The Drive Magazine // Special issue 150

EMBRACING THE SKIES

DAVID SCOTT HUNTER

To our Drive Magazine community,

In loving memory of Dave Hunter, we celebrate the contagious smiles and boundless joy he brought to Windsor with his passion for cars. His legacy continues to light up our hearts, and we are grateful for the many smiles he leaves behind. Together, let's keep cherishing the memories and the happiness he shared with us all.

With heartfelt remembrance, Your Rose City Ford Team

CELEBRATING THE HEARTBEAT OF THE DRIVE MAGAZINE

In loving memory of our cherished founder, David Scott Hunter, we pledge to carry on his passionate vision through The Drive Magazine. On June 30th, the Drive family suffered an immeasurable tragedy with the loss of our beloved Dave, a community leader who had a profound impact not only on his friends and family but also on the lives of so many at The LFX Group of Companies and throughout Windsor-Essex County.

Dave was a tireless advocate for local businesses and the hard-working people in our region. He spearheaded multiple fundraising events and initiatives, including The Ride to Survive, all in support of various homegrown charities. His absence will be deeply felt, but his spirit will forever guide us as we continue to celebrate the vibrant community he loved so much.

In our 150th issue, we honour the man whose drive continues to inspire us and are pleased to share touching tributes from our staff, community partners, and valued clients. Together, we embark on a journey of unity, creativity, and inspiration, ensuring that Dave's light shines brightly through the heart and soul of this cherished publication and touches the lives of all those at The LFX Group of Companies and beyond.

As we carry on Dave's legacy, every page of The Drive Magazine will echo the vibrancy of his spirit and his love for music, people, and laughter. Join us in celebrating Dave's life and preserving his timeless legacy, keeping The Drive Magazine alive with the stories and connections that he held dear.

Thank you all for the kind words and continued outpouring of support.

PAUL ST-PIERRE ..........................................................Publisher

BREANNE MCGINTY Sales

MEL MONCZAK Sales

GREG EDWARDS Graphic designer

SABINE MAIN................................................... Creative director

MARNIE ROBILLARD .......................................Director of design

CONTRIBUTORS

LAYAN BARAKAT ............................................................. Writer

TREVOR BOOTH

Photographer

JEN BRIGNALL-STRONG Writer

MONA ELKADRI Stylist/writer

LESLIE GONTARDE ........................................................... Writer

SYX LANGEMANN ................................................. Photographer

GAVIN MACDOUGALL Writer

DEVAN MIGHTON Writer

ANTHONY MINAUDO

Photographer

DEVON PASTORIUS .............................................. Photographer

STEVE POMERLEAU ............................................. Photographer

MAXIMUS REID Photographer

MATTHEW ST. AMAND Writer

ANNA STANLEY ....................................................... Copy editor

On the Cover:

Dave Hunter: He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother

By Matt St. Amand

Photo by Syx

Langemaan

Follow and like us: Twitter @thedrivemag

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The

CANADA

Paul St. Pierre Publisher

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.

CONTENTS

14

A DRIVE MAGAZINE SPECIAL

Dave Hunter

He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.

ISSUE 150 Remembering Dave

COMMUNITY

13 A note from Mayor Drew Dilkens –Windsor Essex mourns loss of a true community builder.

SPIRITUALITY

30 The Lodge in Lakeshore – Balance in an unbalanced world.

MUSIC

38 A POP Mastermind – Taylor Swift’s “The Era Tour” is one for the books.

TRIBUTE

44 Shine on, Dear Friend – Remembering Dave Hunter.

SPORTS

48 “All in for ALS” – Hockey royalty join all star game in honor of Bob Jones.

ADVENTURE

50 TRAIL MAGIC – A cyclist finds solace and solitude on the bike ride of a lifetime.

LOCAL TALENT

56 REEL TO REAL – A conversation with Gavin Michael Booth, featuring Dave Hunter.

THE DRIVE THRU

61 The Sauce Boss – JP Smitty sauce is becoming a household name in Windsor Essex.

FOOD & DRINK

63 Summer Refreshers – Oh So Mona.

COMMUNITY

66 6 Degrees of Windsor and Essex County – On the pickle ball courts for a cause.

We cherish the memories, the laughs, the creativity and your friendship. You will never be forgotten.

Those who touch our lives, stay in our hearts forever. REST IN PEACE DAVE.

WINDSOR-ESSEX MOURNS THE LOSS OF A TRUE COMMUNITY BUILDER

Remembering Dave Hunter's legacy of connection, support, and positive change.

By Mayor Drew Dilkens

Dave Hunter was a true community builder, and Windsor-Essex lost him far too soon. I had the pleasure of working with Dave over the years on various charitable initiatives he led, and on features he was covering for his various publications. Dave cared deeply about keeping people informed and connected. He saw the bonds we form with each other as crucial components of a strong community.

When our region faced some its most challenging days during the height of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Dave was part of a group of folks who came together to ensure others were able to stand strong in the face of adversity. He helped to build a network to support healthcare workers. Together, they brought nourishment and comfort,

and expressed our collective gratitude, to the healthcare workers who were isolated from their families and at the forefront of our fight against COVID.

Dave stepped up when it mattered most, and it was an honour to present him with a Windsor Community Champion Award. Recently, we connected again when Dave was putting together the WE Manufacture magazine. He wanted my thoughts on the game-changing investments that are helping to secure Windsor’s position as the Automotive and Automobility Capital of Canada. He was incredibly excited about our region’s unprecedented growth and development, and our bright prospects for a strong future.

A great city is made-up of people who are positive about its future; who strive –

through actions big and small – to bring about positive change. There are those in the community who quietly, and without any expectation of recognition, make a profound and lasting impact on the lives of the people they connect with, and in the communities they call ‘home’. Dave was one of those people, through and through – an entrepreneur, a family man, and a community champion. With a constant smile and an incredible outlook, he saw what was possible for our community, recognized like-minded folks who were working to bring out the very best in Windsor-Essex, and did his part to both join them and highlight their work.

Dave Hunter’s spirit of cooperation and collaboration made him a role-model to many and a friend to all.

IN HONOUR OF DAVE HUNTER DEEPLY MISSED. NEVER FORGOTTEN

HE AIN'T HEAVY,

HE'S MY BROTHER

Remembering Dave Hunter: father, husband, friend, philanthropist, entrepreneur

By Matthew St. Amand

Shawna Pelletier

He was the businessman who spoke with a sports announcer’s voice. The sales guru who believed in mutually beneficial transactions. He was as quick with a joke as he was with a rant, a compliment, or a heartfelt expression of empathy depending on the situation. People enjoyed sharing their good news with him because his enthusiasm made even the smallest turns of good fortune glow that much brighter.

Dave Hunter.

No one who knew him would dispute that Dave Hunter had superpowers. His ability to connect with people was a rare and valuable gift. Dave was as comfortable mingling with millionaires on the golf course as he was with dudes in the sports bar, or acquaintances he encountered at the mall.

Another superpower of Dave’s was his ability to live with an unguarded heart.

No matter who he was with, no matter the occasion, his feelings were plain to everyone around him. Dave had ambitions, he loved his record collection, his drums, and appreciated the baubles and luxuries of life, but the thing he cared most about was people. His family was his treasure.

On November 2, 2021, Dave posted a photograph on Facebook showing a human form lying beneath a tattered sleeping bag on a park bench. He wrote: “If you think homelessness is just a ‘downtown problem’, think again. It’s 2 degrees out and it was likely colder during the early morning hours… I took this photo to bring awareness to this heartbreaking situation. This photo was taken a few minutes ago on the corner of Eleventh St and Notre Dame in Belle River.”

He posted soon after: “I’m going to find this person right now !!”

He enabled a Donate button on the post and raised $425 for Goodfellows that day. That was just a few minutes at the computer keyboard for Dave in a day filled with meaningful interactions.

Although Dave was known to and beloved by hundreds—if not thousands—of people, nobody knew him better than his wife, Shawna, and his daughter, Maddie, who kindly consented to be interviewed for this article.

In speaking of her first memory of her dad, Maddie says: “Dave took me to a Hillary Duff concert. I think I was about Sam’s age… about six or seven.”

She continues, remembering: “He took me along to everything, that’s why I feel like I follow in his footsteps. When he had one of the launch parties, or The Drive Magazine had a wrap party, I was always there running

Photos by Trevor Booth, Syx Langeman, Steve Pomerleau, and

around. He made me introduce myself to everybody. That was non-negotiable.”

Dave grew up in Sarnia and moved to Windsor at age twenty. His first ambition was to become a police constable, so he studied Sociology and Criminology at the University of Windsor.

“He worked all kinds of jobs when he first came to Windsor,” says Shawna. “He was working at an oil change place. He worked at Danny’s back in the day—as a waiter. He was a DJ at Koko Pellie’s Lounge.”

He had another job, as well. “He worked for a company in Windsor that removed dead bodies. He did this to gain experience and make himself a better candidate as a police officer. He always wanted to help people.”

There is no doubt that Dave would have been an exceptional police constable.

“He was way too creative, though,” Shawna adds. “He needed to use his creative side more.”

So, Dave became an entrepreneur.

In 2000, Dave and his business partner, Mark Long, bought The Drive Magazine from its founder, artist/photographer, Kevin Kavanagh. Selling ad space in his own publication, Dave found his stride and worked his sales/marketing magic to turn the magazine into the talk of Windsor-Essex.

Five years later, he was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the Windsor Chamber of Commerce.

“The Drive Magazine was his baby,” Shawna says. “He had all these visions. If he wasn’t satisfied with an issue, he’d come up with an idea to shake things up that would get people’s attention.”

In 2017, the magazine came to a crossroads. In an article written about the 20th anniversary of The Drive Magazine (penned by this writer), Dave said: “I got The Drive to a certain point, but the ad revenue wasn’t as fluid as it once was, and I was stuck at a standstill.”

That’s when Paul St. Pierre, owner of The Landscape Effects Group—and longtime friend of Dave’s—entered the picture. He wanted to have a voice in Windsor and thought The Drive provided that.

“I didn’t want to sell,” Dave said during our interview, “but if I wanted to get to the next level, I had to accept that I couldn’t do it alone. Paul had the vision.”

“Paul was the perfect business partner for Dave,” Shawna says, looking back on that

Testing lights for a cover shoot with Trevor Booth as a reenactment of Paul St Pierre’s cover from 20 year ago.

time. “He loved Dave’s ideas. Paul kept him going. They met every morning—not just about work but life in general. They were each other’s biggest supporters.”

In late 2019, seeking a new challenge, Dave left The Drive Magazine and worked in construction sales until the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In 2021, Paul brought Dave back to the magazine as a partner.

Shawna continues: “When Paul did that, it changed Dave’s life. I remember when Paul came over to our house and said to Dave: ‘You need to be here with us!’”

Although the pandemic halted his career in construction sales, Dave wondered if returning to The Drive was the right move.

He spoke to Shawna about it.

“First thing I said was: ‘You need to do this!’” she remembers. “He was hesitant, wondering if he could still do it after being away from the magazine for a time. Wondered if he still ‘had it.’ I assured him that he did. He took the opportunity and had no regrets. He was so happy and motivated in his job. He loved his team.”

Breanne McGinty was a part of that team, one of the lucky souls who interacted with Dave daily. She recalls: “Dave was the best boss and always knew how to make me laugh. He was tough on commitments but always

looking to have fun and make the best of the workday. We used to play Eye Spy while driving around Windsor and Essex County!”

The Drive Magazine was a reflection of Dave Hunter. He brought numerous intangible qualities into every human interaction. Nobody interviewed for this article could put their finger on how, exactly, Dave did what he did. The consensus was that he loved people and had an exceptional gift as a communicator.

When asked when she realized her father had a special gift for connecting with people, Maddie said: “That didn’t come until my teenage years. I found that when I started running into problems that I didn’t know how to solve, he was my go-to guy. He always knew exactly who to call, who to reach out to and ask for help. And I was like: ‘Oh, so Dave knows everybody!’”

An early lesson Dave taught Maddie was: “Nobody owes you anything. It’s entirely up to you to make things happen.”

When Maddie needed help with a situation, Dave certainly “had a guy” but he sought to teach his daughter self-sufficiency. “He would point me in the right direction,” Maddie recalls. “He would send me someone’s phone number or email address, and I’d ask him: ‘Can you just call them?’ He’d say: ‘No I’m busy. You call them.’ Now that I’m older,

following in his footsteps, it ended up helping tremendously. I’m quite thankful for that.”

Dave’s son, six-year-old Sam, began learning the lesson of self-sufficiency and pushing the boundaries of one’s comfort zone.

“Dave and Sammy were best friends,” Maddie says. “Dave was always making him do new things. Sammy is six and he has these little irrational fears… he tends to be on the shy side, so Dad pushed him out of his comfort zone with little things. They were at the carnival, one time, and Dad said they were going on the Ferris wheel. Sammy said: ‘I’m not going on that!’ And Dad said: ‘Yes you are.’ They rode the Ferris wheel and Sammy was so glad he did it.”

There is no question Dave’s personality is what set him apart in business. He was the Michael Jordan of sales and networking.

“ADHD was his superpower!” says Maddie.

Nobody owes you anything. It’s entirely up to you to make things happen

Dave at a charity event that was held at The Canadian Club Brand Centre - with the Hanson Brothers from the movie Slapshot.

Dave passionately art directing diverse sets, adding his creative flair!

Personality without substance, however, will take someone only so far. Dave had tremendous business skills. No one knew that better than Paul St. Pierre:

“Dave had an innate ability to spot opportunities and anticipate market trends. He possessed a keen eye for identifying gaps, and his desire to separate himself enabled him to craft speedy solutions that resonated with the team and our readers.”

Paul continues: “Dave had an unwavering determination and resilience. He navigated

challenges and setbacks with grace, turning obstacles into steppingstones for advancement. His adaptability to change direction on a dime, and his willingness to embrace whatever was thrown at him, brought on many successes.”

Paul goes on to note that Dave’s exceptional business acumen was in a league all its own. It was mostly unconventional, but combined with his passion and drive, it propelled him to entrepreneurial greatness. He left a mark on the business landscape and in the publishing world

Dave also left his mark among charities in Essex County. Dave’s endless energy and generosity are legend. Shawna recalls that even during the dark days of COVID-19, Dave delivered meals from Spagos to area hospitals to feed front-line workers.

No fundraiser was closer to Dave’s heart than the annual Ride to Survive, which he founded in the early 2000s.

The very first incarnation of the ride was called “The Drive to Survive” and involved gargantuan rides spanning multiple days and

Dave, putting on a show of mock fear, signs his waiver for the Red Bull plane ride, captured in a snapshot by Steve Pomerleau.

covering hundreds of kilometers. A short column in Issue #16 of The Drive, published sometime in 2002, stated: “This years 550 kilometer bike trip will take 10 riders from Hamilton up to Niagara-on-the-Lake and back to Windsor traveling along Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Last year Dave Hunter and Mike Pula travelled across parts of Southwestern Ontario to raise money for Transition to Betterness. The pair raised $20,000.”

The Ride to Survive went dormant in the later 2000s as Dave and The Drive weathered their own vicissitudes. When the Ride was re-established in recent years, it was scaled back, tracing a route within Essex County: confined to one late September weekend. The main benefactor of the Ride is the unabashedly wonderful Transition to Betterness (T2B). Established in 1997, T2B provides comfort to patients and their families impacted by life-altering illnesses. The number of people helped by T2B probably surpasses the number of kilometers biked in every Ride to Survived combined.

“The Ride to Survive meant a lot to Dave,” Maddie says. “It was very near and dear to his heart. He started it after a close friend’s mother passed away. That gave it more of a sentimental value to him, more motivation to get it done.”

A T2B press release states: “Over the past three years alone, The Ride to Survive raised almost $600,000, a testament to Dave’s leadership.”

Considering the multitasking and organizational skills needed to pull such events together—along with his other philanthropic works throughout Essex County—had somebody told this writer that Dave was a graduate of Harvard Business, I would have readily believed it. In fact, Dave’s start in life was humbler than most people would guess. There were no Whistler ski slopes in his boyhood, only the snow drifts of Sarnia. On Facebook Dave once posted: “My childhood trifecta!” along with a photo of Matchbox replicas of the Dukes of Hazzard General Lee, the Fall Guy’s pick-up truck, and the A-Team’s iconic black van with the cool red stripe.

Dave grew up watching professional wrestling and had a special fondness for ’80s “hair bands,” such as Motley Crue, Twisted Sister, and Ratt.

Music was one of the primary elements that he and his wife Shawna connected with when they first met.

Dave and Shawna met when she was

Amidst the Ride to Survive event, Dave pays a heartfelt tribute to his departed brother, embarking on the journey with cherished family and friends by his side.

doing Advertising and Business Management at St. Clair College. Dave had been perusing Facebook, one day, when he saw a photo of Shawna—whom he had not yet met— at the same auto mechanic’s shop where he brought his car. Intrigued, Dave contacted the mechanic and said: “Who is this girl and how do you know her?”

“Shawna Pelletier,” the mechanic said.

When Dave expressed an interest in meeting Shawna, wondering at the chances of getting together with her, the mechanic replied: “You’d make a crazy couple!”

Which is a lesson for all: never discount a mechanic’s opinion of the potential for romantic relationships.

Seeing Shawna’s qualifications, Dave privately messaged her, asking if she was interested in working in sales with him. They met for coffee a few times, and soon after went to dinner. Shawna was Dave’s date at a friend’s wedding. It wasn’t until the first Beaverfest—an event organized by Dave—that he and Shawna became official as a couple.

“I was bartending the event,” Shawna says. “Dave saw me and pulled me out of there and we went on stage together. We never left each other’s side after that.”

Their first weeks together was a process of learning how similar their lives and experiences were:

Shawna and Dave had each had a daughter when they were twenty years old.

“We both drove the same kind of car— Volkswagens,” Shawna says. “They were the same colour, same year. Inside the cars, we had mostly the same CDs.”

More than that, just as Dave had done, Shawna once studied Sociology and Criminology at the University of Windsor, and then moved over to business and marketing courses at St. Clair College.

How had their paths not crossed before this? “Dave had ten years on me,” Shawna says. “When we met, it was literally like sparks flew! Within a month we were buying a home together. We were inseparable. It was just life in the fast lane. Everything was fun. We’ve been together for almost thirteen years.”

As Maddie describes her father: “Dave was always so extra!”

“It drove me nuts at times!” Shawna says, smiling. “He was constantly on his phone or having me jot down things in his phone. We’d be driving and he’d notice a new

business somewhere and he’d say: ‘Write this number down for me!’ There was never a dull moment!”

She continues: “He loved doing the charity work because it made him feel that he had a purpose.”

In recent times, Dave posted on his Facebook page: “The two most important days in your life: the day you were born and the day you discover why.”

“Dave’s purpose in life was to help others,” Shawna states. “To make people smile. Something I heard so much during and after his funeral was ‘Dave helped me through hard times!’ or “He always made me laugh, if I was having a bad day!’”

That way of life started with his own family.

“He was a huge movie buff,” Maddie remembers. “We lived exclusively by movie quotes. He always had the best movie quotes from the most random movies at the greatest times, then he showed me the clip and the context, and he would belly laugh.”

Dave also had a treasure trove of movie theme songs on his phone, which he played

when he felt certain life-moments needed to be accentuated.

“Often, he was the only person who appreciated it,” Maddie notes. “He played the theme from the movie Rocky when he and Shawna brought Sammy home for the first time.”

Maddie recalls many times, coming home, and Dave greeting her in his Hannibal Lecter voice: “Helloooooo Clariiiiiice!”

Dave shared his sense of humour publicly, as well, posting on Facebook: “Shawna just stopped me and said: ‘You weren’t even listening to me, were you?’ And I thought… ‘That’s a pretty weird way to start a conversation!’”

Dave, however, was the king of shifting gears, he could be hilarious one moment, and then suddenly quite heartfelt in the next.

To Shawna he once wrote on Facebook: “Love isn’t always perfect. It isn’t a fairytale or story book, and it doesn’t come easy. Love is overcoming obstacles, facing challenges, fighting to be together, holding on and never letting go.

“It is a short word, easy to spell, difficult to

Dave with his son, Sam Dave with his wife, Shawna

Dave and Maddie at The Paramore concert.

Dave with The Tea Party

define it and impossible to live without. Love is work, and most of all, love is realizing that every hour, every minute, and every second was worth it, because we did it together.”

On Sammy’s birthday, Dave posted a photo of his son on Facebook with the following: “This little boy changed my life at the most pivotal point when I needed it the most. You’re going to be something very special. Happy 6th birthday Sam I am… rock out hard little one.”

“Dave was such an active father,” Shawna says. “He took Sammy to his hockey practice, drum lessons, took him for haircuts.”

She then recalls: “Dave was scared when he first learned I was pregnant. He wondered about being a forty-three-year-old dad. He worried that he was too old. But when he first saw the ultrasound, Dave was so excited. His face completely changed, and he had the biggest smile. He now had this huge purpose. He wanted a son so bad—we both had girls. When he found out it was a boy—‘There it is!’”

Dave had said pointing at the ultrasound that revealed his baby’s gender.

“He picked me up and was holding me,” Shawna continues. “Our family was complete. Dave picked out Sam’s name right away. Everything changed. He was all smiles. We couldn’t wait.”

Nine months later when Shawna went into labour, Dave posted a picture of her belly on Facebook—over Shawna’s vociferous objections—followed by an animated gif of the Ace Ventura football meme.

After Sam’s birth, Dave couldn’t keep himself from hugging Shawna and holding up Sam, saying over and over: “He’s so perfect!”

“He found it so different being a father at that age,” Shawna says. “We weren’t kids. We were in a loving relationship. We were settled. Every morning he would sit and stare at Sam in his crib.”

It took no time for Dave to pass his love of

music onto Sam. When Sam was big enough to hold drumsticks, Dave sat him on the living room floor, set up an array of pillows to simulate a drumkit, and then put on a Phil Collins concert video. Soon enough, Sam was setting up the pillow-drumkit and requesting the Phil Collins video to drum along with.

Watching his son drum, one evening, Dave remarked to Shawna: “This is what life is all about, right here, watching him do this. I could do this forever.”

Sam’s favourite song at one time was Don Henley’s “Dirty Laundry.” Dave was very proud that Sam could name the artist and song title, most times, when they listened to the radio while driving in the car.

Occasionally—very occasionally—there could be a little too much of a good thing. Shawna would roll in from an exhausting day at work to find Dave and Sam in the house, music cranked, drums going, a veritable onslaught of noise and activity.

Dave showing Trevor Booth how he wanted the lead singer of Big Sugar to pose for the cover.

Testing lighting setups for different cover shoots alongside Trevor Booth.

Shot at Wilistead with Trevor Booth for the cover of M.R. Meats (Marc Romualdi) Dave just being Dave.

Observing the fracas, Shawna would say: “I need to lay down for twenty minutes.”

As a stepfather to Shawna’s daughter, Kaelyn Trudel, Dave was Dave—he offered advice when it was needed, elicited eye rolls with his sense of humour and movie quotes. There is a butting-of-heads that occurs in any family, but Shawna recalls Dave being very supportive of Kaelyn who recently told him that she wanted to go into nursing.

“Among the last things he said to her was: ‘Kiddo, go for your dream!’ He tried to keep her motivated,” Shawna says. “He told her: ‘You can do anything you put your mind to.’ And Kaelyn was thankful for having him around. Like any family, they had their ups-and-downs, but the birth of Sam brought everyone together. Maddie and Kaelyn were no longer two teenagers off in their own worlds!

“Dave did a really good job,” Shawna continues. “Kaelyn looked up to him. She saw how happy I was with Dave, the life we were building together as a family. She lived with us full-time, and Dave was always joking, and Kaelyn was always laughing at him. She was there for him after Bo passed away, asking if he was all right.”

The jokes and high energy, however, could not keep the world from intruding upon life in Stoney Point. In March of this year, Dave lost his brother Sam “Bo” Hunter. This is when living with an unguarded heart exacts an excruciating toll. In times of grief, people often say they experience it in waves. Grief counselors explain that this is the body’s doing, doling the trauma in intervals, because no one could survive the actual full dose. Dave’s grief was immense, overwhelming. He was the person who found Bo, and the experience scarred him in ways he could not describe. The loss rekindled the intense grief he experienced when his adoptive father, Sam Hunter, passed away some years before.

With the love and support of his family and friends—many of whom were also deeply affected by Bo’s passing—Dave waded through his grief; got himself to a point where he could take phone calls again, check on the progress of his magazines, get back to business in some manner.

Dave posted on Facebook: “I’m the type of flower that can still grow after a forest fire.”

In another post, he wrote: “Today is the tomorrow you talked about yesterday.” Dave made everyday count.

“He loved his life,” Shawna says. “He loved talking about his childhood, about all the

dumb things he did. He lived his life to the fullest. He enjoyed every bit of it. It’s as though it was all condensed into forty-eight years. He accomplished more than most people do in a lifetime.”

Although it was not apparent, Dave struggled with depression. He was so used to looking after others, Dave neglected his own mental well-being. He found solace in his own way, similar to what the ancient philosopher Plato advised when a friend commended him on his strength weathering difficult times. Plato said: “Hold fast to the things to which you already hold fast.” That’s what Dave did— he held fast to his family, to his friends, to music, to his work.

On Facebook, he regularly shared “proud dad” moments. One of the most recent ones occurred when his daughter, Maddie, passed the exam to receive her real estate license.

“When he started in real estate, I started at the same time,” Maddie says. “He rose at four

a.m. to finish his schooling. When I told him that I had passed he wrote back: ‘That made my whole week!’”

Maddie goes on: “I joined Deerbrook to work with him. We planned to work together. He said: ‘We’ll have some Maddie-Daddy time! Let’s knock ’em dead, kid, working together!’ furthering our relationship, taking it to a more professional level.”

Then, on the morning of June 30, the unthinkable happened: Dave Hunter passed away. He had gone to sleep, and he did not wake up. The news was so sudden and shocking, to this day people who knew and loved Dave struggle to process it.

“It doesn’t feel real,” Shawna says.

Dave’s death occurred on a holiday long weekend, which seemed to slow news of the tragedy. Rumours and gossip filled the void: whispers suggesting that Dave committed suicide, that he died of a drug overdose.

In Walter Riggi’s sound studio - Lighting test. Trevor Booth Photography.

One bizarre AI app online created a barely coherent YouTube video stating Dave had died in a motorcycle accident. All these rumours are untrue. Dave went to sleep and he simply, incredibly, inexplicably didn’t wake up.

Dave’s absence is immense. Grief enters like floodwater through a breached levee.

When speaking on the radio about Dave in the days after his passing, this writer mentioned “The Three ‘E’s of Dave Hunter: Energy, Encouragement, Empathy.”

Where did that energy go?

“My life is changed forever,” Shawna says. “Something happens to you when you lose your spouse. Dave was so full of life, all the time and there is now a huge void, that energy is not here. That’s the toughest part… You cannot replace Dave Hunter.”

Then she smiles wistfully, tearfully: “I am going to miss even the smallest things. He brought me coffee every morning. I sometimes woke up to text messages saying how much he loved me. Even though he was in the house when he sent it, he wanted me to see that. Every morning I wake up now, there is no coffee at my bedside. That sounds kind of silly. It was the small things like that. He was so considerate.”

If he was ever afraid, Dave never let it stop him. If he had an ego, he used it as a surfboard rather than a Samurai sword— he went with the flow rather than simply hacking his way through difficult situations.

Although Dave—classic music fan that he was—would recognize the title of this tribute from the 1969 hit song by The Hollies, the quote “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother” is much older than that. More than five decades before, in 1918, a little boy named Harold was abandoned at the famous Boys Town orphanage in Nebraska. Harold had polio and had difficulty going up and down the stairs. Several of the other boys in the home carried Harold up and down the stairs. Seeing this, one day, the person in charge of the orphanage asked one of the boys if carrying Harold was difficult. The boy replied: “He ain’t heavy… he’s my brother.”

That was Dave Hunter: carrying others with no thought about the cost to himself.

He was loved and admired by more people than he ever realized. Everyone who knew him will carry his memory until our own final days. Don’t worry, Dave, you’re not heavy, you’re our brother.

Sam Hunter, Kaelyn Trudel & Maddie Hunter.

Dave, with his step-daughter Kaelyn Trudel.

Dave, with his daughter Maddie.

Dave, with his son Sam.

REST IN PEACE DAVE FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS

Photo by Trevor Booth

World BALANCE IN AN UNBALANCED

Ancient modalities, such as drum circles and Qi Gong yoga, might be among the solutions that save us from ourselves. The Lodge in Lakeshore offers them

By Matthew St. Amand

In the 1970s, Japan gained unfortunate fame for “karoshi”—“death from overwork”—a word coined to describe deaths caused by work-related stresses and pressures. In the new millennium, North Americans are grinding themselves down to the nub with our vaunted “hustle and grind” culture. Work is a necessary, often fulfilling, aspect of life, but too much of anything can take its toll.

Nobody knows this better than Jenny Natyshak.

“I’m a fourth generation Reaume,” she says during a conversation with The Drive Magazine. “I am very proud of my family legacy. My dad is amazing. He built the business, he grew it, and I learned so much working at the family auto dealership, starting at the reception desk and working my way up to owner and general manager. This was not handed to me. I worked for it. I enjoyed it.”

Jenny is a Type A personality, and anything less than going full tilt was not an option. Everyone, however, has a point where moving at the speed of life becomes dizzying and disorienting.

“I like working,” Jenny says. “I enjoyed that reward and accomplishment, but I’m also a mom who had all the stuff at home—sports, household—while competing with my brothers, working the same hours, telling myself ‘I will do what everyone else does.’”

Then, one day, Jenny realized that she was not on her To Do list.

all.

“Having so many balls in the air, you can only do that for so long,” she continues. “If I were to have a nervous breakdown, it would only last a day—that’s all I had time for! At some point, I was on the brink of burn-out. I felt like I was living my life on auto pilot. I thought: ‘This is not sustainable!’”

So, Jenny began working with life coach Heather Chauvin.

“I finally took the time to put myself on the schedule,” she says, “to remember who I was, to rediscover my desires. I loved working at the car dealership. I just forgot who I was in the meantime. I worked with a meditation coach. I had to be still but couldn’t give myself permission to do that.” She pauses, reflecting. “There is so much wisdom when you stop and pause. Be curious about yourself, your emotions. If you never give yourself time to stop, you’re just on default. I didn’t want to continue that way.”

During a retreat at the end of Heather’s program, Jenny broke down the walls, all the armor, and that was the beginning of her new journey.

“I did my inner work and started running retreats on my own time away from the dealership,” she says. “After I did a few of them, I realized: ‘I love this. We need this. Women need this.’ I also do couple’s retreats, men’s, kids’, corporate retreats.”

Jenny retired from the family dealership on September 1, 2022. The log cabin that would be the Lodge in Lakeshore went up for sale on September 25th.

“I bought it on September 26th,” Jenny says. She and her husband, Taras, began ren-

ovations soon after.

The Lodge in Lakeshore is a beautiful multi-use space where practitioners can lead sessions in their individual practices.

“We have yoga teachers coming here,”

breath work. You release so much tension, emotion. You feel lighter, more connected to yourself.” Another practitioner led a meditation and intuitive paint session attended by fifteen to twenty people. It began in meditation. Some journaling prompts were offered to get people thinking, and then they moved over to the other side of the loft to begin painting.

“Just whatever comes through,” Jenny says. “You choose whatever colours, put the brush to the canvas and paint. People of any age can do this.”

Jenny says. “We have practitioners leading paint, ecstatic dance, and meditation sessions. There are women I meet every day who don’t have a space, or float from studio to studio. They can run their classes here.”

These classes include Qi Gong yoga. The literal translation of qi gong is “energy work,” a form of yoga that has been around for thousands of years.

A practice that Jenny found particularly helpful to her own development is breath work.

“Typically, I do sessions with eight to ten people,” Jenny explains. “After sharing a little about ourselves, I have them lay down blankets and pillows, and we begin the meditation, dropping into their bodies, letting their thoughts float by, dropping from their heads to their hearts.”

She continues: “There are emotions stuck in our bodies. Everything is energy. I couldn’t believe the amount of stuff that I had stagnant in my body until I did my

Recently, there was a session called “Women’s Circle and Sound” which involved “sound baths” using crystal bowls, chimes, and gongs. The session centered around frequency and sounds, and this was incorporated into a Women’s Circle, which involved people sharing and opening up. So much healing can take place when people come together in circle. It’s the same for everyone: people just want to be seen and heard.

Another recent session involved drumming circles.

“These modalities have been around for thousands of years, and western culture is only now rediscovering them,” Jenny says. “People are struggling in this hustle and grind culture. We have forgotten these ceremonies, gatherings, and practices, around the fire pit, getting in nature.”

The Lodge in Lakeshore continues to evolve. Future plans include outdoor thermal wellness in the form of cold plunges, saunas, and a complete Nordic spa.

“That’s my husband’s dream,” Jenny says.She is quick to note that “selfcare” is not selfish. It’s necessary. “Once you take care of yourself,” Jenny says, “then you’re being of service from a full cup.”

The Lodge at Lakeshore is a safe space for people to learn, heal and grow. They offer classes and workshops, such as wellness workshops, corporate team building workshops, leadership workshops, self-care workshops, group healing circles, day retreats and weekend retreats. View the gallery of this stellar location or inquire about using its space on its website thelodgeatlakeshore.ca .

Once you take care of yourself, then you’re being of service from a full cup.

Photo by Trevor Booth

On June 30th Rose City Fireplace held a grand opening event for their new show room in Historic Sandwich Town.

We were very proud to unveil our new modern showroom in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Ward 2 Councillor Fabio Costante,” says Nawar Talia, Operations Manager of Rose City Fireplaces. “We have been working on this for the last three years and look forward to being a part of the revitalization plans for this area. We have been here for ten years—Rose City Fireplace’s subsidiary businesses CK Mechanical and CKG Flow Plumbing.”

Rose City Fireplaces is a one-stop shop for BBQs, fireplaces, and plumbing fixtures.

It’s grilling season and Rose City Fireplaces has a wide assortment of BBQs: Broil King’s Baron series, Crown series, Monarch series, Regal series, and Signet series. Moreover, grillmasters will find a galaxy of accessories, such as grill covers, basting and seasoning tools, smoking planks, cast-iron

ONE-STOP SHOP

For BBQs, patio heaters & plumbing accessories.

By Matthew St. Amand

grills, cleaning products, exact fit grids, grilling tools and tool sets, grill toppers and griddles, rotisseries, skewers and skewer racks.

It’s also patio season, and Rose City Fireplaces has the outdoor fireplaces, patio heaters, and fire tables to enhance any patio experience.

“We have everything a homeowner could want,” Nawar says, “and a number of restaurants and patio-based businesses are also our customers. We have tall outdoor hammered finish patio heaters, and some very cool fire tables.”

If that is not enough, Rose City Fireplaces also carries a wide selection of kitchen and bathroom faucets, shower heads, tubs, and associated plumbing fixtures and accessories.

“We have a lot of things here,” Nawar continues. “If you’re building a new house or renovating an existing residence, we have all the selections people need to get their projects going. We’re not just a show room—we offer delivery, set up, installation, and offer service

for existing fireplaces. We also do cash-andcarry, for people who want that. But if you need one of our licensed professionals to do the installation, we are ready to help.”

Walk-ins are welcome. Rose City Fireplaces has a staff of helpful professionals who are ready to answer questions and help narrow down options.

“Customer response has been great,” Nawar says. “We’re there to support them from start to finish.”

He continues: “Sandwich Town is sometimes described as an ‘underserved area’, but we want to make things easy for people,” Nawar says. “There are not many hardware stores in the area, so we carry plumbing supplies and have staff on the floor ready to answer questions. We find out what the customer needs. There is a reason why we’re a one-stop shop.”

To learn more about Rose City Fireplaces, check out their new showroom at 3846 Peter Street, or visit them online at instagram.com/rosecityfireplaces .

A POP

Mastermind

Taylor Swifts “The Eras Tour” is one for the books!

By Leslie Gontarde

The hashtags were in full effect on June 9th as the long-awaited concert of the century came rolling into Detroit. Taylor Swift announced she would be doing an Eras Tour of her career and the internet went crazy. You DO NOT need to “Calm Down” for this!

#DetroitTSTheErasTourN2

The announcement was enough to send Swift fans into a frenzy but what happened at ticket master was even more chaotic. The first tour Taylor Swift has done since 2018. A mad rush for the box office ensued leading to historical demand on the Ticketmaster site. 2 million tickets sold, the most for one artist ever in one day. The presale for public ticket sales halted for hours which left many fans frustrated and walking away empty handed. Vicki Bartel was one of the fortunate ones

Photos by Vicki Bartel

to have ended up with her tickets and her camera in hand as she took part in #TaylorNation. As our photographer Vicki had a unique perspective to the show and recalls some of the most memorable moments.

50,000 fans packed into Ford Field to watch the excitement unfold. Vicki recalls “As the countdown hit 0, the crowd went wild, Taylor emerged from pink, feather-like flags in the middle of a long stage and started with the song “Miss Americana and The Heartbreak Prince.” Taylor greeted the crowd with only the words “it’s been a long time coming,” which was the perfect way to engage her fans who had been waiting for a concert of this magnitude for a long time.

Taylor sang for over 3 hours and did 44 songs from her discography spanning her 17 years as a singer, songwriter and performer, depicting each era as an individual experience. After the “Lover” era, Taylor travelled through time to “Fearless” “Evermore” “Reputation” “Red” “Folklore” “1989” and her most recent record “Midnights” Each set through the eras changed seamlessly and transported fans into each of the worlds, changing colours and storylines, which kept the audience engaged throughout the show. When Taylor began to sing her 10-minute version of “All Too Well” artificial snow began falling from the ceiling. This type of imagery is expected from Taylor and is what excites true Swift fans. Images such as the cozy cabin for “Folklore” giant snakes for “Reputation” and a fashion runway for “1989.” At one point during a transition between eras, Taylor even dove into the stage as if there was a pond beneath her.

One of many highlights from the show was when she sang ‘Marjorie” from “Evermore,” This is a song Taylor dedicated to her grandmother. The packed stadium pulled out their phones to shine their flashlights in support of Taylor and her grandmother, creating a surreal moment that even Taylor seemed to be mesmerized by.

On this night, Taylor surprised the audience with two songs; “Haunted” from “Speak Now” and “I almost do” from “Red.” The crowd erupted in cheers for both, signaling they’ve been wanting to hear these nostalgic songs on the tour and Taylor did not disappoint.

From a bedazzled Versace bodysuit, Louboutin boots, to an iconic Roberto Cavalli replica of the fearless dress, to whimsical Folklore/Evermore dresses, Taylor did over 16 costume changes that kept fans

wondering what was next.

When asked what her overall experience of the concert was, Vicki Bartel had this to say. “One wonders how it is possible, with 50,000 fans, to create intimate moments during the show but Taylor did it when she paused at the piano after singing “Champagne Problems” from “Evermore” and looked out into the lit-up audience. As the close-up of her face appeared on the screen, you could see the emotion in her eyes as she soaked up the moment. You can tell how personal her songs are to her and how much her craft means to her in those quiet moments.”

Taylor Swift ended her 3-hour concert with her latest era “Midnights.” Fans still dancing and singing at the top of their lungs. To close out the night, confetti engulfed the stadium. Taylor had created an enchanting and memorable tour experience for her fans.

An extraordinary performance put on by one of this generation’s greatest talents. For those who have grown up with Taylors music, the concert was sparkling and a revisit to her life, career and those lyrics that hold so much meaning to her and her fans. The concert went off without a glitch and no detail was overlooked, “you just feel everything, says Vicki.” By all accounts the concert lived up to the hype and left Taylor Swift fans wanting more. After the Detroit show Taylor posted this on her Instagram...

Ahhhhh Detroit that was so much fun!! Thanks to those crowds this weekend for your endless energy and extremely loud scream-singing, you made us feel right at home.

Designing the perfect engagement ring. Restoring a precious family heirloom. Creating a unique piece to mark a special date. Transforming jewellery visions into reality. As Bednarek Jewellery owner Piotr Bednarek and Lauren Bering anticipate their business' 5th anniversary, they reflect with pride on the success of their bustling Dougall Ave boutique.

"Jewellery is often very sensitive and sentimental - like a ring or watch passed down by families through generations," says co-owner Lauren, who wears many hats - from diamond and gem buyer to creative designer to marketing and business manager to in-store sales and service.

"Piotr and I both thrive on happy customers - there's no better feeling!"

Piotr Bednarek has been working on a jewellery bench since he was 16 years old - over 45 years. In Windsor, his experience and attention to detail 'on the bench' compares to none.

Emigrating from Poland to Windsor with his wife and children in 1995; Piotr immediately found work as a jeweller. Today, with over four decades of professional jewellery experience - from casting to diamond and gem setting to hand engraving to custom jewellery design to any and all repairs - Piotr is true to his craft, consistently perfecting his work and keeping current on all modern industry advances.

So, what sets Bednarek Jewellery apart?

Lauren is quick to answer: "Piotr is 100% at your disposal. He's in our store six days a week, ready to listen and interpret your vision. He's an expert at determining what customers want after only a brief interaction."

She continues, "The fact that so many customers are loyal and bring their family and friends to meet us, tells me that we are creating and sustaining relationships based on trust, communication, intuition and expertise. Some people may find independent jewellery stores intimidating when they first visit, or some may feel unsure of the right questions to ask."

"Piotr is both a master of precise execution and of putting anyone at ease. Whether you come in having done your own research and a clear idea of what you envision, or you walk in not knowing much at all - we get it and we are here to help!" Lauren emphasizes.

"We know and understand jewellery; if it's important to you, it is JUST as important to US. For Piotr and I, jewellery is very personal - it symbolizes you, your life, your loved ones, your family. It's simplewe want to make you happy and when it comes to quality jewellery, we know how to do that! People often leave our boutique overwhelmed with joy because we go above and beyond their expectations. It is so rewarding for us that we can provide this personal service."

A quick look at Bednarek Jewellery's social media shows stellar reviews from those happy customers that both Piotr and Lauren thrive on.

Lauren concludes, "Piotr and I are so grateful to live and work in Windsor. On July 3rd, 2023, we will celebrate 5 years of success and abundance. Our door is open and at your service, see you soon!"

SHINE ON, DEAR FRIEND

Remembering David Hunter

By Gavin MacDougall

The first time I came across the name David Hunter, I was winding down a publishing gig of my own. I read about this Hunter guy taking the lead of a new local title called The Drive Magazine, and I remember thinking: “good luck pal, you’re going to need it.” I would not be the first or last person to short sell David Scott Hunter. Nor could I ever imagine that before the decade was out, Dave Hunter would irrevocably change my life simply by doing what Dave always did: putting other people first, linking them together, and selflessly doing the kind of things a good dude does.

Six years later in 2007, and fresh from a sudden and unexpected career hiccup, I was driving up the 401 on an early Friday morning, taking our young lads to a hockey tourney in Toronto. I humbly asked the Big Guy for a sign, or something of sorts, for what I should do next. Something else in automotive? Go back to media/publishing? Something altogether new? Within minutes, in one of those surreal moments life sometimes deals, the transport in front of me switched lanes, leaving another directly in view. And on its back door were the letters D-R-I-V-E. While I knew this to be a local transport company, I wasn’t about to question the advice. That Sunday, I e-mailed Dave Hunter, who responded in 30 minutes. Two days later I was part of The Drive team. More so, a lasting friendship began with one of the most unique, funniest (no kidding!), caring, driven, loving, and just flat-out good people I’ve ever known.

My God, the times we had those two years driving The Drive! Too many to recite here, and almost all involving that one-of-its-kind “Hunter humour.” One though, sums up Hunts in spades: Interviewing Mike Holmes (he of the Do it Right fame) at his Toronto studio for the issue we put him on the cover, and Hunts standing where only I could see him, tongue out and one hand flashing the classic Hunts “rock on” gesture……while the other, of course, was grabbing his crotch. Mike Holmes to me: “Something wrong?” No Mike, just the normal kind of things with my crazy friend!

In those “never-a-dull-moment” days, Dave and I grew close, kindred media spirits that we were. I marveled at his never-ending passion for the magazine. It seems too obvious to state: “The Drive was David Hunter, and David Hunter was The Drive.” But there is simply no better way to describe what The Drive meant to the Man. Through thick and thin, Hunts never gave up on the magazine, even when he had every right to. Through it, he tirelessly promoted Windsor and Essex County for more than twenty years: its people, communities, businesses, events, and charitable causes, helping raise millions for the latter. Hunts was always grateful for the lengthy list of writers, photographers, creative and sales staff who helped him deliver The Drive over the years but was just as willing to let them go for the benefit of themselves. My such moment came two years later, when he told me I had to meet with a buddy of his about an opportunity that could not be passed up. “I hate to lose you Bro,” he said. “But you have got to do this!”

That friend was Paul St. Pierre. And for those who know us and some of the things we do at LFX, well, as the saying goes, the rest is history. And all considerably because David Hunter thought of another ahead of himself.

Ten years later, when Hunts and The Drive came under the Landscape Effects’ banner, it was a cool moment for both of us - Hunts now part of what he helped me become a part of a decade earlier. Not surprisingly, after a brief detour along the way, Hunts proceeded to take The Drive to a whole new level, cranking out quality issues after another and launching a string of successful spin-off titles.

Yet internally, Dave struggled; Those closest to him knew that and tried to help and support him any way we could. He and I talked often – mostly about life and keeping things simple. Enjoying and loving the only things that really mattered: family, loved ones, the stuff that makes you happy. Dave tried. Deep down, I know he really did.

The Saturday morning after his passing, I was driving to Rochester Place to meet – and cry a little with our mutual friend. There’d been little sleep the night before, but rather an assortment of “why’s” mixed with a whole lot of “Love You Hunts.” Without thought, I randomly grabbed the first hat I saw from the closet before jumping in the truck. As “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” purposely played in Hunts’ honour, I again asked for a sign, but this time from Dave himself. Just that he was okay, that he was at peace, and already making heaven’s souls laugh aloud. At that moment, I noticed the hat I was wearing: an LA Dodger variation, with a big white singular “D.” I started laughing, tears of joy now mixing with the sad ones. “D” Hunter was there, and he was okay. Just like he’ll always be with all of us. Every time we hear a favourite song that still kicks ass. Every time we laugh so hard sides start to hurt. Every time we do something decent for each other. Hunts is with us. Tongue out, rock-on sign rocking, and yes, a hand most likely on the crotch too.

Thanks Hunts, and shine on you crazy, loving, and beautiful diamond. We will miss you so, friend. And will love and remember you forever.

General Manager, Rob Hayes.

19 Amy Croft Dr. St. Clair Beach sobeys.com

WE ARE “ALL IN 4 ALS”

Hockey royalty join all-star game in honour of Bob Jones.

By Devan Mighton

Photos by Maximus Reid

When it comes to diseases, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, otherwise known as ALS, is as scary as they come.

To many, ALS is known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Gehrig, known to the New York Yankees faithful as The Iron Horse, was an elite-level first baseman and hitter in Major League Baseball from 1923 until 1939. During this time, he won the World Series six times.

It may seem that 17 years in the Big Leagues could be considered a whole career, as most players, once their career hits the teens, it is on its way to petering out. However, Gehrig was a different breed, setting records in grand slams (23) and consecutive games played (2,130) late into his career. Gehrig’s ironman streak lasted 56 years, and his grand slam record stood until Alex Rodriguez donned the pinstripes.

What ended Gehrig’s ironman streak? In fact, his entire career? When his play began to suffer in 1939, he started to complain of a loss of strength. When he went to the Mayo Clinic to get it checked out, he was diagnosed with ALS. The legendary ball player passed away only two year later. He was 37 years old.

So, what does ALS do? ALS is a progressive disease that attacks and destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Also known as motor neurons, these cells control the muscles throughout the body and without them, the brain can no longer communicate with the muscle fibres through our bodies. This condition can lead to respiratory failure within three to five years of its initial symptoms.

In January, the hockey world was rocked by the announcement that Ottawa Senators assistant coach Bob Jones had been diagnosed with ALS.

“Jonesy and I go way back,” states friend and former teammate Bob Boughner. “We played together with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL when we were teenagers, and we became best friends. When [my playing] career ended, he was already coaching in the OHL.

“We bought the Windsor Spitfires and after the first year, we brought Bob to Windsor—that was 16 years ago. Bob’s been here in Windsor, making Windsor-Tecumseh his home for the past 16 years.”

Boughner says that Jonesy is well-respected in the hockey community. His resume includes five years of junior in the Soo, playing professionally across North America and England, as well as 23 years as a coach in the Ontario Hockey League, a year in the American Hockey League, and the past four in the NHL with the Sens.

“When Jonesy got diagnosed, we said, is there something we can do? Anything?” recalls Boughner. “Obviously, it’s pretty devastating news. The character that Bob has, he immediately said that he wants to be an advocate and he wants to raise awareness and raise money and fund-raise and, ultimately, find a cure.”

In response to Jonesy’s wishes, and in partnership with the Windsor Family Credit Union, LiUNA!625, and Caesars Windsor, Boughner and Sens coach D.J. Smith have put together a charity hockey game—All In 4 ALS - Jonesy’s Game.

Taking place on Saturday, August 12 on the Main Bowl at the WFCU Centre, Jonesy’s Game will be a star-studded event featuring current NHLers, former Windsor Spitfires, and a variety of special guest NHL coaches on the benches.

“We have a lot of our ex-Windsor Spitfires guys that are coming out,” states Boughner. “Some of the Spitfires coming that everybody knows are Taylor Hall, Adam Henrique, and Mikhael Sergachev, Cam Fowler, Zack Kassian, and the names go on and on. We’ve also got a lot of guys from the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators with Bob’s connections.”

Some of these names include Michael DiPietro, Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris, Alex DeBrincat, Clayton Keller, Cody Ceci, Jack Campbell, Gabriel Vilardi, Logan Stanley, Will Cuylle, Olli Maata, Robby Fabbri, Jake Walman, Michael Rasmussen, and Andrew Cupp.

Boughner adds that the benches will be run by some familiar faces as well, including Mike Babcock, Pete DeBoer, and Derek Lalonde, with appearance by D.J. Smith, Rocky Thompson, Steve Ott, and Trevor Letowski.

Boughner explains that all money raised through Jonesy’s Game will be going to the Sunnybrook Foundation, an arm of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto.

“That’s the biggest hospital in Canada right now when it comes to ALS research and this is where Bob is currently receiving treatment for ALS too,” says Boughner. “It’s a great cause and it’s for a great person.”

Boughner says that despite the diagnosis, Jonesy is doing well and is in good spirits.

“Bob’s fine,” reports Boughner. “He’s walking around, his mobility is fine—it’s great—he’s just having some trouble now getting the words out. His mind is excellent, it’s just trying to get it out, and sometimes his speech is a little bit slurred and slow. That’s obviously a part of the whole disease, but allin-all, he’s doing okay.”

Jonesy is overwhelmed, but he’s also very appreciative of all of the support he’s getting, he knows we’re going to raise a lot of money that will be very, very important to ALS research and awareness, of course.

According to Boughner, dozens from Jonesy’s family will be travelling to Windsor to show support for Bob and the fundraiser.

“Jonesy is overwhelmed, but he’s also very appreciative of all of the support he’s getting,” he reports. “He knows we’re going to raise a lot of money that will be very, very important to ALS research and awareness, of course.”

He also adds that the Ontario Hockey League, Commissioner David Branch, and the OHL’s league owners have come on in a big way for the event with a major contribution to the cause and that the Spitfires and the Savage and Schwab families will be the event’s official gameday sponsors.

“Now that the event’s up and rolling, now our job is to sell tickets and fill up The Bowl,” states Boughner. “I don’t think we’re going to have a problem doing that, especially with some of the names we’ve got coming to town—and more on the way!”

TRAIL MAGIC

A cyclist finds solace and solitude on the bike ride of a lifetime.

By Matthew St. Amand

On Easter Monday morning, bikepacking cyclist Mike Janson, left the back door of his friend’s house in Vancouver and embarked on a twenty-two-day journey that took him more than 2,200 kilometers to San Francisco, California. Packed with equipment, including a tent, rain gear, and food, Mike’s Priority 600 bicycle weighed one-hundred-thirty-five pounds. Not only was this a bone-crushing trek to cycle, but Mike’s route took him through the mountainous Pacific Northwest, which is by turns breath-takingly beautiful and heart-stoppingly treacherous. The elevation gains Mike faced were equivalent to climbing Mount Whistler forty-two times.

What would possess an otherwise sane man to leave his wife, Danielle, and children— Jack, seventeen and Piper, fifteen—for a month on a solo bike trip that would, at times, push him to the outer limits of his physical and mental endurance?

“I’m one of those guys who values the simple things in life,” Mike says. “I love my family, I love my friends, and I realized that life is short. Recently, I had three close friends experience sudden and profound losses.”

Ten years ago, Mike lost his father, and his mother passed away exactly a year before the start-day of his monumental ride.

“I wanted to celebrate life,” he continues. “I wanted to celebrate my life and to pay homage to my friends and family who aren’t here anymore. To do something like this, you really must fulfill the ‘Why?’ For me—I don’t want to be the guy who dies with the sailboat sitting in the driveway. I don’t want to wait until I’m retired to experience the greatest adventure of my life.”

On April 7, Mike flew from Hamilton to Vancouver and spent Easter Weekend with old friends. On the morning of April 10, he embarked on his journey. Within hours, Mike crossed from White Rock B.C. into Blaine, Washington.

“The first day on the road, I logged only seventy-five kilometers,” Mike recalls. “I had hoped to do a lot more than that, but the amount of climbing, on a fully loaded bike, wind in my face, rain pouring… it was miserable.”

He persevered, passing through Ferndale and Bellingham. His plan was to reach Oak Harbour and catch a ferry. Along the way, however, he passed Larrabee State Park.

To do something like this, you really must fulfill the ‘Why?’ For me—I don’t want to be the guy who dies with the sailboat sitting in the driveway. I don’t want to wait until I’m retired to experience the greatest adventure of my life.

“Those are my spots where I wanted to stay,” he explains. “It’s five dollars for hiker/ bikers to camp.”

Mike pulled into the state park and found shelter. He set up his tent and attempted to regroup. Not long after he lay down to sleep, the ground beneath him began to shake. As it turned out, he was forty feet from an Amtrak train line where trains roared by every two hours—all night long.

Unable to sleep, Mike looked at his map. His original plan was to go up and around the peninsula. He now considered skipping that and heading right for Seattle, cutting five hundred kilometers off the trip. He scrapped the idea almost as quickly as it came to mind. Mike didn’t embark on this adventure to take the easy way out.

“So, I lay there in my tent and told myself: ‘You knew this was the rain season. It would be hard. Suck it up. Tomorrow is a new day. Get on your bike and ride and you’ll feel better,’” Mike remembers. “‘Get the worst day out of the way first.’”

Any cyclist will tell you: there is something intangible and therapeutic in the simple act of pedaling a bicycle. The next morning, Mike scraped himself together, did a lousy job of packing his gear, and set out once more on his bicycle.

“As soon as I got pedaling, I felt better,” he says. “Three hours into my day, I stopped at a café, crushed about three sandwiches, charged my lights, nav and gadgets, and had some coffee. When I got back on the road, the sun was out, the sky was blue, there was nothing but mountains. In an instant, it was like someone had switched on a whole different day for me. I was on a high for the next five hours.”

After ten hours of riding, Mike found the next state park. He planned to camp there and then catch the ferry the following day at Coupeville crossing Puget Sound to Port Townsend.

Hikers, cyclists, and outdoor people have a concept known as “trail magic.” Hiking blog, The-hungry-hiker.com, explains: “Trail Magic is when someone does something really nice for you, unexpectedly, out on the trail, usually without expecting anything in return. Trail Magic can come from someone you know or most of the time, a complete stranger. We call

people who provide Trail Magic, Trail Angels.”

On his way to the state park, Mike encountered his first experience with trail magic on this cycling trip. As he pedaled, an older couple waved at him, trying to get his attention. He pedaled over to them.

“Are you going to the campground?” they asked. “It’s back up the hill you just came down.”

After a few minutes of conversation, explaining his adventure, the couple introduced themselves as Mike and Pam Wilson. They said to Mike: “Would you like to spend the night at our house?”

“Before I left on this trip, I read an article that suggested being more open about accepting kindness others want to give you,” Mike says. “I went into this experience with an open mind.”

He accepted the Wilsons’ offer and spent the night at their home.

“They had a beautiful house on a hill overlooking the water,” Mike says. “When we got there, Mike asked me: ‘Do you like beer?’ and I said: ‘Does a one-legged duck swim in a circle?’ Right there—I went from the sh*thouse to the penthouse.”

The following morning, these trail angels had the coffee brewing, made a stack of blueberry pancakes for Mike, and biked with him down to the ferry in Coupeville to ensure he found his way.

“After that,” Mike reflects. “I knew I was going to be OK.”

Read about the rest of Mike Janson’s adventure, cycling to San Francisco, in the next issue of The Drive Magazine.

I’m one of those guys who values the simple things in life. I love my family, I love my friends, and I realized that life is short. Recently, I had three close friends experience sudden and profound losses.

REEL TO real

A Conversation with Gavin Michael Booth

By Layan Barakat

“It’s the ‘What Would Dave Hunter Do’ method now,” perched on the couch in his home studio in Windsor, Ontario, filmmaker Gavin Michael Booth reminisces the life of his dear friend. A melancholic nostalgia falls over the room louder than the rain pounding on Gavin’s roof, setting the tone for a somber exchange about the generosity of the man who believed in the filmmaker from his humble beginnings. “Maybe I have more of myself to give than ever before; I look at someone like Dave and think, how do you run a magazine, do real estate, have a family, and make time for all these other people? He was incredibly generous, even when he was at his busiest”.

Gavin’s affinity for storytelling began at a young age, remembering the first time he saw ET in theatres and having a visceral reaction to the cinematic classic. “I left the cinema, and I was sobbing. That movie emotionally wrecked me, but I remember my dad pointing up at the sky; a plane was flying, and he said, ‘Look, it’s ET’s ship. He’s coming back to earth!’ that calmed me, and it always stuck with me, and that’s what I always wanted to do with movies; I wanted to make people feel something”. From there, Gavin took on a paper route that would allow him to buy that first fateful camcorder. Recruiting neighbourhood kids into his early film ventures, Gavin would parody his favourite films using his innate storytelling ability. “I remember seeing Back to the Future, and I was trying to recreate the clocktower scene, which was dangerous to have someone hanging from a rope,” Gavin said with a laugh, “it was just that, though, once it would hit my imagination, I had to make it.”

Growing up in a town with limited creative outlets, Gavin took matters into his own hands, founding his film and media production company, Mimetic Entertainment Inc. A jump that eventually allowed him to work with musicians such as Third Eye Blind, Vanessa Carlton, SYML, Tim Hicks, and many more. During those early years, Dave stepped into the picture, giving Gavin the connections to bring his production company to the next level.

The two first met on a commercial shoot for Dr. David Mady. “The DRIVE Magazine office was on Chatham Street at the timetheir original office. We went out for lunch after the commercial shoot and hit it off. We talked about documentaries and commercials, I am trying to remember the exact amount of time, but it was in a 3-month span they were moving to Devonshire Rd. I was looking for office space with my partner then, and we moved into the same building. I saw Dave every day, every single lunch. I always joke that I never had to hunt for business because Dave was so generous that he’d have clients come in for the magazine and ask, ‘Have you ever thought about doing TV? Or need a corporate video?’ He would then walk them downstairs to my office; I rarely had to find leads.” recalls Gavin.

The two struck up a friendship based on genuine support, even leading Dave to act in Gavin’s first film. “I had never made a short film then; I hadn’t even made a music video. I was like, ‘Oh, you make your first feature and get into Sundance [film festival]. Well, getting into Sundance is almost impossible; Making a film good enough to get into Sundance is second to impossible; finishing your first feature film is a triumph,” said Gavin. “That’s the marathon people should aim for, but when you’re young, you don’t see that.”

Gavin’s first foray into filmmaking was the feature film Leaving Town, which follows three individuals at their wit’s end, desperate to escape the suffocating grip of their mundane lives. Fueled by an audacious plan, they hatch a daring scheme to rob a bank, their one chance at amassing enough money to break free from their shackles and never look back. “There’s a flashback scene where they’re talking about how they plan this bank robbery and all the stories of failed bank robberies they heard of or read about as they try to avoid the pitfalls,” recalls Gavin, “Dave played a bank robber in one of those scenes where he runs into a bank, pulls his gun and tells everyone to get on the floor. He runs into the vault to take the money, but the bank teller just closes

the door and traps him inside, and then we cut to a security camera in the vault, and it’s just him kicking the door, trying to get out. He had track pants on, and he kicked the door so hard that it split his pants right down the back, and we had to stop for 20 minutes while we stitched his pants back up. Only Dave could act so hard that he could split his pants – and I haven’t seen an actor do it since!”

Dave’s support and connections opened doors for Gavin, leading to his first big break when he sold a script that caught the attention of Icon Productions. Though that project didn’t come to fruition, it paved the way for Gavin’s critically acclaimed film, “Scarehouse,” which was produced in Windsor and marked a turning point in his career. Universal Studios noticed the film, allowing Gavin to move to the United States, taking on new opportunities.

“Dave visited me in Los Angeles in 2019; my film Last Call was about to premiere at the Chinese Theatre. The Tea Party was playing at the Roxy, and he said he wanted to come out and see them. While we were there, I showed him Last Call. Everyone knows that Dave can’t stop himself from jumping all in when he sees something he believes in. He turned to me and said, ‘Buddy, we’re going to have the biggest premiere of all time in Windsor. We can do this for CMHA’. We ran with it, we were already planning on having a premiere in Windsor since the movie was made here, but it became this 1200-person sold-out event at the Chrysler Theatre where we raised money for the Canadian Mental Health Association. Dave’s ability to use his network and just know the people he could call on...he could put anything together”.

In a Facebook post after the 2019 premiere of Last Call, Dave writes, “I’ve been saying this for a very long time. Gavin Michael Booth was a skinny kid from Amherstburg who followed his dream and never gave up. Watching his dreams come to life is exciting, and I am proud of his amazing talent.” His unconditional support, not only for Gavin but for the artist community in Windsor-Essex, was unwavering.

“The more I looked back at it, I realized my first office, I found because of Dave, the first people to back a movie were connections from Dave, my first clients in Windsor were because of Dave, my first experience working with a charity was because of Dave and the list kept going,” said Gavin. “I always say a good agent or manager’s job is to make you feel like you’re their only client. Dave had that ability, so even reading all the posts on Facebook after

Maybe I have more of myself to give than ever before; I look at someone like Dave and think, how do you run a magazine, do real estate, have a family, and make time for all these other people? He was incredibly generous, even when he was at his busiest.

he passed, I realized everything he had done for me, he had also done for everyone else”.

Through trials and triumphs, Gavin’s filmmaking journey found an unexpected guide in the enigmatic Dave Hunter. Ever the generous spirit, Dave’s belief in the budding filmmaker fueled Gavin’s growth, providing him with invaluable connections and support not only through his network but the Windsor-Essex community as a whole. “When I talk about what Windsor has done for my filmmaking career, especially with my friends in LA, I say there’s this magical place where people will help you with locations, and everything you need is one degree away. They look at me like I’m talking about Narnia, like

there is this portal through a tree where you can get to this magical land where filmmaking is easy,” Gavin says with a laugh. “I would not have the career I had without Windsor and the support; it’s kind of insane to think about. Everyone dreams of going to Hollywood or Vancouver. I stayed here until I was in my 30s before I went to Toronto or LA, but I tell people, ‘Your hometown will always give you the most support.’ I don’t have a big family here, I just have my parents, and that’s it. They immigrated here from the UK. No extended family in Town, so Windsor is my family. It’s different from other cities. I can’t imagine a world where I got to make all of the content that I’ve made without having done it the Windsor way”.

Gavin Michael Booth’s artistic prowess flourished from these humble beginnings, and he embarked on a remarkable career. Today, as he gazes back on the path they walked together, he carries with him the wisdom and spirit of his beloved friend. Gavin’s creative endeavors continue to push boundaries, masterfully blending elements of “crushing sadness with a sprinkle of hope,” a signature style he has mastered over the years. With the legacy of Dave Hunter guiding his every step, Gavin Michael Booth remains a storyteller who weaves emotion into each frame, captivating audiences. Gavin’s storytelling journey is a testament to the enduring power of friendship and the transformative nature of cinema.

“The more I looked back at it, I realized my first office, I found because of Dave, the first people to back a movie were connections from Dave, my first clients in Windsor were because of Dave, my first experience working with a charity was because of Dave and the list kept going.

Celebrating 127 years in Business

Manny Farao and the entire WTA family want to send our sincere condolences to all of Dave Hunter’s family and friends. Dave had been working with Manny and WTA for more than 23 years. He wasn’t just a friendly face at The Drive for us, he was our friend, and he will be missed forever.

THE SAUCE BOSS

JP Smitty Sauce is becoming a household name across Windsor-Essex

By Jen Brignall-Strong

What does it take to become one of Windsor’s most beloved condiments? The owner of JP Smitty Sauce knows that word of mouth is the secret sauce.

“Our saying is, ‘you try it, you buy it,’” laughs Jason Gill. “We have so many people sample it at events and tell their friends, ‘You gotta try this!’”

What began as a fun pastime in the kitchen for his father-in-law, John-Paul Smith, has turned into a rapidly growing full time gig for Gill, who now distributes the tangy, tomato-based sauce in its ‘original’ and ‘hot’ forms to over 40 retail locations across Essex County and beyond.

“It’s a family recipe that goes back a long ways,” explains Gill. “In 1990 he started making it himself and really perfected it over 20 years. He called it ‘Smitty Sauce’ and would hand it out to friends and family.”

Gill met Smith over two decades ago while working in the automotive business and recalls him bringing bottles of sauce in when he came in to purchase vehicles.

“I used to always joke with him, ‘Smitty, you gotta make more sauce!’ I loved it and would put it on everything.”

Gill eventually married Smith’s daughter Laura and says over the years, he would often tell his father-in-law there was an opportunity to share the sauce with a wider audience.

“I would say to him, ‘We can do something with this. This is that good that I do believe there’s a market for it.”

Now, in just over a year, Gill has made and distributed over 5500 bottles of sauce, selling them at storefronts across the region, as well as various pop-up markets and festivals.

“Having my father-in-law come to events and see what we’ve created is just unreal,” he says, emotion building in his voice. “I bring him to a market and he’s out there selling with a huge smile on his face. It just brings me so much joy. Every time he comes over he asks, ‘How many have we sold?’”

So how has Smitty Sauce become so popular so quickly? Probably because it goes well on pretty much anything.

“We don’t call it a barbecue sauce, we call it an ‘everything’ sauce,” he says. “I learned that pretty quickly when I put bottles of it out at The Sandwich Nook in Tecumseh. I watched people try a little dab, try a little more, then put it on everything: eggs, potatoes, corned beef hash, sandwiches.”

Of course, he adds, it pairs well with chicken, ribs, pork, and our beloved Windsorstyle pizza.

“We have a great partnership with Capital City Pizza Co. where they give out samples with their takeout orders and sell the full bottles,” he shares. “Remark Farms also makes a barbecue chicken pizza with Smitty Sauce instead of tomato sauce on it and it’s great.”

Gill also credits the success of the company to connecting with local resources and likeminded business people. He received

a grant from the Foodpreneur Advantage program (through the Small Business and Entrepreneur Centre) and was able to purchase a branded tent, new pots, and other collateral to help grow his business.

“That program was really a blessing,” he says. “I received a lot of great information and met some amazing people.”

Gill admits the local sauce market is a busy game, but says he tries to do things with his brand that set him apart from the competition.

“I try to be different,” he says. “I give little signs with our logo on it to put out in front of the bottles when they’re on display. I hand out swag to get our name out there. I also leave extra bottles for the staff to keep in their lunchrooms so that they know what the product tastes like and can share that with customers.”

Gill is eager to continue growing Smitty Sauce. Not only is he constantly adding new retail partners, he’s also currently working on a line of rubs to add to the roster. Looking ahead to the future, he hopes to keep the family tradition alive for a fourth generation and one day pass the company down to his daughters, Grace and Ella.

“Maybe once we hit 50 retail locations, I’ll sit back and assess where we go but 50 won’t be the limit,” he laughs. “We’re already moving up the 401 with our sauce now available in Chatham-Kent. I’d love to have this as something for my kids one day.”

SUMMERrefreshers

GRAPEFRUIT GUAVA MOJITO

Ingredients

2 oz grapefruit juice

6 mojito mint leaves, muddled

3 mojito mint leaves for garnish

1/3 cup guava juice

1/3 cup sparkling water

Crushed ice

Instructions

Rim a glass with sugar. Add grapefruit juice and mint leaves, then muddle mint leaves in the bottom of the glass to help release the flavours. If you do not have a muddle, the back of a spoon works too.

Next, add ice and guava juice, then top with sparkling water and fresh mint leaves. Give your drink a quick stir and enjoy!

RASPBERRY & ROSE LEMONADE

Ingredients

6-8 Fresh raspberries, muddled

1 lemon, squeezed

1 oz honey

1/4 oz rose water

1 cup sparkling water

Dried/crushed rose petals for garnish

Crushed ice

Instructions

Rim a glass with sugar. Add raspberries to the glass and muddle. If you do not have a muddle, the back of a spoon works too.

Once muddled, add lemon juice and honey then stir until honey is dissolved. Add ice, rose water and sparkling water. Stir, then garnish with dried rose petals.

ICED GRAPEFRUIT GREEN TEA

Ingredients

Freshly brewed green tea

1 oz honey

2 oz grapefruit juice

Grapefruit slice for garnish

Crushed ice

Instructions

Brew one cup of green tea and sweeten it with honey.

In a clear glass, add a slice of grapefruit. Push the grapefruit slice to the side of the cup for garnish.

Pour grapefruit juice and green tea into the glass with ice and stir.

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

DEGREES OF WINDSOR & ESSEX COUNTY

Photos By Zishan Ali

Memory of Dave Hunter.