The Drive Magazine // Fall II 2021 // Issue 138 by The Drive Magazine

DRIVE

ISSUE 138

CAREER BATTLES ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES TO BE THE BEST IN YQG REAL ESTATE

. LIFESTYLE | CULTURE | PEOPLE | TRENDS

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PAUL ST-PIERRE.................. Publisher DAVE HUNTER..................... Vice President, sales BREANNE MCGINTY............ Sales SABINE MAIN...................... Creative director SHAWNA BEECROFT............ Graphic designer MARNIE ROBILLARD............ Director of design

CONTRIBUTORS ANNA STANLEY ................... Copy editor SYX LANGEMANN................ Photographer TREVOR BOOTH................... Photographer DAVE HUNTER..................... Photographer MONA ELKADRI................... Stylist/writer ALLEY L. BINIARZ................ Writer JEN BRIGNALL-STRONG....... Writer DEVAN MIGHTON................. Writer PATRICK WHITE .................. Writer (student contest) MATTHEW ST. AMAND......... Writer

DRIVE

ISSUE 138

On the cover:

CAREER BATTLES ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES TO BE THE BEST IN YQG REAL ESTATE

. LIFESTYLE | CULTURE | PEOPLE | TRENDS

The Real Deal. Joe Conlon, Mitchell Deslippe, Mark Eugeni, Paul Germanese and Brady Thrasher. Special thanks to Renaldo Agostino and The Border City Boxing Club for the use of the club for our cover photoshoot.

Follow and like us: Twitter @thedrivemag Instagram @thedrivemag Facebook @thedrivemagazine

The Drive magazine is delivered direct to nearly 30,000 select homes throughout Windsor-Essex exclusively through Canada Post. Mail subscriptions available on line at www.thedrivemagazine.com/signup or by emailing info@thedrivemagazine.com CANADA POST Delivery agreement no. 43497602. Printed in Canada. Owned and operated by the Landscape Effects Group of Companies. 1125 County Road #42 RR#1, Belle River ON, N0R1A0, 519.727.4769 All advertisement content to appear are subject to approval of the publisher and the publication assumes no responsibility for content included. We do not necessarily share the opinion or views of such advertising and assume no liability of this content or messaging.

CONTENTS

ISSUE 138 AROUND TOWN 10 Noteworthy Mentions Around Town

SPOTLIGHT 14 A Rising Tide Floats All Boats by Matthew St. Amand

FOOD Chicken Gnocchi Bake by Mona Elkadri

INNER-VIEW 20 I n The Blood With Dave Merheje by Matthew St. Amand PORTRAIT 30 The Real Deal. Local “Top 100 Real Estate Agents in Canada” – Get Candid About Career Battles by Jen Brignall-Strong SIX DEGREES OF WINDSOR/ESSEX 36 Photos by Zishan Ali MENTAL HEALTH 42 Owning It by Jen Brignall-Strong COMMUNITY 48 R ediscover Your Passion for Island Living on Bois Blanc Island by Alley Biniarz

14 SPOTLIGHT A Rising Tide Floats All Boats by Matthew St. Amand

THE ARTS 54 T he Journey of a Spray Can Outlaw With Derkz by Devan Mighton PSYCH DRIVE 60 S taying Motivated During Challenging Times by Dr. Andrea Dinardo HEALTH 62 S trangers Until We Meet by Devan Mighton MUSIC 69 Jazzing It Up With Michael Palazzolo by Matt Weingarden

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ANTHONY FERRIOLO – PRIVATE CHEF (51 9) 791-3922SETTIMOS_CATERING@YAHOO.COM

A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER We're excited to share with you this October issue! We know you'll fall head over heels with every page. Despite being busy getting this issue ready, we have managed to enjoy the crisp weather and autumn colours of Essex County. We hope you also did. We recently teamed up and counted our blessings during the Thanksgiving long weekend. It was unanimous how grateful we are for our vibrant and supportive community - our readership is the best! It's my wish that The DRIVE was able to bring smiles to your faces and evoke conversations around the dinner table. We love bringing you stories of our remarkable neighbours and businesses throughout our region. In this fall issue of The DRIVE, you can enjoy the impactful stories ranging from our cover story highlighting 5 of our top local real estate agents ranked in the top 100 in Canada, to an interview with Melinda Rauch, who after 20 years of working in the corporate world of finance walked away to become a small business owner with a personal philosophy that wants to see everybody win. On the topic of appreciation, I'd like to take a moment to thank our team and our advertisers who have continued to support and encourage us to publish a magazine with purpose and substance and to deliver effective results for over 21 years. Enjoy your issue and be sure to write in and let us know what your favourite fall colour watching spots are! Yours truly,

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Paul St. Pierre Publisher

Over one hundred & ninety two thousand reasons to say,

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AROUND TOWN

TOWN Welcome to our custom content page meant to highlight unique news from the Windsor-Essex region LOFT 32 DENTISTRY Loft 32 Dentistry is now open at 6585 Malden Road - unit 101 in LaSalle. Dr. Elena Kalmantis and her team are officially welcoming patients into their brand new, innovative space. Their office features cutting edge technology and equipment, built-in air purification systems, and a state-of-the-art sterilization centre. When asked her goals were regarding opening a new practice, Dr. Kalmantis said, “it’s always been my dream to create a space that is warm, welcoming and inviting, where we make each and every patient feel comfortable and safe, while also providing the absolute best dental care for the whole family”. Loft 32 Dentistry offers a wide range of services including (but not limited to) cleanings, fillings, root canals, nightguards, implants, Invisalign, crowns, veneers, bridges, whitening, laughing gas sedation, same day emergencies and more. Check out their website for more information and to book your appointment today at loft32dentistry.ca or call 226-708-1010. Follow Dr. Kalmantis on Instagram and Facebook at @dkkalmantis. ASTRAL MEDICAL ESTHETICS Krystal Krawiec , owner of Astral Medical Esthetics in Old Walkerville, is a Registered Nurse and certified cosmetic injector. She has trained and practiced in Toronto under top plastic surgeons and injectors. Krystal specializes in creating natural looking lips, but offers many other services including Botox, Dermal Filler, and PRP Microneedling. She also offers mobile IV infusion for bachelor/ bachelorette parties, golf tournaments, or special events. Her private office is located in the heart of Walkerville in a beautiful, exposed brick loft style setting. Call or text 519-990-8162 to book your one-on-one appointment today! Follow Astral Medical Esthetics on Instagram and on Facebook @astral.medical

VIN WINERY VIN winery includes a retail store, event space "Wedding in the Woods" with a capacity for 200 guests, overnight rentals, a 1-acre pond, 5-acre vineyard and private wooded trails. They have been making wine in partnership with their microbrewery "BREW" since 2016, but recently launched the stand-alone winery and vineyard "VIN" in 2021. Their product research has shown that new age wine regions are some of the most popular wines currently at retail, and ultimately, people are passionate about supporting their local growing regions. That’s what VIN is all about… creating a top-quality local product for the next generation of wine drinkers. For more information on VIN please visit them online at vinwinery.ca 10

AROUND TOWN

SHIFT INTERIORS Launched in April, 2021 by husband-wife team Steven and Wendy Pressacco, SHIFT Interiors is Windsor-Essex’s go-to for contractgrade furniture and architectural interiors (think glass walls) for commercial offices, hospitals, schools, hospitality and more. Born and raised in Windsor, Steven spent 15+ years abroad working in the contract furniture industry with clients like Google, HSBC and Unilever in New York City, Asia, and San Francisco. Wendy, a California native, spent seven years in online marketing with LVMH in SF and NYC, and was a Special Education Teacher for five years. Steven is excited for the opportunity to bring his knowledge and experience of the built world back to his hometown. With a growing portfolio of furniture, seating and ancillary product partners, including Teknion, AllSeating, Krug, Nienkamper and more, the couple is dedicated to creating functional, beautiful, dynamic spaces where the people of Southwestern Ontario can work, learn and heal. For more information on SHIFT please visit them online at builtbyshift.ca today.

EXPERIA GROUP Experia Group was built on two key factors, experience and personal care for the customer. They are a full-service insurance brokerage with a strong focus in the Construction & Manufacturing community. They offer leading strategic support similar to a global brokerage with a more personalized service that can only be found in a boutique firm. By having a specialized approach to key market segments, it is paramount that they pair the client with proper broker skill set whether it be your business, your personal insurance, you will always have that specialized representative there to help. They can be reached at 226-212-7996 and we are located at 1224 County Rd 22 in Emeryville, ON.

WALKERVILLE MERCANTILE Husband and wife team Tom & Jenni Dault are following a long-time dream of theirs by opening their own shop and what better place to do it, but in the heart of Olde Walkerville. The heritage district ties in perfectly with their approach to the sale of men’s clothing & accessories (soon to expand into women’s clothing, housewares and home décor). Although it is said that, “They don’t make things how they used to”, this certainly doesn’t apply to the products at Walkerville Mercantile. By selectively choosing manufacturers who can provide items that are produced with a focus on quality (superior materials used ) and style (classic and versatile fashion, not here today, gone tomorrow trends), their hopes are to buck the current toxic practices of the ‘fast fashion’ industry. We live in a throw away society and the best place to start changing that is in the choices we make when it comes to personal consumption. Buy less but better quality. Find us at 1719 Wyandotte Street East, or online at WalkervilleMercantile.com. THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

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SPOTLIGHT

A RISING TIDE FLOATS ALL BOATS After 20 years working in finance, Kingsville native Melinda Rauch, came away with a personal philosophy that wants to see everybody win. By Matthew St. Amand Photography by Catalina Martinez

Part of NOMAD’s mission is to have an impact on the communities we buy from and visit. Social impact is at the core of NOMAD’s mission.

SPOTLIGHT

So often, we do not choose our passions with an Honours Business Administration-Fiin life—they choose us. For Kingsville native, nance degree. Melinda Rauch, the longing to see the world “I moved to Toronto, where I worked in cast itself upon her like a spell. hedge funds,” she says. “That’s when I began “Travelling was something I wanted to to see the world.” do since I was a little girl,” Melinda recalls. Her work took her to New York, Bermuda, “When I was a kid, I remember coming home the Cayman Islands, countries in Africa, from church and saying that I wanted to go to throughout Europe, Guatemala, and Mexico. Papua, New Guinea on a mission trip. I had It was high-stress, high-stakes work, but she no idea where that even was!” always found time to enjoy the exotic locales, Melinda was barely 20 years old when she staying in boutique hotels, visiting bazaars, finally embarked on an odyssey that would take and marketplaces. her around the globe and into the center of the “I have an innate curiosity about other financial world. Two decades later, the advencultures,” she explains. “To see how other ture brought her full circle, home to Kingsville, people live, what they eat. I am a huge foodie. where she put her “profits with a purpose” I love exploring at old buildings, taking in philosophy into practice, opening an upmarket the art and craftsmanship that went into home furnishings store called NOMAD. creating them.” To start at the start: After completing a She continues: “The best shopping markets three-year diploma in marketing at St. Clair are in Africa: in Kenya and Tanzania you see College, Melinda enrolled at the University piles of colourful fruits, baskets and textiles of Windsor. Whatever momentum took her everywhere. Best food markets Mexico hands there, it soon vanished. down. The Turkish rug merchants make every “I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” she visit an experience, giving you tea. They never says. “So, I bought a plane ticket, got a visa want you leave. And Guatemala, their textiles for England, and traveled to London where are amazing. They have 25 indigenous dialects, I did a two-year internship at Citibank, as a and each has its own pattern in clothing, so trade support associate for their London and you can tell where a person is from just by how Frankfurt trading floors.” they’re dressed.” It wasn’t long before she realized: “This is Although she excelled in her career, what I want to do.” Melinda sought deeper meaning in her work. When her visa expired, Melinda returned In 2010, as she finished at one job in Bermuda, home with renewed focus. She enrolled at and prepared to return to Toronto for a new extend her start date by four months. She used the University of Windsor and graduated position, she asked her new employer to that time to volunteer in Moshi, Tanzania, at a school called Give a Heart to Africa. There, local women learned fundamental business skills, such as using a computer, basic English, math, and how to calculate a profit. “It was during my time in Moshi,” Melinda reflects, “that I became aware of the concept of ‘profits with a purpose’—investing in socially and environmentally responsible small businesses. The people I taught at the school didn’t want handouts. They needed some skills and some small capital investment to get started, like any other business.” As she settled into her new position in Toronto, Melinda recalls: “I worked as a hedge fund due diligence consultant for large institutional investors, and it was around that time I began to explore the concept of ‘impact investing.’ I felt there had to be a way to use my skills to add value to a larger purpose.” Melinda Rauch THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

She pursued this idea and within a couple of years she was recruited by the founder of 15

SPOTLIGHT

Human Development Investment Capital (HDI Capital), located in Mexico City. She took the job. “I was a Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer,” Melinda explains. “We raised $200 million after my second year at the firm, so once our hedge fund was up and running, we directed 10 percent of our profits towards impact projects. It was the truest form of ‘profits with purpose.’”

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After 20 years in finance, and world travel, Melinda returned home to Kingsville. In 2019, she realized her vision of “profits with a purpose” and “impact investing” on a more personal level when she opened NOMAD, an upmarket home furnishings store, at 9 Main Street East.

Whether you’re here for a class, a treatment or the day spa, we will do our best to help you find peace and contentment.

What began years before, in the far flung markets and bazaars of Turkey, Tanzania, and Guatemala, came full circle. Seeing the beautiful, handmade wares of the vendors, and wondering: “It’s so beautiful! Why can I not buy this at home?” After connecting with a weaver named Antonia Martinez in Oaxaca, Mexico, Melinda now designs her own textiles and rugs.

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“Antonia is a third generation weaver,” Melinda says. “I met her on a sourcing trip. Because of the pandemic, I couldn’t go back, immediately, and work with her, so it was pencil to paper, learning how the loom worked, how to weave a pillow.” It was an arduous process, conducted in Spanish, through video calls. Melinda created her designs, but sometimes ran into roadblocks. “My loom can’t do that!” Antonia said about one pattern. “There’s too much up-anddown. My loom only goes left-to-right.” Both women were committed, and they found designs suitable for Antonia’s loom, ultimately creating over 300 pillows for NOMAD. Melinda is on her way back to Mexico to work with Antonia on more unique items. “Part of NOMAD’s mission is to have an impact on the communities we buy from and visit,” Melinda says. “Social impact is at the core of NOMAD’s mission.” To learn more about Melinda and the mission of NOMAD, visit her online at nomadforhome.com. D

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INNER-VIEW

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20 20

INNER-VIEW

IN THE BLOOD Windsor native, Dave Merheje, has taken the comedy world by storm and has been honoured as a graduate of St. Clair College By Matthew St. Amand

Few experiences in life can match the terror of a new comic facing his first nightclub audience. A firing squad, perhaps. Shark attack, maybe. What would possess a person to voluntarily mount a stage and subject themselves to the potential ridicule of strangers? The hint, the hope, the chance of laughs. It is a strange and unshakable urge that grips a very few among us to seek this. Part-masochist, part-mercenary, we know these people as stand-up comedians. Windsor native, Dave Merheje is a veteran stand-up comic who still exudes the wonderment and enthusiasm of a newly minted comedian. With nearly 20 years in the business, he still recalls his first time performing on stage: “It was at Yuk Yuk’s in downtown Windsor, I was 19 years old, and it was the Windsor stop in a comedy competition looking for ‘Canada’s Funniest Comedian,’” Dave recounts in a video created by St. Clair College for its “Alumni of Distinction” series. Dave is a 2020/2021 honouree. “I did about seven minutes of material in about three minutes,” Dave continues. “I was talking too fast, I didn’t understand the structure of comedy. And I did not do well. I believe I bombed, horribly.” What is the only thing braver than a comedian facing his first audience? Facing his second. Dave faced his third audience, and then his fourth, and never looked back. Today, Dave Merheje can be seen as a recurring character on two popular TV shows: as the character, Ahmed, on Hulu’s Ramy, which the Internet Movie Database describes the show: “In New Jersey, Ramy, son of Egyptian migrants, begins a spiritual journey, divided between his Muslim community, God, and his friends who see endless possibilities.” As well, Dave appeared in seasons seven and eight of the CBC comedy, Mr. D., as the character Mr. Bechara.

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INNER-VIEW

Dave says in the “Alumni of Distinction” This led to more and more spots at comedy video. “So, she was like: ‘You’re not going.’” festivals. A naturally personable guy, Dave So, Dave shifted gears and entered the enjoyed meeting new people, which made him marketing program at St. Clair College. an incredibly effective at networking. At one The schedule and expectations of school life gig, he met Ramy Youssef. strengthened the work ethic he had learned “I met Ramy at the Arab Comedy special from his parents. in New York,” Dave says. “Back then, his When he wasn’t studying or attending ambition was to do stand-up, and I wanted to classes, Dave worked on his comedy, moving act. When I got to LA in 2015, I caught up to through the slow, painful process of bombing, him, and stayed at his place.” succeeding, sort-of-bombing, sort-of-sucIn the fullness of time, Ramy created a ceeding, and learning all the time. Dave was show that would be picked up by Hulu, and driven, but he was young, and one day he he asked his friend, Dave, if he wanted to received a reality check from a club manager, audition for a role. Dave seized the opporwho said: “I’m not letting you on anymore. tunity, and has portrayed Ramy’s onscreen You’re not getting into it. Others are putting buddy, Ahmed, since the pilot episode. in more work and getting passed you.” As the world struggles to emerge from “That changed everything in my mind,” yet another COVID-19 wave, Dave remains Dave remembers. “I started to hit the focused on his projects: pavement, let go of the partying, and crossed over to Michigan, doing open mics five to “We just filmed a comedy special at Just seven times a week.” For Laughs CTV Comedy Channel on Crave,” Upon graduating from St. Clair College, he says. “Season three of Ramy will be filming Dave employed all that he learned in the this year, as well.” marketing program to promote his comedy career. He moved to Toronto in his mid-20s, then spent six months in Los Angeles checking out the scene. There was one touchstone experience in L.A. that, at once, had nothing to do with comedy and had everything to do with it: it was the night Dave had a gun put his head during a mugging. Whether it’s being a comedian, or simply who Dave is as a person, but the ugly experience forged a positive outcome.

He continues: “I’m also working on a TV show about Windsor, and the title would be ‘Windsor.’ I’m working on it with a friend. We’re just putting it all together right now.”

Dave is quick to credit his parents and siblings for their support over the years. The City of Windsor, as well, has provided much inspiration. St. Clair College reports that Dave “was pleasantly surprised to have been recognized for his academic achievements” when told he was being named among “The robbery happened at a point where the 2020/2021 honourees as an “Alumni I was trying to find my voice, as a comedian,” of Distinction”. Photography by Scott McLean Dave says. “And the experience kind of sped Follow Dave’s march toward comedy that up. It made me realize: ‘Just do what you Although he’s making good on an early wanna do.’” supremacy by visiting davemerheje.com. D dream of being an actor, Dave’s been rocking the comedy world for the past decade, winning the Just For Laughs Homegrown Comic Competition in 2011, and taking home NOW Magazine’s Best of Toronto Award for Best Male Stand-up the same year. In 2012, Dave joined the NBC Stand-up for Diversity tour and was a Canadian Comedy Award-nominee for Best Stand-up. In 2018, he released his comedy special “Good Friend Bad Grammar” and won the 2019 Juno Award for Comedy Album of the year. His most recent comedy special, “Beautifully Manic”, can be viewed on Netflix. And to think, his earliest ambition was a career in radio. “The school was London/Fanshaw and my mom… she didn’t want me to leave the city,” 22

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RIDING THE WAVE OF SUCCESS Big Risks and Community Involvement Pay Off for WaveDirect By Jen Brignall-Strong Photo by: Trevor Booth

As residents of Windsor-Essex County, we all strive to support our friends and neighbours by “shopping local.” We buy locally-grown produce and drive locally-made cars… but what about our internet service? While many think they’re stuck with the high prices and sub-par service of the large national corporations, there’s a growing number of people who have discovered the area’s best kept secret for high-speed internet and cable: WaveDirect. Since its inception in 2004, WaveDirect has grown to become Essex County’s largest privately owned internet service; in large part by taking risks and tapping in to the community’s vast pool of talent. “In 2018, we built our own headquarters in Leamington and we’ve continued to grow ever since,” says CEO Ryan Davidson. Over the past 18 months, Davidson says WaveDirect has been laser-focused on scaling up; growing their in-house marketing, sales, and support teams, as well as adding more trucks on the road and bringing in an all-star executive team to chart them on a path to success. “We’ve basically doubled our staff in less than a year and a half,” he adds, noting that WaveDirect was also named the 2021 Tech Company of the Year by WEtech Alliance.

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Together with COO Joanne Soave and CFO Kavaughn Boismier, Davidson and his team have worked hard to meet the rapidly growing need for faster internet connection.

“We identified a need to grow outside of our support of the rural community,” explains Soave. “I think Covid put an intense spotlight on the reality of the digital divide and we wanted to be able to help as many residential and business customers stay connected, as possible.” That assistance included stepping up to help community groups who were struggling with the switch to virtual learning; providing head sets and other digital resources to students of Queen Victoria public school, as well as brand new laptops to support case workers at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Windsor-Essex. The company has also taken a role in many local virtual tech events like WINHacks, BorderHacks, and other “hack-athons” at The University of Windsor and St. Clair College. In fact, several winners from the events have gone on to complete successful internships at WaveDirect. “They’ve brought tremendous value to our company,” says Soave. “They learned so much from us and we too, learned a lot from them as well. We’re having an immense amount of fun while also giving students an opportunity to grow.” WaveDirect is also the primary sponsor of the Women of Windsor (WOW) Mentorship Collaborative. “We’ve helped over 700 women in the past 12 months,” explains Boismier, noting they provide group mentorship to WEST (Women’s Enterprise Skills Training) of Windsor and took on several WEST clients for internships during the pandemic. “We believed in these women and wanted to give them career exposure while they were struggling to find good experience,” says Boismier. “We very much like to be an active part of the community,” says Davidson. While the team is proud of what they’ve accomplished in such a short period, Boismier says they’re just getting started. “The possibilities are endless, and that’s the most exciting part,” she says. “We want to be a beacon of hope for other small businesses that even though the struggles are real, you can succeed,” adds Soave. “We’re employing local, we’re investing in local. The community is everything to us and we’ve done well because of them.” So the question is: if you haven’t switched to WaveDirect… why not? Shop local and log on to wavedirect.net today to learn more. D THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

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originalpizza.ca 27

FOOD

CHICKEN

GnocchiBAKE INGREDIENTS

½ tbsp olive oil ½ diced onion 2 cloves crushed garlic 2 tbsp butter 1 cup whipping cream ¼ tsp red pepper flakes ¼ tsp ground nutmeg 2 cups fresh spinach leaves 2 tbsp sliced sundried tomatoes 1 cup gnocchi 1 cup pulled rotisserie chicken breast 2 tbsp shredded mozzarella Salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS • In a medium pot, cook the gnocchi as directed on the package. • Reserve ¼ cup of water from the gnocchi, then drain the gnocchi and toss it with ½ tbsp of olive oil. Set aside. • In a large skillet on medium heat, add butter and sauté onions until they are semi translucent. Next, add the crushed garlic and cook for about a min. • Once you can smell the aroma of garlic, add the cream, starchy water (from the gnocchi), chili flakes, ground nutmeg and stir to combine. • Next, add the spinach leaves and sun-dried tomato stirring until the spinach leaves have wilted. • After the spinach has cooked in the cream sauce, add salt and pepper to taste, pulled chicken breast, and the gnocchi to your skillet. Give it a good mix, then transfer it to a casserole dish.

Photo by Mona Elkadri

• Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over top and broil on high until the cheese starts to turn golden brown. Don’t step away from the oven, this step happens quickly. As soon as it’s finished, you can take it out and enjoy! D Serves 2

Mona Elkadri is a lifestyle blogger with a fondness for everyday living and entertaining, from sweet recipes to home décor and DIY, and everything in between. Ohsomona.com

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PORTRAIT

THE REAL DEAL Local “Top 100 Real Estate Agents in Canada” Get Candid about Career Battles By Jen Brignall-Strong Photography by Syx Langemann

Becoming one of REP’s “Top 100 Real Estate Agents in Canada” doesn’t just happen overnight… and the journey ain’t always pretty. For Joe Conlon, Mitchell Deslippe, Mark Eugeni, Paul Germanese, and Brady Thrasher, that distinction has been earned the hard way; through personal sacrifice, sleepless nights, and by rolling with the punches. Even after years of ups and downs, these agents are ready to go another round: fighting stereotypes, fighting burnout, and fighting for their clients in one of the most competitive markets they’ve ever seen.

PORTRAIT

PUSHING THROUGH Joe Conlon is no stranger to the grind, or the missteps that come along with it. “Most people in this business fail because they don’t hang in long enough to make it through their mistakes,” he says. When he started as an agent nearly a decade ago, Conlon admits he didn’t know much about houses. “I never owned a home; I was only 22,” he explains. “I didn’t even have my own car yet; I had a 12-seater conversion van that I borrowed from my parents. I would hide it around the corner from open houses so people wouldn’t see me getting out of it.” Conlon says that his inexperience and his age lead to a lot of rejection early on in his career. It took him over six months to get his first sale. “I was getting the shit kicked out of me,” he recalls. “There’s so much rejection in the beginning.” As his knowledge and confidence grew, Conlon began making a name for himself; eventually giving up his two part-time jobs and delving into the industry full-time. Soon he was hosting multiple open houses each weekend, zig-zagging across town and writing deals around the clock. But while his career was skyrocketing, so were his stress and anxiety levels. By 2017, he had hit a wall. “I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat. I was actually in a full burnout,” he recalls, sharing that he became so overwhelmed, he took off for a week to his family cottage and left his cell phone behind. “I literally threw my phone in a drawer,” he says. “I just completely checked out.” When he returned, a conversation with his broker of record made him realize that he needed a team if he wanted to successfully balance his work life and personal time. “Once you delegate to a team, that’s how you scale your success. If you look at the guys in this group, we all have help.” The local “Top 100” agents also offers support to each other, Conlon says, despite the fact that they all work for different firms. “We really lean on one another,” he says, sharing that the group trades tips on everything from how to balance their schedules to how to better service their clients. “There are a lot of people who look at us as like shady salespeople and it’s not who we are,” he says. “If you look at one commonality between the five of us, it’s that we all actually give a shit and we take care of our people.” And in an ultra-competitive market, that relationship between agent and client has become more critical than ever. While helping people find their dream home is important, Conlon says sometimes losing deals is the best course of action. “My job isn’t always to help you win, but to make sure you don’t overpay,” he explains. “I don’t want you to pay eighty thousand more than the house is worth; my job is to keep you safe.” Conlon says that integrity and resilience are the reasons why his career continues to thrive. “You don’t just get here by luck; there’s a lot of sacrifice that comes with it,” he says. “It’s not easy getting to these places without really pushing and going through what most people just don’t have the stomach to do.” THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

Joe Conlon 31

PORTRAIT

ADDICTED TO THE BATTLE “There’s an unglamorous side to the job,” agrees Mitchell Deslippe. “There’s a reason why some of the top guys are where they’re at; they’re willing to deal with the uncomfortable stuff sometimes.” They’re also willing to ensure their clients remain top priority, which Deslippe says sometimes comes at the expense of their personal lives. He sees his career as a lifestyle more than a job, and maintaining round the clock availability means forgoing time with friends and family. “You do miss out on a lot of things; it’s just part of it,” he explains. “When you get to a level where you’re as busy as we are, you almost have to make your personal life an appointment.” With the fast paced nature of current market, the job continues to intensify. There’s a lot of pushback, but Deslippe admits it’s the part of the job he loves the most. “It’s a grind out there every day. You’re going to battle for your clients, you’re going to battle for your job. The five of us, I think we’re almost addicted to the battle itself.” Deslippe says while each of the realtors has their own unique style, there is one common trait shared by all that makes them stand apart from the rest: diligence. “I think that’s why we stand out. It’s so easy to be average, but if you just work that much harder for each client, your business will continue to grow,” he says. The group also continues to work hard to dispel misconceptions about their industry, notes Deslippe. “We’re constantly fighting that scum bag, dirt ball salesmen persona,” he laughs. “These top guys are not that at all. They’re all respectable people.” Although he knows how cliché it sounds, Deslippe says they really do treat their clients like family. “We’re not about the transaction; we’re completely about the relationship,” he says. “We’re guiding people through one of the biggest financial decisions of their life, and at the same time there’s a huge emotional aspect to it as well and we’re definitely sensitive to that.” Juggling those emotions while giving sound advice and remaining on top of an ever-evolving industry can be a challenge at times, but the 30-year old broker says he feels very fortunate to have found his path so early on in life. “It definitely comes with some mental strain, but it’s worth it. When you love the job so much, it doesn’t feel like work,” he says. “Real estate is what I know, all I know, it’s my love, it’s my career and I’m just getting started.”

Mitchell Deslippe 32

PORTRAIT

CHALLENGING TIMES Mark Eugeni also considers himself fortunate to be thriving in such a demanding industry. As a 20-year veteran, he has seen many agents quickly become overwhelmed. “I’ve seen a lot of turnover over the years,” he says. “The first few years of real estate are very challenging; it can be a huge sacrifice for time and family and on yourself.” How has Eugeni managed to avoid a burnout himself? “Not easily,” he laughs. “In the beginning, you’re running around so much; lots of late nights, lots of early mornings. Seven days a week. It’s still like that some days; you’re always go, go, go.” Over the years, the emotional side of the business has also tested his resolve. “The industry has been extremely satisfying and enjoyable for me, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t come without hard times,” he recalls. “I’ve been through amazing markets like what we’re seeing right now, but I’ve been through really difficult ones as well.” He cites the 2008 financial crisis as one of the most challenging points in his career. “That was probably one of the toughest periods of my life. Going into a family’s home and someone lost their job and they’re about to lose their house. You just want to help them as much as you can, but the market wasn’t what it is today. It would take months and months to sell a home.” Eugeni says that although those were tough times, the lessons he took from that period were invaluable. “I learned so much about the industry and what it takes to sell a home in good times and bad.” Now, with today’s market moving at lightning speed, Eugeni says he’s still learning; striving to find an equilibrium between being accessible to his clients and taking time to unplug. The time management aspect has always been one of the trickiest things to get a hold of, he says. “If you’re a people pleaser, which I think most of us in this industry are, you get definitely stretched thin in many ways,” he explains. “It’s in my DNA that I don’t like to disappoint people; you want to make them happy so you go above and beyond and you don’t want to say no.” Having the other “Top 100” agents to lean on for advice has also helped Eugeni continue to provide his clients with superior service while still making time for his personal life. “That’s what’s great about us five guys. We all have teams that we need and rely on every day, but we know what the other guy is going through. It’s nice to know you’re not alone. We have similar mindsets of how we like to run our businesses and we like to ensure the industry is upheld in a high standard.” Mark Eugeni THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

PORTRAIT

GETTING IT DONE Teamwork has been the saving grace for Paul Germanese as well, who credits his colleagues with helping him maintain his high level of service while balancing a busy home life. “I had to create a support system around me so that I wouldn’t miss anything,” he says. “Once I had kids, everything changed for me and I knew I needed a team.” As a child, Germanese recalls once seeing his father Joe have to choose between work and home life. During a busy period at work, Joe was forced to miss his kids’ school Christmas concert. “He went in the next day and quit. I remembered that my whole life; he never missed anything after that. That one time was one time too many for him.” While Germanese manages to be home for those important family moments, he also makes sure he’s with his clients through every step of their buying or selling experience. “In the beginning I worked 9 to 9 everyday just trying to be there for every single moment of every transaction. That’s the way I liked to do it; I still like to do it that way.” Sometimes that means taking calls at home and fighting about a washer and dryer on a Friday night while you’ve got a kid in your arms, he laughs. “We just get it done. It’s not pretty, but that’s what we signed up for and it comes with the territory.” Germanese says clients are very understanding of the work-life balance, especially when they know their best interests are always top of mind. “When the intensions are good and people know they are, that’s the secret sauce right there: actually giving a shit,” he explains. “We come from a place of service and whatever the client needs we make it happen, sometimes at the sacrifice of what’s going on in our own life and that happens 24-7.” That dedication to the business is what Germanese believes sets him and the other top realtors apart from the rest. “These four guys are great to work with; they have the passion, they know it’s about the client, and they just get it,” he says. After fourteen years in the business, Germanese says he’s found that having the right people around him has made all the difference; even if he still likes to burn the candle at both ends. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a burnout because I like the mayhem,” he laughs. “I thrive better with mayhem around me. When it’s too quiet, that’s when I start to stress out and try to get that mayhem back in my life.”

Paul Germanese 34

PORTRAIT

TIGHT KNIT BONDS Brady Thrasher finds calm in that chaos as well. Even with a busy schedule of selling full-time in Windsor-Essex and maintaining a sales office in Florida, the broker is always seeking out the next big experience. “I don’t know if that’s really healthy,” he laughs. “I’m always looking for new things to stress over. I’m always wondering ‘what’s next?’” Like the others, Thrasher’s success has been predicated on an innate drive to achieve the best results for his clients, even to the detriment of his mental wellbeing. “There’s a lot that goes on behind the sold signs; a lot of stress, a lot of late nights. There are a ton of things you have to sacrifice,” he acknowledges. If you’re not willing to make those sacrifices or if you don’t have people on your team who can support you, you will be the reason your clients fail in this market, he says. “I hear a lot of people say, ‘it’s a great time to be in real estate’ and it is, but it’s also a battle,” he explains. “The days are full of heartache and a lot of casualties from lost deals. There are a lot of emotions involved.” Every day is a different fight, Thrasher says, noting that in his ten year career, he’s never seen anything like what is currently happening with real estate across North America. “You’re a part of the emotion and the war that goes on. Now you’re dealing with so many different variables that could put people in a very bad position financially. You have to be so diligent when you’re representing people.” Trust is so important, he says, especially in a market full of bidding wars and high stakes. “You build these super tight knit bonds with your buyers and sellers. You’re like a samurai; you’ll jump on a sword for them because you get so connected with them.” Those genuine relationships are also the key to a long-lasting career. “In this industry, you’ve got to be great with people. You have to be authentic. If you aren’t, people are just going to know you as the suit-wearing asshole with his picture on a bus bench,” he laughs. His relationship with the other agents in the group is built on that same premise. “We learn a lot from each other and we’re all open to sharing ideas. There’s nothing that we hide from each other; we know we’re better together.” Thrasher says he also knows he’s better when he’s able to step back from all the chaos and spend time with the people who matter most to him: his family. “I do take a lot of time for my kids and my wife. As busy as I am, that’s something I’m not willing to compromise on,” he says. “I still want to be a human and a father and a role model.” D Brady Thrasher THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

DEGREES

OF WINDSOR ESSEX Photography by Zishan Ali

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INNER-VIEW

A Joint Effort Kinetic Konnection Celebrates 25 Years as “The Bracing Experts”

Pula notes that while treating OA patients is just a fraction of his business, the severity of the disease means that special attention is taken to ensure the customer receives the best fit possible.

With a philosophy like that, it’s no wonder why Kinetic Konnection has earned a reputation as The Bracing Experts; industry leaders in high quality orthopedic bracing, compression stockings, and custom knee bracing. Since opening their doors in March 1996, owners Rob Pula and his lifelong friend Ty Thoms have helped thousands of customers live more active, pain-free lives. Together with their staff of Kinesiology graduates and students, the pair have grown the business from a small basement office on Howard Avenue to six locations across Southwestern Ontario, including three here in Essex County. After being in business for a quarter century, you’d think a lot has changed over the years. But, as Pula points out, injuries are the same now as they’ve been since, well, always. “You hurt your elbow 25 years ago; it’s the same kind of injury today as it was back then,” explains Pula. “We’re doing the same things we’ve been doing since the first day we opened, but now technology has allowed us to make things lighter, better, stronger, and more effective.”

“We’re trying to be better at it,” says Pula. “Not just with the technology, but how we talk to people and explain things to them. Osteoarthritis is a disease that doesn’t go away so you have to handle it with a little more care.” In addition to dealing with Osteoarthritis of the knee and hip, Kinetic Konnection also specializes in treating a wide variety of other conditions including tennis elbow, patella femoral, ankle and wrist tendonitis and fractures, plantar fasciitis, various upper and lower back issues, and many different knee problems. “We spend a lot of time making sure we’ve got a brace for everybody,” says Pula, noting they work closely with their manufacturing partners. “From different materials, to different colours, and making sure there are no fit issues. We have a lot of selection.”

“

We’re not trying to do anything different, we’re trying to do everything better”

Pula recalls their very first customer, a gentleman named George who came in with a diagnosis of Medial Compartment Osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease that leads to loss of cartilage, causing pain, swelling, and problems moving the knee joint.

George was prescribed an unloading brace, a type of knee brace designed to reduce the bone on bone pain by transferring the pressure within the knee, “unloading” one side of the joint to the other to provide stability and pain relief. According to Pula, creating a custom brace like that in 1996 consisted of casting a person’s leg and sending it off to the manufacturer so a mold could be made to create the brace. “Fast forward 25 years and we’re still doing that type of bracing but the technology, the manufacturing, the fitting, the measurement, and the functioning have all greatly improved,” says Pula. “It went from that plaster casting to e-casts, which are just pictures using special tape and markings,” he explains. “Now it’s gotten to the point where we’re using 3D scanners, where we can walk around the leg with a tablet and a special 3D camera and I can make a mould of your leg that gets 3D printed.”

Pula also credits their strong team for keeping customers happy and comfortable for all these years. “We’ve got a really good, solid group of people,” he says, noting he hasn’t had to hire in nearly four years. “The crew here is great; the culture and the environment are something we’re really focused on.” The local team consists of 15 staff members, all graduates of the University of Windsor’s Human Kinetics program.

“We always hire from there, we love our homegrown talent,” says Pula, noting he and Thoms are alumni of the program themselves. “Over the years, we’ve probably employed 40 to 50 Human Kinetics students.” Pula says the tight-knit group have been responsible for Kinetic Konnection’s continued success, offering valuable input and working together to come up with the best bracing and compression solutions to improve the business and most importantly, customer mobility. “We advance with technology; whether it’s our own internal computer systems, our customer service, the way we train, the way we hire. It’s really been 25 years of learning for us.” “Our amazing staff, superior selection, and dedication to getting the right brace or compressions socks on a customer will be why we’ll be helping people for another 25 years,” says Pula. “We’re driven to be simply better.” To learn more, call or text (519) 258-4795 today! You can also visit any one of Kinetic Konnection’s three area locations or log on to www.thebracingexperts.com/OA.

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Sponsored Content 38

INNER-VIEW

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SHOP LOCAL 41

MENTAL HEALTH

OWNING IT Female Entrepreneurs Talk Burnout During Mental Health Awareness Month I think all of us are feeling the burnout,” she says. “It’s just so unrealistic for one person to do everything, but we all do it anyway.

By Jen Brignall-Strong Photography by David Scott Hunter

“I just can’t do this.” As she was packing up her supplies and heading off to another 18+ hour day in the kitchen, baker Alexandrea Anber realized that she had reached a breaking point. Between the pressures of owning a small business, the uncertainties of the pandemic, and her ongoing struggles with disordered eating, the 31-year old was officially cooked. “It’s been a rollercoaster,” Anber says of the past year and a half. Instead of muscling through as she always had, the owner of Auntie Aldoo’s Kitchen took to social media to let her customers know she needed time away from her duties; taking a week off at the beginning of September to check in with herself emotionally.

Part one of our ongoing series on female entrepreneurs in Windsor & Essex County 42

MENTAL HEALTH

Alexandrea Anber

Cheslea Zammit

Carrie Deslippe

“I think for women entrepreneurs and I love this fucking job, but I love it so much I run myself into the ground, the post read business owners it’s different. We’re still expected to come home and do all the things in part. that we’re socially expected to do and it’s just Being an independent business owner can engrained in everybody’s head. We can act like be a struggle during the best of times. With it’s not like that, but even the most equalized the added anxiety of COVID restrictions and families are like that.” unrealistic performance expectations, many By being open about what she was feeling, female entrepreneurs have been faced with overwhelming levels of stress, forcing them to she says most people ultimately understood take a step back and re-evaluate their business and supported her need for time off. models. Some are also dealing with the added “I think what helps is that when I posted stressors of living with a mental illness. about it, people were like, ‘Now I’m going to “I think all of us are feeling the burnout,” do it because you did it. Now I know it’s ok,’” she says. “It’s just so unrealistic for one person she says. “No one ever told us it was ok.” to do everything, but we all do it anyway.” Waiting for a Break

turned into a week as she realized her situation was more overwhelming than she had initially realized.

Anber works up to 85 hours a week and Shortly after Anber’s candid post, King’s admits that she is always hesitant about taking Bake Shop owner Cheslea Zammit came to any time off; noting like many of her fellow the realization that she too was on the verge bakers, she has a fear of losing customers. of a breakdown.

The experience has also taught Zammit that finding balance is possible.

“It never really happens but the fear is always there,” she explains. “For me, having to go through treatment for an eating disorder and trying to figure out my mental health and keep myself together while I’m trying to full on run this business by myself…it’s a lot.”

“I had been telling myself for the past three months that I was going to have a break and then I kept not giving myself one,” she reflects. “She kind of just showed me that it was allowed. You can’t wait for a break to happen, sometimes you have to make it happen or it will make itself happen.”

Anber adds that although she occasionFeeling her mental health waning, the ally gets help from family, the responsibilities 25-year old decided to close her bustling Kingsof the business and everyday life ultimately ville bakery for a day. That day off quickly fall on her. THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

“It was heavily inconvenient, but it had to happen,” Zammit says. “I just needed to stop.” Zammit, who suffers from Bipolar Disorder, admits that while some people may have felt let down by her impromptu hiatus, the majority of her customers were appreciative of her honesty and some even shared their own mental health struggles with her in private messages. “Not only did I get a good break, but I also got all these people who said, ‘wow I didn’t know that was a thing you were struggling with. I do too.’”

“If I ever had to do it again now I know I can recover financially from it, I just have to plan for it,” she explains. “I can also recover in terms of worrying about how people see me. I don’t think I’d have half as much anxiety closing now that I know that people actually understand that I’m a human being too.” “Being able to say in an Instagram post, ‘I struggle with Bipolar Disorder and there’s nothing wrong with it’…that’s really nice to be able to do,” she laughs. “Just owning it is so nice. It is what it is, I’m still bomb.” 43

Slipping a Groove For award-winning massage therapist Carrie Deslippe, taking those much needed breaks hasn’t always come easy. Like Anber and Zammit, she admits to working herself to the point of exhaustion, even while coping with periods of anxiety and depression. “When you own a business it doesn’t end after the regular 9 to 5,” says the owner of Above & Beyond Massage Therapy Clinic. “It’s a constant and unfortunately at the beginning of my career, I forgot that I needed to live.” Despite sustaining multiple serious physical injuries over her 13-year career, Deslippe says she was always driven to keep working. Even after back surgery, ankle surgery, wrist injuries, and being crushed by an elevator door. “I thought, ‘no I have to keep on working!’” she laughs, sharing that she once massaged clients while she was wheelchair bound. While Deslippe’s determination has made her an incredibly successful businesswoman, at times it has come at the cost of her mental health. She recalls a difficult period in her life 20 years ago when she was hospitalized for nearly two months after becoming overwhelmed with balancing personal struggles, two jobs, and full-time schooling. “I didn’t have an episode and it wasn’t anything specific. I believe I ended up burning the candle at both ends for a goal that I shouldn’t have had,” she explains. “It was all too much.” Recovering from that experience has shown the 43-year old how to recognize when it’s time to hit the pause button. This past July, she felt like she was “slipping a groove” and took a full week off to realign. “I felt so bad because there wasn’t any acknowledgement beforehand it was just ‘Ok sorry everyone I can’t come into work today,’” she recalls. “I just knew in my mind that I had to step back. I never would have done that when I first opened my business.”

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Although she says she still has a tendency to overextend herself, Deslippe now understands what she needs to do to best manage her business and her physical and mental wellbeing. “It’s really looking inside and knowing when to take that break,” she says. “That’s what I’ve been telling other business owners that I’ve met; in order to continue your success, sometimes you have to step back and enjoy and realize your success.” D 44

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Bois Blanc has the vacation vibe of the Muskokas and surrounding regions but with the convenience of being only a quick four-minute ferry ride into town.

COMMUNITY

Everyone fantasizes about escaping to an island after retirement, but what if that dream didn’t have to wait for one day? Bois Blanc, Canada’s Island Resort, brings us a little closer to living on island time, without having to compromise modern city life and all its conveniences. Having a getaway or permanent home on BobLo Island wraps you in the same excitement as being on vacation, without the looming feeling of having to pack up and leave. When you switch to island life, the adventure, wonder, and relaxation don’t have to end – they simply become part of your reality. It’s an exciting time to announce the re-launch and expansion of the development on BobLo Island. Giving a nostalgic nod to its incredible and historic past in the beautiful community of Amherstburg, Ontario, Bois Blanc Canada is moving full steam ahead with the construction of their South End phase with plenty of land opportunities for those looking for a slowed lifestyle that encompasses nature, water, and comfort while still being close to the attraction of everyday necessities.

ride helps her to appreciate daily the reasons and an ice cream shop to enjoy, along with to live life on Bois Blanc. White Sands Beach and all of the island’s That’s another myth of the island: that it’s natural flora and fauna to admire. Gena so far from everything. “If buying a house is doesn’t consider herself a “nature person”, about location, location, location, well hello!” yet she loves the access to a real-life Discovery she laughs. The ferry runs every 20 minutes, Channel outside her window with the baby 24 hours a day and drops residents off right Bald Eagle populations learning to fly in early into the heart of Amherstburg with all its summer, families of deer strutting through booming restaurants, boutique shops, and the paths, and the reflection of the seasons grocery stores. “Just like everyone else, you can changing in the trees. run to the store and stock up the pantry for a Without being a true gated community, few weeks and you wouldn’t actually have to Bois Blanc homes are nestled in a private go out again, unless you really wanted to leave nook thanks to the ferry system, which acts as your vacation-like setting,” Gena says. security to know who is coming to the island This prime location goes beyond the access and for what purpose. This gives residents a to the city and extends to the beauty of the real sense of safety, especially for those with island itself. With its easy walkability, Bois children. With the lack of busy road traffic Blanc is a perfect place to explore after the (aside from families of ducks crossing the workday is done or on weekends with friends. road) the kids on the island get to grow up There is a marina, a new restaurant coming, the way we once did: running from house to

“Bois Blanc has the vacation vibe of the Muskokas and surrounding regions but with the convenience of being only a quick four-minute ferry ride into town,” Gena Boschin says. Though she’s now a part of the sales and marketing team with Bois Blanc Canada, Gena was first (and still is) a full-time resident of the community. She dispels a lot of the myths surrounding life on the island, one of them being that Bois Blanc is exclusively a retirement community. Yes, many have moved to the island post-retirement, but there is a recent influx of young families, like Gena’s, who have gravitated towards the island and commute into town as needed. “Like many other residents on the island, my husband works in the city, and we are both busy with having two younger kids - one in travel soccer and the other in competitive tennis, different schools, and life in general. We’re constantly back and forth! Some assume the ferry as an inconvenience, however – for the most part – traffic is always light, and you can’t beat that view and ride. It sets the tone for my day as I enjoy the morning waves from the deck crew and watching the sunrise or set. Because truly, at the end of a busy day, that ferry ride home allows me to decompress. I can check and read through the mail all while feeling the draw of going somewhere special,” Gena describes that the THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

COMMUNITY

house, being raised by a collective of neighbours, and riding their bikes together until the streetlamps nudge them to come home. The adults get a slice of this nostalgic comradery too; with the entire island spanning a comfortable 5km loop, everyone feels like a neighbour. “They may not be a next-door neighbour, and no matter if they’re in a condo or townhouse, they’re a neighbour from the island,” Gena explains. “Because everyone who buys on the island does so for similar reasons, it’s reflected in the community mindset.” These close-knit relationships with neighbours are few and far in between in subdivisions nowadays, and Gena says it’s refreshing to be able to borrow an egg from a neighbour, enjoy community events like a recent summer pig roast and Canada Day fireworks, or just to be able to sit one-on-one for a wine night together. At the same time, island living allows for some elbow room and privacy for residents as new and existing lots are more spacious to live in and explore. The island is following Amherstburg’s lead in its innovation and expansion with Bois Blanc’s addition of 180 new lots in the coming year. They have a great selection of new model home plans and villas or custom home builder opportunities for both single family and town homes, as well as extraordinary waterfront lot opportunities. Buying a home on Bois Blanc is surprisingly comparable to buying on the mainland in terms of price point, with the bonus of being enveloped in extraordinary circumstance. If the island lifestyle is tugging at your heartstrings and you’re itching to make a change to a carefree vibe with the convenience of a metropolitan city, you can make an appointment with the Bois Blanc team at www.boisblanccanada.com, contact them directly at the emails below, or visit their waterfront office in Amherstburg to view floor plans and a full aerial 3D island model. Bois Blanc shows you how you can truly live; don’t wait to start the life you’ve been dreaming of. D Waterfront Office: 519-736-1111 340 Dalhousie St. Sandra Couloufis, General Manager sandra.couloufis@boisblanccanada.com Gena Boschin, Sales & Marketing gena.boschin@boisblanccanada.com Tyler Heraldson, Sales Rep. tyler.heraldson@boisblanccanada.com 50

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THE ARTS

THE JOURNEY OF A SPRAY CAN OUTLAW David 'Derkz' Derkatz has taken his painting skills from the trainyard to the mainstream By Devan Mighton Photo by Joseph Drouillard

THE ARTS

Four in the morning and there isn't a soul in sight. A young man stands, shivering in the cold, before a fresh canvas. Between peeks over his shoulder, eyes peeled for railway police, he rhythmically rattles his spray can. His eyes scan the rusty hulk of the train car and all he sees is potential.

"We were in the midst of the pandemic, this time last year, and I was mulling around some ideas in my head," explains Derkatz. "I wanted to do something like a large mural for the community, especially the healthcare workers and essential workers that were giving their whole lives away to keep us safe."

Born and raised in Windsor, Derkatz, a graduate of F.J. Brennan Catholic High School, saw his future – like many in his family – in the healthcare field. "I was in college for health sciences because I wanted to be a paramedic at one point," recalls Derkatz. "A year after, I switched over to graphic design."

The fumes irritate the lining of his nose, but the smell is intoxicating. As the can hisses like a snake under his finger, a new world is created on the cold steel. The colours spring from his hands – blues, yellows, greens, reds – and his thoughts are transferred from mind to matter.

Seemingly overnight, on the corner of Tecumseh and Walker Rd., a mammoth mural, capturing the gratitude of a community for those who have kept us safe, came to life. Shades of blue and green splashed the profiles of a doctor and nurse in an awe-inspiring full-wall painting on the north wall of Windsor's fabled The Penalty Box restaurant. The mural soon gained international attention and praise for its touching tribute to Windsor's front-line workers. "My mom was an ICU nurse at Met for about 40 years, then she transferred to another hospital for a bariatric clinic – so, I've always been around nursing and healthcare and I wanted to give back to the community," states Derkz. "My sister and her husband are nurses in the States and they are right on the front lines as well."

"I was never really creative at all through elementary school and high school until I picked up on graffiti. I painted a lot of illegal stuff like streets and underpasses and a lot of freight trains. I got hooked on that and got hooked by the graffiti bug. I picked up a passion for wanting to paint a lot – solo missions at night at the train yard. There's just something about it that really resonated with me for some reason. I got into art through graffiti; painting years and years of illegal graffiti and then I transferred my skills from spray paint and gained can-control, switching it over into murals and street art."

Only hours later, the idling cars on their morning commute, stuck waiting for an inconvenient train to cross Walker Rd., will get a fleeting glimpse in their headlights of this artist's newest creation. Almost a decade later, this spray can outlaw has gained international acclaim for his outstanding mural work. David 'Derkz' Derkatz's work spans the continent, with jobs as far away as Las Vegas and Los Angeles, hired by celebrities like Jake Paul. However, despite all the pan-continental acclaim, Derkz managed to save his magnum opus for his hometown Windsor.

His painting took over his life. In his second year at St. Clair College, he found himself spending more time painting in Detroit than attending his studies. Something had to give – and it definitely wasn't going to However, how did a trainyard tagger be the painting. "I was always the kid, sitting around, tagging my papers and drawing in reach such heights?

I was painting, and I was getting recognition through my graffiti and no one knew it was me. It was an outlet for me, in a way, to express myself, while also a way for me to have some solitude.

Photo by Trevor Booth THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

THE ARTS

I want to paint from top to bottom – hundreds of feet and hundreds of stories. That would be the dream job. Photo by Joseph Drouillard

class – I was that kid," he explains. "I knew graphic design wasn't for me and I just wanted to do traditional art instead of sitting behind a computer and doing menus and computer designs." Like a masked superhero, Derkatz was soon tagging under the cover of night and making use of a pseudonym – Derkz. "I fell in love with having an alter ego or an alias that no one knew me as," he admits. "I was painting, and I was getting recognition through my graffiti and no one knew it was me. It was an outlet for me, in a way, to express myself, while also a way for me to have some solitude."

his name grow organically, through word of mouth. He didn't bother with marketing or a website. He let his work speak for itself. "I also wanted to build a portfolio, a solid foundation, before I did the next steps that other people take on too early without having a solid base," he says. "It's just like any other discipline, whether it's your kid in hockey or musicians or dancers or guitar players or anything. The more – thousands of hours – you put into something, whether it be a random gift or a skill you want to develop, it's all about the hours and committing to that role."

like anything, the bigger the better!" exclaims Derkz. "Massive hotels and the biggest apartment complexes in the world – I want to paint from top to bottom – hundreds of feet and hundreds of stories. That would be the dream job – to literally paint hundreds of levels of floors on a hotel or a big complex. That's the dream goal for me." He explains that as he has progressed in his career, his feelings on painting have evolved. Like any outlaw who has lasted long enough to become accepted, there is a mix of feelings – a longing for his wild roots where his passion sprung from, but also the feeling of acceptance and a licence to enhance his community as best he can. "I do miss the illegal side of stuff, but I still love the process of making and creating a mural, and stepping back and seeing what was once an old dilapidated, neglected building and it turns into something super-vivid and colourful and powerful for the community to like or dislike," muses Derkz.

In the future, Derkz is dreaming big. He has a passion for art in Windsor and has grown as an artist to see his hometown slowly come to life with the colours from his spray cans as well as other ambitious taggers and artists. He says his dream job would be to be commissioned to do a tall hotel or skyscraper, where his canvas could reach dozens, if not hundreds of floors into the skyline. He has already partaken in a number of ambitious projects, including painting full mansions in To see what Derkz has been up to lately, Derkz recalls that his first paid mural Las Vegas with a dozen-or-so other artists who please visit his Instagram or Facebook for his was commissioned around late 2011. He let were flown in from across the globe. "Just latest works. D He embraced the addictiveness of his brazen form of self-expression. "Being in a trainyard, solo, there's just something about painting raw steel at five in the morning that I just love – just hearing the spray paint come out of the can. There's a multitude of things there that are just a big outlet for me," Derkatz explains that his tagging grew more and more elaborate and slowly transitioned into full-blown mural painting.

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2021-08-26 2:28 PM

PSYCH DRIVE

STAYING MOTIVATED DURING CHALLENGING TIMES “You Didn't Come This Far to Only Come This Far” Today’s story begins in the middle of a spin class. The point in time where you feel like giving up the most. Because the middle is always the hardest. Whether it be the middle of a semester, the middle of a week, or the middle of a pandemic. It was thirty minutes into class, and we had just finished a tough uphill climb. I wanted to celebrate how far we had come, so I began clapping and cheering. Despite my excitement, my instructor gave me a curious look and said: “Why are you clapping Andrea? We are far from being done.” She was right. We still had a significant amount of time left in our workout. But I wasn’t clapping because we were finished. I was clapping because we had hit the wall and survived. I was clapping to energize.

CHEERING IN THE MIDDLE A cheering strategy that I often use in my own classroom. Students are geared up at the start of the semester and pumped up at the end. It’s in the middle that their commitment starts to falter. This is when I clap wholeheartedly simply because students show up to class. Both in person and online. A fun gesture underscoring how much I value their commitment to education. And they love it!

SMALL GESTURES ENERGIZE This year I am reminded how small gestures energize big time. Be it a high five. A wide smile. A kind word. Or calling a student by name. Because beginnings have their own ticker parades. And endings take care of themselves. It’s in the middle of a challenge where we need positive energy the most.

APPLYING THESE PRINCIPLES IN YOUR LIFE 1. C elebrate small wins throughout the day. Keep track with post it notes. 2. C reate a playlist of songs that remind you of pivotal wins and achievements. 3. T ake frequent dance breaks in unexpected places. 4. C lap and cheer when family members arrive home from work. 5. D on’t be afraid to stand out. You may be the pick me up a stranger needs to keep going and not give up.

ENDURANCE MULTIPLIES WHEN SHARED

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HEALTH

STRANGERS UNTIL WE MEET Families come together to remember Julien Gaudet's gift By Devan Mighton

I were to ever meet the recipient of Julien's heart – would I want a stethoscope? Absolutely. Would I want to give this guy a hug to feel his heart? Absolutely.

HEALTH

A stroke of luck, fate, call it what you will. Germain Gaudet has kept his son's Facebook page active since his passing. Ten years ago, his son, Julien, passed away after a freak automobile accident just weeks before prom. The teenager had the foresight and the goodwill to fill out a donor card and would, eventually, help many people in need through his generosity. Since then, Germain and his wife, Christine, have helped forge Julien's House – a centre for bereavement support. Not only acting as board members and volunteers but donating a house for the organization's use. On June 19, they waited at a restaurant in Sarnia for a chance meeting. The day was damp with a steady drizzle. They waited near the vestibule as the world passed by them. Waitresses, customers, people in for a coffee crossed their paths, not knowing the importance of their visit. The damp breeze hit them every time the restaurant's door opened, and they would shuffle out of the way of another person in transit. Finally, the door opened and in walked Gord and his mother, Marlene.

From left Marlene, Gord, Christine, Germain and Rachelle

explains Germain. "We are in our own Gord's story left the Gaudets in awe of the world, and everyone around us is in their gift of life that Julien had provided another. world with complete disregard, but no disre"Meeting Gord and his mother gave me a spect or knowledge of what has taken place peace of mind knowing that Julien's gift was in our world." appreciated," says Christine. "Listening to him "There we were, in front of Gord, in talk and telling us that every year, at this time, front of his mother, having a bite to eat. We on the anniversary of Gord's transplant, they chatted. We were together, maybe, two and a toast his donor. They said, 'Now, we can toast Julien.' That, to me, really warms my heart – it half hours." Gord's story is best described as a struggle put some peace in my heart, knowing that he's for survival. At 16 years old, he was diagnosed very appreciated, loved, and is doing well with as a type-1 diabetic. Over the next couple of Julien's gift."

Ten years ago, Gord, a lifelong diabetic, received a life-altering double transplant – a pancreas and a single kidney. The transplant improved his life in ways that most will never know. Only days before he met Germain and Christine, Trillium Gift of Life had made a celebratory Facebook post about Gord's story and the importance of organ donations. Browsing his son's Facebook page, Germain decades, his vision suffered, his equilibrium, took note of the coincidence. as well, and dialysis became a lifeline. At 40, "Through fate – absolutely through fate," he received Julien's gift. he explains. "It's usually around that Angelver"I don't know how many days Gord was sary time. We would wonder, what are those at the hospital, but he said the Leafs were in recipients doing now?" Due to the rarity of the the playoffs, and one of the nurses on staff donation of a pancreas and a single kidney, the had asked Gord if he wanted a snack while odds were astronomically in favour that Gord, watching the hockey game in his room," a resident of Sarnia, had been the recipient of replays Germain. "He remembers thinking Julien's organs. back, 'Okay, snack – what can I have for a

Germain reached out to Gord, and eventu- snack?' Because he's still thinking as a diabetic. ally, a dialogue began, and the parties decided He was still very conscientious of that diet that to meet in Gord's hometown. he had dealt with since about the age of 16 "It was less climactic than I think I'd when he was diagnosed as a type-1 diabetic. wanted it to be," laments Germain. "Here we The nurses told him, 'No, you're fine! You were, both with something in common, but can have anything you want! You can have a can of Coke or a bag of chips. He remembers both complete strangers." snacking on a can of Coca-Cola and a bag of As Gord entered, the emotions flowed. chips while watching his favourite Maple Leafs Despite the crowded diner and confused play on the tube and that marked him. Even onlookers, hugs and tears ensued. after 10 years, that was what he was identi"That, in itself, is descriptive of what it has fying – not that he no longer needed to be been like in the 10 years since losing Julien," connected to a dialysis machine." TheDriveMagazine.com

Due to the ethics policies of organ donation programs, it is normal for recipients and donor families to not know each other's identities. This is something that the Gaudets wish organ donation foundations would be a little bit more flexible with. Upon his death, a number of Julien's organs were distributed to those in need across the province – including his heart and corneas. "Never once did I get the sensation to say, 'Can you show me the scar? Can I put my hand on your belly?' Or anything like that," explains Germain. "In our minds, Julien is still whole, but we recognize that – in some silly belief – we understand that his gift was able to bring Gord's life to a whole different level. Not normal, because Gord's health has certainly suffered a tremendous hit from all of those years. That being said, if Christine and I were to ever meet the recipient of Julien's heart – would I want a stethoscope? Absolutely. Would I want to give this guy a hug to feel his heart? Absolutely. I guess it's just a different organ." D 63

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EDUCATION

The Drive magazine in partnership with Libro Credit Union is challenging Grade 12 students to write an essay focused on their day-to-day lives. Once a school is selected, the top five articles chosen by the teacher are further reviewed by our editorial team and the winner receives a $500 RESP from Libro Credit Union, along with publication of the essay in our issue. Congratulations to Patrick White for being our October winner! We are proud of all the participants and will continue to support our community through continued literacy and a path to higher education.

Image and Society Patrick White

the YouTube’s Ted Talk, Looks Aren’t Everything, the model Cameron Russell talks about her own story of becoming a model and how she was scouted for the job. She also talks about how her getting the job had nothing to do with her work ethic. She got the job solely because of her genetic history and the way she was born a beautiful white woman by industry extreme standards. It is because of these extreme beauty standards that most women will never follow their dreams of being models. This is obvious a very unfair practice.

It’s clear that in today’s modern society, with the help of television, social media and the internet that we have come very far in influencing beauty standards for women. There was a time when life was much simpler in the realm of beauty standards, where women did not need to meet such extreme and impossible standards to be considered beautiful by society. With the advent of technology, powerful people in the beauty industry have found ways to push for more and more extreme trends that negatively affect women mentally and physically. By being able to create any perfect image through technology of a woman, beauty industries have made meeting the beauty standards of today unattainable and literally impossible. We see how women are affected by these high standards of perfection by the amount of money women must spend on beauty products, the limited employment space in the beauty industry itself and the toll on a woman’s body trying to achieve those high beauty standards. THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

To begin with, the impossible beauty standards of today have impacted women’s purses. This means with extreme beauty standards comes expensive beauty products. It’s not just products like makeup and hairsprays that women feel oblige to buy but also expensive items like hair straighteners and body lotions. To continue with how women are influenced by impossible beauty standards we must look at the employment opportunities in the beauty industry itself. This industry is one of the worst offenders when it comes to job discrimination because they set genetically impossible standards on most women if they want employment. For example, the vast majority of models are white because it fits the standard of beauty set by white men. Women in that employment are not just able to walk up and apply to be a model. Instead, they are scouted out and chosen based on the way they were born and if they meet societies current version of beauty. In

Furthermore, unreachable beauty standards have been and continue to have grave impacts on women’s physical health. Women have even tried reaching the high standards with life threatening results. Because of society’s decision that extremely thin women are beautiful, women have felt the constant need to go on diets which can create eating disorders. Some have become bulimic or anorexic trying to meet the perfect body image which can cause long lasting health problems. Wanting the perfect industry standard body can also lead to malnutrition which can then spiral into other serious medical problems. In conclusion, for women to start feeling comfortable in their own skin and to truly feel good about their beauty we must put pressure on the industries to change their impossibly high standards. Women must empower each other with what is beautiful. We should all be free to look and dress the way we want without fear of missing out on the latest trends, spending too much money or making ourselves physically sick. No one should ever feel prosecuted by society because of the extreme standards of beauty. D 67

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MUSIC

JAZZING IT UP WITH MICHAEL PALAZZOLO By Matt Weingarden Photography by Trevor Booth

Michael Palazzolo, a professional bassist from Windsor, brings a sense of melody and groove far beyond his 31 years. So much so, that his playing has caught the attention of legendary American jazz composer Bob James, best known for his song ‘Angela,’ the theme from 70s television show ‘Taxi.’ Since 2017, Palazzolo has accompanied James, touring and playing across the world. Not bad for a local kid. If you follow the local music scene, you will recognize the Palazzolo name. Michael comes from a long line of professional musicians that includes numerous uncles, aunts and cousins who have been playing music across the region for years. He credits his father Nino Sr. as being his biggest influence - not only with his musical career, but life in general. Nino is a retired teacher and former head of the local band Music Express. With his encouragement, Michael began music lessons at around age four. He began playing the piano at five years-of-age, his father teaching him the basics of technique, theory and harmony. He admits that when he was young, he really didn’t understand the importance of study. “Practice was sometimes difficult,” he said with a laugh. “However, my father was very encouraging and often offered me a loonie to finish up my practicing, so I could go to the candy store later.” He says that growing up in such a musical surrounding, singing was always encouraged, “We all sang,” he added. “All the siblings performed and loved music.” As a music teacher, Nino Sr. was able to provide several instruments to his children for them to experiment with. He says that having supportive parents has made all the difference. “My dad bought me my first guitar, which I learned to play alongside my brother Alphie,” Palazzolo said. “I still use the first bass he gave me to this day. All of the musical influence in my life stems from my family, especially my father.” Soon after, he began playing in a band with his brother - and they needed a bass player. “Well, my dad played bass, and that’s cool, so I thought maybe I’d give it a try,” he explained. As a teen, the band hit the road playing gigs across Southwestern Ontario. “We had a great time out there…hanging with my brother was really important to me,” he said. “And at that point in time I kinda saw the light… realizing that, hey, I may be able do this for a living.” While still in high school, Palazzolo was introduced by his father to local pianist/keyboard player Mike Karloff, who attended Wayne State University in the music department. He studied jazz piano with Karloff. Karloff pointed out that the school was noticeably short on upright bass players and Palazzolo could be able to study - with a full-ride scholarship opportunity. “If I could get an opportunity to get my schooling paid for… heck yeah,” he said. “So, I began practicing and prepared for an audition.”

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Palazzolo was accepted to WSU and in four days at a Los Angeles studio. “It was a his musical journey continued to a much relaxed vibe…and it was my first experience higher level. in a recording studio on that level. Bob and He studied under bassists Dan Pliskow, his manager were really happy with my work.” Paul Keller, pianist Robert Pipho, Chris Ask any bassist about their musical influCollins, WSU director of Jazz Studies, as ences and you will usually get a who’s, who list well as arranger Russ Miller and graduated of bottom enders. in 2013. Palazzolo lists legendary Detroit bassists The connections made at WSU would Ron Carter and Paul Chambers, Charles spur a love for Detroit and the local jazz scene. Mingus and Ray Brown as favourites, Palazzolo cites local saxophonist Ray however, he cites numerous non-bassists Manzerolle as an important part of his early including classical composers Bach and gigging experience regularly in Windsor at Chopin, saxophonists Bill Evans, John Tony’s Pizzeria as a ‘chordless-duo.’ Coltrane, Charlie Parker, trumpeter Miles Manzerolle’s connection to guitarist Perry Davis and pianist Erroll Garner for his love Hughes would lead Palazzolo to a gig at the of melody, harmony and arrangement. Dirty Dog Jazz Café. One session featured What has Palazzolo been up to during legendary American jazz composer Bob James. the pandemic? Shortly after, he received a call from “Practicing like crazy, writing, composing James’ manager and was asked to play a small and even dabbling in a little digital recording,” jazz festival on Mackinaw Island in Michigan. he said. “I’ve had to pick up a day job…which “After that show I began gigging with has been humbling…but, I would certainly James regularly,” he said. like to get back to my musical career.” Palazzolo took it as a sign to stay true to Not being able to cross the border has his musical pathway and focus on making a been a challenge for Palazzolo - his strong career of it. connection to Detroit, not seeing his friends “The experiences that I had with James on the road was an education in itself,” said Palazzolo. “I’ve learned that touring is exhausting, yet so rewarding. To meet so many people around the world affected by Bob’s music is amazing and for him to take me along for the ride is super-special.”

and making musical connections has been difficult. “When I’m in Detroit, I really benefit from the driving inspiration of others around me…I’m missing that right now,” he added.

When he’s gigging, you can catch Palazzolo at the Dirty Dog jazz Café, historic Palazzolo has toured around the world Baker’s Keyboard Lounge and the Jenuine with stops in Japan, the U.S., Russia, London, Cigar Lounge. He is also part of a jazz collecAmsterdam, Spain, Hawaii, Mexico and the tive that busk regularly in downtown Windsor Caribbean Islands. at the corner of Victoria and University. “Playing the Blue Note Clubs, especially Palazzolo recently penned and released the week-long New York gig was very special two singles, which feature Bob James -availto me…especially the night we featured able on all streaming platforms. The songs trumpeter Randy Brecker.” he said. were recorded with engineer Jack Connors While in Russia, Michael was introduced of Perfect World Studio located in Traverse to caviar and vodka. City, Michigan. “It was crazy…they took such great care of ‘Abbey’ is a song he wrote in remembrance us all week (in Russia),” he added. and dedication to his dog, who passed away Michael even experienced his first boat some years ago. cruise while performing with James. Palazzolo describes song two “Follery In 2018, James asked Palazzolo to Returns From Time, Dreams Remembered” perform on a recording project entitled as a “very contemplative and relaxing song ‘Espresso,’ which also features veteran that puts one in a very calm state, as the drummer Billy Kilson. listener is taken on a harmonic and melodic What was it like working in the studio journey.” with Bob James? Palazzolo says that he wrote the songs on piano and shared the score with James. “It was comfortable,” said Palazzolo, who says the ‘Espresso’ sessions were completed “His interpretation of the vibe, melody 70

and mood was so flawless, it’s an honour to work with him,” he said. “I’m composing a new piece and I plan to work with Bob and Jack again soon.” Advice for young musicians who may be interested in pursuing a career in music? “You need to be prepared to work super hard, considering how many people out there are trying to achieve the same goals as you are,” he shared. “One thing my teacher Paul Keller told me was, if you put the time and commitment into the music…music will ultimately support your efforts in return.” And for those looking for a steady bass playing gig? Again, Palazzolo says you must put in the homework, especially when learning songs and transcribing bass lines. “If you are offered a gig, a week or even a day in advance, can you learn the material and pull it off?” he asked quizzically. “Fellow bassist Jeff Pedraz once told me, to be a good bass player there are three things expected; you need to be on time, have good time and be a good time.” he said. “In other words, don’t be late for a gig, do your homework…be prepared to play that gig and above all…don’t be in a sour mood at that gig. Cause ultimately, it shows in your work and affects your ability to make a living.” Words we can all live by. Palazzolo currently teaches jazz bass at the University of Windsor, as well as offering private lessons. You can contact Michael at michaelpalazzolo22@gmail.com D

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