Initially this business was eschewed by the senior members of the firm but there came a point in time when we decided we should embrace this business. While other insurance providers were shunning away from people when they needed help most, we put the appropriate insurance carriers in place that we needed to be able to facilitate, literally, all types of risks. Over time, we have been able to insure, basically, anybody doing anything as long as there is a market for it. This became a niche business for us that we continue to provide today. Securing coverage for someone when, perhaps, no one else will and then assisting that customer in risk management and moving them from higher risk insurers to standard markets is something we have excelled and became very good at. We have built a sizeable portion of our business by doing that—and we still do today. We will facilitate anyone who needs to be insured and we will always answer the phones to advise individuals and businesses with a goal of giving them the best rate and the best insurance products that we have available.” Lemmon explains that the goal of All-Risks is to provide a multi-faceted approach to insurance purchasing and delivery, offering options for customers who prefer in-person, phone, or online service, as well as paper or paper-free service. In fact, All-Risks has maintained a paper-free business policy since 1999, a time when such things were unheard of. All-Risks is one of the top-20 insurance brokers in Ontario with 320+ employees spread out across 60+ offices Province wide including Tecumseh, Essex and Leamington

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locally. “We see that expanding further,” says Lemmon. “Our goal is to have a larger presence in the province and widen our network to 100 offices in order to provide more choices for the Ontario consumer. We are also licensed in other provinces and currently working on plans for adding branch offices in those areas. Different jurisdictions pose different challenges as far as licensing and product delivery. There are a number of provinces that have monopolistic (government-based) auto insurance schemes, so those are distributed differently. Each province has its challenges based on its type of claims, its weather patterns, political and physical environment.” Whether providing business, property, automotive, or any other form of coverage, All-Risks strives to offer first-class personalized service throughout all of its branches and to their communities. All-Risks is a part of the Windsor community fabric and has long supported local events, sports teams, community initiatives and local hospitals. Despite their many ties to the GTA, All-Risks has avoided and has no intention of leaving behind its Windsor roots.

However, the one constant over the years has been our ability to have face-to-face meetings and our new location gives us the space to continue to do so. It just made sense for us to continue working in Windsor and evolving the office here.” While the last two years have proven a challenge to business development, All-Risks has adapted to suite the needs of its clients. “With the return to the workplace and learning from the challenges we have made during the pandemic, we feel that we will be in a stronger position than before to deliver a first class experience for our customers and partners” notes Lemmon. With continued growth comes opportunities for new positions and employee advancement. As a leader in the industry All-Risks is continually on the look-out for talented individuals to join their team. If you are interested in pursuing a career in insurance, please visit us online at all-risks.com. D Sponsored Content

“All along, we’ve always been a Windsorbased brokerage,” states Lemmon. “Most of us have been in Windsor for most of our lives and have our roots here—we are Windsor people. There are many positives about this city and Windsor is our home. Over time, we have had options to move our headquarters to Toronto to grow the business further, but we felt that we could stay in Windsor and grow in this community. Many of our employees have been with us a long time. We have one employee who recently celebrated her 42nd anniversary and have many 15-30 year employees - a move from Windsor would have disrupted many of them.” In summer 2019 All-Risks moved their head office to the current location at 1255 Ouellette and took advantage of the clean slate to develop a state-of-the-art work environment. “We are a very collaborative office, which is beneficial in an industry that is forever changing. I have seen a lot of our work processes evolve over the years in order to stay current with the industry standards.

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COMMUNITY

THE GRAND OPENING OF FARROW RIVERSIDE MIRACLE PARK By Karen Hall

Save the date, because Farrow Riverside Miracle Park kicks off its official grand opening May 14 with a celebration in the heart of historic Olde Riverside. The highlight of the day will be the first Miracle League Baseball Game ever played in the City of Windsor. That is exceptional in itself, but the journey to get to this point has been just as extraordinary and inspiring. It was 2015 when executive members of the Riverside Minor Baseball Association started thinking about bringing a Miracle League Baseball Diamond to Windsor. Wouldn’t it be great, they said, to create the opportunity for any kid, regardless of ability, to play ball within our city limits? To give young boys and girls a specially designed field so they, too, could enjoy the sport that had been synonymous with Riverside for more than 60 years? But why not build on the Miracle League philosophy and make this dream even bigger? Open it to the entire region and people of

all ages, with an all-inclusive playground, a wellness track, accessible workout stations, pavilion, a relocated Cenotaph. Maybe a place to sit in the shade on a sunny day and have a picnic with the family … The possibilities were endless, and RMBA members knew exactly where this state-of-the-art park and ball diamond should be: On the site of the old Riverside Arena, which had closed in 2011. Bill Kell, who would become a steering committee co-chair along with Rick Farrow and RMBA president Tom Laporte, didn’t realize the perfect location had been sitting there all this time. Not until the wrecking ball demolished the arena at Wyandotte and St. Rose and it became a clean slate. What followed over the next two years was a testament to the tenacity of the residents of Riverside, to the passion of RMBA members, and to a group of grassroots supporters, some of whom had never played a game of baseball in their lives. It is also a tribute to Windsor Mayor

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Drew Dilkens, Ward 6 Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac and their elected city council colleagues, who listened with open minds to a proposal far removed from the original plan to build commercial and residential units on the site. On June 19, 2017, city council voted to allow RMBA to lease the land and build the Miracle Park. It also agreed to partner with the organization to spruce up and augment existing amenities.

Sales, Ken Quinn and Family, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Moramos Shrine Club of Windsor, and the federal government. “We call this the field of dreams,” Bill Kell said as he stood on a mound of parched earth and crumbling asphalt that bright August day. “This is truly a dream come true.”

There’s no question co-chair Rick Farrow was key to sealing the deal that night. Speaking quietly before council, with a standing-room-only crowd leaning in to hear him, Farrow personally pledged $500,000 toward what RMBA expected would be a $3-million project. By October, a multi-year lease had been signed. Everyone was there when they broke ground in August 2018. There were politicians and players with ceremonial shovels, neighbourhood well-wishers, people in Riverside Royals T-shirts and baseball caps. And there were some of the generous donors who would help RMBA take it to the next level: The Solcz Family Foundation, the Toldo Foundation, Mark Solcz, Southwest

We call this the field of dreams. This is truly a dream come true.

Rick Farrow, raised in Riverside, felt the same way. His father, Huntley Farrow, had served as a city councillor in both Riverside and Windsor, and had loved his community. How could he say no? “I did it for my dad,” Rick would later say when asked what motivated him. “For my dad and for the kids.”

RMBA was quick to show its gratitude to the park’s two largest donors. The Farrow Riverside Miracle Park is dedicated in memory of Huntley Farrow. The baseball field is named for the Solcz Family Foundation, which contributed $250,000 to the project. Construction of the park got off to a great start. The city began renovating change rooms, bathrooms and the parking lot. Councillor Gignac provided $100,000 in ward funds and the Canadian Tire Jumpstart program contributed $350,000. The magical, 13,000-square-foot fully accessible playground – the largest in Ontario -- opened in 2019, and it was hoped the park’s official grand opening would take place in May 2020. Then COVID came along. Twice the grand opening was postponed, yet the park still became a destination attraction for families across Windsor and Essex County, most of them wondering when the Miracle Diamond would be revealed. And soon they’ll know. The Farrow Riverside Miracle Park – every beautiful inch of it – officially opens at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2022. (See you Sunday if it rains.) D

WE ARE OPEN! Farrow Riverside Miracle Park 6755 Wyandotte Street E Windsor, ON N8S 1P7 519.944.9115

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INNER-VIEW

LIFE ISN’T ABOUT THE DESTINATION, IT’S ABOUT THE JOURNEY A Windsor family weathers more than its share of storms and emerges stronger on the other side. By Matt St. Amand Photos by Trevor Booth

The origin story of Theo’s Blends is like a modern Zen parable: Windsor’s Theo Rallis was a successful process engineer, achieving every aspect of the North American dream: family, career, bright future. Then, one day in 2008, he had an epiphany. “I was on the road when I suddenly thought: ‘What am I doing? This is nuts!” Theo recalls. “My son Nik was a year old; my daughter Grace was three, and I realized that working all the time, being on the road away from my family was a brutal lifestyle.” Such feelings come with the territory and are common to most working people. What Theo did next, however, was not: “I pulled over and made two phone calls,” Theo says. “I told my company ‘I’m never coming back,’ and then I called my wife and explained what I had done. I was at a point where I had to ask: ‘Is there more to my existence than work?’” 46

The answer was, “Yes.” “I went into the olive oil business,” he continues. “My family has had orchards in Greece for centuries. We went for the harvest the year before and looking at the process, I found we were generating way too much heat—even for a cold press. The engineer’s mind is always thinking: ‘How can I do this better?’” Theo had some ideas. “Initially, it was all about food,” he says. “We had tremendous success. We still private label for Mark McEwan, Top Chef Canada. Celebrities, knights, and even presidents have had our olive oil.” For all the success, Theo’s focus centered on the health-centric piece of his company. “When you try mine, it’s more like wheat grass than olive oil because it’s pressed so cold,” Theo says. “It wasn’t until we started making supplements, and our patent-

INNER-VIEW

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INNER-VIEW

said to me: ‘Daddy, don’t let me die.’” Theo was on a mission. “I started down the CBD path for myself,” he says. “In renal failure, you’re in constant pain, so I searched for a solution with no THC in it. THC is the only compound in the plant that makes you goofy. The rest is pure medicine.” He found a medical facility in San Antonio, Texas, and connected with Josh, the ultimate chemist. “We kept bouncing ideas of each other,” Theo says. “It was a four-year journey, but we formulated a CBD oil that got Nik down to where he has a cluster every three or four months, rather than daily.”

pending formula, that we realized this was different—it didn’t behave like other fats as we started forming molecules.” Yes, the science behind a better olive oil is science, indeed. Just as the business hit its stride, life threw a monkey wrench into the middle of the works. In this case, Theo became ill. “I was born with a solitary kidney,” he says. “And it got tired.” In fact, Theo was in renal failure. Dialysis was necessary. There was one problem—due to some health variables, dialysis was not an option in Theo’s case. During a consultation with a doctor in London, Theo was told: “You look great. You’re doing all the right things. You have between six months and a year before you fully crash.” By “crash” the doctor meant “die.” That’s when Sharon entered the narrative. Theo’s wife, Jen, knew Sharon from a weekly yoga class. When she heard about Theo’s health crisis, Sharon said she wanted to donate a kidney to him. “You have to understand, this is a complete random stranger,” Theo explains. “During the kidney compatibility testing process we found that she wasn’t a good match, she wasn’t even a perfect match. She was an exact twin match.” Theo understood the gift bestowed upon him, writing about the experience on his website: “As there are no words to express our gratitude for her gracious gift, we vowed to live life to its fullest and help as many people as we can along the way.” 48

At this point in the made-for-TV movie, inspirational music rises as the credits roll. Life, however, was not finished with the Rallis family. “It was 2017, and I was in Greece for the harvest,” Theo says. “Jen called and said: ‘I’m in the hospital with Nik. They want to do a CAT scan. They think he has a brain tumor. He’s having seizures.’”

Through Theo’s Blends, the Rallis family has made their supplement discoveries available to others, except for the CBD. For that, Theo must be contacted directly. “Everything we’re creating is next level,” Theo says. “We want to help as many parents, spouses, and immune compromised individuals, like myself, sleep soundly through the night and live beautiful, ‘normal lives.’”

It was determined that nine-year-old Nik had an extremely rare brain condition called “bilateral perisylvian polymicrogyria” (BPP), which caused him to suffer nearly a dozen seizures a day. Worse, Nik reacted adversely to drugs meant to help him.

Regarding his family’s journey, Theo writes on his website: “[W]e have never forgotten what it feels like to be vulnerable and concerned about what is put in your or your loved one’s body; we are committed to ALWAYS working tirelessly to ensure our products are: pure, made with the best ingredients; and highest integrity and latest scientific innovation.”

“Nik was pseudo catatonic,” Theo says. “And he was drug immune. At one point, he

Learn more about Theo’s Blends at theosblends.com and rallisoliveoil.com. D

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PROFILE

Missing from photo – Stylist Sydne.

A SALON WITH A PURPOSE Salon Cure is a GreenCircle certified salon that recycles, repurposes, and disposes of 95 per cent of its waste in an environmentally responsible way. By Devan Mighto Photo by Trevor Booth

When you enter Salon Cure Hair & Aesthetics, you are greeted by friendly faces and a welcoming environment–a place where you will feel like a part of the family. For nearly two decades, Salon Cure has been a part Windsor’s Riverside community. Located at 6525 Wyandotte St. E, they have created and provided outstanding hair and beauty services, as well as giving back to their neighbourhood. With 29 years’ experience, owner and stylist Christine Withington has mentored dozens of co-op students from surrounding schools, helping them grow as individuals and providing them with invaluable salon experience. A full-service salon, their establishment offers a variety of hairstylists to better suit your budget and goals, as well as aesthetics,

PROFILE

lash care services, and Venus Freeze anti-aging treatments. With a staff of 11, they specialize in blonding services, reverse colour, to return hair to a natural grey, vivid colour and edgy cuts, nail designs, and much more. Salon Cure thrives to give you the best possible experience. Not only does the salon keep up with all the latest hair and nail trends, but also trends within the industry, such as salon suites. Hairstylists and aestheticians are not just renting chairs but renting out rooms. This gives the individual the opportunity to run their own business and create their brand without the hassle of building leases, bills, and other expenses. Salon Cure will soon have two suites available for rent, where the tenant will be able to style, decorate, and design their space as they like. During these challenging times, it can be hard to get an appointment in a salon. Whether a customer has a mobility or health issue, Salon Cure’s aesthetician and certified master podologist, Dianne, offers home visits for manicures, pedicures, or even just basic nail trimming.

We are successful because we care, love, and are passionate about what we do.

Salon Cure’s featured products, from the Kevin Murphy eco-friendly hair care line, are cruelty-free, paraben-free, and most of its packaging are made from recycled ocean-waste plastic. Kevin Murphy is a luxurious line of hair care products that can be found in the salon, or on their new retail website made for the simplicity of shopping online, secure payment options, and free delivery across Essex County. In addition, Kevin Murphy’s superb shampoos are highly concentrated, with bottles that can last up to six months and keep your hair living its best life. Salon Cure is a GreenCircle certified salon that recycles, repurposes, and disposes of 95 per cent of its waste in an environmentally responsible way. Since becoming a GreenCircle salon in 2016, their establishment has kept 2,361 lbs. of their in-salon waste out of landfills and waterways. For example, all hair clippings collected go towards items like hair booms, which help draw oil out of contaminated seawater after oil spills, hair mats which collect heavy metals out of rain runoff on the sides of roads, and the manufacturing of polymer plastics. Recently, GreenCircle has come out with a personal protective equipment (PPE) initiative which disposes of all PPE to create clean and renewable energy that powers our homes and businesses. Also, leftover ash from this process can be used as filler in asphalt and various construction items. You can find Salon Cure on Instagram, Facebook, their website at saloncure.ca, or visit their retail website at saloncureretail.com. Sponsored Content

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FOOD

Photo by Vicki Bartel

FOOD

RED

Curry STIR FRY

INGREDIENTS

2 portions of your desired rice noodles, cooked (I prefer ½ inch cut) 1 tsp sesame oil 1 tbsp avocado oil 1 chicken breast 2 cloves garlic 1.5 tbsp honey 1 tbsp red curry paste 1 tbsp water 1 carrot, sliced 4-6 fresh basil leaves 2 green onions, sliced DIRECTIONS • Cook 2 serving-size portions of your desired rice noodles until al denté. Once cooked, rinse in cold water then drizzle sesame oil and toss. • In a large frying pan with 1 tbsp. avocado oil, add chicken over medium heat. When the chicken is cooked through, add the garlic and 1 tbsp. honey to the pan and continue to cook for one min. • Set the chicken aside. • In a small bowl, dissolve the red curry paste in water and add ½ a tbsp honey and 1 tbsp. avocado oil to the mix. Add the mix to the frying pan over medium/high heat and cook for 30 seconds-1 minute before adding the cooked rice noodles. • Add noodles and thinly sliced carrots to the pan and toss in the sauce. I like to let the noodles sit for a minute or so to crisp up a bit in the pan, but this is optional. • Remove from the heat and toss in fresh basil leaves. Transfer to a plate and top with sliced green onions and enjoy! D

Photo by Mona Elkadri

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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PROFILE

BREAKWALL SPECIALISTS WILL SCULPT YOUR WATERFRONT PARADISE Almost Four Decades of Expertise in Breakwalls, Docks, and Boat Lifts By Devan Mighton

With the effects of global warming, shifting lake levels, unprecedented erosion, and a pandemic real estate boom that has seen a massive uptick in waterfront development, when it comes to protecting and beautifying your lake or riverfront property, very few can claim to have the talent, quality, and craftsmanship of Lakeshore’s Breakwall Specialists. Lifelong Lakeshore resident and Breakwall Specialists Sales Manager Mike Morris has been plying his trade since 1986. “We have always repaired wall and docks and it morphed into getting more and more calls to do complete projects.,” explains Morris. “We had a series of custom contractors that we used and as they got busier, it made sense for us to buy a barge and other equipment and be able to offer everything ourselves”

PROFILE

Initially, Breakwall Specialists focussed on the breakwall and back toward the land side of customer’s properties—making repairs, adding wave deflectors. Since adding a marine division to the business, the company has broadened its horizons. From the front of your home into the water is what we do. We work with Architects, builders, and engineers, to ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place to build your waterfront dream. Their business model not only includes breakwall and wave deflector installation, but docks, boat lifts, paver decks as well as grading, drainage, “Not only do we do permanent docks, but we do portable docks, floating docks, boat lifts, kayak lifts, personal watercraft lifts—quite a number of products that we didn’t market before, but our customers, some of them call us and say they need a breakwall, but then also need a dock, also a boat lift, kayak lift, or a Seadoo lift,” explains Breakwall Specialists sales manager Mike Morris.

He also explained that their premium lifts are manufactured by Florida’s Golden Boat Lifts. “They make the best products in the marketplace and we represent them here in this area,” says Morris.

engineering fee to have a structural engineer come out to make sure we are doing everything we should be doing.” Employee and customer safety are essential to the people at Breakwall Specialists and they look at all scenarios prior to the build to ensure a safe, long term investment is made.

“Also, our paver decks are very unique, they’re very different,” he adds. “No one else is doing them the way we do them. We work with the customer to satisfy the needs of their waterfront paradise.”

“I’ve lived on water my entire life, our standard is to make sure that people get the maximum amount of enjoyment and protection that’s high value, maintenance, and drama-free,” says Morris.

Morris emphasized that Breakwall Specialists generally does 20-40 hours of planning prior to the job so that the customer sees what the end result will look like before they begin. We work with the governing bodies to get the required permits to ensure compliance to applicable laws.

When it comes to docks “I’m a boater. I need to make sure it passes the ‘boat test’. Can I bring my boat there and tie it up and have a Diet Pepsi on the customers new dock? If we check all those boxes, then we’ve done our job.” We install cleats and bump poles as a standard not an extra. We do not just build a frame we build a complete dock painted and surfaced.

“It’s like the foundation for a house,” states Morris. “We make sure that everything we do is correct and proper, and, in some cases, if there’s not enough budget in the job to do it right, we won’t do it. Our reputation is based on doing things right, and if we have questions about a certain site or conditions, we’ll reach out and pay the

To reach Breakwall Specialists, please contact Mike Morris at mike@breakwallspecialists.com or call 226-344-2706 today. D Sponsored Content

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PSYCH DRIVE

EMBRACING CHANGE

MOVING FORWARD The secret to change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new.

“The only constant in life is change.” Change is both personal and universal. Everyone goes through changes and transformations. We are born. We grow old. What sets us apart is how we experience change.

PSYCH DRIVE

GLASS HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY? Personality of Change

How we perceive the world has a significant impact on how we experience change. Individuals with a Type A personality experience change differently from individuals with Type B personality. Type A individuals often experience more difficulty with change because of time urgency and a heightened need to control the situation. “They don’t have time for change.” While individuals with a Type B personality are more laid back and relaxed and thus find it easier to go with the flow. Pessimists and optimists also view change through a different lens. Pessimists perceive change as permanent and a traumatic end to everything. While optimists are more likely to see change as temporary and an opportunity for new beginnings and growth.

BY CHANCE OR BY CHOICE? Circumstances of Change

Another determinant in how we experience change is whether the change was by chance or by choice. For example, for some people divorce is liberating, while for others it is the end of their world. The same can be said for the workplace. The reaction to change will be different for someone who chooses to retire five years early to spend more time with family, in contrast to someone who is laid off abruptly without notice. It’s not change, it’s the circumstances that surround it.

WHAT YOU RESIST PERSISTS Fear of Change

We resist change because we fear the unknown. We never know what’s around the corner and this is made worse when it is a painful change. As a result, we erect roadblocks and create chaos to slow change down. This is the illusion of control that is often associated with resistance to change. Resistance to change comes in many forms including psychological defense mechanisms proposed by Sigmund Freud. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Repression Denial Regression Projection Displacement

The problem with resistance is that we wear ourselves out and use up all the energy necessary to transform and evolve.

EMBRACING CHANGE Moving Forward

1. Be on the alert for fight-or-flight tendencies during unexpected change. Take it as a sign to slow down. 2. C reate a safe space for open dialogue about change. Use it as an opportunity for ingenuity, creativity, and innovation at work and at home. 3. M ake a list of what remains consistent in times of rapid change and use it as a grounding technique at the start and end of each day. 4. I nstead of thinking of all the things that could go wrong on the other side of change, imagine all the things that could go right. Including the opportunity to level up and start again. D

Dr. Andrea Dinardo THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

Psychology professor and keynote speaker with expertise in stress, resilience, and mental health. Visit DrAndreaDinardo.com to learn more about her speaking services and leadership programs.

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SPORTS

LOCALS BRINGING PRO SOCCER HOME Clanachan, Cirovski Driving Forces Behind Windsor Canadian Premier League Franchise By Bob Duff Renderings by Joseph Passa of PA Architects

When David Clanachan and Sasho Cirovski were teenage soccer prodigies growing up in Windsor, they were part of a select squad that travelled across the border to play in an all-star youth league set up by the NASL’s Detroit Express. “We started playing together in Windsor at the age of eight,” Clanachan recalled. Eventually, like almost every young elite Canadian soccer player, they hit the end of road in terms of places to play once college soccer eligibility was done. Cirovski was among the fortunate ones. He went to play college soccer in the USA and today, is the very successful coach of the University of Maryland team. For most, though, youth soccer was the end of the journey. “There was nowhere to go,” Clanachan said. “Very few young Canadian players were able to go and potentially play overseas.” “Now, there’s a place for young kids to continue to play. They have something to aspire to. It keeps them in the game.” 66

SPORTS

That place is the Canadian Premier League, and Clanachan knows it well. He served as commissioner of our country’s professional soccer league since 2018. In January of 2022, Clanachan announced he was stepping down as commissioner of the CPL in order to head the development of an expansion club in the Windsor/Essex County region. After helping get the league off the ground, Clanachan’s ultimate dream was to bring the beautiful game and give it a home in the place he calls home. And he’s doing so alongside Vancho Cirovski, the bother of his childhood friend and long a prominent presence in the Windsor/Essex County soccer community. “We’re not mercenaries,” Clanachan said. “We’re from Windsor. Our reputations are there. This is a passion project for us. “I’ve had many say to me, ‘Why Windsor?’ Because that’s where I’m from. That’s where I started and learned much of what I was able to practice in business for so many years. I think it’s just a great part of the world. People appreciate those who put in an effort there for sure.”

“The proof of the fact that we’re getting traction with everyone is the number of potential franchise owners that we’re talking to today,” Clanachan said. “And that’s not even including Windsor.

A CPL Primer

The CPL is following the traditional model that so many of the smaller European cities maintain with their local soccer team. Build a relationship with the community, become part of the fabric of the town and make the people feel like they are an element of the success of the club.

For those who don’t count themselves among soccer fans or who are but perhaps haven’t followed the path of the CPL, here’s what the league is all about. The CPL recently completed its third season. It’s an eight-team outfit, but the expectations are that expansion will be arriving quickly in the next several years.

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“I believe we can grow this league to between 14-18 teams.”

“We were the only developed country with an abundance of talent that didn’t have

a professional league,” Cirovski said. “It was there to be plucked. “What the CPL has done is it has constrained the investment to where it’s affordable. And then we’re building the foundation below it. It was already there. It just needed to be integrated and plugged in.” The reality is that after several attempts to create a national league in the country, the timing might just be perfect for the CPL. The sport has never been hotter in the Great White North. Canada is the reigning Olympic women’s champion. The men’s national team has qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. In 2026, Canada will be one of the host countries for the World Cup.

SPORTS

“As that’s bubbled along, the CPL has come on at the right time,” Clanachan said. “We’ve created a pathway. What I like to say is we created that north star.” If They Come, Where Will They Build It? The $64,000 question, the elephant in the room if you will, is where will a Windsor CPL team call home? One of the qualifications to garner a CPL franchise is access to a socceronly stadium. The answer is sitting right there on McDougall Ave. A reconfigured Windsor Stadium. “What better place than to rejuvenate Windsor Stadium to a 4,000 up to 6,000seat stadium? Cirovski reasoned. “We’re ready for it.” There are already conceptual plans in place to make this work for the Windsor CPL team. “The thought of a CPL franchise in Windsor really excites me,” Sasho Cirovski said. “The vision of seeing Windsor Stadium jam packed with the pride of our entire community is something that I want to see and be a part of. I grew up cheering for and idolizing the Windsor Stars. It's where I found my passion to make a life in this beautiful game.” Will It Work This Time? Cirovski is no stranger to Windsor attempts at making big-time soccer fly in the city. Over the years, several versions of the 68

Windsor Stars, in leagues such as the NSL and CSL, have come and gone. Why will it click this time around? It’s a fair question and one the men behind Windsor’s CPL bid can readily answer. They believe that the community aspect of the CPL, coupled with the sport’s changing landscape, will make for the perfect marriage. “The country has matured,” Clanachan said. “The game has matured around the world. It’s not as cliquey or as ethnicized, if you want to call it.” In the Windsor/Essex County region, there are approximately 10,000 players registered with 18 separate clubs. “It’s our job to get the message to people that the soccer community is one,” Vancho Cirovski said. “The interest in a professional franchise has to be community wide. “We’ve got to build that interest and really drive the long-term perspective. It’s not a project for one or two years.” “Our own CPL team will be galvanizing for the community and an inspiration to all of our children,” added Sasho Cirovski.

“It hasn’t really connected yet, so this is part of the task,” Cirovski said. “Dave’s made public the interest and intent and the condition that we need to find a location. He’s also communicated to the Essex County Soccer Association that we need to be unified.” The reality is that this team will be landing later rather than sooner, although the optimist in Clanachan believes that they are capable of getting a side on the pitch sooner than their latest possible projection for success. “I’ve been clear about it,” Clanachan said. “If the stars are aligned, we would like to start playing in the spring of 2024. Now that’s tight, very, very tight. They’ve got be aligned. “At the very least, we want to be playing at the professional level by the latest in the spring of 2026, before the World Cup comes to Canada. That’s important for us. That’s where I think we need to be.” Further to where they need to be, Clanachan is also confident in that place being Windsor.

When Will They Arrive?

“This club is all of us,” Clanachan said. “This is not Clanachan and Cirovski doing this thing, this is everybody doing it. I’m a big proponent of that.

Excited about watching CPL action in Windsor? Good for you but you best not be queueing up for tickets just yet. The window of opportunity for bringing a franchise to town is barely open a crack.

“Really, the only key to the deal for me is you’ve got to get everybody involved, passionate and really supportive of the club. I think in Windsor, we’re pretty good at that. And then we’ll do the rest.” D

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MAJOR DATA REACH The University of Windsor’s Odette School of Business turns to the community to complete a transformational investment in data analytics education. By Jesse Ziter

Without intending to, we’ve all completed a crash course in data over the past two years. If it wasn’t clear before, recent events have demonstrated how calculating, communicating, and keeping track of the relevant numbers—be they case counts or supply chain logistics—gives us all a fighting chance to make informed, responsible decisions in a challenging, changing world that often resists easy answers. Because responsible university educations always prepare students to grapple with critical conversations far beyond campus, the Odette School of Business, the University of Windsor’s business faculty, last year launched a $700,000 philanthropic campaign to transform its multipurpose computer workroom

EDUCATION

into a world-class Data Analytics Teaching Lab. At press time, Odette is about $100,000 in private donor money away from its target. The total campaign will see the school raise $1.1 million, including $370,000 in internal University of Windsor funding. In business, “data analytics” is a broad field with implications for diverse projects including, database analysis, supply chain management, marketing, finance, cyber security, and countless other processes and practices. Business doesn’t run on vibes: successful companies of all sizes need to understand and analyze increasingly sophisticated, complex data quickly and comprehensively to remain viable. According to Odette leadership, the new lab will meaningfully increase Windsor’s ability to recruit high-achieving applicants who might otherwise have chosen to study at other leading Ontario universities. The new facility, which will be accessible by all Odette students, will ensure graduates enter the workforce equipped with game-changing knowledge of tools and techniques associated with advanced analytic practices.

According to Odette Major Gift Officer Kelly Gosselin, who oversees philanthropy and engagement for the business school, data analytics are increasingly integral to all fields of business, so the facility will have exciting implications for marketing, finance, and accounting students alike. As of this semester, principal construction is complete, and select groups of Odette students are beginning to trial the new space. The lab is scheduled to open for full use in May, a few months ahead of a grand opening in the fall. The overhaul has involved significant structural changes to the physical lab space and its underlying IT infrastructure. The facility now houses 50 high-end workstations with lightning-quick connectivity and high-end hardware under their hoods. Each terminal is pre-loaded with industry-leading professional software, and the room can accommodate advanced teaching technologies. Fundraising dollars are contributing to everything from lighting and window treatments to state-of-the-art projectors, profes-

sional software licenses, and a sustainability fund for ongoing maintenance. The new Data Analytics Teaching Laboratory is used primarily for curriculum-based classroom learning, but it also proves useful for co-curricular activities like student-run club events, formal competitions, and various networking and mentoring events interfacing with the real business world. For students like Tapas Modi, a brighter future is already beginning to take shape. “The new Data Analytics lab is seamless,” says Modi, a third-year undergraduate business major at Odette. “With the latest technology, gizmos, and ergonomic features, it can encourage any student to excel in their labs.” Interested in giving? To learn more about how to contribute, consult the Support Odette website (uwindsor.ca/business/306/ support-odette) or contact Kelly Gosselin directly at (519) 253-3000 ext. 3137 or Kelly. Gosselin@uwindsor.ca. D

“Our vision was to create a lab that is among the best in all Canada,” says Odette Dean Dr. Mitchell Fields. “Data Analytics has become an important driver for all programs at the graduate and undergraduate level at the Odette School of Business. As the use and availability of data explodes, business students require the skills to analyze and understand large data sets.” Critically, the E. & G. Odette Foundation and P & L Odette Charitable Foundation have committed to a substantial endorsement of the project, promising to match donations to the fundraising campaign up to $350,000. The Odette School of Business and the building housing it are named after Edmond and Louis Odette, Tilbury-born brothers who rose to prominence in the Toronto construction world before launching major multigenerational philanthropic initiatives. Their respective families have been long-time supporters of the Odette School of Business and its students. The fundraising push allows Odette to explore emerging techniques and methodologies, stretching its potential beyond what can be funded through government subsidies and tuition alone. So far, the University of Windsor Alumni Association has made a significant contribution, as have many individual Odette alumni. THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

STUDENT ESSAY

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 Madeline McCallum for being our March winner! We are proud of all the participants and will continue to support our community through continued literacy and a path to higher education.

Young Canadians and Their Confidence in Financial Knowledge Madeline McCallum

Finances are the one thing that causes the most stress amongst Canadians. Mental and physical illnesses are often a result of stress in relation to finances. Due to the financial burden that young Canadians face, especially those departing from high school, many are at a higher risk of developing health concerns than those with a strong sense of finances. Young Canadians are in constant battle with their finances, according to Linda Spencer from Insight Blog, fewer than 35% of students feel confident enough to manage their finances. This means that due to a small portion of young Canadians having a strong knowledge of their finances, the 65% of Canadians left will be faced with stress and anxiety.

When exiting high school, young Canadians must begin their journey to learning how to manage their time as well as their finances to prepare themselves for the journey of adulthood. For optimum control over their financial lives, Canadians need to be knowledgeable about financial options and be engaged in their financials. Many students are not confident in their financial knowledge, yet do not know where to begin when seeking help. The best way to close the knowledge gap among young Canadians is to further educate students at a young age through high school courses, and parental influence. Young adults reporting family and relatives as their main source of learning about finances were found to have poorer knowledge about finances in general than those who have taken courses concerning their finances. 72

A strong reason why young Canadians are uneducated about their finances is due to their lack of knowledge as to what to do with their finances, how to do basic transactions, and what is needed to be completed. The best way to effectively close the gap between those that are confident in their knowledge about their finances and those that are struggling is to teach students in high school how to deal with their finances. An example of what to teach students is to show students how to do their taxes, what taxes are, and the importance of doing them. Understanding how taxation works can give you a stronger sense of the ways your income gets taxed, giving you more power over how to control your money and finances. Another way to reduce the knowledge gap in finances is for parents to allow young adults to open savings accounts. By doing this, your child will start saving money and be able to deposit their income into the

account once they start to work. The final way to help young Canadians with their knowledge of finances is for parents to teach their children how to pay bills and how to file a tax return. Doing this one time will increase their confidence and knowledge for the next time coming. It will also allow the child to have an idea of what they need to do for their finances. Over the past several years, banking has become more efficient and easier to do. Yet the struggle to understand what finances are and how to properly do them is a common occurrence amongst young Canadians today. Struggling to understand taxes, money and what is needed to be completed causes stress among young Canadians which leads to health risks. The most effective way to educate young Canadians about their finances is to teach them how to do so within their high school career, have students help their parents do their finances, and open savings accounts. This will stop the feeling students get of wasting their time learning things that they believe they will never use and help boost confidence concerning their finances. In closing, if Canada can close the gaps regarding the lack of knowledge regarding finances, then students and young Canadians will benefit. D Works Cited

Shariff , Shariff. “Six Ways to Increase Financial Literacy in Canada's Youth.” People Corporation – Experience the Benefits of People, People Corporation , 15 July 2021, peoplecorporation.com/information-centre/all-articles/six-ways-to-increase-financial-literacy-in-canadas-youth. Kenown, Leslie-Anne. “The Financial Knowledge of Canadians.” Statistics Canada, 8 March 2011, en.copian.ca/ library/research/stats/financial_knowledge/financial_knowledge.pdf

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