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WINDSOR LIFE MAGAZINE 318-5060 Tecumseh Road East Windsor, Ontario N8T 1C1 Tel: (519) 979-5433 Fax: (519) 979-9237
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oss goals.
Fitness and exercise has been very important to me my whole life I was a boxer in Montreal in my mid 20s and a wrestler when I moved to Windsor staff here are very friendly and care about the people that come in. I've lost 24 pounds so far on Dennis's diet.
I have been a client of Dennis And have lost 123Ibs so far. I still have a bit to go so I have followed him to Train Station Fitness. I am now working out there everyone is friendly and very helpful. The doctor has taken me off my blood pressure meds and type 2 diabetic meds. I feel GREAT!!
When I first started here at Train Station Fitness. I weighed 275 pounds. Dennis, Jamie and my trainer Robbie helped me shred down to a healthy and powerful 245 lbs in 3 months OL (offensive line) Essex Varsity Ravens won the OVFL Championship on August 15th 2015.
“If you are in the second half of your life and feel that getting into the best shape of your life is just a pipe dream....please reconsider. It’s not difficult. It’s just knowing how. Lets work together to give you the quality of life you deserve!”
–Richard Milne (owner)
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP) is an effective therapy that has been used in the medical field to repair injuries and help the body rejuvenate due to its use of growth factors.
At Cygnus Clinic
have had a great response and terrific results from our PRP treatments –also known as the Vampire Lift. We have used it on the face for smoother, fresher skin; on the scalp to make hair grow more and thicker. Even the chest PRP has smoothed out crinkly sun damaged skin. PRP is also used in joints affected by age and arthritis. It’s effective on knees, shoulders and elbows especially.
Where did the summer go? Although it struggled to get started, summer finally took off and I am not ready for it to end. Spending outdoor time with family and friends is something I have grown over the years to enjoy more and more. Our community has so much to offer, from the many festivals to boating and swimming, we in Canada South have much to use up the summer months. And as many before it this has been a summer to remember. I hope you have enjoyed it.
While editing this issue’s stories, the one thing that struck me was how well many people explore, develop and honour their creativity. Whether it’s professional or just for fun, they make time for healthy, healing play.
Painters, potters, photographers, a printer, jeweller and wood turner are revealing what happens when personal creativity is let off the chain. During the free, self directed Windsor-Essex Open Studio Tour on Oct. 3rd and 4th, stop at any of the 14 stops, chat with artists and nudge your own talent out of hiding. Creativity begets creativity!
Perhaps you will be inspired by our story about Shirley Williams, another local artist whose artwork deserves your attention.
The art of the grape is toasted by Renee Nantais, t he only in-house certified sommelier working in a Windsor restaurant. We chat with her at Neros Steakhouse, Caesars Windsor.
Art for the ears is being crafted by the Krazy Kenny Project, an intriguing local band, and musician Mike Cerveni.
Our #YOUbeautymoment featured woman, Mia Tannous, regards everyone as a work of art. During her many years at the Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association, she tried to help other people see that in themselves.
Windsor Life has more great people for you to meet: The Windsor-Essex County Air Cadets, 364 Lancaster Squadron; female goalie Erica Fryer; and volunteers on a Free the Children mission trip.
We also tag along with Maria and Roger Bramhall and Pam and Bill Seney as they travel through Thailand.
Your trek begins by simply turning this page. I hope you will let yourself be inspired along the way.
Let’s go! Bob Robinson
SOME PLACES IN THE WORLD ARE SO GORGEOUS, they appear to have been manufactured by Hollywood. Thailand is such a destination, which the average Canadian has only encountered in the movies.
One of the earliest glimpses was of the luxurious royal palace, revealed in technicolour in The King and I, 20th Century Fox’s 1956 musical film about Anna Leonowens, an English teacher hired by King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860s to educate his many offspring and wives. Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner in the title roles argued, sang and danced through the lively score by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. In 1999, Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-fat reprised the roles in a dramatic non-musical version, Anna and the King.
The 1957 World War II film, The Bridge on the River Kwai, starring William Holden and Alec Guinness, told the brutal tale of prisoners of war forced to build the bridge connecting Bangkok and Rangoon.
Thailand’s white sandy beaches and turquoise blue waters
competed with star Leonardo DiCaprio for viewers’ attention in The Beach, a film released in 2000 depicting an American tourist searching for the perfect way of life.
All of these sites and more mesmerized Pam and Bill Seney and Maria and Roger Bramhall of Essex County when they traveled to Indochina last winter for an extensive tour of several countries. They had eight days in Thailand and made the most of each one.
After touring Cambodia, the couples flew to the centre of Thailand to reach its capital city, Bangkok, on Tues., Jan. 20th. A good night’s rest energized them for a full day of sightseeing. Fortunately for the Canadia ns, many of the country’s residents speak English, a mandatory subject in public schools.
Located in Southeast Asia and formerly called Siam, Thailand is adjoined to Laos and Myanmar to the north; Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand to the east; Burma and the Andaman Sea to the west; and Malaysia to the south. More than 61 million people are residents of Thailand; 95% of them follow the Buddhist faith.
A military junta that took power by coup d’état in 2014
Clockwise from top left: The Bridge on the River Kwai is more than just the title of a fictional book and movie; it is also a real place in Thailand; the Grand Palace in Bangkok dazzles visitors and citizens with its golden architecture and statuary. The former royal residence also once housed the Thai war ministry, state departments and mint. Now it is used for royal coronations and other special occasions; a huge, ornate figure guards the grounds, which also contains Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the country’s most important Buddhist temple; Bill and Pam Seney and Maria and Roger of Essex County visited Thailand last winter; Carved of a single block of green jade, the large image of Buddha is enshrined within an ornate temple, adorned with golden figures.
governs the country. Thailand also has a monarchy: King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX, has reigned since 1946, making him Thailand’s longest reigning monarch and the world’s longest serving head of state.
For the Essex County tourists, much of Jan. 21st was enjoyed at the iconic Grand Palace, Thailand’s most visited landmark. Construction on the palace’s countless spires, columns and peak roofed structures began in 1782. The complex served as a royal residence until 1925. Three main zones organize the functions of the vast compound: The Outer Court houses royal offices, public buildings and the Temple of Emerald Buddha; the Middle Court boasts the most significant residential and state buildings; and the Inner Court was once the private domain of the king and his queen and consorts.
“The workmanship is incredible. Little pieces of inlaid glass and mosaics decorate the buildings, making them very colourful,” Roger says.
Pam adds, “You would need to focus on a small square to appreciate how very intricate everything is.”
After taking in the Royal Palace, where the current king and queen host special events, and the Funeral Hall, the site of state funerals, the Essex County travelers approached Thailand’s most sacred Buddhist temple, the Holy Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Carved of green jade and gilded with gold ornaments, the massive Buddha sits at the top of a series of platforms and is protected by a golden bell shaped enclosure. Only the King is permitted near the Emerald Buddha; it is His Majesty’s task to change the Buddha’s ceremonial robes for
This page, counterclockwise from the top: Abundant marine life and corals, white sand beaches, limestone cliffs and other tropical attributes prompted Bill to rate Phi Phi Islands “in the top three of the most beautiful places that I’ve seen in my life”; at the Elephant Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, Pam learns how to steer an elephant while Bill rides in style; a Macaque monkey rests in the shade. Other monkeys living in the Phi Phi Island archipelago dive into the water for food provided by Mother Nature and tourists; just hanging out at the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi, a Buddhist monk and an Indochina tiger let Pam get to know them better.
This page, clockwise from top left: At the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, vendors load their small boats with peppers, bananas and other produce to sell. Much of it is raised in the fertile soils flanking the canal; the distinctive flavours of Thai cuisine delight Pam, Bill, Maria and Roger; the sun descends into the sea, signalling it’s time for the nightlife to begin in Karon Beach, Phuket; Thailand’s largest island also offers visitors deep sea diving, white beaches, shopping, fine dining and a Buddhist temple; rafting on the River Kwai, the current proved strong and swift.
the summer, winter and rainy seasons to bring good fortune to Thailand.
“Since we weren’t allowed to take photos up close, we zoomed in,” Maria says.
Monks worship at the temple but do not reside there. “Driving in Bangkok, we encountered thousands of monks in orange robes, walking on the road single file over marigolds an inch deep and several feet wide. People had strewn the flowers for them to walk upon,” Pam marvels. The gesture is a symbol of respect for the holy men.
Traveling 100 km southwest of Bangkok on the following day, the Bramhalls and Seneys encountered the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, bustling with hundreds of vendors, customers and tourists. “It dates back to 1866 when King Rama IV ordered that a canal 32 km long be dug to connect two provinces,” Roger says. The fertile soil along the canal yields bountiful crops. “At the Floating Market, we saw the traditional way of selling and buying fruits, vegetables and other items from small boats. We also saw Thai houses and the way locals use boats in their everyday lives.”
About 50 km west of Bangkok in the province of Nakhon Pathom is Phra Pathom Chedi, the world’s highest Buddhist stupa, standing 127 metres tall and shie lding a huge standing golden Buddha, a large reclining golden Buddha and other statuary. Thailand’s introduction to Buddhism was initiated in Nakhon Pathom; the first Buddhist temple was erected in the country here in the year 350. The present stupa and the golden, upside down bell shaped outer chedi protecting it were built in the 1800s.
After exploring the temple, the travelers attended the Thai Cult ural Show. Designed for tourists, numerous performers at various sites presented Thai boxing, sword fighting, folk dancing, entertaining elephants and a traditional wedding ceremony. The colourful costumes, music and architecture speak of the country’s rich and intricate traditions. “It was relevant because even though these things are thousands of years old, they are still done today in Thailand,” Bill remarks.
Maria and Roger, who had visited Thailand before, chose to relax by their hotel’s pool on Jan. 23rd while Bill and Pam set off for Tiger Temple (Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua), a Theravada Buddhist Temple founded in 1994 as a forest place of worship and wild animal sanctuary for deer, water buffalo, cows, goats, horses, banteng, porcupines, boars, civet cats, lions, peacocks and other birds.“The temple s tarted with people bringing abandoned tigers to the monks.
Now volunteers come from all over the world to care for the tigers with the monks,” Pam explains. The temple was cleared of allegations of animal mistreatment in a 2015 investigation conducted by wildlife officials.
Most of the animals are Indochinese tigers, many weighing in at 500 and 600 pounds. Bill observes, “These tigers made the lions we saw in Africa look like kitty cats.”
At the time of their vis it, 139 Indochinese tigers were in residence. “We got to play with five week old cubs for about an hour,” Pam says. “One ‘attacked’ Bill. His teeth felt like a mosquito bite.”
Leaving behind their new striped friends, the couple met some pachyderms. “We rode elephants through the jungle and into the River Kwai, where some riders bathed their elephants,” says Pam. She abandoned the saddle seat provided and s at on the elephant’s head, manoeuvring the big animal to go where she wanted. “I really enjoyed that. It was a unique situation.”
She and Bill walked across the Bridge over the River Kwai. Nearby are two well-kept cemeteries containing the graves of 9,000 Allied soldiers who died while building the bridge and the Burma-Siam “Death Railway” during WWII.
The couple then rafted on the River Kwai, savouring the beauty of the region. “The current is super strong,” Bill recalls. They boated upstream using an engine and then floated 5 mph downstream. “We were up in No Man’s Land in the middle of the jungle.” Their progress was observed by Mangrove monkeys on the shoreline. Pam thinks, “They are the funniest looking things.”
The travelers’ last days in Thailand were enjoyed mostly on Phuket, the country’s largest island, situated off the southwest coast. A bridge connects it to the mainland. Tourists spend daylight hours frolicking in the water, deep sea diving and sunbathing on white beaches. After the sun goes down, nightspots and restaurants offering traditional and high end dining beckon.
“On the beautiful, clean beach, we could walk for miles. The water was crystal clear and warm; the temperature was 35 degrees C with humidity. It’s what we like,” Roger says. They dozed on the beach and splashed in the warm turquoise water, spotting little jellyfish.
Before departing, Pam and Bill signed up for a tour of the Phi Phi Islands, 48 km east of Phuket. Taking in the naturally artistic arrangement of white sand beaches,
Recent changes to Ontario’s Estate Administration tax rules (probate tax) will affect you! Administration has passed from the Ministry of the Attorney General to the Ministry of Finance. The new Estate Information Return and the application for a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee are now required.
If you missed the seminar, you can still meet with me to discuss how you may be impacted by these rules.
Are you affected by any of the following:
•Are an executor of an estate
•Will benefit from an estate
•Plan to leave an estate
•Have aging parents who plan to leave an estate
•Have a disabled child
•Want to minimize estate taxes
•Want a timely distribution of your estate
•Are uncertain of the role of your estate trustee (executor)
I’ll review your portfolio and advise how you may be impacted by the changes. I’ll also provide you with suggestions on how to minimize the amount of estate tax you will ultimately pay.
Call or email to set up your appointment
Barbara Allen, HBA, CFP, CDFA
Manulife Securities Incorporated Senior Financial Advisor
Direct Line 519-250-0515 519-250-5190, ext. 409
Barbara.Allen@manulifesecurities.ca
2255 Cadillac Street, Windsor
Manulife Securities Incorporated is a Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. The Manulife Securities logo and the Block Design are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it, and by its affiliates under license.
limestone cliffs and palm trees, Bill pronounced the region to be “simply spectacular. It’s in the top three most beautiful places that I’ve seen in my life.” There was much to explore around the islands. “Each area is unique,” Bill says.
Coral reefs begin just two metres below the waterline in Loh Samah Bay and Pileh Cove, making them popular with snorkelers and divers.
Viking Cave is a large limesto ne cavern adorned with ancient rock paintings of boats that resemble Viking ships. The cave is also a nesting site for swiftlet birds, whose nests are considered an expensive delicacy in Chinese cuisine.
The Seneys were intrigued by Monkey Beach in Kasem. “The long tailed Capuchin monkeys actually swim and dive for food. Bill tossed bananas into the water,” Pam says.
Bamboo Island, one of six islands belong ing to the Phi Phi archipelago, is ringed with a band of white sand. The centre of the island is covered in bamboo trees and other lush, growing things. Bill swam in the water and was surrounded by hundreds of colourful fish, clamouring for the bread and bananas he brought to feed them.
At Phi Phi Don, “thousands of people were there,” Pam says. “It was where Leo DiCaprio filmed The Beach and the tourists wanted to get their pictures taken.”
The couple put on their snorkelling gear and waded into the sparkling water, home to coral fish, crabs, lobsters, angelfish, groupers, snappers, surgeonfish and sharks. “The snorkeling was good, although it was more beautiful above the water than below,” says Bill. “It was paradise.”
With gorgeous memories and golden tans, the Seneys and Bramhalls drove to Phuket Airpo rt on Jan. 29thand flew to Hong Kong to catch their connecting flight to Toronto. Having left Canada 22 days prior, home literally felt a whole other world away.
“It’s a shorter flight to fly over the North Pole than to fly around the circumference of the earth,” Bill was interested to learn. However, unforeseen air restrictions over Alaska caused travel delays and rerouting for the friends, extending their long journey to 21 hours. Even so, every extra minute spent sitting on the airstrip was worth the magical days exploring Indochina.
The travelers also squeezed in an eye opening trip to Vietnam before flying to Thailand. That exciting leg of their journey is being featured in the next issue of Windsor Life Magazine.
With an active group of six experienced professionals, Shibley Righton LLP has one of the largest Labour and Employment practice groups in Windsor-Essex. A full-service law firm established in 1964 in Toronto, Shibley Righton opened its Windsor office in 2001 and right from the outset, a significant portion of the Windsor office’s practice was devoted to Labour and Employment issues.
“With the depth of our lawyers’ experience, we are able to address virtually all of an employer’s needs in the areas of labour relations, collective agreement negotiations, employment contracts, workplace discipline and dismissals, workplace violence and bullying, human rights, discrimination, disability claims, and occupational health and safety,” explains Brian Nolan, leader of the practice group.
Partner Peter Hras tovec explains, “the workplace has become a dynamic and ever-evolving entity. With changing technologies, there are newer and better ways to do business. But this may affect the way employees interact with each other, and with management. The stress of change often leads to conflict. Competent and informed legal counsel provide valuable assistance to employers and employees by helping to resolve – or prevent – debilitating issues that may affect productivity. Quick and timely consultations on a regular basis help to fine-tune the workplace, aid in bolstering morale, and ensure that the focus of the employer’s business remains the business itself – and not some labour or employment crisis.”
“It’s as simple as picking up the phone and talking to your labour and employment advisor. At Shibley Righton, we are prepared to do that and much more,” adds Bryce Chandler, a Partner in the group, who joined the firm in 2004.
Senior counsel Bob Baksi observes, “employers often do not have employment agreements that specifically limit the employee’s entitlement upon termination of the employment. Alternatively, I’ve found that employers often are using outdated contract provisions that the courts have now ruled insufficient. The problem is compounded by the highly technical requirements of obtaining a new or revised agreement from an employee who already has commenced employment. Many employers do not realize that an employment agreement that the employee signs after they’ve already started to work will not be valid and enforceable unless several technical requirements are met. At Shibley’s, we regularly assist employers in updating and implementing new or revised employment agreements. That way, we avoid the problem before it becomes a problem.”
Collectively, what the lawyers at Shibley Righton share is a client-centred, common sense approach to the practice of law. Partner Sheila MacKinnon sums it up, “bottom line, we provide excellence in client service and value for cost. Excellence in client serv ice means delivering a superior work product. It means the firm’s employment clients are entitled to expect high quality legal services provided by high calibre legal talent.”
At the same time, clients today are legitimately concerned about the cost of their legal services. The lawyers at Shibley Righton understand those concerns and demand of themselves that they always provide cost-effective and eff icient advice. As Sheila MacKinnon, the Managing Partner of the firm’s Windsor office, likes to say, “we deliver ‘big-firm’ legal services but with a more personal touch, and at more cost-efficient rates. We’re practical, and live in the real world, and we understand that our job is to deliver real solutions to our clients. That’s the Shibley Righton difference.”
To speak with one of our lawyers, please call us at: Toll Free: 1-866-422-7988 Main: 519-969-9844 Web: www.shibleyrighton.com. 2510 Ouellette Avenue, Suite 301, Windsor, Ontario N8X 1L4
Peter Hrastovec Sheila MacKinnon Jessica Koper Bob Baksi Brian Nolan Bryce ChandlerRight: ‘Wish You Were Here’, ID# C1502, acrylic on canvas, 48” x 60”. Far right: ‘Waterfall’, acrylic on canvas, 36” x 72”. Bottom right: ‘Wish You Were Here’, ID# C-1503, acrylic on canvas, 45” x 45”. Below: Artist Shirley Williams prepares canvas in her art studio.
STORY BY KIM WILLIS
ON ANY GIVEN DAY you can find local, award-winning artist, Shirley Williams working in her modern warehouse studio situated in an industrial area. Williams has a successful career spanning two decades and continues to find innovative ways to express her artistic expertise. Her abstract artwork inspired by colour and nature forms can be found in galleries, offices and homes worldwide.
As part of a m ilitary family Williams had the opportunity to travel the world growing up. This experience formed the basis and inspiration for much of her artwork. The travel also allowed her to see artwork throughout the world, which has had a profound impact on her studio practice.
“I can vividly recall visiting the Mona Lisa in Paris for the first time. I had the chance to see it up close and personal and the emotions embedded in that painting really spoke to me,” says Williams.
Although her passion was always art, Williams majored in Business and Marketing at the University of Toronto. She worked for many years in Toronto as a documentary film producer. Although she was successful, her goal was always to work as a full-time artist. In 1998, after much research, Williams chose Windsor as the city she wanted to relocate to
“People are always surprised that I chose Windsor as a location to pursue my dream. It is absolutely beautiful here and the cost of living is low. Plus many of my collectors are American so the proximity to the United States was attractive to me.”
Since making that life-changing decision, Williams has never looked back. She has won several prestigious arts grants and awards including a National Painting Competition award in 2008, several Ontario Arts Council grants, a House of Commons Culture Recognition Award and the midcareer recognition, Elizabeth Havelock Foundation Award in 2012. Galleries in Toronto, Alton, Austin and San Francisco continue to represent her. Her work is also licensed globally for fine art “Prints on Demand” by New Era Portfolio and her canvas prints are part of the Ethan Alle n Home ‘Exclusive Artist Collection’.
Williams is well known for incorporating textures into her paintings. Although she has formally studied art, her unique style is self-taught. Her inspiration comes from both colour and nature. While her smaller pieces are more experimental, Williams’ large canvas paintings always have a concept behind them and she will spend years working on a series. Most recently, she has found a passion for creating colourful semi-abstract landscapes.
“I truly feel that being an artist is in your blood,” says Williams. “You’re driven to create. However, I do believe that everybody has the ability to be creative. They just need to find the best outlet that allows them to do so.”
Like any career, there are challenges. For Williams this came in the form of 9/11 and the 2008 recession . Both international events had a direct impact on her business and changed the playing field for artists. Many galleries closed and artists began representing themselves online. “After these events occurred I was forced to re-evaluate how I did business. Luckily I already had a website, ShirleyWilliamsArt.com which allowed me to profile my artwork and stay in contact with my clients. However, the amou nt of disposable income people
www.wayneswoodcraft.com
had was drastically reduced for a while. The world changed and people’s priorities changed.”
Williams continued to keep in regular contact with her clientele and acknowledges how fortunate she is to have their loyalty. However, after the financial crisis of 2008 she realized she had to look at her career from a different perspective. The pressure of frequent exhibitions had been draining, she wasn’t enjoying painting as much and felt she wasn’t growing as an artist.
“In that sense the economic crash was really beneficial to me. It forced me to look at myself and decide what direction I wanted to go next.”
Shirley is now working on a series of new canvases and selling her work both online and through her studio. In addition, she and her assistant are relaunching a website she created in 2008 called ColorWheelArtist. This website is Williams’ way of sharing her knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for colour with other aspiring creatives.
The Colour Wheel Artist website, www.color-wheel-artist.com shows how to use a colour wheel, choose colour schemes and mix paint colours for art, crafts, graphic design and interior decorating. To Williams’ surprise, the site has grown increasingly popular. It now has 110,000 unique visitors per month. Schools are even using the site and its contents for their curriculums.
“My goal for the next little while is to focus on ColorWheelArtist.com and kick it into high gear,” states Williams. She also is now more active on social media to regularly engage with her fans about her work and inspiration.
Williams is also active locally with the Visual Arts pr ogram at the University of Windsor through her affiliation with the Windsor Endowment for the Arts.
Although the focus of her work changes, Williams still enjoys the opportunity to interact personally with her supporters and fans. For the first time in three years Williams recently held an Open Studio event and plans to host activities more often. She currently has an exciting selection of sensational small scale artworks on view in her studio. Additionally her paintings from galleries both in Toronto, and Austin have come home and are available to view for the first time locally.
The studio is not generally open regular hours. To arrange a studio visit at your convenience, contact Shirley at 519-980-4852 or shirley@shirleywilliamsart.com. Online at ShirleyWilliamsArt.com.
A dynamic group of women representing professional, business and labour in Windsor have joined forces to create the Charity Chix, a new organization dedicated to supporting charitable causes locally and internationally. The John McGivney Children’s Centre, Rotary mission for children of Ghana, Africa and Drouillard Place are recent recipients of funds generated from their events. Working as freelance fundraisers, the Charity Chix look forward to helping more groups and others in need. Pictured at a recent event are (back row from left) Jodie Paterson, Briar Jansons, Carly Erber, Christine Romualdi, Snez Koutras, Wendy Foresto, Vanessa Vargas and Effie Papa; and (front row from left) Lynn Pike, Kim Spirou, Jessaline Fynbo and Lori Balkwill. Photo is courtesy of Jason Kryk and The Windsor Star. facebook.com/charitychixwindsor.
SKinov8ive Medical Esthetics owners Karey Menzies and Slajana Saveska welcome Joanne Diana to their team. With over 30 years’ experience in the spa industry, Joanne is certified in Oncology Esthetics. Now SKinov8ive can offer safe, individualized and specialized skin care treatments to promote cancer patients’ wellbeing and quality of life. 519-966-7200 or skinov8ive.com.
Caesars Windsor once again joined the Downtown Windsor Farmers Market for the 3rd Annual CodeGreen Expo on Aug. 29th. Continuing the casino and hospitality complex’s ongoing goal to promote environmental sustainability, energy conservation and waste reduction, the free family friendly event featured cooking demonstrations by Caesars Windsor chefs, e-waste collection, live demonstrations with local birds of prey and more. As usual, the market’s regular food and retail vendors sold local products, giving customers opportunity to enjoy the bounty of the county close to where it is raised. Picturd here are Sean Westlake (left) and Jayce Rowen. caesarswindsor.com.
Owner Angelo Verardi is celebrating the fourth anniversary of Fratelli Pasta Grill. Located at 13340 Lanoue St. off Manning Rd. in Tecumseh. The restaurant specializes in the creation of authentic Italian cuisine, served at lunch and dinner. Guests savour fresh, healthy and flavourful dishes, such as seafood, steaks slowly grilled over a wood fire and a wide variety of pasta dishes. Fratelli Pasta Grill also offers a large gluten free menu. Reservations are recommended for the popular dining spot. fratellipastagrill.com.
Forty-five years ago, Gino Casagrande launched Casagrande Granite as a flooring company. As the demand for stone products increased, Gino and his son and business partner, Ken, expanded into granite, marble and quartz countertops, fireplace surrounds, bars and more, all custom fabricated in Casagrande’s own stone shop at 4215 Concession 7, Windsor. The company has just brought in 38 new quartz colours for residential and commercial projects. Casagrande Granite also does ceramic and porcelain backsplashes and other tilework. 519-974-9321.
The first Net-Zero Home in Windsor-Essex County, designed to maximize a homebuyer’s comfort while significantly reducing energy use, has just been unveiled by BK Cornerstone. Builders Ben and Brent Klundert invite people to tour their Optimum Discovery model home at 196 Francis Cres., Belle River. Featuring leading edge building design and construction technologies, the home offers improved comfort, better indoor air quality and tools to efficiently control energy use resulting in lower utility bills. 519-728-3664 or bkcornerstone.com.
Giang Nguyen and Jeanine Jodoin (pictured with daughter, Tatum), have opened Three Lambs Registry & Baby Boutique at 1124 Lesperance Rd., Tecumseh. Carrying everything the expanding family needs to prepare for the arrival of their bundle of joy, Windsor-Essex County’s new full service baby boutique specializes in baby products from a wide range of man ufacturers, available through a concierge style registry service. Parents can register for gifts online, which their family and friends can order as gifts, quickly and conveniently. Three Lambs is one of only 50 Canadian retailers offering safe products by Jessica Alba’s Honest Company. Everyone is invited to Three Lambs’ grand opening on Sat., Oct. 3rd, where families can see product demonstrations, connect with valuable services and win giveaways. 519-735-0035 or 3lambs.ca.
Fireplaces by Mario has been keeping Windsor-Essex residents warm for 24 years. Family-owned and operated by Mario and Phyllis Sementilli, the retail and service store at 3118 Jefferson Blvd., Windsor displays the latest models of natural gas and electric fireplaces, stoves, inserts and outdoor fireplaces by Kingsman, Continental, Heat & Glo and other manufacturers. fireplacesbymario.com.
Marking its first year in business, Comfort Mobility Inc. brings solutions to people with mobility issues and disabilities. RN John Fase, who co-owns the company with his wife and vice president, Julie, assesses clients’ needs and challenges to determine which products will make their lives easier and safer. The showroom at 2707 Temple Dr., Windsor displays manual and power wheelchairs, walkers, and lift chairs, as well as grab bars other bathroom aids. Comfort Mobility makes house calls and delivers, installs and services everything it sells. 519-988-1234 or comfortmobility.ca.
STORY BY KIM WILLIS / PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURIE CLEMENT
MANY TIMES THE MOST POWERFUL, effective teaching takes place outside of the classroom. Corpus Christi Catholic Middle School teacher Laurie Clement personally experienced this during a summer excursion to a distant central American village in Nicaragua.
Laurie has been a teacher for 16 years. She has always been driven by student empowerment. Corpus Christi is a 1:1 Chromebook school . Each student has a laptop and the majority of learning takes place online.
“I feel so fortunate to be teaching at CCMS as this extends my ability to assist my students in developing a global perspective. For example, in September we are hosting a global project where students will identify what they perceive to be the most pressing global issues. We currently have students from Canada, USA, Japan , Venezuela, Brazil and Hong Kong signed up. The ability to engage in conversation and learn about deforestation from students in Brazil or biodiversity from students in Hong Kong is something my students will not forget. Students today are no longer limited to the knowledge their teachers can provide or that exists within the walls of our schools,” says Laurie.
She has always been passionate about helping students develop not only their academic skills, but also understanding their place in the world and how they can help make it a better place.
It was in developing these initiatives that Laurie discovered the Free the Children on the internet. She was immediately intrigued by their story. The organization, created by Craig Kielburger when he was 12 years old, believes in youth empowerment and provides
numerous opportunities for youth to get involved in both local and global initiatives through their We Act Education Program.
Today, Free the Children is celebrating their 20th anniversary. Over 650 schools have been built and they have provided education opportunities for over 55,000 students. Education is only a small part of their sustainable development model. Their five pillar model includes; Education, Clean Water and Sanitation, Health, Alternative Income and Livelihood and Agriculture and Food Security.
Corpus Christi signed on as a “We Act School” and soon earned the opportunity to participate in We Day, a celebration of youth making a difference.
“We joined over 10,000 youth from across Ontario to listen to inspirational speakers such as Martin Luther King Jr.,
Molly Burke, Spencer West and other activists working hard to make a difference. The unique thing about We Day is that everyone in attendance, both the speakers, performers and students, earn their way. Tickets cannot be bought, but earned through local and global initiatives. It was a day that I will never forget and continues to inspire me daily,” says Laurie.
The “Me To We Trips” focus on three main elements –service project, cultural immersion and leadership. In Nicaragua Laurie spent time in a community known as El Trapiche. Free the Children has been working with this community for three years. Two schools, a latrine, access to clean water, a garden and women’s group have all been established here thanks to Free the Children.
She found their commitment inspiring.
“I really found comfort in knowing that when Free the Children commits to a community, they work alongside the community until they are completely self-sustainable. It is a true partnership, and not just a temporary fix which I love.”
During her excursion, Laurie’s group worked on a playground and slide as they currently had no play equipment. In order to make the slide, they had to pick axe dirt from the ground, fill buckets and bring them to the slide. She was on water duty. This meant walking to the reservoir one kilometre away and carrying them back to the slide to moisten layers of dirt.
“Each time I carried a heavy bucket, I thought about how a short time ago people in El Trapiche walked several kilometres daily to obtain water for all of their needs.”
El Trapiche is fortunate to now have two school buildings, each one a room about 15x15. One of the schools is for preschool children allowing the women to work the fields. The other building is an elementary school which goes up to grade six. Unfortunately they did not have a space for high school so students in grade 7 and 8 are only able to attend school on Saturdays.
Learning about the community was as fascinating as the projects.
“One of the highlights for me w as visiting a coffee shop known as Cafe de las Sonrisa. This coffee shop is run by a man known as Tio Antonia, truly one of the most remarkable people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. We listened to him share his story of how he came to open this cafe, which he staffs with people who are deaf and his desire to care for those that he describes as differently-abled,” shares Laurie.
Antonio is als o very passionate about ▼
the environment. He commented to the group that he will not rest until plastic bags are no longer the national flower of Nicaragua. While visiting his cafe the group worked on the never-ending plastic bag mat. Antonio plans to continue creating this mat until garbage is no longer a concern in Nicaragua. He is currently initiating a new project, a barter system, where kids can pick up plastic bags from the streets and trade them for things they need like pencils.
This past year at Corpus Christi the Caritas Club collected milk bags to make into mats that are being donated to local homeless shelters so that people have a softer place to sleep than on the ground. In h onour of Tio Antonio Laurie invited the community to help by recycling milk bags and donating them to one of the many groups collecting them.
“While my trip to Nicaragua was short, the lessons I learned will last a lifetime. As an educator it reaffirmed my belief that students need to be actively engaged in their learning process, whatever subject or topic that might be. Regardless of the task or initiative, life lessons are learned when you are actively engaged,” says Laurie.
Her travels will continue when she travels with a group of 13 passionate educators, students and family members to Ecuador over the Christmas holidays.
In addition to this trip, there are many other exciting events coming up. In October a group will attend We Day Toronto with over 15,000 other youth. Planning will also begin s oon for WECDSB We Day.
For the past two years, Laurie has worked alongside a group of passionate educators (Doug McMahon, Kim Sidi, Laura Plante, Michelle Barnes and Stephanie Hage) and generous sponsors to provide a WE Day experience for 1,000 grade seven and eight students. They feature local #CHANGEMAKERS who share their stories and inspire those in attendance to be the best versions of themselves as well.
Laurie is truly an inspiration to both students and her colleagues.
“I feel so fortunate and thankful to be an educator. The opportunity to work alongside young adults and engage in their passions daily is extremely rewarding. When I initially began this journey I was looking for ways to further engage my students. It is truly their passion that drives it today. Each time we tackle a new initiative, their excitement and desire for more sparks the next idea.”
PEOPLE WITH A LOT OF LIFE experience need a helping hand occasionally. ONESource Moving Solutions for Seniors provides that and more.
Serving Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent, ONESource owner Danielle Carriere specializes in relocating seniors from one home to another; decluttering and downsizing their household goods; and dispersing their estates.
“People may not realize their loved one is overwhelm ed, not sleeping and stressed by an impending move,” says Danielle, a Certified Relocation Transition Specialist®, bonded, insured, trained and experienced in helping seniors make the next move in their life’s journey.
If not handled properly and sympathetically, a relocation can leave a person feeling depressed, anxious, withdrawn and confused for months afterward. These are symptoms of Relocation Stress Syndrome, recognized as an official diagnosis in 1992.
Seniors and their caring, concerned adult children are relieved that ONESource can be depended upon to make the process easier for everyone.
One chore that daunts most people is sorting and clearing out possessions accumulated in the home. Danielle assures, “When you aren’t up to the job, we can tackle it.” ONESource helps the client choose which mementoes to keep and what to give to loved ones and charity.
Danielle can also arrange for a home appraisal, repairs and realtor; clean the property for viewing; coordinate the logistics and oversee the relocation; and then handle the unpacking of the client’s possessions in the new home.
Happy clients have scored ONESource highly on clear, respectful
communications; making the move happen as promised; decision-making support; stress relief; and peace of mind.
Staci commented that ONESource is “totally trustworthy, honest and respectful. Danielle has a fabulous sense of humour and is sensitive to the needs of the client. I would recommend it to anyone.”
Grace remarked, “Danielle, you were amazing. There are no words sufficient to tell you how wonderful everything was. From the first day to the last, you were there. You answered all phone calls and emails; calmed my nerves. You and your staff are efficient. Packing was smooth and stress free, organized at both the old house and new. Because you are so good and efficient, it made moving in easy; unpacking was a breeze because you put all the boxes in place. I would highly recommend ONESource to get the job done.”
In listening to her clients, Danielle realized that snowbirds also need someone to rely on while away. “Our new Snowbird Services include house checking while you are vacationing; transportation to the airport; cleaning your house in readiness for your return; watering plants; taking care of snow removal or grass cutting; resetting the furnace to a normal temperature; turning the water back; and other tasks,” Danielle says.
A member of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Senior Move Managers, ONESource is accountable. “All of our services, including estate dispersals, are available to trustees, banks, lawyers, Power of Attorney, executors, geriatric care managers, senior living communities, physicians and health providers,” says Danielle.
People considering ONESource can determine if it is the right solution for their situation during a free, one hour, no obligation consultation. Danielle provides a detailed quote so everyone knows what to expect.
“We are here to help anyone who needs extra hands,” she says. “Although we specialize in seniors, we also assist busy families and businesses. Just give us a call!”
LESS THAN A YEAR AGO ANNE-MARIE was a degenerate gambler. All of her spare time was spent at the casino, she was thousands of dollars in debt and her family relationships were in ruin.
Fast forward to today, Anne-Marie is no longer gambling, her relationships are improved and her self-esteem has never been better. She credits this success with Problem Gambling Services (PGS) at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Heal thcare. Anne-Marie entered this 21-day program last January.
“In November I had a nervous breakdown. It was at that point I knew I had to get real and start this program,” says Anne-Marie.
Soon after she packed her bags and travelled from Brampton to attend the program. She credits the staff at HDGH with saving her life.
“The Counselling Team at PGS helped me see myself and spouse for who we truly are. We are happier now than we have been in the last 15 years. My daughter says she hasn't seen us this happy in over 18 years.”
Anne-Marie remains thankful to the compassionate team of professionals in the program with helping turn her life around. They provided her with a toolbox that allowed her to re-build her life.
“When you hit rock-bottom you lose who you are, when you find yourself, it’s a whole different world. I cannot sing the praises for PGS enough.”
Anne-Marie’s experience is common among many patients and clients who have received care at HDGH. While their role has evolved over the last 127 years, HDGH remains a trusted leader that is transforming healthcare and cultivating a healthier community.
Located on Prince Road, HDGH provides many programs and services that make a fundamental d ifference to individuals and their families. Hôtel-Dieu Grace offers Rehabilitation Services; Specialized Mental Health & Addictions; Complex Medical and Palliative Care; and Children and Youth Mental Health Services to Windsor and Essex County. As you can see by Anne-Marie’s story, HDGH is Changing Lives Together through a unique blended model of specialized services which includes outpatient progr ams such as crisis services, addiction services, bariatric treatment, problem gambling services and the cardiac wellness program.
“127 years ago the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph began their work, with Dean Wagner to serve the marginalized, the disenfranchised and the most vulnerable populations. Today, at our new location on Prince Road, we are continuing that commitment”, explains Janice Kaffer, President and CEO.
With a multi-disciplinary team and multiple community partners, HDGH prides itself on exceptional patient care. Anne Marie’s story is just one of many stories heard from patients and families about the level of care and service provided at HDGH. The focus on recovery, restoration and rehabilitation yields important benefits at the individual patient level and at the system level.
“We are stronger as a united team, working for and with the patient and their family on a personal level to make a positive impact on that individual’s life. With our partners in academia, in healthcare and in our community, we are truly changing lives together,” says Kaffer.
Community partnerships are highly valued at HDGH and play
an important role in the success of its programs and services. They allow for a continuum of care for patients and their families. The Canadian Mental Health Association is just one example of the community partnerships that have been established over the last year. “We are thrilled to have the Canadian Mental Health Association as our community partner. Together we can only create a stronger, more effective system for mental health clients across Windsor and Essex County” says Kaffer.
The future offers many innovative initiatives for HDGH. In 2016 the Transitional Stability Centre (TSC) on Ouellette Ave. will open. The TSC will provide day services and supports for adults who are experiencing an acute mental health and/or substance use episode, but do not require hospitalization or hospital treatment. The Centre will benefit frequent users of the hospital emergency room, ambulance and police services. Additionally, it will assist individuals who are homeless, at risk of being homeless or who come from substandard living conditions. A multi-disciplinary team will be available including nurses, clinicians, outreach workers and support services.
Last July the Windsor Essex Hospital’s System was announced. If funding is approved by the provincial governm ent, the plan includes construction of an acute care hospital along with exciting developments for HDGH that includes a return to its historic site on Ouellette Avenue near downtown, caring for the “most marginalized, disenfranchised and vulnerable populations.”
The site, which will be rebuilt in a $137-million transformation, will house a mental health hub, which will be the anchor program caring for people suffering from mental health or substance abuse problems who don’t need a hospital. Like the satellite medical centre, it may also offer chronic disease services like heart disease, diabetes, asthma and arthritis management. This site will also be the home to a community hub where HDGH will strengthen and expand community partnerships.
“HDGH is excited about the potential of returning back to the Ouellette Campus and creating a community hub. This work will not be completed by HDGH alone. The community will have an opportunity to help us shape what this site will look like for years to come,” explains Kaffer.
HDGH’s Tayfour Campus on Prince Road will consolidate inpatient mental health care at one location. This campus already treats children, youth and those needing specialized care. Sixty beds for adults will be transferred there from the Ouellette Campus.
Developing the acute mental health beds on the Tayfour campus will strengthen and support the commitment that Hôtel-Dieu Grace has made to our community to become a future “Centre of Excellence for Mental Health and Addictions.”
The Tayfour campus, which already provides complex continuing care and rehabilitation, will also add s atellite kidney dialysis for another 400 patients and expand diagnostics. All of this brings care closer to home for those on the west side.
As you heard in Anne-Marie’s story, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare is committed to our patients, and helping them to change their lives for the better. It is a very exciting time for healthcare in Windsor-Essex and Hôtel-Dieu Grace is proud to be a part of it.
DID YOU REALIZE THAT ART AND CULTURE workers account for nearly 4% of the overall Canadian labor force? According to a national household survey conducted in 2011, that number was larger than the number of Canadians working on farms, in real estate and in the wholesale trade industry in the same year.
Art has a universal language all its own and we are constantly reminded of this. Around the world, people appreciate art, whether it be oil paintings, acrylics, water colors, sculptures and other means of expression. Consider the average home. There aren’t too many empty walls –most have been adorned by some type of art.
Banks and other businesses usually have photographs or paintings on their walls. Then, there are comic books and posters and many other examples of art that we haven’t even considered. Just imagine our lives without art –there would undoubtedly be a large void. In fact, art has become so ingrained in our lives that most of us take it for granted!
For decades now, numerous Ontario centres have been host to studio tours, where artists invite the general public into their galleries, or workplaces in their homes, to check out their work. The tours have become quite successful –not only bringing artists together but connecting those artists to the public. Consequently, networks have been formed that stimulate growth in the art and cultural economic sector. In Toronto, for instance, it’s not unusual for tours to be staged every other weekend.
The Windsor-Essex Open Studio Tour is relatively new, having been organized only 5 years ago by the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Windsor-Essex –and it’s slowly gaining in popularity. Leona MacIntyre, one of the featured artists on the tour and the alliance’s executive director says, “the open studio tour has been planned with the desire to foster an appreciation fo r the role that art and artists play in the vitality of our community and in our local economy.”
The tour takes place October 3rd and 4th between the hours of 10 am and 5 pm. There are a total of 14 stops with 22 participating artists. There’s no charge to visitors and since the tour is self-directed, those interested can go wherever they want –they can spread their visits out over the two days, make all the stops or just go selected ones that have piqued their interest. Detailed, colorful brochures featuring the artists’ names and pictures, detailed maps of their locations and their particular type of art, have been printed and are available free of charge at most city and county galleries. Visitors who attended a minimum of 5 tour sites can fill out the enclosed passport to become eligible for a cash prize. For more information on this unique event and detailed biographies of participating artists, log on to www.weopenstudiotour.com. Incidentally, the tour map can be downloaded and printed from the site.
Another artist is Nancy Bauer, who’s also a member of the planning committee. A painter, an amateur photographer and holder of a degree in business, she explains this is a win-win situation for everyone: artists get a chance to show off their ▼
work, talk about their methods, provide demonstrations and even sell some of their pieces, while visitors have an opportunity to see their talented neighbors at work, to talk about their art and to buy a unique piece that no one else has. Some of the artists have rented space in various galleries for their demonstrations, several are hosting people in their homes which double as studios, while others have been sponsored and given space by D’Angelos Winery and The Dusty Loft Antiques and Collectibles. The artists’ participation fee of $100 covers the cost of planning, organizing and advertising the tour and helps defray the cost of a 6-day public preview exhibit at the ArtSpeak Gallery, 1942 Wyandotte East, from September 21st through the 26th. This gives artists a chance to highlight some of their best work and provide visitors with a sample of what’s available on the tour.
And, what makes the tour even more enticing is the fact that it’s not just the work of painters that’s involved. There’s also a printer, two potters, three photographers, a wood turner and a jeweller. The woodturner is Paul Guilbeault....an expert in the field. Some of the stuff he’s ‘turned’ out is absolutely stunning. He and photographer Theresa Posloski are in the same Belle River building, so visitors there will be treated to a ‘2-for’. Painter Dennis K. Smith, wellknown in the area has lent his expertise to the tour, while photographer-painter Phylmarie Fess and painter Julia Conlon share space in downtown Windsor. The Mudpuppy Gallery in Amherstburg, which has been touted as a must-stop is displaying works by at lea st three people and is close to some of the town’s best eating places. While it’s impossible to chronicle the entire talented roster, the brochure and the website adequately fill in the blanks.
So, if you’re looking for something a bit different to do early in October, mark the 3rd and 4th on your calendars and make time for the tour. You might find something to add a little extra flavor to your hom e and learn a few things from extremely creative people. Nancy Bauer is optimistic the tour will grow in future years. Already, a number of patrons from the United States have said they’ll be here this year and like Art In The Park, which has grown into a major happening from relatively humble beginnings, Nancy is convinced the open studio tour will become a must-attend event. As far as art is concerne d, Nancy puts it this way: “just picture your own place with bare walls!”
FORGET ABOUT ASKING FOR a hippopotamus, two front teeth and a ’54 convertible too, light blue. What you really need for this holiday season is a creative interior design team, a smart plan and an achievable deadline. In other words, you need Urban Home, winner of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards for Small Company of the Year.
There is still time to make your home sparkle before your guests arrive. To help you get motivated, Jodi Mason, owner and principal design consultant, has come up with a fabulous offer. You can receive an in-home design consultation for just $150! You only have until Sept. 30th to reserve your consultation and take advantage of this limited time deal. Appointments begin Oct. 1st and continue through the holidays.
That means your tired foyer can shake off its grubby appearance and make a truly great impression this Thanksgiving, Eid, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or New Year. Perhaps a trendy new sunburst mirror placed above a vintage console table to reflect your good taste?
“Chances are you already own some interesting pieces. We can integrate them in fresh ways and unexpected spots so you can fall in love with them all over again,” Jod i assures.
Inviting company over means your guest room and powder room will be on view. Get ready to receive genuine compliments and maybe a little envy after the Urban Home team recreates your rooms. “The imaginative, memorable styles that have made boutique hotels so popular also work well in the home,” Jodi explains. “Your guests are going to want to linger.”
In the living or great room, an older sofa and armchairs shed years when perked up with new accessories featuring winter and holiday themes. “Our exciting collection of accessories and toss pillows is just in,” says Jodi. Depend on Urban Home to always have an inspired selection of coffee and occasional tables, lamps, artwork and large furnishings to update one room or your entire residence.
Look no farther than Urban Home for stylish gifts to give to friends and yourself. Deer fashioned from birch, silver penguins, furry wine bags, Christmas decorations and much more will add a festive feel to the season.
Urban Home’s newest team member, interior design consultant Philip Chouinard, particularly enjoys the holidays. “He specializes in warm, inviting rooms in every décor genre and instinctively knows the perfect place to put the Christmas tree,” says Jodi, smiling. “Be prepared to be wowed by your own home, after Philip and our team complete your design consultation.”
“Like the holidays, outstanding design is something to celebrate. So we’re blending both with our holiday social. You’re invited!” Jodi says. The lighthearted event is from 5 to 9 pm, Thurs., Nov. 12th in Urban Home’s showroom and studio at 4409 Seminole St., Windsor.
Enjoy beverages and snacks while checking out holiday gift ideas and décor. Vinyl holiday records will be spinning on the vintage LP stereo. “Bring any old vinyl record for our Santa swap and receive an Urban Home gift!” Jodi encourages.
Urban Home will donate a portion of all purchases made during the holiday social to its Urban Angel Bedroom Makeover Event. Every year, Urban Home does a room makeover f or a child with special needs in the Greater Windsor Area. To nominate a child as the next Urban Angel, please visit facebook.com/urbanangelwindsor.
FROM “ZERO TO HERO”....that’s how the result of a unique flight training program at the Windsor Airport has been described by the Canadian Air Force reservist, Major Steve Stephenson, who co-ordinates the program across Ontario and commands an air cadet squadron in Leamington.
A Windsor native and graduate of the University of Windsor, Major Stephenson is a physics and math teacher at Tilbury District High School. He is the Officer Commanding, Power Pilot Scholarship –Central Region which covers 5 flight centres in Ontario. The program is offered by the Royal Canadian Air Cadets and funded by the Department of National Defence. Currently living in Ruthven, Major Stephenson is married and the father of 3 daughters and a s on. Himself, a graduate of the scholarship program, he joined the air cadets in 1977, got his glider pilot’s licence in 1981 and was awarded the cadet flying scholarship the following year during which he earned his wings. An avid flyer, he’s currently working toward his instructor’s permit and even owns his own small, vintage plane.
To become air cadets, interested boys or girls must be at least 12 years old. In Windsor, kids can register Tuesday evenings at the 364 Squadron near the Windsor Flying Club headquarters on the airport grounds. Cadets, hoping for a career in ▼
STORY/PHOTOGRAPHY BY DICK HILDEBRAND
Opposite Clockwise from left: Cadets march past the reviewing stand in front of 364 Squadron at Windsor Airport; Major Steve Stephenson, Officer Commanding Power Pilot Scholarship; George McMaham (left), former president of the Royal Canadian Air Forces Association, top cadet Warrant Officer First Class Robert Maronowski and Major Chris Toth, Deputy National Cader Air Operations Officer.
This page clockwise from above: Cadet Kevin Zhang in the cockpit of the Katana DA 20 trainer; 6 cadets look skyward in a promotional photo shoot at the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association hanger at Windsor Airport; Major Chris Toth pins the wings on a graduating cadet; training planes line the tarmac in front of 364 Squadron during graduation ceremonies; re-fueling a Cessna trainer; the first wings received by a cadet who has successfully completed the training program.
aviation, can join the flying scholarship program when they turn 16. Interested applicants must have good school grades along with an exemplary cadet record. They’re initially required to write a qualifying exam, attend an interview and prepare a narrative. Scores are tabulated and the top 80 finishers are chosen for the program which turns out at least 250 pilots per year across Canada. In fact, says the Major, “if you look in the sky and see a commercial plane, there’s a 50 or 60% chance that one or both the pilots in the cockpit completed the scholarship program” – a program he maintains is the envy of other flight training programs around the world.
And, here’s an interesting fact that many of us probably didn’t know: the first-ever flying scholarship was offered in Windsor back in 1946, just after the war and after an on-again, off-again history, the program was permanently established here in 2009 with Major Stephenson on board. He says ,“there is no doubt that this is a direct descendant of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan which readied pilots for the Second World War. We’re doing almost the same thing today. Cadets are in a military-ish environment....they’re up at 6 in the morning and undergo intense training for a 7 week period
....exactly the way it was in the war.” They spend half their day in ground school and the other half in and around the planes, either flying with instructors, or soloing crosscountry. While a majority of the candidates already have their glider licences from last summer, there are those that have absolutely no flying experience. But as a proud Major Stephenson puts it....“they’re doing just fine,” adding, “most of these people knew they wanted to be pilots when they signed up in the first place and they worked their tails off. I can’t imagine anything to top this experience. These young guys and girls are at the top of their game and are just amazing kids. There's not much you can’t throw at them.” 15 of the trainees are 17, while the oth er two celebrated their 18th birthdays this summer. They train aboard three different models of single-engine planes: Piper Tomahawks, Cessna 172s and Katana DA 20s. Instructors come from the Windsor Flying Club and Journey Air, both of which have been awarded Defence Department contracts to do the teaching.
In order to avoid distractions like visits from parents, girlfriends or boyfriends, all cadets are required to take their training at least 2 or 3 hours from their homes. In Windsor, the 17 trainees came from the
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Greater Toronto area. While here, they were housed at the St. Clair College residences and fed at Route 42 across from the airport. At the same time, Windsor and area cadets were sent to Waterloo for their pilots’ instruction.
On August 21st, the proud cadets were honored at a graduation parade on the tarmac in front of 364 squadron headquarters. They received their wings from Reviewing Officer Major Chris Toth, the Deputy National Cadet Air Operations Officer who is stationed in Ottawa. The Top Overall Pilot for Central Region (Ontario) this summer was Warrant Officer First Class Robert Maronowski from 758 Squadron who trained at the Windsor Flying Club. He was presented the Royal Canadian Air Force Association Medal by Mr George McMahon who is a former President of the association.
It’s expected that most of the graduates will make aviation their career – some will go on to become commercial pilots, while others will likely join the military and a few may become instructors. No matter what, though, they have all learned valuable lessons in life and have shown they have an innate ability to work hard and learn something of extreme value. After all, they did learn to fly!
THE ARTISTRY AND ALLURE OF FLAMES dancing in a handsome fireplace immediately elevates the ambiance, comfort level and style of a home or commercial space. “There is no need to search outside Essex County for custom fire features. At Scotts Fireplace, we have the products, skill and expertise for any scope of design and installation,” says A.J. Godwin, who co-owns the 22 year old company with Emile Anhorn.
Local builders, contractors and architects engage Scotts Fireplace to craft custom fire features fuelled by natural gas, wood and electricity in their new and remodelled homes. “We can completely design and build a new feature wall that will impress your guests,” Emile says.
“We are also capable of taking on any major commercial presentation, making exclusive statements that our clients are proud to showcase in their lobbies, boardrooms, banquet halls and dining areas,” A.J. notes.
Scotts Fireplace can create a stunning urban industrial stone wall or a contemporary feature wall, using its full range of stone mantels and panels and natural stone products, including thin brick, one of the newest trends.
“As the exclusive installer of cutting edge DaVinci Custom Fireplace natural gas units, we can give our customers something extraordinary. Six different models span up to 16’ wide and several feet high. Friendly cool touch tempered glass and a high tech air flow system with friendly touch glass means the flame system can be built right up to the glass edge,” A.J. explains. “Multi-coloured interior LED lighting increases visual impact.”
This fall, Scotts Fireplace also has the new Bellfires collection by interfocos.
“Linear gas fireplaces are a strong trend,” Emile notes. “Our clients can keep it modern with a crushed glass media or add optional driftwood logs, twigs or rocks for a natural or classic feel.”
Real wood burning fireplaces continue to be the choice of traditionalists who enjoy the authentic crackle and scent of flaming logs. “With our current collection by fireplaceXtrordinair, we can offer customers
the cleanest wood burning inserts in the world. The Flush Wood Hybrid-Fyre Technology is available in two sizes with 0.58 grams per hour emissions,” A.J. says. A Green Start Electric Igniter simplifies lighting the fire.
“Electric fireplaces have come a long way, featuring great style, low operation costs and the option of heat or no heat,” says Emile. “We’re excited about our newest linear electric fireplace, the Panorama Series by Amantii. Choose from units that are slim or deep, depending on the wall application in your indoor or outdoor space.”
All products sold by Scotts Fireplace can be installed, maintained and repaired by the company’s W.E.T.T. certified, gas licensed installers. “We do not subcontract any of our work,” Emile says. “We work with you to develop the vision and then our team does the complete project to bring it to reality.”
The project’s cost is recouped by increased value and pleasure in the home or business. “A fire feature provides money saving zone heating where you need it,” A.J. says. “It also gives you peace of mind when the power goes out during a winter storm. Depend on your wood burning or natural gas fireplace to keep you warm.”
For design inspiration and heating solutions, visit the Scotts Fireplace showroom located inside The Home Gallery at 2 N. Talbot Rd., Maidstone on the corner of Manning Road and County Road 46.
People dealing with mobility issues and disabilities can feel overwhelmed by the choices available in wheelchairs, scooters, lift chairs and other equipment required to keep them moving. “I approach every situation with the same thought: If this was my mom or dad, what would I want?” says John Fase, owner of Comfort Mobility Inc.
The Ministry of Health mandates that everyone requiring funded equipment have the choice of who they want to deal with. Choice matters. The price is set by the government, but not all service is equal. “We are the only locally owned and operated company that has a Registered Nurse on staff and sees the sale through from order to delivery and set up,” explains John.
Comfort Mobility makes house calls to d iscuss options with clients and caregivers. “My experience as a Registered Nurse for almost 30 years helps when I’m assessing our client’s challenges. I’ve always had a strong mechanical aptitude, which is useful in determining the best solution to keep the client safely mobile at home and out in the community,” John says. “I also deliver and setup all chairs I sell to ensure continuity of care for the client.”
His desire to help people regain independence led John to mobility product sales after spending 10 years assessing patients in the ER. After working as a manufacturer rep in London, John moved home to Windsor in 1999 and established one of the largest
home health care suppliers locally. He sold the business in 2014.
Realizing how much he missed interacting with people determined to overcome thei r physical challenges, John, his wife Julie and daughter Jessica launched Comfort Mobility in August, 2014. “The clients we work with want people who care about them and their families. A small family run operation works best to bring the personal touch,” says Julie.
Serving clients in Windsor-Essex County, Comfort Mobility sells, rents, delivers and maintains manual and power wheelchairs, walkers, rollat ors and scooters, as well as installs stair lifts and porch lifts.
“Quality counts when it comes to your safety. We stock only the most proven, quality safety equipment and install it properly for you,” John says.
Clients can also visit the 6,500 sq. ft. building at 2707 Temple Dr. that the Fases purchased to house their showroom, offices and service department. Products can also be viewed online at com fortmobility.ca and ordered by phone at 519-988-1234.
“We pride ourselves on answering the phone in person,” John says. Delivery in Windsor is free.
“When a client is considering getting a new wheelchair, I bring one that they can test drive at their home or long-term care facility,” John explains. He often leaves behind a free loaner. “People no longer requiring wheelchairs frequently donate theirs to us We clean and repair them, then lend them to folks while they are waiting for their custom-built chair to arrive. It’s a nice way to help people in our community while keeping useable equipment out of the landfill.”
Comfort Mobility has a full service department with two experienced Technicians to assist with equipment maintenance, repairs and installations. Jessica is the Customer Service Manage r and in charge of answering client’s questions and handling marketing and advertising. “Our commitment to the community involves a legacy plan for Jessica to take over the family business,” John explains. “It’s important to us that our clients will have continuity of care for many years to come.”
Annie Oakley’s Bar & Chophouse - Annie Oakley’s Bar & Chophouse proudly brings Leamington what it’s been missing. A high end steakhouse featuring the 38 oz Tomahawk as well as all the fan favourites.
24 Seacliffe Dr. Leamington 519-398-9759
Armando’s Belle River -Pizza made fresh from our family to yours, with all your favourite toppings. Other menu items available. Fast delivery. Located in Aspen Pla za. 1679 County Rd. 22. 519-727-0660
Billy’s Pub and Grill - 14 craft beer taps, local wines, and food made from scratch. Take the short drive to Essex and see why Billy’s was voted one of Ontario’s hidden gems. See what's on tap at billyspubandgrill.com 305 Talbot St. N., Essex 519-776-7094
Capri Pizzeria - Capri’s casual atmosphere and welcoming staff attracts a mix of diners! Come out and enjoy our great pizzas, pasta and more! 3020 Dougall Ave. 519-969-6851
Casa Mia Ristorante - Experience authentic Italian food, local wines and homemade desserts and crepes served in a casual, completely handicap accessible setting. For 22 years, chef and owner Frank Puccio has been making lunch and dinner fresh to order. Gluten free options. Closed Sunday. 523 Notre Dame St., Belle River. 519-728-2224.
Cramdon’s Tap and Eatery - South Windsor’s friendly gathering place. Offering great food at affordable prices. Satellite sports and billiards in a pub-like setting. www.cramdons.com 2950 Dougall Ave. 519-966-1228
Fratelli Pasta Grill - Offering flavour drenched “woodfire” grilled steaks, seafood and pasta dishes. A fresh and healthy selection of modern and time tested classics. Located behind McDonald’s on Man ning Rd. in Tecumseh. Takeout, catering, private parties. For reservations call 519-735-0355. www.fratellipastagrill.com
Jeff’s Fresh Meats - We make dining at home easy. Choose from one of our many ready made products: stuffed pork chop, stirfrys, cordon bleu, stuffed peppers, meat loaf.
The City Market –1030 Walker Rd. 519-967-0988
Joe Schmoe’s Eats N’ Drinks - Family friendly restaurant offering big and bold, made in-house foods you crave! Pulled pork, big mouth burgers and jumbo wings, we have something for everyone. Patio, lots of parking, sports package, 12 beers on tap. Kitchen open late.
5881 Malden Rd. (behind Rexall) 519-250-5522 www.eatatjoes.ca
Joey’s Seafood Restaurant - Family friendly
atmosphere. Locally owned and operated. Serving our Famous Fish & Chips for over 20 years. Home of the All You Can Eat Fish & Chips. Landlovers enjoy rotisserie chicken & ribs. Take out available. www.joeys.ca 245 Talbot St. W., Leamington 519-322-2660
Johnny Shotz - Tecumseh’s #1 roadhouse and home of the New Chicken Deluxe. 2 for 1 wings (Sun 1-4, all day Mon). Breakfast Sat & Sun. 38 HD screens coverin g every game, 7 pool tables & 13 beers on tap. www.johnnyshotz.com 13037 Tecumseh Rd. E. 519-735-7005.
Lux Diner - Family friendly atmosphere. Large variety of items that makes everyone happy. 1/2LB Burgers, BBQ Ribs, Halibut, Pasta, Breakfast, and our famous Broasted Chicken. Open Tuesday thru Sunday. E.C Row & Manning, Lakeshore,On 33 Amy Croft Dr. 519-735-8001
Windsor, Ontario N9A 6J3 519-974-9321
casagrandegraniteandmarble.com
Eye exams for all ages Laser surgery consultations
Ocular health exams including diabetic, glaucoma and cataracts Glasses and contact lenses
Neros Gourmet Steakhouse - Indulge in the iner things in life at Neros where modern upscale dining meets traditional steakhouse fare. Fresh, local ingredients, an incredible wine selection and superb service. caesarswindsor.com 1-800-991-7777 ext. 22481.
Parkside at Rochester Place - Newly renovated with 3000 sq ft patio with large fountain pool, incredible fire features, large outdoor lounge area, dining area, new sound system that will amaze you and a New menu that will more than impress! See what they've done!
Cty Rd. 2 in Stoney Point at Ruscom River. www.rochesterplace.com. 519-728-2361
Sandbar Steak & Seafood Restaurant - Open year round, featuring great steaks and seafood plus live entertainment Thurs., Fri. and Sat. nights in a casual atmosphere. Lots of guest boat slips off Puce River.
930 Old Tecumseh Rd., Lakeshore. 519-979-5624 w ww.sandbarpuce.com
Taza Mediterranean Grill - Enjoy a delectable variety of authentic, Lebanese-style dishes rich with flavour and traditional spices. Open to all ages, located in the Augustus Hotel lobby at Caesars Windsor, open weekdays 11 am–11 pm and 7 am on weekends. caesarswindsor.com.
Riverside Medical Centre 7875 Riverside Dr. E. 519.945.8000 guthrieoptometry.com
Tony’s Chargrill - Serving authentic Portuguese Cuisine on a real charcoal grill. House specialty is chargrilled chi cken. Offering several meat and seafood dishes grilled to perfection. Try our buffet and salad bar Thursday to Sunday Serving lunch and dinner 6 days a week. Closed Mondays. Open noon to midnight. 226-674-1200 3347 Tecumseh Rd. E. (west of Central Ave.)
For information on listings and advertising in the Bon Appetit! section please call Leslie Campbell at 519-979-3419.
MIKE CERVENI, 29, HAS BEEN A MUSICIAN for nearly 20 years – a creative music maker carrying a powerful message.
Born in London, Mike was very young when his family moved here. He went to the A.V. Graham Elementary School in Windsor, matriculated from Belle River High and attended St. Clair College where he completed a computer networking course in 2007.
His roots are embedded in an extremely musical family. His father, grandfather and many of his cousins either sing or play an instrument. Mike picked up his first guitar at the age of 11, took lessons and within five years was writing his own material. His drive followed him to adulthood and today he owns a film company that produces music and wedding videos and he has a full time job as a web developer for Sutherland Global Services.
His first album, ‘The World You Know’, was two years in the making before being released in 2010 and deals mainly with coping and getting through loss. It features 10 tracks including “On Your Mark”, “Right Now” and “A Moment”. “We all have tough times and we all go through heartache,” says Mike, “so for me, writing was a way to help get out things I couldn’t express.” In fact, he wrote “Right Now” and “A Miracle” as a tribute to his late mother at a time when she battled cancer. As he says, “it was a tough period for me. I really didn’t know how to express how I felt about
the whole situation, so I wrote two songs for my mom who was the person that pushed me to become the musician I am today and to truly believe in myself.” The album, even though it’s nearly 5 years old can still be ordered from Mike’s website, www.mikecervenimusic.com, on iTunes or by email at info@mikecervenimusic.com
In 2009 he wrote a song titled “What Would You Do” inspired by the popular ABC TV show of the same name and was designed to help raise awareness against domestic violence. He recorded it in 2013 and released it the same year at the Capitol Theatre downtown. His performance was enhanced by members of the Windsor Symphony Orche stra who accompanied the young artist. Battered victims came forward to tell their stories of abuse, while representatives of Hiatus House and Well-Come Centre attended to offer their support. According to Mike, “domestic violence seems
like it’s a hot topic in the media recently and I believe there is no better time than now to try and reach as many people as possible with this single.”
“What Would You Do” has received limited airplay on local radio stations and thanks to the web, has been heard around the world. Cerveni has received communications from abused women as far away as Great Britain and Australia who claim this is the first time they’ve told their story and praising him for bringing the message to the public.
Last month, after returning to Tecumseh from his second trip to Serbia where he has family, Mike played at the opening ceremonies of the Dragon Boat Races for the Cure in Tecumseh and appeared at this year’s Tecumseh Corn Festival. His main thrust, though, remains his charity work –he’s working closel y with the Canadian Cancer Society and is available to similar organizations to “share my music in any way I can.”
Mike is married, after, coincidentally meeting his future bride in 2012 during his first Serbian trip where he performed at the Club Underground in a small town near Belgrade. The couple has no children.
He’ll be heading to the studio for new recording sessions in September and has indicated that “What Would You Do” will be on one of the two extended play albums he intends to produce. And music lovers can expect lush orchestral arrangements blended into acoustic and electric guitars, bass and keyboards. One of the tracks titled “I Do” will have an accompanying video that was shot, during a heavy downpour in an old, broken down Serbian fortress. “It was a great opportunity to perform ove r there,” he says, “I met a lot of awesome people and can’t wait to go back. I’ve had many requests to perform at other venues, so I’m looking forward to returning in the next couple of years.”
Mike is the genuine article. He’s downto-earth and sincerely believes in the message that’s contained in his music. He does have a problem categorizing his material, but after brief consideration, he decided it could best be labelled it as ‘contemporary rock’, or even “contemporary something!”... certainly not designed for hard-rock stations. However, wherever you decide it belongs, the music is mellow and uplifting. The stuff is good enough and he’s young enough to continue developing his talents that he has the potential of becoming a musical force to be reckoned with.
“IT’S THE DETAILS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR HOME stand out from all the rest,” Jeremy Truax says. He created Truax Design Centre to introduce extraordinary construction products to homeowners, builders, architects and designers with exacting standards and exemplary taste.
“There is nothing like Truax Design Centre anywhere around here,” Jeremy believes. Clients have been responding to the selection and services with such enthusiasm that “we’re growing already, after opening just five months ago.”
“We’ve added a new bath department and have just brought in a beautiful variety of bathtubs and vanities,” Jeremy says. Newport Brass’s distinctive faucets in 27 different finishes will arrive by the end of December. “We can help you visualize your new or renovated bathroom in our bathroom vignette area, showcasing unique sculptural bathtubs from Acri-Tec and other stylish fixtures that are sure to please the most discerning customer.”
The Truax family has a long relationship with local homeowners and knows what people prefer. It all began in 1933 when Ken Truax established a construction company in Leamington. Babe and Craig Truax transitioned into the supply business in the 1970s. In 1989, Craig added a location in Kingsville, which is now the operation’s main location. Listening to builders and homeowners, Jeremy responded by adding to the family legacy with the founding of Truax Design Centre, connecting clients with a large range of select wares, conveniently under one roof.
Located at 3585 Rhodes Dr., Windsor, the showroom boasts 4,500 sq. ft. of on trend residential construction products. The section dedicated to door handles reveals the latest by Aurum Hardware, Rocky Mountain, Baldwin Reserve Hardware and other manufacturers. “There are 150 very different door handles on display, plus we have access to every other door handle imaginable,” Jeremy says.
Interior doors and trim are also important elements to consider when elevating the character of the home. “With over 40 interior doors on display, we feel we have something for everyone. We can also have doors custom made to your exact specifications,” says Jeremy. “The same goes with the trim. The Truax Design team can assist you with selecting the trim profiles and finishes that will distinguish your home as a very special place.”
The Truax Design team can also be depended upon for smart advice regarding the kitchen, the ro om regarded by many realtors as the home’s main attraction.
An investment in handsome cabinetry, hardware, countertops and fixtures can be recouped by the resulting increase in the property’s value. “In our in-house kitchen design centre, we can introduce you to stunning Canadian made kitchen cabinets and vanities,” Jeremy says.
Homebuilders are sending their own clients to Truax Design Centre to pi ck out finishes and fixtures, all in one visit. “Let our knowledgeable team walk you through every component of your home’s new build or renovation and help you make choices that are right for you,” says Jeremy.
Truax Design Centre proves that great taste can be achieved at affordable prices. Jeremy finds that “budgeting a few more dollars beyond what you would pay at a big box store can make the differ ence between your guests saying, ‘That’s nice’ and ‘Wow!’”
WINDSOR’S ONLY IN-HOUSE CERTIFIED SOMMELIER, Renee Nantais, worked her way through Poland, Korea and Canada’s west coast before returning home to Essex County four years ago. Shattering the stereotype of the snooty sommelier who looks down her nose at the guest who mispronounces Gewürztraminer, the amiable Renee is introducing people to the world of wines stocked in the glass enclosed cellar of Caesars Windsor’s signature, fine dining restaurant, Neros Steakhouse.
Born and raised in the McGregor-Amherstburg area, Renee studied Fine Arts, majoring in drawing, at the University of Windsor. She did not begin studying the art of the grape till long after graduation.
“I didn’t even start drinking till my mid-20s,” Renee says. At the time, she was living and working in Poland as an English as a Second Language teacher. Her first sips were from wine bottled in Bulgaria. “It was not good. I stuck with it because it was cheap,” she chuckles. Renee spent five years in Poland and one year in Korea as an ESL teacher. “Neither of them were wine regions.”
Her interest became more than recreational after she was hired on as a server in the Empress Room at the Fairmont Empress in Victoria, British Columbia. Surrounded by sommeliers, Renee found them to be very approachable and funny – “not what I expected sommeliers to be.”
The restaurant manager at the time, Pamela Sanderson, is also a teacher with the
International Sommelier Guild. “She was happiest in baggy jeans, no makeup and riding a horse on her farm,” Renee says. Seeing Renee’s interest in wine, Pamela showed her where to start.
From her Vancouver Island base, Renee got to know the Okanagan and Washington wine regions. She took Wine & Spirit Education Trust courses in Victoria and achieved Sommelier Awards for Level 1 and 2. After moving to Es sex County, she drove to Toronto for ISG courses to earn the Sommelier Diploma. “You really need to be dedicated to the course. Many people don’t complete it,” Renee notes.
“There are lots of facts and figures to get in your head,” says Renee. Presentation and style are also critical. “A large part of being a good sommelier is diplomacy. Personally, I believe that comes with experience. I think my artistic background helps.”
At Caesars Windsor, “my main task is maintaining the integrity of Neros’ wine cellar,” Renee explains. That involves ordering new wines, reordering those doing well, ensuring they are all properly stored and represented on the wine list. To stay abreast of up and coming wines, Renee meets with agents and participates in wine events.
The sommelier is curating a cellar with excepti onal standards. Neros Steakhouse recently received its seventh consecutive Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for 2015, one of only two Windsor restaurants to earn recognition this year from the important guide for wine lovers, collectors and connoisseurs. To be considered, a restaurant’s wine list must offer a well-chosen selection of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. Neros’ extensive wine list features over 1,000 bottles representing dozens of countries and 400 labels.
Such selection gives Renee many options when she meets with the chefs and servers to discuss the upcoming week’s menu and which wines will best suit each dish. Whenever Neros hosts a wine dinner, Renee and the chef collaborate on a set meal focused on the pairing of wine and food.
Speci alizing in prime cuts of beef, Neros’ celar is stocked with a good deal of bold Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Renee says, “I do recommend having red wine with steak, although there are some nice, full bodied Chardonnays with rich flavours that will go great. A light white will get lost and overpowered.”
Neros’ guests encounter Renee in the dining room. “Often, the wine is ordered ▼
1329 Ottawa St., Windsor, Ontario 519-254-8638
ISN’T IT TIME WE TALKED?
before the guests even decide what they are going to have for dinner,” she observes. “I feel occasionally there are missed opportunities in food and wine pairings but it’s most important to have what you enjoy.”
She tries not to overwhelm guests with information. “Sometimes I just open the wine and say, ‘Nice selection, sir.’ If they ask me questions, though, it’s hard to shut me up.”
“It’s essential to have variety, something for everyone,” Renee knows. “I like to have popular wines and wines that are more obscure and intriguing.”
Price range is also key to Neros’ successful cellar. Modestly priced wines that please guests include the $45 Andeluna Malbec from Argentina; a $71 Bordeaux from the Medoc region of Bordeaux, France; and the $70 Murphy Goode Cabernet Sauvignon from California.
For a superi or sipping experience, Renee recommends French Bordeaux wines such as the $750 1986 Chateau Latour Pauillac or the $800 1982 Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou St. Julien.
When a guest feels like splurging, the sommelier is pleased to open a $3,000 bottle of the 1997 Harlan Estates Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville, Napa Valley, California.
Whatever the price, “each wine has a different story. Each one inspires me in a different way,” Renee says.
Perhaps it is the source: “I just bought wine from Tasmania and am stoked about adding a label from that country.”
“Or it could be the vintage. The Lake Erie North Shore region is interesting because we almost lost the vines last winter. I’m excited about what they’re going to produce this year,” Renee says, predicting that the drop in grape quantity could produce even better quality.
Neros’ wine list includes local stars from Cooper’s Hawk Vineyards, Viewpointe Estate Winery, Oxley Estate Winery, Sprucewood Shores Winery, Muscedere Vineyards, Colchester Ridge Estate Winery and Colio Estate Wines. The sommelier is currently exploring other regional wineries.
Believing she is an ambassador for Essex County vineyards, Renee enthuses, “I love our wine region and the f act that it’s growing. There is such a positive vibe surrounding it.”
She applauds the passion of the winemakers and vineyard owners. “It’s not an easy industry. It’s a labour of love.” Renee reflects, “Growing up in this area, hearing a lot about layoffs in the auto industry, it’s exciting to have an industry that is going strong. I like cars – but I love wine.”
ARIES
MAR 21 - APR 20:
You may find yourself being more cautious than usual. Once bit, twice shy could be your new motto. A lot going on behind the scenes may cause you to stop and debate whether or not you want to proceed on the path you now tread. Accentuate the positive and minimize the negative.
TAURUS
APR 21 - MAY 21:
Back up computer files and documents ASAP and make sure your virus detection is up to date. You probably do that anyway. Both in your home life and in business there will be distractions that throw you off course. Be patient, focus, and prioritize.
GEMINI
MAY 22 - JUN 21:
There is an old saying from times of war, “Loose lips sink ships!” It means be careful what you say and who you say it to. You never really know who might be listening or you may accidently say the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time. Keep your thoughts to yourself.
JUN 22 - JUL 23:
Set a limit on what you spend and try to save some money for a rainy day. You are reluctant to ask for help even when you really need it. This can create a dilemma when others are afraid to offend you by offering help. You have to meet life in the middle to solve your current situation.
JUL 24 - AUG 23:
Try to remember. You cannot please all the people all the time. Having respect for others and from them is essential for you. Your ability to maintain good relationships is part of who you are. You need co-operation from others to carry on. There is a time when you say enough is enough.
AUG 24 - SEP 23:
Your mind is in over-drive. There is a clash between reality and expectation. About 70 percent of things you are worried about will never happen and you will not be able to change some things in your life. Focus on what you can do, not on what you can’t.
BY LESLIE NADON
SEP 24 - OCT 23:
You need to build a solid foundation for a place to rest and renew your sense of security and responsibility. Be careful with what you say and do. Easier said than done. Someone may be trying to steal your ideas by using social media to find out where you are and how you got there.
OCT 24 - NOV 22:
Don’t get caught up in other people’s quarrels. They will join hands and then turn on you. A little bit of practicality goes a long way. Every day you may feel like you are learning something new, contributing to your store of knowledge. That can be good, keeping your mind active.
NOV 23 - DEC 21:
One of your many ventures could turn into an actual reality leading you further down the road to success. Make a plan and follow it through, taking it one step at a time. The first step is the hardest part. But, once you have mastered that, the rest comes easy.
DEC 22 - JAN 20:
Just when you thought you had seen it all and you could relax, a new experience brings you to attention and back on board. The world is a-changing and you are one of the few who can help others live and work with the changes. You make a huge difference in the lives of others.
JAN 21 - FEB 19:
A new way, a new day helps you enjoy time spent being more active in pursuing your dreams. This is the time to create the lifestyle best suited to meeting your own hopes and expectations. Music can play a big role in your life now, whether being actively involved or just listening.
FEB 20 - MAR 20
A new opportunity could pay off big-time. By living in the here and now, you are likely to be quite successful with a new chapter in your life. Do your research! You may be pleasantly surprised at how much further you get ahead by helping those close to you in mind, spirit and ambition.
During that period, Koekstat also played in nightclubs where he won ‘a best band contest’. In fact, says Kenny, “the guy who was one of the judges said I should become a professional musician and make money at it. I took him at his word and left The Power And The Glory.”
So, while many of the players are hanging up their instruments and taking to the porch, Ken’s iconic Brand X Live continues knockin’ em dead every weekend, 52 weeks of the year. Last year at the Thunder Bay Blues Festival during a conversation with Jimmy Vaughan, the late Stevie Ray’s brother and leader of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Ken was approached by blues fest organizers inviting his group to grace the stage during this year’s Canada Day weekend event. Kenny was quick to accep t and after a 14 -hour drive to the Lakehead, his musicians took to the stage, opening for the likes of the legendary Paul Rodgers of Bad Company and Queen fame. Also on the all-star bill...The Sheep Dogs who were recently featured on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine.
AT A TIME WHEN MANY BANDS are calling it quits, either because of aging players or a lack of activity, Ken Koekstat who spent more than 33 years on the Windsor Police force, is breathing new life into an already distinguished 50+year career in music.
One of the groups in which he played in the early 1960s, The Power And The Glory, performed its final gig late last month after enjoying a resurgence in popularity for the past 21 years. Thanks to the efforts of Koekstat, the Power came out of a two decade retirement in 1994 after appearing at the first Crimestoppers’ band reunion.
With all expenses paid, Kenny says it was “simply fabulous. We had a great time....the sound was handled by professionals, the stage was carpeted and vacuumed after every act...there were towels and water...all the accoutrements of a truly firstclass operation. The Thunder Bay Blues Festival is one of the best shows of its kind in Canada –their ground transportation, their food and their accommodations are all first-ticket. No detail is overlooked. It was great to prance around on stage –and now I know what it feels like to be Mick Jagger! We threw out smiley-face beach balls which you just gotta have at a rock concert and we tossed beads into the crowd because we did some Zydeco, New Orleans style tunes for
that ‘Big Easy’ sound and we just had to have the look and sound of a blues band. We were made to feel so welcome. Believe it or not, after the show we had a meet-andgreet...long lineups of Thunder Bay folks looking for autographs and wanting to say hello and tell us how much they enjoyed the music. The Walkervilles, making huge waves internationally, performed the night before –they were awesome and what a compliment for us, because they stayed around for Sunday’s show to see us.”
But it wasn’t Brand X the fans were loving – it was the Krazy Kenny Project...or as Ken laughingly puts it: “Brand X modified! With Ken on lead guitar and supplying vocals, Owen B. Jones did his usual great job on the drums and shared vocals. Dave Willick was on bass, Wayne Lealess performed his duties on the keyboards, t he blues harp and guitar, while Dave Belch, the so-called ‘ringer’ saxophonist was called in from his home in Leamington.
For Ken Koekstat and the members of his musical entourage, “this is just the beginning!” The group is currently in the recording studio, Riggi Media of Russell Woods, putting a new CD together. When completed, it’ll contain a compilation of original music and cover tunes that have made Brand X Live one of Windsor’s most popular bands. Not looking to get rich from the project, the band will be donating proceeds from sales, likely to a children’s charity. The as yet untitled disc should be finished and in the hands of the public in the next month or so...certainly in time for Christmas. Meanwhile, Brand X is hoping to expand its horizons in the future and perform at more festivals which are scattered throughout the province.
There is no room for the word retirement in Kenny’s vocabulary. His idea of leaving your job is to do something else you love: for him, it’s music. As he has a wont to say, “how is it possible to stop doing something you love and get paid for it?” Yet, it’s not the money that drives him –it’s that itch deep down in his soul requiring him to perform, to wr ite and to attend concerts of those share their gift of music with the world. Then, there’s that unmistakable gleam in those bright blue eyes when you speak of musicians, past and present that have influenced Ken Koekstat who, for all intents and purposes, has absolutely no intention of ever growing up.
The title of “the world’s oldest living teenager”, once bestowed on the late Dick Clark, should be tr ansferred to Ken.
STORY/PHOTOGRAPHY BY DICK HILDEBRAND
ERICA FRYER CONTINUES TO AMAZE. Born on December 27th, 2000, she’s been a goalie for 8 years and for the past 4, has been recognized as one of the best netminders west of Toronto.
Three years ago her team, the West Coast Selects, won the gold medal at the World Selects Invitational in Prague, the Czech Republic and a year later the squad was invited to play in a tournament in Sweden, finishing 5th overall. Erica says the once-in-a-lifetime experience has been exciting to say the least; “I’ve met people from all over the world, made new friends and played some high-tempo hockey –it’s been a lot of fun.”
She decided not to travel last year, opting to stay at home, attend some camps and perform her goalie duties with the Lasalle Sabres AA Boys’ team, of which she had been a member for 3 years. This season, on the advice of her long-time coach Perry Wilson, Erica will be switching sides and playing with the Chatham Outlaw Midget AA Team – an all girls’ squad. Wilson, who is recognized as one of the top goalie coaches in Canada, remains behind the bench of the Junior B LaSalle Vipers, works with the University of Windsor women’s Lancers and with the Under-18 Canada women’s team.
Erica says sh e has enjoyed beating the boys at their own game, but is looking forward to being on an all-girls team.....and she’s not too concerned about the fact that most of her teammates are older than her, seeing it as a challenge to improve her skills.
Unlike most 14 year-olds, Erica has her own personal trainer. Her daily routine consists of leg work, squats, lunges, weights and exercises to increase uppe r body strength. She and her dad regularly take bike rides, while she and her younger sister, Cora, 9, run together. Cora is also involved in hockey but unlike her sister is not in goal....she laughingly considers herself a “player,” preferring to score goals rather to stop them. An older sister, Sabrina, who has since retired as a member of the silver medal winning Windsor-Essex County team that competed in the recent Children’s Games, coaches for Rose City Gymnastics.
More recently, Erica has taken up roller blading and has tried her hand at air rifle target practice. This summer she coached aspiring young goalies at the Meghan Agosta
camp, and has worked with 8 year-old Payne Oltrop at the all-girl Extra Mile Academy on the ice of the Libro Centre in Amherstburg. Payne, a student at the Ste. Je an Baptiste School, says she’s been wanting to be a goalie for about a year now. Erica, pleased with the young girl’s progress says she shows great potential.
About a year ago, the West Coast Selects were invited to participate in a tournament in Bolzano Italy, which took place last month. And, since most of the girls on the European national teams were 3 to 4 years older than Erica, the challen ges were greater than usual.
However, the Selects were up to the task, overcame those challenges and won the tournament!
Erica and her companion goalie, Gwyneth Philips of Columbus Ohio took turns in the nets, each playing half the game and showing their all-star stuff by allowing only 4 goals in 8 games of which The Selects lost one. The gold medal game against East Coast Quebec was quite the nail-biter and was decided in overtime. Quebec scored first and at the end of regulation time the score was tied at 1. The overtime p eriod featured a 3 on 3 squad and within the first 3 minutes the Selects sewed it up with the winning tally for a 2-1 victory. The Selects were coached by Manon Rheaume, a former member of Team Canada and the Tampa Bay Lightning...the only female to have ever played in the NHL.
On her return home, Erica’s only comment was...” the rules of the game are much the same as they are here in North Ameri ca, but they play a rougher game over there –it’s very aggressive, so we had to be more physical. As goalies, we can’t trip opposing players, but you’ve gotta push ‘em out if they’re in the crease and make sure it’s covered. But I was up to it. It was a blast.” The trip also gave Erica an opportunity to spend time with her aunt, her grandfather and other family members on her mother’s side, who live less than a hour from Bolzano. The family paid its own expenses, while Erica herself canvassed local businesses which helped support her trip. To them and her coach Perry Wilson, she has passed on her heartfelt thanks.
While the Selects won’t be competing in global tournaments over the next little while, Erica and the Chatham Outlaws are getting set for several events in the near future. They’ve just returned from a tournament in Stoney Creek and are now getting set for another in Detroit the end of October, followed by one in Rochester New York.
So what does the future hold for this energetic, affable athletic dynamo with the infectious smile? Obviously, Erica’s immediate goal is to finish high school (she just came out of grade 9 at Villanova with a 94% average) and after that she’s not really sure. She has considered a possible career in the medical field, or maybe go into training as a police officer. “I really don’t have a clue what I want to be, but I do know I want to play hockey. My dream is to some day compete for Team Canada in the Olympics.”
If she does maintain her present pace as an outstanding goalkeeper and keeps her positive attitude, that dream could most certainly translate into reality. WLM
When #YOUbeautymoment asked Mia Tannous what beauty means to her, she appreciated that the question is not a frivolous or shallow one. During the nine years she worked at the Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association (BANA), Mia used to connect with people whose unhealthy perceptions of what constitutes beauty are harming and threatening their very lives.
Mia reflects, “I find beauty everywhere; you can see it, hear it, feel it. Sounds cliché, but you find what you’re looking for and I try to find something beautiful in everything. Beauty to me is subjective, defining it is almost a ridiculous notion but I think what I find most beautiful is joy and peace. When I see someone happy and content, I think wow, that’s beautiful and I can’t help but smile myself.”
Sharing the voices of Windsor-Essex women aged 40 years and younger, #YOUbeautymoment strives to support them as they define and live their truth through positive, beautiful attitudes and actions.
Encountering women with body issues was a daily experience for Mia, who until recently was the Interim Health Promotion Manager at BANA. The best advice she believes she can give is: “First things first, we all have body image issues—you are not alone! I can’t think of one person who loves each and every inch of their body all the time, and that’s okay.”
“What’s
body image issues start taking over your life, when they
from doing things you want to do—that’s when we have a problem. It’s important to stop comparing yourself to everyone else; this is a sure-fire way to be miserable. Think about your body and all of the things it does for you, think of it as a tool rather than a decoration. Focus on being healthy, with the understanding that health comes in all shapes and sizes.”
Women with serious body issues can find help at BANA. “The team at BANA is a small but committed one. Working with the population that they do is challenging and it takes a dedicated group of people to do it well,” Mia observes. “I got inspired by their passion. I was also inspired by the people BANA serves, the clients and the community at large. Their openness to taking in new information and enhancing their lifestyles is amazing.”
Now age 31, Mia chose to enhance herself by working on her personal growth over the past two years. “I decided to continue my education and pursue my Master’s Degree, while continuing to work full time.” She has a bachelor’s degree in Developmental Psychology
not okay is when those
inhibit you
“Be a good person, be the best person you can be, to yourself, to everyone around you. It’s funny, when someone compliments my appearance, I say thank you and it becomes an afterthought, but when someone compliments me on who I am as a person, I really take it to heart.” –Mia
from the University of Windsor and now has a Master’s Degree in Leadership from the University of Guelph.
“In addition, I also completed the Leadership Windsor Essex program, both of which taught me a great deal about myself. I am proud of my ability to stretch beyond my bounds.”
That ability was nurtured early on within her family. “I was always raised to never accept mediocrity from myself or anyone around me. They say a comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there—I believe that in order to rise to our fullest potential we need to get a bit uncomfortable,” Mia says.
For inspiration and reassurance, she looks to her role models, her parents, “who not only exemplify but encourage moving beyond the status quo.”
“I literally have a black and white photo hanging beside my computer of my mom and dad the day they opened what is now a thriving business. It keeps me motivated!” says Mia. Another source for incentive is her community. “I was born and raised in the County—Windsor was always the BIG city to me. It seemed infinite and anything seemed possible here. I try and look at it with the same wonder now as I did back then. What’s great about Windsor is that we are small enough to really embody a sense of community but big enough to make things happen. The people in Windsor and Essex County are eager to learn and engage and grow and I think that is the key to any great community. It’s allowed me to feel like I can make a difference and build upon the many successes we currently enjoy here.”
One way Mia feels she can make a difference is through volunteerism. She is a member of the Patient and Family Advisory Committees for the Erie St Clair Regional Cancer Program and Cancer Care Ontario. “I am very passionate about bringing the patient and family voice where it can be best heard and utilized,” she says.
To those who let their lack of self-assurance sidetrack their potential, Mia says, “If you want to feel better about yourself, stop looking for something outside of you. Find your voice and use it, be assertive—that is the best way to build your confidence. There is no feeling more liberating than expressing yourself, whatever that means for you. Being confident doesn’t mean you feel certain everyone will like you or that you’ll ace whatever you’re doing, it means that even if they don’t and even if you fail—that’s okay. That doesn’t change who you are. WLM
Saturday, 26
RUTHVEN
Till Sunday, Sept. 27. The bounty of Essex County and simple country pleasures are in abundance at the Ruthven Apple Festival, one of the top ranked festivals in Ontario. The weekend is jam packed with a parade, musical entertainment, rides and games for children, the Apple Festival Car Show, over 100 craft and food vendors and the Farmers Market, where locally produced food can be bought and brought home. Admission and parking to the family event are free. The fun begins at 10:30 am, Sat. and 9 am, Sun. at Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens, 1550 Rd. 3 E., Ruthven. Funds raised benefit Community Living Essex County in support of people with intellectual disabilities. 519-776-6483, ext. 246 communitylivingessex.org.
Cyclists can pedal with a purpose in the Canada South Coast Bike Tour, raising funds that will be used to construct the Essex-Amherstburg Greenway Trail. Participants can cycle in a 12 km, 32 km or 70 km ride on the Greenway or tour the region and stop at some of the local Conservation Areas on the 58 km or 110 km road routes. Entry fee is $25 to $35 per person. 519-776-5209 or raceroster.com.
Benefiting the social recreation program at Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario, the Dinah Kerr Walk ’N Roll gets people moving for a great cause. Participants can walk or ride in the annual event, taking place in Malden Park at 4200 Malden Rd., Windsor. Registration is at 9 am. The actual walk starts at 10 am and is over an hour later, in time for lunch and festivities. Please contact Karen Boal at 519-9 69-8188, ext 229 or KarenBoal@alsogroup.org for information.
Everyone is encouraged to take steps and join the Kidney Walk to help one in 10 Canadians living with kidney disease. Monies raised will aid research, programs and services. The top six fundraising teams’ donations will be matched up to $25,000 by Domino’s Pizza of Canada Ltd. The Kidney Foundation, Windsor & District
BROCHERT DRAPERY
JEFFERSON BLVD., WINDSOR
DECORATING IDEAS 3059 DOUGALL AVENUE, WINDSOR 519-966-7102
Chapter invite families to participate and be entertained by Rosie the Clown, Mad Science of Windsor and more. It all happens at the Leamington Kinsmen Recreation Complex at 249 Sherk St. Register at kidneywalk.ca or phone 519-977-9211.
Saturday, 3
ALL HALLOWS
The history, both heartwarming and chilling, of Canadian Thanksgiving and Halloween, are revealed at the Park House Museum through candle making, baking, weaving, spinning, print shop and tinsmithing demonstrations, ghost stories, games, vintage decorations and more.
Visitors can make their own candles and purchase small snacks for additional cost. Admission to the All Hallows Eve (Halloween) and Thanksgiving Festival is $3 per person; tots aged two and younger are admitted free. The event is from 11 am to 4 pm at 214 Dalhousie St., Amherstburg. 519-736-2511 or parkhousemuseum.com.
Harvest time is always busy on farms. The John R. Park Homestead is demonstrating how things used to be done back in the pioneer’s day. Ghost stories will be told in the attic while throughout the historic house and farm, visitors can be engaged in corn husk crafts, cider and sausage making, seed saving and more. They will also encounter beautiful, hardworking horses that were vital to harvesting 200 years ago. The Harvest and Horses Festival is from noon to 4 pm at 915 County Rd 50 E., Essex. Adult admission is $6; child 3 to 16 years is $4; $20 family maximum. 519-738-2029 or erca.org.
BOOKFEST WINDSOR
Till Sunday, Oct. 18. Authors Nino Ricci and Lawrence Hill will be launching their new books and Rampike magazine will release its final edition during BookFest Windsor, Southwestern Ontario’s only literary festival. BookFest examines and celebrates great stories through a unique literary and artistic series of author readings, panel discussions, drama, music, visual arts and more. This page turning event is at The Capitol Theatre, 121 University Ave. W., Windsor. 519-253-7639 or bookfestwindsor.com.
Friday, 16
HOCKTOBERFEST: INTERNATIONAL FEMALE HOCKEY FESTIVAL
Till Sunday, Oct. 18. Exciting sports action
is taking place on ice rinks throughout Windsor and surrounding communities during Hocktoberfest: International Female Hockey Festival. Spectators enjoy free admission to the eighth annual event that showcases the players’ talents in competitive hockey games. 519-816-8235 or hocktoberfest.com.
Till Sunday, Oct. 18. People flock to the annual Kingsville Migration Festival that honors migration, heritage and the conservation legacy of internationally acclaimed Jack Miner in his hometown, Kingsville. Canada Geese and other wild birds are the star attractions. Visitors can also take in the flying raptor show, Jack Miner reading, OPP pumpkin carving, woodcarving show, parade, art and photography competitions, youth duck calling contest, Essex Retriever Club do g show and for a price, plenty of opportunities to eat hearty. Admission is free to events in town and at Jack Miner’s Bird Sanctuary, 360 Rd. 3 W., Kingsville. 519-733-2123 or migrationfestival.ca.
The Hut is celebrating its 90th anniversary with an open house on Thurs., Oct. 22nd and an anniversary banquet on Sat., Oct. 24th. The open house will showcase the history of The Hut since its early beginnings, before the Royal Canadian Legion was founded. Veterans will be on hand to tell their stories and vintage army vehicles will be on display at RCL Branch 12, 2090 Brant St., Windsor. 519-256-3366.
Till Sunday, Oct. 25. The Windsor Orchid Society is hosting its annual Orchid Show & Sale, unveiling hundreds of o rchids and a weekend packed with lectures, a photography workshop, artwork and photography displays and repotting demonstrations, all centred on the orchid. Vendors and exhibitors are coming from as far as Ecuador. Now at its new location at the Columbus Center of South Windsor, 2401 Columbus Dr., the event starts at 11 am and concludes at 5 pm, Sat. and 4 pm, Sun. A special photographers’ session is sch eduled for 9 to 11 am, Sun. Admission is $6 per adult; children age 12 years and younger are admitted free with adult accompaniment.
Facebook or windsororchidsociety.ca.
