The Drive Magazine // Summer 2022 // Issue 143

ISSUE 143

TONY SMITH TALKS RESILIENCE AND BREAKS OPEN ON LEADERSHIP, MENTAL HEALTH, AND HEALING.

LIFESTYLE | CULTURE | PEOPLE | TRENDS

TOLDO LANCER CENTRE

BUILDING EXCITEMENT EXCITEMENT.

OPENING SUMMER 2022

The University of Windsor is thrilled to unveil the newly built Toldo Lancer Centre this summer!

For more visit uwindsor.ca/lancercentre

SMILE You’re at Rose City Ford

Celebrating

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

‘

Rob is great - Down to earth, knowledgeable, and easy to talk to. I am very satisfied – Just bought a 2021 Escape with the help of Ahmad. He was very knowledgeable and helped me understand all the features after getting the car. Purchasing process was very simple and straightforward thanks to him. 10/10 I recommend this dealership—A satisfied Rose City Ford customer

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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 VICKI BARTEL ............................................. Photographer TREVOR BOOTH .......................................... Photographer JEN BRIGNALL-STRONG ......................................... Writer DR. ANDREA DINARDO ......................................... Writer MONA ELKADRI .......................................... Stylist/writer DAVE HUNTER ............................................ Photographer SYX LANGEMANN ....................................... Photographer EMILY RICHARD .......................... Writer (student contest) DEVAN MIGHTON .................................................. Writer MATTHEW ST. AMAND ........................................... Writer ANNA STANLEY ............................................. Copy editor KIM WILLIS ............................................................ Writer

On the cover: ISSUE 143

TONY SMITH TALKS RESILIENCE AND BREAKS OPEN ON LEADERSHIP, MENTAL HEALTH, AND HEALING.

We create so much more than closets.

Tony Smith of Tango 1 Garage Gym

By Devan Mighton.

Photos by Trevor Booth

LIFESTYLE | CULTURE | PEOPLE | TRENDS

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CONTENTS

ISSUE 143 AROUND TOWN 12 Noteworthy Mentions Around Town THE DRIVE MOTIVATION 16 T he Kindness of Strangers

By Jen Brignall-Strong THE DRIVE DOWNTOWN 24 “Downtown Believers” Find a Home at The Hive on Pelissier

By Matt St. Amand

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BOOK REVIEW 38 The Cheap Handyman by B.S. Harris Story by Matthew St. Amand

THE DRIVE PORTRAIT Tango I Solutions Will Reinvigorate Your Business

By Devan Mighton

THE DRIVE MENTAL HEALTH 42 The Can Am Games: Shining a Light on Mental Health

By Kim Willis THE DRIVE PROFILE 50 A Quarter Century of Doing It Right

By Devan Mighton THE DRIVE ROAD TRIP 54 Destination Unplugged.

Lungovita Beach Retreat Offers Visitors a Unique ”Glamping “ Experience

By Jen Brignall Strong THE DRIVE MUSIC 64 Tayler Lynn Singing Her Blues Away

By Devan Mighton THE DRIVE SPORTS 68 To Harry Lumley It’s All Just “Chicken Soup”

By Devan Mighton

56 FOOD S ummer Shrimp Pasta

by Mona Elkardri

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THE PSYCH DRIVE 72 5 Steps to Thriving and Growth

By Dr. Andrea Dinardo STUDENT ESSAY 74 Putting Price Tags on the Future

By Emily Ricahard

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A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER Finally, summertime in Windsor-Essex and school is out! Chances are you are leaving town on a long-awaited vacation or staying local with a busy social calendar. If you are staycationing, there is no shortage of activities in our community. We are excited to welcome back our favourite festivals and events that give our city a vibrant energy.

We pride ourselves as one-of-a-kind, and this issue of The DRIVE is full of stories that highlight the businesses and the people who enrich our community. We welcome Zach Dereniowski to The DRIVE family. Zach is known as the friendly stranger on a mission to make kindness cool with his 'MD Motivator' social media movement. We’re also proud to highlight the latest works from our talented local artists. We sat down with up-and-coming singer Tayler Lynn to chat about her burgeoning music career, as well as Lakeshore resident Brian Harris; author of the new novel 'The Cheap Handyman.'

As always, thank you to our readers and our advertisers for your continued support. Please remember to be kind to each other and to continue to support the many wonderful locally owned businesses and restaurants throughout Windsor and Essex County this summer.

Yours truly,

Paul St. Pierre Publisher 10

Here’s to 100 years of being in your backyard

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AROUND TOWN

TOWN Welcome to our custom content page meant to highlight unique news from the Windsor-Essex region ANR CONCRETE STUDIO 2022 brings exciting developments for ANR Concrete Studio.

Founded in 2019 by partners Adam Rossetto & Andrew Schincariol, they are located in Windsor. ANR serves residential and commercial clients with artisan concrete designs and products for every facet of their homes and working spaces. ANR is excited to announce its recently acquired design and manufacturing location at 921 Tecumseh Road West, expected to officially open October 01, 2022. The new location will provide ANR and its clients with an immersive space where design can meet form with function.

ANR supports clients from concept to installation, offering custom concrete solutions for kitchen, bath, fireplace, interior, exterior and lifestyle pieces. “Our clients inspire our creativity.” For more information about ANR Concrete Studio contact Andrew at (519) 981-6610; anrcs.ca; their portfolio of work can be viewed on Instagram: anr.cs

JEFF BURROWS 24 HOUR DRUM MARATHON RAISES $60,000.00 Once again Jeff Burrows and LiUNA!625, in partnership with 20-plus local musicians supported by a caring and generous community raised a record amount over 24 hours for six charitable organizations during the live 16th Annual Drum Marathon held at Good Time Charly on May 27 and 28. The event raised over $60,000.00 for a series of local charities including, House of Sophrosyne, Maryvale, In Honour of The One’s We Love, CMHA and Harmony in Action.

LITTLE FOOT FOODS Little Foot Foods is a small, locally owned Pierogi manufacturer in Windsor, ON. They are pleased to announce that they are moving to a new production center at 2010 Fasan Dr in Oldcastle, On. They will be doubling their facility size to a 5000 sq ft warehouse. Little Foot Foods LTD. started in Windsor, ON in 2013 producing Pierogi, Cabbage Rolls and other comfort foods and have grown to produce nearly 100 Pierogi flavours and a wide variety of other tasty treats over the last 9 years. LFF is owned by partners Rachael and Robert Myers. Follow them on social media for updates on the progress as they get closer to their move in date. They can be found at littlefootfoods.ca, on Facebook at facebook.com/littlefootfoods, and on Twitter and Instagram at @littlefootfoods.

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AROUND TOWN

PREMIUM INSURANCE BROKERAGE Founded in 2019 by Omar Chafchak and Nabil Ghamraoui and, are brokers with 20-plus years of experience. Premium Insurance brokers is a locally owned Insurance Brokerage. They sell for the largest carriers in the country making them very competitive in the industry, they are a majority digitalized company with the personal broker touch. In a short period of time Premium has been recognized in 2021 as the #1 insurance brokerage in Windsor by community votes as well as the 5 Star brokerage award from Insurance Business Canada. Premium IB strive on their knowledge and experience to make sure their clients are protected in the best way possible, at Premium the clients come first. To arrange for a now obligation quote, please call 226-782-6000 or visit them online at premiumib.com today.

RAW WATERSPORTS RAW Watersports, pioneered watercraft rentals in Windsor/ Essex County in 1994. Run-A-Wave Watersports, started with just one Waverunner and grew into a thriving boat business. Today, back with a passion to make people smile, RAW Watersports has a reimagined business model and all new watercraft. The company offers short-term and long-duration rentals starting at just $99. Customers can rent Sea Doos or boats on Lake St. Clair from its location behind the Sandbar Restaurant at Puce River Harbour or the RAW crew can load them on a trailer for you to tow to your favorite Lake. The company also offers a FREE Temporary Boaters License if you do not have a Pleasure Craft Operators Card. Each rental comes with an on-water orientation. Check availability and make reservations at RawWatersports.com

MB OPTOMETRY Dry Eye Relief with Youthful Results. Dry eye sufferers know just how irritating the symptoms can be. Redness, irritation, gritty sensation, tearing, burning and mild itching are common symptoms associated with it. MB Optometry’s Radiant Eye Spa offers advanced technology to help those suffering from the condition. These energybased procedures are non-invasive, quick and safe in-office treatments, that require no downtime, and are also proven effective in reducing the signs of aging. These procedures unclog the glands in the eyelids and reduce inflammation, both of which lead to dryness.

As a benefit, they reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, decrease redness, age spots, freckles, sun damage, hyperpigmentation and atypical blood vessels, and vascular lesions. Imagine being free of the constant irritation associated with your dry eyes and looking younger at the same time. For an appointment, please call 519-9972897 or visit them online at mboptometry.ca today.

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MOTIVATION

THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS “MD Motivator” Turns Loneliness into Global Mission of Love By: Jen Brignall-Strong

The people who have the least, give the most.

That’s a reoccurring theme through any video I’ve done.

Anxious, alone, and stranded on the other side of the world, Zachery Dereniowski was at his lowest. Just months into what was supposed to be a dream move to Australia for medical school, the 27-yearold Windsor native found himself at a breaking point as COVID-19 began its rapid spread across the globe.

“That was always my dream; to be a doctor and live in Australia,” he shares.

Between Covid lockdowns, the stress of medical school, and the breakup of a long-term relationship, Zachery says he fell into a deep depression, bordering on suicidal.

“At that time, it was my identity and my happiness and I didn’t really know who I was,” he says. “Shortly after all that, I tore my ACL so I couldn’t workout or play sports and that was like my therapy.

Medical school was challenging, Covid left me uncertain as to when I could come home, and it also didn’t allow me to make real friends because I couldn’t go out. It (the depression) was building and I was getting farther into where I didn’t know how far down I’d go, or if I’d ever get up.”

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Photo by Syx Langemann THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

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Photo by Syx Langemann

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It was through that experience the entire trajectory of Zachery’s life changed; from a student struggling with his mental health to the globe-trotting friendly stranger behind “MD Motivator”; a social media platform featuring videos of Zachery reaching out to passersby for help and in turn blessing them with everything from a flower and a shoulder to cry on to gifts, adventures, and thousands of dollars.

“I vividly remember: I went for a walk and it was the middle of the day and I just stopped and started hysterically crying at a busy intersection and businessmen and women walked right by me,” he recalls.

“It was like I was invisible. That was the moment I felt the most alone I’ve ever felt in my life and it was more so the moment I thought, ‘This isn’t right.’”

As his depression continued to spiral, Zachery sought help through his university’s free counselling services. One of the coping mechanisms he learned through therapy was to journal his thoughts when he felt anxious.

“I bought myself a journal and I did it for a few days and thought, ‘You know what? I can’t be the only one who feels this way. There’s probably somebody who felt this way before and has a solution.”

With that thought in mind, Zachery turned to social media; creating a TikTok video in hopes of finding someone dealing with the same mental health struggles.

Unbeknownst to him, the video went viral almost instantly. Not only had he found a friend; he’d found an entire community of people. A support system, he says, at a time when he needed it most.

“I was busy with school and when I came back to my phone later that day, the video had a half a million views and thousands of comments,” he says. “I was trying to respond to all of them and I was just blown away; people of all ages, ethnicities, financial status had these stories that they were willing to share. They were all going through similar things behind closed doors.”

Zachery continued creating videos into 2021, looking for new ways to connect with others through his work. Eventually, he began to realize that medical school perhaps wasn’t his true calling in life.

THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

“I just fell more in love with the ability to build communities centred around vulnerability and relatability. I created a formula; vulnerability equals relatability equals empowerment,” he explains.

“That’s the whole premise of all the content I create. If you can be vulnerable, you can relate. If you can relate, you can empower. Through all this, I was recognizing that I could do medical school but that it wasn’t the ‘be all, end all’ for me.”

In August 2021, Zachery decided to withdraw from medical school and move back to Windsor to continue growing his concept on social media.

“I was really scared at the time because I had dedicated almost nine years with my

In the past few months I’ve given out probably over $200,000 and it’s not my money; it’s anonymous random strangers willing to give their hard earned cash in hopes that money will help another person. undergrad and my masters and medical school and now I’m saying to my parents from halfway across the world that I want to come home and make TikTok videos in their basement? Like, how do I explain that to my family?”

It was a decision that ultimately paid off. Just two days upon arriving in Windsor, Zachery had a full-time videographer, Patrick Glaz. Shortly after, he created his first local video: filming people’s reactions as he stood outside Devonshire Mall with a sign that read: ‘Your Vaccination Status Won’t Change How Much I Love You.’ “To be honest, I didn’t know which direction this content would go; I just knew that something about tapping into vulnerability and connecting with strangers was something that I loved,” he recalls. “Overnight, that video got 20

million views on TikTok and I thought, ‘Ok, maybe we’ve got something.”

In just a few short months, “MD Motivator” has grown exponentially. Zachery currently has over 1.5 million followers on Instagram and 8.7 million on TikTok. “The ability to create vulnerable, viral videos that allow people’s lives to change overnight is something that’s so gratifying; it’s something that’s once in lifetime,” he shares. “The millions and millions of views, I’ll never really know the impact they’ll have. I’d never be able to reach that many people in person; social media can be really powerful in the right way.”

As the concept has evolved, so have Zachery’s ‘blessings.’ While he may be giving away larger gifts, the interaction between him and the strangers remains simple.

“Although these things get more extravagant, the interaction of me with the recipient only matters as much as what it means to that person at the time,” he reflects. “If someone hasn’t seen their family in over two years, a hug is way more important than a car. So it isn’t really about what the ‘thing’ is; it’s about finding the gap in someone’s story and using my platform to help them.”

Since his journey began, Zachery says there have been countless people that have changed his life. While there are a few stories that stand out as being especially touching, he says there seems to be an overall theme in the situations he encounters.

“The people who have the least, give the most,” he says. “That’s a reoccurring theme through any video I’ve done.”

People who have the least also seem to have a deeper appreciation for life, he says, pointing to his experiences during a recent trip to South America.

“I learned that people living in extreme poverty with absolutely nothing were living with happiness that we in North America could never achieve,” he says. “I went in there thinking ‘Oh I’m going to help them’ but not realizing how wrong I have it. I’m questioning everything that we’re doing here now.”

Faith is also a topic that comes up often in his interactions.

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MOTIVATION

“One of the things that overlaps the most is when I ask people why they helped me or what they think the world needs, it always seems to come back to faith and love. That’s universal,” he explains. “I’m still discovering my faith because I feel like there’s something there; I’m just trying to find it.”

Zachery continues to lead with love on his journey and although he has some plans on how to reach more people with his message, he’s also happy to see where his platform takes him.

“Through this, I’ve become so much more intuitive and self-aware about my own feelings. Just being ok with the uncertainties of life and just going with the flow and saying yes to things. I don’t even know where I see myself in a year’s time. I just think, ‘How can I keep scaling impact?’”

The money and gifts Zachery gives away in his videos are essentially crowd funded or donated through sponsorships and partnerships. He is currently in the process of developing a non-profit to be able to grow and allow for tax write-offs for businesses and individuals who donate to his projects.

He says he receives upwards of 100 emails per day from people or companies wanting to help, and thousands of donations online through the link in each of his posts.

“In the past few months I’ve given out probably over $200,000 and it’s not my money; it’s anonymous random strangers willing to give their hard earned cash in hopes that money will help another person,” says Zachery. “That blows my mind to this day. That just shows you how many good people there are in this world.”

And while “MD Motivator” has taken Zachery from Australia to San Diego, Los Angeles, New York, Mexico, Arizona, and everywhere in between, he’s thrilled that some of his most impactful videos were filmed right here at home in Windsor.

“I think the coolest thing is that some of the biggest videos we’ve done were right here in Windsor,” he says. “Having young people come up to me and say, ‘Oh you’re doing this for Windsor. You’re making Windsor cool. ’ And to get kids excited about emotions, feelings and kindness it shows you can do anything anywhere and it’s not the location, it’s the people.” D 20

MOTIVATION

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DOWNTOWN

“DOWNTOWN BELIEVERS” FIND A HOME AT THE HIVE ON PELISSIER A vision of the future has just opened its doors in the Windsor core.

By Matthew St. Amand Photo by Dave Hunter

“If you build it, they will come.” So goes the famous line from the movie, Field of Dreams. It also captures what is happening in downtown Windsor.

Located at 531 Pelissier Street, the Hive on Pelissier is a five-story luxury apartment building located in the bustling heart of downtown Windsor. The project is a collaboration between BK Cornerstone Design Build Ltd., Philip Fernandes Custom Residential Design, and Distinctive Homes & Real Estate Ltd. Brokerage. The Hive is a lavishly upscale living space for busy professionals.

“In recent years, we’ve seen Windsor trending upward,” says Brent Klundert from BK Cornerstone Design Build Ltd. “The resurgence of the downtown core area has been amazing—lots of investment and development. Our tenants are a real mix of young professionals and ‘downtown believers’ who are excited to be a part of Windsor’s comeback.”

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Amenities abound at the Hive on Pelissier.

“There is a full gym,” Brent continues.

“We have a beautiful roof top terrace that overlooks Maiden Lane, complete with a gas-fired table and outdoor barbecue space.

Residents are within walking distance of an amazing, eclectic mix of cafes, restaurants, and entertainment downtown, on Maiden Lane and Chatham Street. They’re also just a short tunnel bus ride from Detroit, and all that it offers.”

The Hive on Pelissier is comprised of twenty-four residential units. There are also three commercial units. One is already leased.

Although tenants have begun moving in, the Hive’s official grand opening is set to take place on Thursday June 16, by invitation only.

Coinciding with the Downtown Windsor Farmers’ Market the following Saturday June 18, the Hive on Pelissier will be hosting a public open house where all interested parties can book a guided tour.

Speaking about the residential units, Brent says: “The units are definitely upper scale, details are top of the line. There are no units available in Windsor styled like this—for people with discerning taste.”

Indeed, the Hive on Pelissier was designed

by Philip Fernandes Custom Residential Design. Philip and Amanda Fernandes have built a reputation on exceptional creative design and understanding the details, pulling together experience from carpentry, construction, as well as formal architectural study. In the case of the Hive, details—right down to the window frames—have received the attention of this premier designer whose worked graces some of the finest homes in the area.

BK Cornerstone Design Build Ltd. has been making dreams come true for homeowners for the past thirty-five years.

They are not only interested in making the building process interactive and rewarding for clients, BK Cornerstone is interested in

DOWNTOWN

building better. In 2006, BK Cornerstone became the area’s first EnergyStar® registered builder. BK Cornerstone has taken this expertise and experience into building midrise units.

The location of the Hive on Pelissier is significant.

“It’s built on the site of the old Don Cherry’s, which has been vacant since 2004,” Brent explains. “Over the years, the site had become something of an eye-sore, and we thought it would be an excellent location for a project that will change the dynamics of downtown Windsor.”

“We’ve had a great response from those who have viewed the Hive,” says Chris MacLeod of Distinctive Homes & Real Estate Ltd. Brokerage. “The building is already thirty percent leased, and we expect to be fully occupied in the coming months.

We are dedicated to providing the finest service available by offering exceptional representation in all aspects of real estate investment and development in Windsor and Essex County.”

Windsor seems to be on everyone’s radar, these days—and for all the right reasons. There is the expansive redevelopment undertaken by St. Clair College at the old Windsor Star building on Ferry Street, the old armory, and elsewhere. There is the revitalization of Chatham Street and Maiden Lane. The Windsor waterfront has been site of one positive development after another, over the years. Windsor is hosting the 2022 CAN-AM Police Fire Games in July. And at the center of all conversation is the plan by Stellantis, LG Energy Solution to build an electric vehicle battery plant in the city.

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“And more announcements are to come regarding downtown development,” Brent says. “It’s too early to reveal at this time, but we have acquired more property in the Hive’s general location. The group will unveil its plans for further investment and development in the area very soon.”

The stars are aligning above the City of Windsor. “What’s happening here is all pointing in the right direction,” Brent says.

“The core is on its way to becoming the place to live.”

For more information about the Hive on Pelissier, and to stay in the loop for announcements about future developments, visitthehiveonpelissier.com. D THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

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PORTRAIT

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PORTRAIT

TANGO 1 SOLUTIONS

WILL REINVIGORATE YOUR BUSINESS Ex-SWAT Tony Smith talks leadership, Garage Gym, and healing.

By Devan Mighton Photos by Trevor Booth

To say a Windsor Police SWAT officer might find themselves in some hairy situations is putting it mildly. Between drug busts, shootings, bomb threats, and all the other situations that can come up in a major city, it is the Tactical Unit's sense of teamwork and family, as well as tough and consistent training, that keeps them straight.

In the time since he left the Windsor Police, Tony Smith has brought the lessons he learned during his 19 years of service, including 10 years in the Tactical Unit, with him to better the lives of others.

Through his businesses, Tango 1 Solutions and Garage Gym, he has applied his accumulated knowledge to helping individuals with their physical and mental well-being, as well as the functionality of local businesses.

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"Fitness has always been a part of my life," admits Smith. "When I was a part of SWAT, we had to have a higher fitness standard. I started realizing that if we started incorporating group training into our fitness, once or twice a week, we were working better together on all facets of what we do."

He says it was never just about fitness, it was about bringing his team together—which became the premise of Garage Gym.

I use tactics and strategies, earned through many years in law enforcement, and countless high-risk operations in which the consequence of failure could result in the loss of life.

"Growing up as an athlete, you latch on to that same type of team atmosphere that the Windsor Police represent," says Smith. "On the Tactical Unit, where everybody is very close, we were 18 men, at that time, working together towards one mission and sticking together no matter what. We were able to do some great things by bringing that same kind of premise, where everybody's accountable to each other—every person doing their job on every single play is the best way to victory."

While with the Tactical Unit, a friend of Smith's who owned a gym talked him into taking a few courses he was running. He had no intention to ever use the knowledge he obtained there, but it certainly came in handy.

Smith and his wife, Dani, who was also a cop, were having their first child and Smith had been moved off the Tactical Unit. A friend of his, a bartender, came to him and said that he was about to pay a considerable amount for some personal training. Smith offered to put his knowledge to work and train him.

"I told him, why don't you come by and work-out out of my garage with me and I'll show you some things," recalls Smith. "He started coming on a regular basis, and eventually he asked to bring a few more buddies, and they started throwing me a little bit of money for my time. Next thing we knew, we had about 30 people coming to our house. We moved to a bigger house with a bigger garage and people were still banging on our door."

The Smiths jokingly referred to their little hobby as the "garage gym".

Their concept and mindset proved to be popular with clients and they ended up buying the old Home Hardware building in Amherstburg and made the Garage Gym official.

Dani, a 13-year veteran, left the police service and set up the gym and it rapidly expanded, eventually resulting in a second location in Kingsville. Soon after, Tony left the Windsor Police too and the business continues to thrive. In fact, Garage Gym will soon have a third location in Harrow and are closing in on their first Windsor location, possibly in the Howard Ave. area.

Their customers, known lovingly as the Garage Gym Army, take part in at least two fundraisers per year and have raised over $1 million for the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation, scholarship funds, and families in need.

After the success of Garage Gym, Tony came up with another idea. What if his teamwork model could be applied to businesses too?

"It happened organically," states Tony. "Someone asked me to help them out with some issues they were having in their business. I took the lessons I had learned in business, through running the charity, and then through SWAT, and I applied them. People are seeing that through running these systems, they gain accountability and clear communication. I think it's what's lacking in this world right now.

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31

PORTRAIT

Treating it, recognizing it, feeling it, and then moving on, will always make you bigger, badder, and stronger on the other side. That's resilience—walking through fire and coming out the other side.

32

PORTRAIT

People don't have those hard conversations—real teams have that, that conflict—you evolve from that conflict and get stronger."

Thus, Tango 1 Solutions was born. The name comes from his experience as team leader, also known as Tango or Tactical 01, from when he was a member of the SWAT Team.

"Tango 01, in the police service, it's the only position of leadership that's voted upon by your peers," explains Tony. "You have no real rank; it's voted upon by the people on that team and that's a designation that is a great honour."

He says that Tango 1 Solutions is not your typical consulting agency.

"Unlike the typical business consulting team, when you choose to work with my team and I, we aren't sitting around singing kumbaya and doing trust-falls," explains Tony. "I use tactics and strategies, earned through many years in law enforcement, and countless high-risk operations in which the consequence of failure could result in the loss of life.

"Tango 1 Solutions is hands on, no-BS business consulting service.

I work with high performing teams that want to sharpen the blade, identify objectives, and create a mission-based approach to its execution, whether that be creating clarity, conflict resolution, or providing a thrilling team building out-of-office experience. My team and I can also provide emergency planning to prepare organizations to deal with violent intruders and medical emergencies until 911 services are activated."

Tango 1 Solutions provides access to BLAST Camps (Basic Leadership And Survival Tactics) for their customers. These three-day camps are meant to help customers disconnect from the digital world, experience limited sleep and work under stress, and teach them basic skills like how to protect your home and family, firearm safety, navigation, starting fires in the wild, de-escalation, and, most importantly, self awareness through talking out your issues.

Tango 1 Solutions is designed to teach its four key values: Strength, Warrior, Protector, and Self-awareness to help its clients gain and create a sense of community. Strength of body and mind, Warrior mentality (mission oriented and solution mindset), Protector of what is yours, your people, and your time, and Self-awareness of where your weaknesses lay.

"Even good businesses need a little help with leadership," adds Tony. "They need some help with their mission-driven premises, but also emergency preparedness."

Through Garage Gym, with Dani, Tango 1 Solutions, and his Tango 1 podcast, Tony has taken the lessons learned through his years with the Windsor Police Tactical Unit and has retooled them to help his community to be a better place.

"This whole journey has been a healing process," reflects Tony.

"SWAT takes a great toll on people and it took a great toll on me. I think the experiences I gained there, negative included, really helped me to thrive in the business that I'm in now. It has also put me in a position where I can speak to people about PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health issues."

"Treating it, recognizing it, feeling it, and then moving on, will always make you bigger, badder, and stronger on the other side. That's resilience—walking through fire and coming out the other side." D Tango1.ca

Tango1_tony

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BOOK REVIEW

THE CHEAP HANDYMAN

BY B.S. HARRIS

The agony and the ecstasy of trying to save a buck when dealing with home repairs.

By Matthew St. Amand Photos by Dave Hunter

For the cheapskate—or, more politely put, the frugal among us—there is something admirable, almost valorous, about saving money. We hear the slogan in advertising all the time: “Why pay more?” Why, indeed?

Lakeshore resident, Brian Harris, has authored a book that celebrates and enshrines his frugality in a series of forty-nine entertaining stories, titled The Cheap Handyman.

At the outset, readers must recognize there is an element of bravery required to share stories of this kind. The author risks readers laughing at him, not with him. Brian avoids this pitfall because his reasoning is always sound. This is not a bungler simply bumbling into another fine mess. These are situations every homeowner faces.

There is the time the family’s refrigerator went on the fritz. When you’re raising two kids, keeping up with mortgage and vehicle payments, going out to purchase a replacement refrigerator is no simple task. As luck had it, Brian explains in the book: “I saw an ad for a used one, checked it out, and purchased it on the spot.” All he needed to do was pick up the fridge and bring it home from the seller’s house, which was “about a mile or so” away.

For this job, Brian enlisted his “weathered, beat-up trailer”.

38

BOOK REVIEW

To paraphrase the great Scottish poet, Robert Burns: “The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry.” After loading the new-old fridge onto the trailer at the seller’s house, securing the load with yards of rope and blankets, Brian made his way home. He even took the added precaution of traveling back roads where he knew he’d encounter limited traffic (and avoid detection by police who might take an interest in his ancient, less-than-road worthy trailer).

It’s up to readers to enjoy the comedy and tragedy of what happens next, but suffice it to say, Brian nearly succeeded.

The Cheap Handyman came about in much the same way its stories came about: accidentally.

“When we moved to the new house, the kids were here, and we reminisced about the old house,” Brian recalls during a conversation with The Drive Magazine. “Everybody had a memory. One of them recommended that I collect the stories in a book.”

The only problem was Brian had never written a book before.

Like all the other projects, however, that didn’t stop him.

“I’m not afraid to try new things,” Brian continues. “I wrote a few chapters. When I had doubts, my wife encouraged me. I showed some chapters to a buddy, and he said they were good—and that was a guy who had no trouble telling it like it is.”

Before long, Brian had a full-length book on his hands.

“Now what do I do?” he wondered.

“I got on the Internet and contacted a bunch of publishers,” Brian explains. “Pretty soon, it was obvious, I wouldn’t get anywhere without an agent. I was very lucky to get this guy in Toronto. He was just like me—another cheap handyman. Took a month to find an agent. Took another month to find a publisher.”

That publisher turned out to be Simon & Schuster in New York.

You know, the publisher of Ernest Hemingway, Howard Stern, Carrie Fisher, and Stephen King, just to name a few.

Although landing this publishing deal is tantamount to hitting a grand slam on one’s first at-bat, the appeal of The Cheap Handyman is plain to see. Brian’s writing style is simple and deceptively comical.

He gets right to the point and knows where the bull’s eye is located in each tale. He is not afraid to be self-deprecating, and his experiences are very relatable.

For instance, there is the tale about having trouble with the front wheel of his bike. He took it to his local bike shop, where the repair technician said the bearings needed to be replaced. He suggested Brian buy the bearings, watch a couple of how-to YouTube videos, and perform the repair himself. Brian gave it his best shot. Comedy ensued.

So often, the book’s humour derives from circumstances beyond Brian’s control. He takes all reasonable precautions. That’s exactly what he did in the story about the low-hanging tree limb above his driveway that scraped the top of his truck each time he pulled in.

Finally, Brian had enough, and decided to cut the limb down.

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B.S. Harris

“I gathered up my own chain saw, ladder, goggles, and work gloves,” he writes, “and asked a buddy to come over and assist me”.

Brian even parked his truck in his next-door neighbour’s driveway to ensure his work space was clear.

The chainsaw made short work of the branch, which decided to fall directly onto one end, causing the limb to recoil like a giant spring, vault through the air, and land squarely on the hood of his truck.

A very effective touch is that each story ends with two pieces of information: “Estimated cost of job” and “Actual cost of job”. In the case of the gymnastic tree limb, the estimated cost was zero, but the actual cost turned out to be $1,350.

There is talk of turning The Cheap Handyman into a television show, but it’s too early to go into specifics. For the moment, Brian is enjoying life as an author whose book is selling in Europe, Asia, and Australia, as well as North America. He has completed his second book and is working on a third. It’s also worth noting that many of the jobs Brian undertook over the years went well.

“Hundreds of jobs have gone right,” he admits. “For instance, when we moved into the new house, the dishwasher didn’t work. I had to rip it apart and replace some parts, but I fixed it. I’ve gotten a lot of things right with cars, too.” D 39

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MENTAL HEALTH

42

MENTAL HEALTH

HELPLESS TO MINDFULNESS 9/11 Survivor tells PTSD story at Can-Am Police Fire Games.

By Kim Willis

He never saw the plane before it hit the North tower. He was on his way to the elevator when the second plane hit. Along with many others above the crash zone he was left completely helpless. He was the last man to make it out of the South tower alive and has experienced deep personal pain and still struggles with PTSD.

event will bring over 400 first responders and their families to Windsor from July 25 to 31 to participate in over 40 events.

CMHA-WECB will have a presence throughout the games including the Chief’s Luncheon and the Opening Ceremonies

DiFrancesco is the guest speaker at the 2022 CanAm Police Fire Games Chiefs Luncheon on July 27 at Caesars Windsor, hosted by Canadian Mental Health Association, Windsor-Essex County (CMHA-WECB)

The luncheon promises to be a powerful event featuring Ron DiFrancesco, the last survivor from the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City on that fateful day of September 11, 2001. Ron will share his incredible story of personal pain, his struggle with PTSD and how he has managed to survive and thrive.

In 2018 Windsor-Essex received the exciting news that it would host the 2022 CanAm Police Fire Games. This prestigious

To purchase tickets to the Chiefs Luncheon visit, windsoressex.cmha.ca/ events/chiefs-luncheon

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“It is a true honour to have been selected as the charity partner for the CanAm Police Fire Games,” said Dr. Sonja Grbevski, CEO, CMHA-WECB. “Although we have made great strides in addressing the stigma associated with mental health, it continues to be more prevalent in professions such as first responders. Sadly, it can still be associated as a weakness. Fortunately, events like the games provide another opportunity to normalize the conversation.”

The event on its own is an incredible honour, however the organizing committee wanted to leverage the event and create a lasting legacy in Windsor-Essex. The decision was made to select the Canadian Mental Health Association, Windsor-Essex 43

MENTAL HEALTH

44

MENTAL HEALTH

County Branch (CMHA-WECB) as a charity partner of the games to highlight the importance of mental health and address stigma.

Over the last four years the importance of mental health has been highlighted on several occasions in events and activities leading up to the games.

In 2018 a First Responders Coalition was established in Windsor-Essex with representation from all police, fire, hospitals, EMS, the Windsor Essex County Health Unit, Family Services WindsorEssex, CMHA-WECB and other community partners. The goal was quite simple, to establish strengthened peer support programs for our first responders.

each other, most often times better than your spouses, friends or even family. At the end of the day you want to be able to lean on your peers so that you can be yourself and feel understood. A close second to taking care of you is having the training resources to healthy living - both mind and body,” said Jeremy Soulliere, Windsor Firefighter.

When it comes to the mental health of first-responders, there are many innovative possibilities on the horizon. These tailormade solutions are changing a long-established culture of stoicism into one of collegial support.

Although the grant funding has ended, there is still much to do, especially after the mental toll that the pandemic has had on our frontline workers. The reality is that by the nature of their profession, first responders have higher rates of suicide, PTSD, and trauma. We also know that for decades these individuals were not encouraged to share their feelings as it was a sign of weakness.

health front and centre to support our First Responders and also to bring together community.

The CanAm Games in conjunction with CMHA-WECB are meant to put mental

“We knew that our staff was struggling with stress, anxiety, depression and PTSD and while we have employee assistance programs there is still stigma and distrust about accessing these services. Based on the culture of first responders we know that peer support is often the best way to provide supports,” said Bruce Krauter, Chief at Essex Windsor EMS. While all agencies were in support of the peer support concept, they were all at various stages in development of peer support programs. A successful grant from the Ministry of Labour allowed for the standardization of peer support programs across agencies. In addition, there have been additional outcomes from the Coalition including a website dedicated to supporting the mental health of first responders and families (wehelpfirst.ca), E-Quine therapy is now available for first responders, curriculum development in partnership with St. Clair College and the University of Windsor was completed to ensure the mental health aspect of these professions is included and more.

Today all Windsor-Essex first responders have been trained in Road 2 Mental Readiness (R2MR), over 150 have been trained in ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), and many have completed peer support mental health training that includes early intervention, assessment, treatment, education and program development for emergency services and high trauma sectors.

“In my opinion strong peer support is one of the most crucial outlets first responders can have at their fingertips. No one other than a first responder will know exactly what you’re going through. When you reach out to one another you tend not to hold back your feelings. You understand THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

“It takes years to break down barriers, but inaction is not an option,” said Krauter.

“Over the last several years we have made pointed efforts to normalize mental health as health and provide outlets for our employees to reach out when they are struggling. We have made significant progress, but there is still much work to be done.”

To that end, fundraising efforts have continued to ensure that this important work can continue.

The CanAm Games have provided a platform to highlight the importance of the mental health of our first responders and raise funds to support ongoing initiatives. The Chiefs luncheon is a fundraiser in support of these efforts. There will also be other opportunities to support CMHA-WECB throughout the games.

911 survivor Ron DiFrancesco credits the support of his family and community, and his daily focus on mindfulness, gratefulness and giving back for not only surviving but thriving.

To find out more information about the CanAm Police Fire Games visit, windsor2022.ca.

STATISTICS AND FACTS • 2 % of Canadians will experience PTSD in their lifetime (Van Amerigen, 2008) • F irst responders experience PTSD 2 times the rate of the average population • A n estimated 22% of all paramedics will develop PTSD (Drewitz-Chesney, 2012) • 1 6 active and 15 retired RCMP officers died by suicide between 2006 and 2014 • B etween April and December 2014, 27 first responders died by suicide • I n January, 2015 4 first responders died by suicide (Tema Conter, 2015) • U p to 22% of all paramedics will develop PTSD D 45

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PROFILE

50

PROFILE

A QUARTER-CENTURY OF DOING IT RIGHT Mark Jones' devotion to accessibility makes playgrounds for everyone.

By Devan Mighton Photos by Trevor Booth

When you come across one of Mark Jones' playgrounds, there are some telltale signs that he had a hand in its creation. His playgrounds are colourful, quality, imaginative, and, most-of-all, accessible at all.

When Jones started in the playground design business a quarter-century ago, he describes the market of yesterday as dull, flavourless square and plain structures that were geared only towards children with full abilities. As someone with both relatives and friend's children who had nowhere safe to play, he took umbrage with the lack of play options for special needs children and made it his passion.

"When we went to these playgrounds, I would see families playing but other children within these families sitting on the sidelines watching," recalls Jones. "To see this time and time again was very heartbreaking."

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When Jones joined the Playworld team with New World Park Solutions, he says he knew he was getting involved with two fantastic teams.

"Playworld is the original when it comes to accessible play," explains Jones. "They were and still are way ahead in inclusive play.

They have developed a full training course and catalogue on how to design for inclusion. I knew this was the manufacturer for me. This has been a dream for me to try to make as many playgrounds as accessible as I can in my lifetime."

Through career-long training and dedication, Jones has stayed on top of the latest trends and products for children with disabilities.

In the Greater Windsor Area, nowhere is Jones' expertise on display like the Farrow Riverside Miracle Park.

Located in the heart of Olde Historic Riverside, the Farrow Riverside Miracle Park is a popular destination for children across Windsor-Essex, regardless of ability, with its state-of-the-art accessible playground and Miracle League sports field.

"This was one of my greatest accomplishments, working with this amazing group of people," states Jones. "I can not say enough about the people who got this group going and ran through so many obstacles to get what they dreamed of and now they have one of the most beautiful parks that I have ever had the pleasure of being involved with."

When the Riverside Minor Baseball Association contacted Jones about the creation of the Miracle Park, Jones says they had a clear vision in mind.

"I have been approached by many people and organizations in my time who have had 51

PROFILE

similar aspirations but really had no idea of the work and expense involved," he explains.

"Most of these never really even got off the ground. However, I knew many of the people involved in this group and I knew it was going to happen."

Jones was passionate about making the project happen and donated a large portion of money, including his own profits, to make sure they could build the best playground they could get. Playworld stepped in with significant discounts to help the project along.

"I do get a lot of compliments on the Miracle Park, but all the credit must be given to the Miracle League," states Jones. "To see a group of people work that hard to make a park like this is something that just makes you want to be a part of it—no matter what.

They are heroes in this community, as far as I am concerned, and I am honoured to be a small part of it."

It is Jones' belief that all children deserve the right to be able to play and that if a playground doesn't have something for everyone, regardless of ability, the playground has failed. He applies this belief to every playground he builds, but older 52

playgrounds in need of replacement might not fall into his capable hands.

"What I started doing a few years ago was trying to add at least one element to as many playgrounds as I could within my financial ability," explains Jones. "I looked at the most-used thing on a playground—which was swings—and came up with a very easy way to start with that. This is when I started my accessible swing donation program."

At over $1,000 a pop, Jones donated accessible swing seats to as many parks across the region as he could. He figures that he has put over $100,000 into parts and labour at this point. However, that project went on hold at the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the pandemic, he gained a new focus. Hearing about an elderly man struggling to find bare necessities in a local grocery store, from his daughter, he sprung into action and created an online network of as many as 1,000 local volunteers to help local at-risk seniors. Jones put over $10,000 of money he had put aside into finding and buying necessities for seniors, the disabled, and other people at-risk. He says, in the end, his network helped over 10,000 people. From

there, he was asked to become an organizer for the inaugural June 27th Miracle. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, and playground building not being deemed essential, Jones had time and energy on his hands and went to work. The event would end up involving over 10,000 volunteers and set an unofficial world record for largest single day food drive.

With the pandemic slowly fading into the distance of the public conscience, Jones has turned back to playground building. He says that, post-COVID, business has been slower, but is starting to pick up. It excites him, as the better the business gets, the more he can get back to donating swings and to places that care for the disabled.

"COVID was a blip in the radar where it was obvious to me that I had to focus on that at that time," states Jones. "However, I feel we have controlled that and I can go back to focus on my true passion of helping those with disabilities."

"However, I will always be ready and prepared to be there for my community if another serious situation occurs. I hope and pray it doesn’t but, if it does, you can count on me to be there." D

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53

ROAD TRIP

DESTINATION UNPLUGGED Lungovita Beach Retreat Offers Visitors Unique ‘Glamping’ Experience

By Jen Brignall-Strong Photo by Six Langemann

Sweeping cliff top views. Idyllic pathways lush with greenery. Calm waterfront breezes.

While Lungovita Beach Retreat may only be a half hour drive from Windsor, the little slice of paradise feels miles away from the hustle and bustle of city living.

“Lungovita was designed to help people extend their life by reconnecting with nature and disconnecting with the busyness of their day-to-day lives,” says co-owner David Haas.

Located in the heart of wine country, Lungovita (pronounced “loon-go-vee-ta”) is Canada’s first adults-only ‘glamping’ retreat.

With nearly 40 fully furnished geodesic domes and tents, a gorgeous in-ground pool, hot tubs, and cedar barrel saunas, the sprawling 16-acre property offers the amenities of a hotel in the natural, open air setting of a campground.

“People are so amazed that something like this exists in Essex County,” says Haas. “It’s a super unique property that’s not developed and just wide open with 600 feet of beach 54

front. It’s also on an 80-foot cliff overlooking Lake Erie. There aren’t many places around here where you can soak in a view like that.”

The park’s name means “long life” and its unique concept was something Haas and his business partners Andrew Facca, Craig Higginbottom, and Chantal Vallée had been dreaming up for years before it came to fruition last summer. After scouring the globe for the perfect piece of land to suit their vision, the ideal space presented itself right in their own backyard when the former Caboto Park went up for sale in late 2020.

“We’d been holding in mind this idea since the creation of AirBnB,” says Haas. “This property was a perfect fit because it was already zone as a campground so we could do exactly what we had in mind.”

The group took possession of the park in May 2021 and worked quickly to update the facilities; completely renovating the bathroom and shower facilities and erecting 23 ‘glamping’

tents complete with queen size beds, seating areas, and space heaters.

Haas says upgrades to the property are ongoing. By the end of this summer, they hope to have 42 geodesic domes and 20 ‘glamping’ tents available for nightly rentals. In addition to the pool, saunas, and hot tubs, they also offer bike and kayak rentals for those wishing to explore the natural beauty of the area.

“We’re just going to keep adding,” Haas explains. “Our plan is to continue to make this place as beautiful as we possibly can with as many amenities that are all in the realm of relaxation.”

The property also offers a shared barbecue area and is dotting with picnic tables, hammocks, bonfire pits, and green space for visitors to enjoy.

“We’re also allowing the 30 foot perimeter around the park to go back to nature so eventually it will be just like a forest and we’ll

be able to host forest walks,” he adds. “We want people to walk around barefoot; put their feet in the grass, put their feet in the sand.”

Lungovita will also eventually host a variety of spiritual healing retreats and workshops.

Both Haas and Facca work as Certified Coaches, helping people heal, achieve their goals, and realize their true potential.

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“We were always renting out venues for retreats and thought, ‘why not create our own?’” says Haas, noting they’ve already had several other coaches book events at the site as well.

“We’re attracting a lot of like-minded people that are interested in helping get people back to nature and reconnect with their true self so they can become the best version of themselves.”

“We’re so ‘connected’ these days with technology and social media, we don’t really take the time to actually disconnect,” says Haas.

“It used to be that you’d go to the office 9 to 5 then you’d go home and have some peace. Now the emails come at all hours of the day and we feel a sense of obligation to reply quickly.

Now, that time you used to spend in nature or with your family, you’re no longer present and it’s detrimental to our health because we’re constantly in this state of fight or flight.”

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For those wishing to unplug for the day without staying overnight, Lungovita also offers $20 day passes.

“We have day passes available where people can come and enjoy all the amenities: they can use the bikes, use the kayaks, swim in the pool, hang in a hammock, and just enjoy the park,” explains Haas. “It’s a great place to bring your friends out for the afternoon and have a little picnic.”

Haas and his team are thrilled that the community has welcomed Lungovita with open arms and credits the Town of Essex for supporting their vision.

“They really see the value in what we’re doing,” he says. “We see this as something that will attract people from all over Canada and the United States.”

shop local

“The great thing is that we’re completely complimentary to everything that’s around us too,” he explains, noting that they’re in the process of creating special package offers with some of the other local businesses. “We want people to go to the restaurants and the wineries and explore everything the area has to offer.”

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“Ultimately, we want people to come to Lungovita for the weekend and have a transformational experience. D

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FOOD

Photo by Vicki Bartel

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FOOD

Summer SHRIMP

PASTA

INGREDIENTS

2 portions of your desired noodles (I used fettuccine for this recipe) 2 tbsp butter

1 tbsp sun-dried tomato, chopped 1 tsp oil from the sundried tomato jar 2 cloves garlic ½ sweet onion, thinly sliced ½ tsp chilli flakes 1 tsp sriracha 8-10 shrimp 1 cup chopped Swiss chard ¼ cup corn 3 tbsp salted pasta water Freshly shaved parmesan DIRECTIONS 1. In a pot with boiling water and a pinch of salt, cook noodles until al denté.

2. In a large frying pan set to medium heat, add butter, sundried tomatoes and oil, garlic, sweet onion, chilli flakes, sriracha, and shrimp. Cook until shrimp is almost opaque.

3. Once the shrimp is about done, add the Swiss chard, and corn. Once it’s cooked, add 3 tbsp of the salted pasta water and stir. Let it continue to cook/boil for a min or until the water has almost evaporated, leaving behind a light sauce.

4. Add the cooked noodles to the pan and combine all the ingredients.

5. Last, sprinkle fresh parmesan over top 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

WE’RE GETTING FIT WITH THE SHRED SHOP Owner Sawyer Telegdy discusses survival, growth, and recognition

By Devan Mighton Photo by Syx Langemann

This is the story of the Shred Shop. How a coffee barista with a workout hobby became a bodybuilder and eventually the owner-operator of the hottest workout facility in Windsor-Essex.

Sawyer Telegdy was born and raised in Windsor. She had always participated in solo sports and was accomplished in downhill slalom racing and ballet. Working at Starbucks, she enjoyed working out but kept to herself.

In 2010, both of her parents were diagnosed with terminal cancer, and her life took a turn. She took eight months off from the coffee shop to help care for them but the stress of the situation was taking its toll.

“I had to find an outlet, I had to find something to do,” recalls Telegdy. “A gentleman, in particular, who was a bodybuilder at the gym, saw that I was really in the zone, really focussed.

“Going to the gym and working out was my stress release. It was the only thing that I knew. I didn’t feel very social, obviously. I didn’t feel like talking to a lot of people and I didn’t want to go out. I was too young to drown my sorrow in a bottle—I just went to the gym—that was my escape.”

She says that he took her under his wing and taught her everything he knew about form and body mechanics. They met at the gym daily and she soaked in everything she could, and, at his suggestion, she started competing as a competitive bodybuilder.

Things were going well for Telegdy, her parents survived their ordeal and she started to place well at her competitions. People started recognizing her at the gym, asking for advice, which led to a little off-the-cuff training. A friend of hers offered to let her train at her personal studio if she would agree to teach group classes on her off-hours away from Starbucks.

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“That’s when I got introduced to group-style,” explains Telegdy.

“I was always so independent, doing one-on-one stuff. This group shit started getting pretty electrifying and I just had a blast with it. People were coming together and motivating each other, as opposed to a

PROFILE

trainer in a one-on-one setting. The energy was so great and everyone was so motivated, I really started to understand why group training was starting to take over.”

Group training and crossfit were all the rage and she says she jumped on the bandwagon and her classes expanded until they were too big. So, Telegdy opened the doors to the Shred Shop on Jefferson Blvd.

“I thought, people would really like it if I added more weight instead of a body-weight boot camp,” she says. “I added some resistance, some high-intensity intervals, a little bit more structure, superloud music, microphones with the coaches—so loud you can’t even think—and created an oasis where people can walk in and do what I did in the gym years ago.”

She explains that the Shred Shop fuses high-intensity circuits that include resistance-based movements, building muscle mass through lifting weights, and explosive cardio intervals.

“The way that we train the functional movements that we perform here, they create the optimal metabolic demand for overall conditioning,” explains Telegdy. “The reason why functional fitness is so important is that it translates outside of a gym setting. A bicep curl gives you bigger biceps, but a bicep curl doesn’t make you squat and pick something up off of the floor pain-free for the rest of your life.”

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Although, on start-up, it was a two woman show with Telegdy and her admin tech, Amanda, Shred Shop now features an all-female workout crew that is both pre- and post-natal trained. Classes are 45 minutes with a mobility cooldown at the end, also their coaches offer a one-on-one personal training experience, and during group classes, they aren’t up on some stage calling out instructions—they walk around and correct movement patterns for better training.

Within six months of opening, Shred Shop’s clientele exceeded the space at their original location and they relocated to 815 Erie St. E and, in November 2021, they opened their second facility at 6020 Malden Rd. in LaSalle.

“We service both men and women,” states Telegdy. “Just because it’s female operated doesn’t mean it’s a women-only type of thing. We do have lots of men who train here, but, to be honest, there are a lot of powerful women and I think that women in fitness is a very inspiring thing for other women. We’ve had a lot of feedback from members saying they are very comfortable getting direction from a female—we have a niche.”

This year, Telegdy was honoured by the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce as the 2022 recipient of the Young Professional of the Year Award at their annual Business Excellence Awards.

“Honestly, I genuinely wasn’t expecting it,” she admits. “I couldn’t believe that I’d earned that, that I deserved that kind of award, so it was really humbling.” She adds that she is proud of her staff and their resilience during the pandemic and the community that has helped them grow.

This summer, there is more in store for the clients of the Shred Shop, including a spin studio, which will give clients more options and variety in the workout choices, and Telegdy is actively building up her one-on-one and group training teams.

In the end, the Shred Shop is all about self-improvement and the betterment of living for their clients.

“That’s what we do here—that’s the difference,” states Telegdy. “We teach people to move their body, under pressure for long periods of time, with power and no pain. We teach that pattern so that they are functional humans outside of here—anytime, any day, in everything they do.” D THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

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MUSIC

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MUSIC

SHE'S SINGING HER

blues away Windsor country singer Tayler Lynn releases Yours Truly EP.

By Devan Mighton Photo by Syx Langemann

A 12-year-old girl sits on her bed with a pen and a notepad. A well-loved acoustic guitar stares at her from the corner. She still feels the echoes of her Taylor Swift CD, which she had been dreaming to, on her stereo, in an effort to soothe her mind.

She has suffered from anxiety and other mental health issues since she was 10, and Taylor gets her—with her young relatability, her calming voice, and her songwriting, which can range from cheerful to morose.

Young Tayler Lynn hums a melody and starts putting pen to paper. It just feels right. She picks up her guitar, and starts pairing chords to her humming—the sweet release of music flows through her veins.

At 23 years old, country singer Tayler Lynn, credits music with helping her cope with her mental health issues. Her discovery of Swift, at the age of eight, fueled her interest in music and has put her on a trajectory to become a hot new talent in the local country music scene.

"I’ve struggled with anxiety and mental health since I was about 10 years old and was bullied a lot in school," explains Tayler Lynn. "Music has been the only thing that has helped me cope."

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MUSIC

The Windsor native says that, as a child, she would listen to Swift on repeat and sing over the track karaoke-style. "From the first time I heard (Swift's hit song) Tim McGraw back in 2006, I fell in love with Taylor Swift's writing and storytelling," she recalls. "I knew when I heard her music that I wanted to make my own but I never thought it to be possible."

"I would write songs during class at school, in the middle of the night, during pretty much any free time I got. I kept them to myself for years—six years to be exact. I released my first song, Better Than This, onto the internet when I was 18. Since then, I have released 21 songs, all written by myself, 10 produced by myself in my bedroom and 11 produced by my producer, Justin.

this one TV show I love called One Tree Hill. I wrote about the storylines and characters in the show. My song, Second Guess, is about two characters on the show who are in a relationship but everyone doubts their relationship. They say they’ll never make it and they’re just a fling 'cause they’re young, but they end up staying together for years and have two kids—so they beat the odds.

"I’ve seen her in concert twice and each time I imagine what it would be like to be up there performing my own songs and having everyone in the crowd singing my lyrics back to me. That’s the dream isn’t it?

She is the golden standard of a successful and lasting career and is the master of writing evergreen bops. That’s everyone’s goal, to write music that stands the test of time. That’s why I look up to her, among her many other talents and traits."

"I’m just a girl who makes music in her bedroom hoping that my songs can make at least one person feel less alone."

Tayler Lynn is very excited about her latest single, Play It Safe, which hit streaming platforms on May 27.

With her newly-released first EP (extended play), Yours Truly, Lynn has started experimenting with more daring formats, as her songs coalesse through common themes and concepts.

Despite not being able to perform live for the past two years due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, at the Strawberry Festival in LaSalle on June 9, Tayler Lynn was able to sing her soul out to the masses once again. Armed with new songs and old, just like Taylor Swift did for her, hopefully Tayler Lynn inspired someone in the crowd to sing away their blues too.

By the time Tayler Lynn turned 12, she took her love of country music to the next level and started pouring her soul into her music.

"Yours Truly is my first release that’s not a single," she explains. "I’m technically releasing all of the songs as singles and then compiling them into my EP on streaming platforms once they're all released, just due to the fact that singles perform better nowadays.

"Creating and getting lost in the stories I’ve written was, and is, very therapeutic for me when it comes to my mental health. It’s an escape from my overthinking brain."

"With the rise of TikTok and short attention spans, I felt it would be most beneficial to release and promote each song individually. I pretty much wrote the whole EP about

Tayler Lynn is active on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook and is available for booking through her platforms. Her music is available through all streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. D

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SPORTS

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SPORTS

TO HARRY LUMLEY, IT'S ALL JUST

Chicken Soup"

Yes, the patriarch of the Herman football dynasty is still kicking.

By Devan Mighton.

Photos by Syx Langemann

At W.F. Herman Academy, the Griffins football team has a saying: chicken soup.

"All chicken soup means is that you might as well blame whatever excuse you are going to give to me, for anything, on chicken soup," says longtime Herman football coach Harry Lumley. "One excuse is the same as the next. Whenever anybody makes an excuse in practice or a game, you hear a chorus of guys going, "Chicken soup!" It tells the kids right away, forget the excuses."

With 56 years experience, the septuagenarian Griffins' coach knows a thing or two about accountability and success. In 31 non-COVID or strike seasons, he has led Herman to 24 city championships.

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SPORTS

When asked why he was drawn to football, he jokes that he enjoys the brutality.

"When I was a kid, I loved all sports. It didn't matter what it was," he says. "Peewee football was right in its beginning stages when I was a kid, and I loved it, so I started playing and coaching at the same time."

He says that in his youth, he played football and coached baseball at the same time, but hockey was his favourite.

"I was in all of them but no good at any of them—that's why I went into coaching," laughs Lumley. "I was a Jack of no trades really, but I learned a lot and that's how I learned that I loved coaching."

I was in all of them but no good at any of them—that's why I went into coaching.

His first foray into coaching came at 14 years old. "We had a baseball team when I was about 14 and we raised a lot of money selling little bags of peanuts for our uniforms," recalls Lumley. "The guy who was in charge of our team took off with all the money and left us stranded. We had no uniforms, the team was going to disband and I said, 'Bullshit, we're not disbanding.

I'll take the team.'"

Coaching his friends, including close buddies Bruce Belland and Rick Bauer, he says they were all pretty tough nuts. "We used to fight a lot in those days," he admits.

"I don't know why that hasn't continued with kids, but I used to fight all the time."

His struggles molded him. Born in 1945, he says his youth was affected by the divorce of his parents. In high school, he just stopped attending and was subsequently kicked out of four of them. When Lumley started attending Herman, he met his mentor, legendary coach Godfrey Janisse.

"He was unbelievable; I am so loyal to Godfrey Janisse," states Lumley. "If it wasn't for him and my brother, Ed, I don't even want to say what would've happened, but I know I wouldn't be around.

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"I was drinking and fighting and doing a lot of crazy things at the time and Godfrey kept me in school. They wouldn't let me play my last year because, in those days, courses were different—if you failed one, you failed the whole year. I failed math because the guy kept kicking me out of his class, so they wouldn't let me play."

Godfrey convinced him that after he finished high school, to return to coach football, and after a short stint at F.J. Brennan, Lumley returned to Herman to work with Janisse in 1967. The pair have worked with each other for an eternity, despite Janisse taking stints at Walkerville and Massey and Lumley having a very successful run with Kennedy. They both eventually came back—Lumley to coach his own stepbrothers.

"It's easy when you've got good kids," muses Lumley. "I had a real affinity for kids that were hard to handle and were in trouble—because that was me when I was younger! We built a really good rapport with the kids. They worked hard and we started winning, and the word "tradition" always comes into it—nobody wants to be a team that loses."

Lumley says that a point of pride with Herman's football program is that of the 64 coaches involved with the team, in his time, all but two were Herman grads. He notes coaches Gavin MacDougall, Gerald Lewis, and John Thrasher among his returning alumni.

We all knew the system, we'd been running the same system for 40 years or so," he explains. "When you have great coaches, it's fun for everybody. The kids listen because they know we know what we are talking about."

"We worked really hard, we put a lot of time in, and the biggest thing was, I surrounded myself with really good coaches— really good people."

Lumley says that he is always getting asked what his best team was and he says that there were so many that he can't keep track.

"The biggest highlight was probably the very first time they had an OFSAA championship in the Skydome," he recalls.

"We went down and played a team that was ranked No. 1 in Canada by All-Star Recruiting—a team called London Catholic Central.

They were absolutely loaded. Big, strong kids that went on to win a couple championships

with Western. They were supposed to beat us pretty bad and we beat them 28-0. We just totally dominated the game."

He says a number of players from that team went on to receive scholarships, including his own son.

Lumley adds that winning the city championship was usually the biggest challenge and looks back fondly with his team's wars with Holy Names and Kennedy.

His Herman program produced a number of highly skilled graduates, like seven-year National Football League veteran O.J. Atogwe, and college standouts Chris Rwabakumba (Duke), Matt Hale (Syracuse), Gerald Lewis (Eastern Michigan), Vlad Kontic (Western Michigan), and his son, Dan, who went to Kentucky.

"We never seemed to have a bad team and everybody plays," states Lumley. "We don't play the same kids over and over.

We don't have to rebuild, we just fill in the blanks at the end of each year."

"Getting kids to the next level is all we care about. Winning just seems to come along with it." D

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PSYCH DRIVE

5 STEPS TO

THRIVING AND GROWTH You can either step forward into growth or backward into safety.

SELF-ACTUALIZATION AND REACHING FULL POTENTIAL Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a great model for understanding how to thrive under pressure and grow. This is because it gives people rapid-fire insight into why they may be stressed and struggling at certain points throughout the day.

And in turn, it empowers individuals to address the underlying source of a problem, instead of what superficially appears to be causing the difficulty.

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PSYCH DRIVE

MOTIVATION IS PHYSICAL BEFORE IT IS PSYCHOLOGICAL The first two steps of Maslow’s hierarchy are called deficiency needs.

The upper level of Maslow’s hierarchy includes growth needs. o Lower-level needs must be met before higher-level growth needs can be sustained long-term. o Basic survival needs act as the foundation for the capacity to thrive, flourish, and grow.

DEFICIENCY NEEDS WHAT’S MISSING? Step 1: Physical Needs • • • •

A good night’s sleep Healthy food Deep breathing Movement and exercise INHALE PEACE EXHALE DIFFICULTY

When everything feels out of control, breathing is the one thing that will always be within our control. The times we are under the most amount of stress is the exact time we need to expand our breathing – not restrict it.

Step 2: Safety Needs

GET UNDER THE FEAR Write down something that repeatedly makes you feel unsafe. State the anxiety-provoking situation out loud. Ask yourself Why in response to the situation.

For example: Why does this situation make me feel uncomfortable? Repeat the Why question in response to your situation five times.

The goal is to discover the root source of what causes fear in a particular time, place, or situation. With the intention of enhancing inner peace and understanding.

EXPANDING BEYOND YOUR COMFORT ZONE Step 3: Love and Belonging Needs

Dr. Andrea Dinardo THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

Step 4: Self-Esteem Needs • Goals and ambition • Education and learning • Stretching outside your comfort zone DO NOT FEAR FAILURE, EMBRACE IT.

I had learned the most and stretched the most in times of failure and catastrophe. It was not easy at the time, but when I look back, I now realize that I grew the most during that time.

Self-esteem is not based on compliments. It comes from overcoming and rising back up, again and again, and again.

Step 5: Self-Actualization Needs • Sense of Purpose • Vision and Mission • Fulfi llment of Dreams YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD

GROWTH NEEDS

Community connections Supportive relationships Loving family and friends Encouraging coworkers

Have you ever wondered why you can’t help but smile back when someone smiles at you? And why it feels so good when someone (strangers included) smiles. It turns out that smiling is linked to a specific type of neuron called mirror neurons. Simply seeing someone smile generates a community chain reaction of positive emotions and behaviour. One more reason to share your good vibes with the world.

One summer at the Faculty of Education, a student asked me who my greatest teacher was. It took me a moment to realize that it wasn’t a person – it was an experience.

• Freedom • Survival Skills • Feeling Safe and at Peace

• • • •

SMILE AT A STRANGER

So many people in this world are struggling with what to do with their lives. An existential struggle that did not exist 100 years ago when jobs were more clearly defined. Therefore, it is essential to explore purpose in many ways. Including our unique strengths, personalities, and virtues.

The way I see it: who you are is your life purpose. What makes you different is also what makes you indispensable. The world needs your unique kind of wonderful.

You Matter

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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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 Emily Richard for being our June winner!

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

Putting Price Tags on the Future Emily Richard

The idea of a dream home has taken on a new meaning for my generation. It is no longer about the size or specific aspects of a house, but the fact that we could own a house at all. As the housing prices in Canada continue to climb, the generation of first-time homebuyers is being forced to face the fact that owning a home could be a mere fantasy.

Work needs to be done to fix this; otherwise, these high purchasing rates will prevent us from ever being able to become homeowners.

With the concerns over the housing market, our generation is entering a future dictated by prices and payments.

As the current generation of teenagers enter adulthood, we are not being met with the excitement of their newfound independence that many previous generations had.

Instead, we are stuck wondering how we will reach typical life milestones. With the average

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house in Canada now costing over $800,000, and Ontario prices being even higher, the timeline for this generation to become firsttime homebuyers is set back. This delay causes a domino effect to occur, and many people will also have to postpone other major life plans, such as starting a family.

Then there are the expenses that come with this family, limiting the number of homes that can operate with a single income. This is just one of the many other expenses that need to be paid. On top of a mortgage, my generation will need to pay for their education, insurance, and daily living fees, which have all increased over the years. These difficulties that the youth are expected to experience will likely have a major impact on our mental health. The futures and dreams that we have been encouraged to anticipate now seem impossible to accomplish. Students must work for hours a day to save for their futures while juggling school, social lives, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The lasting effects of the endeavour to purchase a home have created a system where our generation cannot reach major life accomplishments as easily as our predecessors.

When deciding how to correct issues like these, it is usually beneficial to consider what has not worked and start from a different perspective. To start, the seemingly obvious answer of building more houses does nothing for first-time homebuyers when people continue to purchase them at inflated prices.

The other option of having the banks slowly increase interest rates does work, in theory; however, the time it takes to do so only adds to an already evident delay. So, without these possibilities, another place to start would be

to approach the issue from directly where it starts; the house prices themselves. If the government were to implement a fixed rate on homes based on a specific aspect, like size, then purchasers would be much more likely to find a home within their budget. This could also limit the use of “bully offers”, which cause homes to be purchased for more than they are worth and, in doing so, make the situation worse. Another possible approach would be to lessen the amount that people must pay upfront on their mortgage. With some houses selling for over $1 million, buyers are expected to pay 20% of this for their down payment. Progress could be made by recognizing that young adults cannot easily reach these payment expectations. Approaching the issue from the first home payments could give the youth a chance at purchasing a home.

The rising housing prices are causing our futures to be seen through how much it will cost instead of what we plan to accomplish.

We are being forced to rethink our plans to compensate for the financial struggles that have been left for us to face. Unless these housing prices are fixed, this issue will only continue to grow, furthering this system in which the upcoming generation is set to fail.

The current housing market has become a roadblock that prevents us from being able to gain the title of homeowner, creating a future in which the idea of having a home is an impossible dream. D Works Cited

“Canadian Housing Market Report Jun. 16th, 2022: Interactive Map.” Canadian Housing Market News, WOWA, 16 June 2022, https://wowa.ca/reports/canada-housing-market.

Government of Canada, 28 June 2021, https://canada.ca/ en/financial-consumer-agency/services/mortgages/down-payment.html.

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