Windsor Life Magazine February/March 2019

Experience excellenceEXPERIENCE ESTEEM

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Good hearing is essential to living a full, enjoyable life. Yet hearing loss affects a large number of Canadians – more than 1 million adults. Hearing loss is one of the fastest growing and prevalent chronic conditions in Canada.

Symptoms of Hearing Loss include:

•Difficulty understanding certain parts of words

•Frequently asking others to repeat themselves

•Turning the television or radio volume up higher than most others would find comfortable

•Difficulty understanding words in noisy environments

•Trouble hearing certain people like women or children

Your Hearing Test:

A hearing test is painless and simple to take. The audiologist will take a detailed case history. They will then look into your ears to check for things like excessive wax or other issues, then check on your middle ear status using specialized equipment called tympanometry. This can tell us if there are other abnormalities like fluid in the ear or a perforated eardrum for example. The hearing test itself consists of earphones worn where the patient presses a button whenever they hear tones. These tones vary in pitch and intensity, but are softer than the level of conversational speech. The test can tell us many things about your hearing, including whether it is a permanent or medically treatable type of loss. The results are explained in a way that applies to the person’s lifestyle in terms of the particular difficulties that type or severity of loss might affect the patient. Treatment options are discussed and recommendations/other referrals may be made at that time.

People are always interested to find out what things they would have particular trouble hearing. It is always good to have regular hearing tests as hearing loss occurs so gradually over time that it can be difficult to perceive a decrease.

13310 Lanoue Street, Tecumseh (behind McDonalds on Manning Rd)

499 Notre Dame Street, Belle River (located in the Community Support Centre)

Tina Stafferton

DOCTOR OF AUDIOLOGY

Donna Ellis PATIENT COORDINATOR

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019

VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2

PUBLISHER/EDITOR Robert E. Robinson

CONTRIBUTING Karen Paton-Evans

WRITERS Leslie Nadon

Dick Hildebrand

Kim Willis

Kevin McCabe

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Carol Garant

ART DIRECTOR Michael Pietrangelo

PRODUCTION George Sharpe

PHOTOGRAPHERS Sooters Photography

Dick Hildebrand

Mai Tilson

Karolina Turek

Kevin McCabe

Karen Paton-Evans

John-Paul Bonadonna

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WINDSOR LIFE MAGAZINE

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Windsor Life Magazine is published by Campbell McGregor Garant Publishing Incorporated. Articles and art may not be reprinted without written permission from the publishers. The publishers assume no responsibility to return unsolicited editorial or graphic material. Windsor Life Magazine is a registered trademark of Campbell McGregor Garant Publishing Incorporated, Suite 318-5060 Tecumseh Road East, Windsor, Ontario N8T 1C1. Telephone (519) 979-5433, Fax (519) 979-9237. All rights reserved. ISSN 11955694. Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 43512513.

Windsor Life Magazine is published 8 times per year. Mailed delivery in Canada is available for $40.00 per year including H.S.T. A $150.00 charge is required for mail delivery anywhere outside of Canada. Send cheque along with address information to Windsor Life Magazine, 318-5060 Tecumseh Road E., Windsor Ontario, N8T 1C1.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

Retirement, Succession Plans: “Must Haves” for Business Owners

If you own a business, you may well follow a “do it now” philosophy — which is, of course, necessary to keep things running smoothly. Still, you also need to think about tomorrow — which means you’ll want to take action on your own retirement and business succession plans.

Fortunately, you’ve got some attractive options in these areas. For example, you could choose a retirement plan that offers at least two key advantages: potential tax-deferred earnings and a wide array of investment options. Plus, some retirement plans allow you to make tax-deductible contributions.

In selecting a retirement plan, you’ll need to consider several factors, including the size of your business and the number of employees. If you are looking to create a retirement plan for yourself, (and your spouse, if employed by the business), you may wish to consider an Individual Pension Plan (IPP). If you would like to set up a plan for your employees as well, you might want to investigate a group RRSP or Defined Profit Sharing Plan (DPSP). Your financial advisor, working with plan design professionals and your tax advisor, can help you analyze the options and choose the plan that fits with your combined personal and business goals.

Now, let’s turn to business succession plans. Ultimately, your choice of a succession plan strategy will depend on many factors, such as the value of your business, your need for the proceeds from the sale of the business for your retirement, your successor, and how well your business can continue without you. If your goal is to keep the business within the family, you’ll need to consider how much control you wish to retain (and for how long), whether you wish to gift or sell, how you balance your estate among your heirs, and who can reasonably succeed you in running the business.

Many succession planning techniques are available, including an outright sale to a third party, a sale to your employees or management (at once or over time), or the transfer of your business within your family through sales or gifts during your life, at your death or any combination thereof.

Many succession plans include a buy-sell agreement. Upon your death, such an agreement could allow a business partner or a key employee to buy the business from your surviving spouse or whoever inherits your business interests. To provide the funds needed for the partner or employee (or even one of your children) to purchase the business, an insurance policy could be purchased.

Your estate plan — including your will and any living trust — should address what happens with the business, in case you still own part or all of it at your death. The best-laid succession plans may go awry if the unexpected occurs. All these business succession options can be complex, so before choosing any of them, you will need to consult with your legal and financial advisors.

Whether it’s selecting a retirement plan or a succession strategy, you’ll want to take your time and make the choices that are appropriate for your individual situation.

You work extremely hard to run your business — so do whatever it takes to help maximize your benefits from it.

Insurance and annuities are offered by Edward Jones Insurance Agency (except in Québec). In Québec, insurance and annuities are offered by Edward Jones Insurance Agency (Québec) Inc. In Québec, our Financial Advisors are known as Investment Advisors. Edward Jones, its employees and Edward Jones advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. Please consult your lawyer or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.

Member – Canadian Investor Protection Fund

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

DESIGN WITH PURPOSE

Publisher’s Note

As I write this, we are 19 days into the new year and the area’s first measurable snow is falling. Since most of us have already forgotten our resolutions, much less followed them, we might as well start spring planning.

Windsor Life’s first issue of the year is always dedicated to health, wealth and education – three components vital to us personally and our community at large. Accordingly, our pages are filled with articles and ads that inform readers about advancements in wellness solutions, finance tips and modern learning options.

People often save this issue as a resource for whenever they require local services in the coming months. Although ours is a tight community, not everyone has an aunt in accounting, a brother who is a nurse or a good friend who teaches to help with personal matters.

It is our hope here at Windsor Life that the information you glean from reading our material will help you make good choices – perhaps even help you stay on track with the goals you set for this year.

Throughout 25 years of publishing Windsor Life, I have always found it gratifying when someone calls or emails me to ask, “Bob, do you know a great company that can help me with…? I read about somebody local in the magazine a while ago.”

Advance planning is simpler when you already know who to call or where to go for professional assistance.

Our next issue focuses on homes and home improvement. The third issue highlights outdoors and recreation. Perhaps these will provide the insight you need to create your ideal kitchen, find your new home, take up a fun way to get fit, explore the great outdoors in your own backyard or go on that trip topping your bucket list.

The quieter winter months offer opportunity to focus on what truly matters. Remember, despite the white stuff piling up outside, Spring is closer than we think.

Sincerely,

Bob Robinson

In This Issue

The Greater Windsor Area was a bustling community when five Sisters of Hôtel-Dieu of Montreal arrived in 1888. They immediately set about their mission to establish Windsor’s first hospital. Today, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare is celebrating 130 years of service. This issue of Windsor Life follows its evolution and shares many other local stories.

The hospital’s cardiac services are supported annually by the Bob Probert Ride, a motorcycle poker run held in honour of the late NHL enforcer and Windsorite. Geordie Day is launching Tough Guy, a new documentary on Bob, using, among other sources, tapes recorded by his mother Kirstie McLellan Day, who co-authored Bob’s autobiography, Tough Guy: My Life on the Edge.

Ottavia Lepera of LaSalle has captured the fashion world’s attention with her beauty and ability to interpret style.

Check out preparations for Say Yes to the Prom Dress, a fun annual event hosted by New Beginnings that ensures young women who find the costs of attending prom prohibitive can obtain free gowns.

Windsor Life writer Kevin McCabe retraces the journey of the sedan in all its configurations and reflects on its current direction.

Race car driver Josh Indig knows where he is headed: To the Legends series finish line and the pro winners’ podium. We catch up with the young Belle River racer.

A summer road trip that my husband, Jim, and I took to the Maritimes last summer is recounted in these pages.

Marianas Trench is coming to The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor on Mar. 6. Lead guitarist Matt Webb tells us about the band’s new music and how the Vancouver quartet fuels their creativity.

Four local youngsters age 8 to 15 years old plus a musical dad are playing classic rock all over Windsor-Essex County. Meet the talented band, Leave Those Kids Alone, in this issue.

In Look Who’s Cooking at Home, Amber Hunter updates her family’s Indian recipes. The busy working mom whips up Tikka Masala Pizza and other spicy treats. Perfect to take the chill off a cold winter day.

Happy reading!

Karen Paton-Evans

JOE AND LARISSA PAPIA are very proud to announce that these exclusive wooded home sites are available to build your dream house, within walking distance to Sacred Heart Elementary Catholic School and LaSalle Elementary Public School and close to Sandwich Secondary School.

Joe Papia states, “These Prime Executive lots are just a short distance to golf courses, recreational centres, parks, marinas, restaurants, grocery and retail stores as well as close to border crossings.”

Kenwood Estates is extremely attractive because of its location. “Its right in the Heart of LaSalle and the Town’s parks and trails network.”

Located at the crossroads of Kenwood Boulevard and Mayfair Avenue, the 8-acre parcel of land, officially named Kenwood Estates, extends east to Gilbert Avenue. “My Company, J Papia Excavating, recently began servicing the lots slated for single family houses,” Joe says. These exclusive single family home sites are priced from $225,000 with home construction slated to begin in the spring.

“It is gratifying to be the developer of Kenwood Estates and to see a new neighbourhood taking shape.”

Joe and Larissa Papia

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAI TILSON

Ottavia LEPERA

LaSalle Native Modelling Career Takes Off

OTTAVIA LEPERA NEVER IMAGINED that her love of selfies would lead to a professional modelling career. However, at just 25 she has now been signed to a professional modelling agency and has done photo shoots for Macy’s, Forever 21 and Nordstrom.

Lepera is a LaSalle native who graduated from Villanova High School. She is currently enrolled in the Esthetics program at St Clair College.

It started for Lepera when a photographer named Dana

Brushy contacted her on Facebook. “It was my second time in front of a camera. After that shoot she insisted I send the photos she had taken for me to different Plus agencies and I could not believe the response I had received! Just a couple weeks after that shoot I was signed.”

Originally, Lepera signed with Heffner Managements Plus Division in Seattle and Models 1 plus division in London. She is now represented by Folio based in Montreal.

STORY BY KIM WILLIS

“To be in London for a month at the age of 18 is something I will never forget, What a dream! Most importantly I have never felt more comfortable in my own skin. Never in my dreams growing up did I think I was going to be a model of any sort! I was made fun of for my size and now here I am embracing ALL of my curves. For me the most important thing I will get out of this is to make women and young girls realize that beautiful women come in all shapes and sizes. I wish when I was growing up I had a curvy model Icon to look up to and I’m so proud to be one of these women.”

Although her career is “taking off” now, she admits there was a lot of challenges in reaching her goal. Ottavia is considered a “plus-size” model. As such, she was made fun of at school and getting into a profession where size 0 is the norm can be daunting

This message was reinforced when she visited a modelling agency in Toronto at the age of 16.

“The agency told me that I was beautiful, but I needed to lose 40 pounds.”

While the message was discouraging, Lepera was determined not to give up. And since that meeting in London she has never looked back. She ended up having five to six agencies fighting for her contract. Ultimately she signed with Heffner Management in Seattle.

“She recently returned from a photo shoot in Montreal where she modelled for Joe Fresh. An experience she says was “absolutely amazing.”

One of the greatest highlights for her to date was working with Ashely Graham, a plus-sized American model who has appeared

Ottavia Lepera's love of selfies has blossomed to a professional modeling career where she celebrates her curves and inspires others. She invites people to follow her on Instagram (@ottavialepera) where she posts about her journey as a curv model and loving her body and herself.

on the cover of fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, and Elle.

At just 25 years of age, Lepera recognizes the responsibility that comes with both modelling and being a plus-sized model.

“Just be genuine to yourself. It’s an honour to be part of inclusivity. I’ve also realized that it’s ok to not feel ok all of the time. I’m human too and have good days and bad days.”

Not surprisingly, Lepera is fully supportive of the move towards greater use of plussized models across all forms or marketing and advertising.

“We need to lose the stigma about plus sized-models. We work out and eat well just like other models. In addition, plus-sized models tend to have a longer career in the industry,”

Although the majority of women are not a size 0, the fashion industry has traditionally shown this to be the norm. It is only recently that mainstream media and stores have increased the use of plus-sized models.

Lepera is a true inspiration to thousands of her social media followers. She is appealing both for her beauty along with her honesty.

She recently posted, “Jean shopping with my Momma used to be a nightmare usually ending in tears. Over the years I have found confidence and love for my body, but it is still a BATTLE some days and it’s OKAY. Social media is a great place to post about the positive and good vibes but we all have our days where things are not all rainbows and sunshine. My Instagram goal for 2019 is to share more of myself at all times. It’s okay to not be okay. Keep your head up and shine on.”

Lepera still lives at home with her family and is committed to her schooling. Once she has completed the esthetics program she plans to take the medical esthetics program at St. Clair College.

There are ebbs and flows with the modelling industry. A lot of time you’re waiting for the phone to ring and before you know it you’re on a plane to London or Germany.

Lepera is also waiting on her U.S. Visa that will open up additional opportunities for her career.

“To be a glam woman to me means feeling confident in your own skin at any shape or size. It means a lot to me because growing up I never had confidence. Ever since I began full-figured modeling, I’ve learned to love my body for what it is and that it’s possible to find a pair of jeans that fit.”

Caring For Your Medical and Cosmetic Needs

CORAL MEDICAL HEALTH SPA is a dedicated team of health professionals who strive for clinical excellence in the area of age prevention, wellness, relaxation and health promotion. Our facility offers a wide variety of services from our three main departments: Age Prevention, Medical Cosmetic and Complete Day Spa. Coral is owned and directed by Dr. Zoia Sherman, M.D., who is certified in the latest non-surgical cosmetic procedures including Mole & Skin tag removal, TEOSYAL & Juvederm Natural Fillers and BOTOX® Cosmetic.

Using a wide range of natural fillers from Juvederm and TEOSYAL, Dr. Sherman prides herself on the ability to use what is best suited for every patient with an injection method that results in less pain, less swelling and minimal bruising for your best looking results! Afterwards, you can quickly resume normal activities, such as going back to work the same day.

Coral’s team is also certified in laser and Intense Pulse Light treatments. This includes treatments for hair removal, rosacea, sun damaged skin and spider veins. An impressive range of lasers are used, from the Cynosure Apogee Elite, to the LUTRONIC SpectraVRM III Dual Mode Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser which fades and erases tattoos, acne scars, Melasma (commonly known as pregnancy mask), rosacea, freckles, age spots and other skin pigmentations. The Spectra Q-Switched system removes whole tattoos

Similar to microdermabrasion, the OxyGeneo exfoliates the skin to remove dull and dead skin cells.

The OxyGeneo cleanses the skin while infusing nutrient-rich active NeoRevive® or NeoBright® ingredients.

By producing CO2 bubbles, aphysiological response sends oxygenrich blood to the area.

in all colours of the spectrum; it also tightens pores and resurfaces the skin, giving an immediate glow.

Other services done at the spa include Dermalogica Facials & Chemical Peels, Dermasweep MD Microdermabrasion, Registered & Relaxation Massage, Waxing, LED Teeth Whitening, Pedicures & Manicures (with OPI Polish or Gel Color) and the Oxygeneo 3-in-1 Oxygen Facial!

This state of the art oxygen facial has the exfoliation benefits of microdermabrasion plus deep facial rejuvenation with the infusion of essential revitalizing nutrients and healing skin oxygenation from within. OxyGeneo treatments are suitable for all skin types – any ethnicity and pigmentation, sensitive skin and even for those who keloid (scar) and couldn’t otherwise have abrasion treatments. Its breakthrough OxyGeneo Technology provides superior anti-aging results by treating the skin at a deeper level.

This past year, Coral was pleased to announce their latest additions to the cosmetic service menu: Medical Microneedling, the Under Chin Fat Treatment and the Mesoline Hair Regrowth Treatment! You asked for it, so we brought it on!

Our team will also guide patients in nutrition and weight loss using a program based on nutritional support, supplements and supportive counselling. Also, due to popular demand are now offering the Keto diet!

“To access professional medical or skin care services or simply enjoy a little pampering, make an appointment at Coral Medical Health Spa,” says Dr. Sherman. “Our wellness team is going to take good care of you.”

1. Exfoliate

2. Infuse

3. Oxygenate

SOUTH WINDSOR HEARING Advanced Solutions for Better Hearing

The current generation of hearing aids combines new technology and greater convenience to enhance day to day living.

“The physiological aspects of hearing cannot be changed; however, with this new technology, many people find communication easier,” observes audiologist Neesha Dunkley, who co-owns South Windsor Hearing with audiologist Allison Stevenson.

“Matching an individual’s lifestyle with appropriate aids and products is important,” Allison says. “One advancement is rechargeable batteries lasting up to three years. Freed from changing small batteries, aids are placed in a charger overnight and can be used for most of the day.”

Phonak and Siemens hearing aids feature lithium-ion inductive charging. As soon as the hearing aids are placed in the contactless, inductive charger, they start recharging automatically. Five hours later, the aids are dehumidified and fully charged for 24 hours’ use.

Active people appreciate the charger’s compatibility with various power packs that connect via the micro USB standard used by mobile devices.

Widex’s EVOKE hearing aid is made for iPhones, with Bluetooth connectivity, creating ideal listening conditions everywhere. The customizable iPhone app puts you in control.

“In addition to Phonak, Siemens and Widex, we work with other manufacturers, including Oticon, GN Resound and Unitron,” Neesha says. “There are many options to suit your hearing needs, lifestyle and budget.”

With over 25 years of experience as audiologists in the Windsor area, Allison and Neesha have helped countless patients hear better. One in six Canadians has a hearing, speech or language disorder.

In fact, 47% of people age 48 to 85 have hearing loss. “Up to one in five Canadian elementary school students also experiences temporary, mild hearing loss from infections or middle ear fluid,” says Neesha. More alarming is approximately 12% of Americans age six to 19 have noise-induced hearing loss, according to the American Academy of Audiology. Children with unaddressed mild to moderate hearing loss perform one to four grade levels lower than students with normal hearing.

“It’s important to create a listening-friendly environment at home and school,” Allison says. Unnecessary sound can be lessened by closing windows and doors, turning off noisy equipment, hanging sound-absorbing cork, felt and other material on the walls and placing desks at an angle to the walls. “A sound amplification system can ensure the teacher’s voice will be heard.”

“At any age, hearing loss alters your brain and causes challenges with auditory attention, memory and comprehension. Untreated, it can continue to reduce your hearing and processing abilities,” says Neesha.

A decline in a person’s hearing capabilities are frequently noticed first by a relative, friend, teacher or co-worker. “Sometimes people get defensive when someone suggests they should get their hearing tested,” Allison notes. “There is no reason to feel embarrassed. Visiting an audiologist should be a regular part of everyone’s personal wellness plan, like seeing your dentist and optometrist.”

No referral is required to book an appointment with South Windsor Hearing, an independent private practice clinic that opened eight years ago. “Make 2019 the year you check your hearing. Let us help you communicate better,” says Allison.

“Modern hearing solutions let people hear like never before,” Neesha says. “We invite you to South Windsor Hearing for a consultation.”

EYEWARES OF WINDSOR

Enabling Clients to Embrace Eyeglass Fashion and Function

Resigned to the reality that she needed to start wearing eyeglasses in midlife, Dessa Kaspardlov decided, “Since I have to, I want my glasses to be cool and fun. I want them go with my shoes!”

That was approximately 15 years ago. When asked how many pairs are currently in her eyewear wardrobe, the LaSalle woman began counting. There are so many, Dessa won’t confess to the total.

She got every pair at Eyewares of Windsor.

Serendipity and hunger introduced Dessa to the big eyeglass boutique owned by opticians John and Sue Walker. As she was leaving a restaurant, her attention was caught by a display window next door, showcasing stylish frames.

Upon entering Eyewares of Windsor, Dessa, for the first time, felt excited about wearing glasses.

“Everyone on staff is so helpful, knowledgeable and accommodating,” she says. Sue became her personal consultant, fitter and optician. “As she got to know me, Sue knew what would appeal to me. She brings in glasses for me, fun things in funky colours,” Dessa says. Never feeling obligated to purchase, “I didn’t know I wanted them until Sue showed them to me.”

Happy with every choice, Dessa says, “When my prescription changes, many times I just have the lenses changed because I like the frames. Eyewares has changed the lenses three times in my favourite pair of sunglasses. That saves me money.”

Designer labels don’t influence her decision, although Dessa loves the numerous Prada frames in her wardrobe. “I buy frames because I think they are different and interesting,” says the founder and CEO of Kaspardlov & Associates.

Perusing her collection of plastic and metal frames, Dessa’s eye is drawn to teal, white with rhinestones, tortoiseshell, blue and red two-tone, clear with rhinestones down the side, purple, gold, black and several shades of blue. “I don’t have a favourite pair,” she maintains.

Initially disappointed she wasn’t a candidate for laser eye surgery, Dessa has embraced the fashionable opportunities that eyeglasses offer. The outfit she is wearing or the specific task she is undertaking determines which pair to wear each day.

As great as her frames look, even more important is how well they enable Dessa to see. “Every prescription is perfect,” she says. When interpreting her prescription for progressive lenses, “Sue is very careful to put the break point between the upper and lower lens in the right configuration. There is never an adjustment period when I get a new pair.”

After telling Sue about her vision challenges when playing golf, Dessa was pleased with Eyeware’s solution. “I need to be able to see the score card and the flag without taking my glasses on and off. They adjusted the prescription in several pairs of my sunglasses, modifying the distance and close up so I don’t need to wear progressives to play.”

“I get a lot of compliments on my glasses,” Dessa says. “When I was having my eyes tested by the optometrist next door to Eyewares, I had on my purple and red glasses. A lady asked me where I got them.” Dessa pointed her to the Walkers’ boutique, confident she would be well treated.

The uplifting feeling that accompanies the purchase of new glasses is always fresh for Dessa. “It’s like getting a new pair of shoes – you want to wear them out of the store!”

IN A RECENT SURVEY of Canadian homeowners, only four in 10 respondents were confident they would have enough savings to maintain their lifestyle when they retire. 1One reason may be that, for many, a significant portion of their wealth at retirement is tied up in their home. And selling their house to free up that money simply isn’t what they want to do.

If that sounds like your situation, you may want to consider accessing the equity in your home to help boost your retirement income. One of the most common ways to do this is through a secured line of credit (also called a home equity line of credit). A secured line of credit lets you borrow what you need, when you need it, at a very favourable interest rate because your loan is secured, or guaranteed, by your home.

In addition to helping you stay in your home longer, there are other potential advantages. When you access your home equity:

Your withdrawals are tax-free, unlike withdrawals from registered accounts such as Registered Retirement Savings Plans and Registered Retirement Income Funds

You may be able to avoid cashing out other investments and locking in losses when markets are volatile

You can ensure ready availability of funds to meet unexpected home or health care expenses

You can reduce the cost of other debts by transferring those balances to the secured line of credit (if the interest rate is lower than your other loans)

Keep in mind that you may need to have enough cash flow from other sources to cover the monthly interest payments on the secured line of credit. To protect yourself and keep interest costs from becoming a burden, it’s a good idea to put a cap on the amount you borrow – for example, 20 per cent of the value of your home.

Your home is an important asset that should figure in your overall retirement planning. Schedule a no-cost appointment with me to find out how well this approach fits your personal situation. And plan to enjoy your retirement knowing that reaching this milestone with less saved than you hoped for doesn’t necessarily mean you need to sell the home you love. ■

Barbara Allen, HBA, CFP, CDFA Senior Financial Advisor

12016 Manulife Bank Homeowner Debt Survey, www.manulifebank.ca/debtresearch. The Manulife Bank of Canada poll surveyed 2,373 Canadian homeowners in all provinces between the ages of 20 and 59 with household income of more than $50,000. The survey was conducted online by Research House between February 3 and February 20, 2016. National results were weighted by province, income and age.

*The Manulife Bank 3.00% Registered Advantage Account and Tax-Free Advantage Account Interest Offer is available to new and existing clients. New Eligible clients; a new application for a Registered Advantage Account and/or a Tax-Free Advantage Account

associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Any amount that is allocated to a segregated fund is invested at the risk of the contractholder and may increase or decrease in value. Manulife, the Block Design, the Four Cube Design, and Strong Reliable Trustworthy Forward-thinking are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it, and by its affiliates under licence.

Accessing your home equity can help boost your retirement income, ease pressure on your pensions and investments, and help you stay put.

© 2016 Manulife. The persons and situations depicted are fictional and their resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental. This media is for information purposes only and is not intended to provide specific financial, tax, legal, accounting or other advice and should not be relied upon in that regard. Many of the issues discussed will vary by province. Individuals should seek the advice of professionals to ensure that any action taken with respect to this information is appropriate to their specific situation. E & O E. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be

MARIANAS TRENCH

Dropping into Windsor to Suspend Gravity

STORY BY KAREN PATON-EVANS PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAROLINA TUREK

“TIME TO DUST OFF THE SHINY PANTS and stretch out the glutes, the Trench is back,” says Matt Webb.

The lead guitarist of Marianas Trench is eager to get on the road and reconnect with fans during the band’s Suspending Gravity tour traveling throughout North America. The show for all ages kicks off at The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor at 8 pm on Wed., Mar. 6th.

With 15 years’ worth of band hits and fan favourites to select for their playlist, the Vancouver quartet will also be revealing a sheaf of new songs from their upcoming album while on tour.

Comprised of Matt, drummer Ian Casselman, bassist Mike Ayley and frontman Josh Ramsay, Marianas Trench is known for its clever lyrics and catchy tunes. The sound originates with Josh, who was a teenager when he founded the band, named after a trench in the Pacific Ocean, the deepest natural point in the world.

Starting out, Josh had the DNA and access to professional equipment to evolve as a singer, guitarist, producer and lyricist. His father, Miles Ramsay, co-founded Little Mountain Sound recording studio in Vancouver and wrote the A&W root beer theme and other jingles. Josh’s mother sang backup for Leonard Cohen and was a vocal coach to Bryan Adams, AC/DC’s Brian Johnson and other superstars.

Proud Canadians, Marianas Trench are coming to The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor to launch their Suspending Gravity tour in North America. The opening act also waves the maple leaf: platinum-certified, break out Canadian duo Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine.

Below from left: Mike Ayley, Matt Webb, Josh Ramsay and Ian Casselman of Marianas Trench.

Marianas Trench grabbed Canada’s attention in 2006 with their debut album, Fix Me. It scored hit singles with Say Anything and Shake Tramp.

Chart toppers kept on coming with the release of singles Rhythm Of Your Heart, Haven’t Had Enough and Who Do You Love.

Sales of their records, Masterpiece Theatre and Ever After, went certified double platinum. An impressive number of their singles have gone gold and platinum-certified, such as Cross My Heart, All to Myself, Desperate Measures and Stutter.

Recognized as true Canadian stars, Marianas Trench has received several JUNO Award nominations and won the 2013 JUNO Award for Group of the Year.

Their bold look and dynamic showmanship prompt fans to wonder what the band will do next. Several of their standout videos have ranked number one on MuchMusic and won multiple MuchMusic Video Awards.

While they love creating new music in studio, the hard-working band thrives on touring, headlining in Canada, the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Matt paused in his preparations to chat with Windsor Life.

WL: You will be on the road with your Suspending Gravity Tour in North America from this March to May. The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor is your first stop. When you hit the stage on Wed., Mar. 6, what do you have in store for your audience?

MW: “Well, after a year of hibernating in the studio, we’re thrilled to be getting back on the road. March 6th in Windsor marks the live debut of Phantoms, the beginning of the touring cycle. We’ll be playing a whole bunch of new songs from the new record, as well as all the ol’ standards. I can’t wait. I guess we better start rehearsing ;)”

WL: A lot of your time in 2018 was spent in studio, working on your forthcoming album, Phantoms. Fans got a taste of your hard work with the release of your new single and accompanying video, I Knew You When. Is there a unifying theme or message that weaves through Phantoms?

MW: “Phantoms is ‘set’ in a haunted house and is about being haunted by the ghost of a former love. Spoooky.”

WL: Progressive pop, punk-pop, pop-rock – all of these genres have been attributed to Marianas Trench. How do you define your style of music? ▼

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MW: “I don't know, we just play songs. We try to make pop songs with real instruments. And if you know our band, you can count on some wacky tracks with beautiful orchestral and vocal arrangements, choirs, crazy percussion, shredding guitars, adequate bass playing and vocals for days.”

WL: Band founder and lead vocalist Josh Ramsay knows how to put on a show and fascinate the audience. Yet, as a singersongwriter, he is also comfortable behind the scenes. After collaborating with Carly Rae Jepsen, co-writing and producing her 2012 smash hit, Call Me Maybe, the catchy song was on nearly everyone’s lips. YouTube was awash with people’s homemade music videos. Did Josh anticipate such a reaction?

MW: “No way, how could anyone expect to co-write one of the biggest songs in the world? Josh lets me borrow his Porsche sometimes so I’m definitely not jealous.”

WL: With two certified, double platinumselling records (Masterpiece Theatre and Ever After), your band clearly knows how to generate its own big hits. Tongue in cheek, Josh even laid out his formula for writing pop music in his song, Pop 101. Since creativity begets creativity, what do you do outside of music to replenish your well of inspiration?

MW: “Take in the arts whenever possible, be it at a museum or gallery, a live show, through a wonderful book, always be open to inspiration. Listen to the greats and learn from the best. Take a walk with the dog. Cook Sunday dinner for the family.”

WL: Your flare for drama is evident in your showmanship; however, the four of you also seem to revel in being goofy. Does having a laugh together keep you all grounded in the music business?

MW: “There is no way we would continue to do this 15 years later if we were not enjoying ourselves along the way. Laughter has certainly been a vital ingredient in our success and longevity.”

WL: Touring has taken you all over the globe. Have there been moments when you said or did something that indicated you are definitely Canadians abroad?

MW: “Yep. Like, rock a custom maple leaf guitar across the land! We are proud Canadians, happy to drizzle maple syrup upon the buttered pancakes of the world.”

Tickets for the all ages Marianas Trench concert at The Colosseum start at $28 and are on sale now at caesarswindsor.com. WLM

Kelly, Courtney, Jade, Dr. Ed MacMurdo, Sarah

AJELESS HEALTH AND MEDICAL SPA

Revving Up Metabolism for Real Weight Loss

KEEPING OFF THE 115 POUNDS she has shed over the past two years, Sherry Rinaldi credits more than exercising and eating right. She has medical science as her ally.

Struggling with weight issues most of her adult life, the nurse, at age 54, figured she would be content to lose 30 pounds. When she achieved that goal and the pounds continued to melt off, Sherry knew she had found the right solution with Dr. Aylmer Evangelista and the Ajeless Health and Medical Spa.

Owners: Dr. Aylmer and Dr. Jennifer Evangelista

“I’ve been practicing medicine for more than 10 years and whenever possible, I prefer to take a wellness approach to healthcare, rather than prescribing pills with potential side effects that could cause additional concerns,” Dr. Evangelista says. The board-certified internal medicine physician searches for root causes behind health issues. “Time after time, it becomes evident that hormone imbalances are negatively impacting the patient’s system.”

Address: 118 Main Centre, Northville, MI 48167

Phone: (248) 465-8000

Website: ajeless.com

cholesterol. It can help lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, osteoporosis, breast cancer and prostate cancer. A hormone implant alleviates PMS and menopause and reduces patients’ use of antidepressants, diabetic pills, statins and pain medications. It increases muscle strength, sexual desire and performance.”

To get Sherry on track, he started her with Ajeless’ Clean Start Weight Loss program and provided ongoing support. “It’s the easiest diet I’ve ever done. It has totally changed my life. I’ve completely reset my metabolism. I look better. I feel better,” Sherry says.

The next phase of Dr. Evangelista’s integrated plan was to introduce BioTE bioidentical hormone optimization pellet treatments. He says, “When strategically administered, replacement hormones can shift your metabolism and hormones back to when you were much younger, significantly improving your health.”

“Weight gain, joint pain, hot flashes, night sweats, muscle weakness, depression and anxiety are all indicative of hormone loss,” Dr. Evangelista says. “We lose up to five percent of our hormones every year as we age, starting at age 20 for women and age 30 for men. You don’t have to accept the outcome as inevitable.”

The doctor, who also practices in several Michigan hospitals, says, “Bio-identical hormone optimization therapy can reverse the course of diabetes, obesity, fibromyalgia, arthritis and high

After doing a full health assessment of the patient, Dr. Evangelista determines the correct bio-identical hormone optimization therapy. Every three months or so, he inserts a customized pellet under the patient’s skin, gradually releasing hormones. “It’s life-changing,” the doctor says. “Since this isn’t available in Canada, Windsor-area patients travel to my office in Northville, Michigan.”

Ajeless also offers other life-enhancing services. Dr. Evangelista is a certified provider of the pain-free Priapus/P-Shot along with Gainswave for erectile dysfunction in men and the Orgasm/O-Shot for improving sexual function in women.

Skin rejuvenation, body contouring, vein removal and other treatments are all performed conveniently at Ajeless Health and Medical Spa.

Sherry recently took advantage of Ajeless’ cosmetic services. An hour after Dr. Evangelista did a non-invasive facelift using Botox and fillers, the attractive woman saw a refreshed, younger-looking version of herself in the mirror.

Pleased with the results, Sherry appeared with Dr. Evangelista to share her journey back to health and happiness on the Live in the D show on Channel 4 in Detroit, Dec. 11. To see the outcome, please watch the video on Ajeless Health and Medical Spa’s Facebook page.

Ajeless Health and Medical Spa

Sherry Rinaldi with Dr. Aylmer Evangelista and her transformation featured on Channel 4 Live in Detroit. She lost 115lbs and had a noninvasive facelift by Dr. Evangelista.

Greater Essex County District School Board Teaching Teams Dedicated To The JK/SK Child

CHILDREN AT PLAY are often children at work. Play activities are opportunities for the healthy development of the mind and body. Kids also acquire life skills during playtime. Every experience helps them understand their world.

This is a truth that kids instinctively know. “Children have a sense that play and learning go hand in hand. The engaged educator observes the children and brings learning to them,” says Jocelyne Brent, an Early Childhood Educator with the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) for the past seven years. She is part of a dedicated kindergarten teaching team at Dr. David Suzuki Public School in Windsor.

In the junior and senior kindergarten program specially created for all 55 English and French Immersion elementary schools in the system, “we meet students in play and buff up that play to create learning moments. We are supportive of their interests,” Jocelyne says.

“Research done in the past five years indicates children under age four are not spending enough time outdoors. Nature Deficiency Disorder affects their entire development,” says Joanne Pizzuto, who has been teaching for more than 25 years, mostly in kindergarten. She teams with Jocelyne.

To remedy the deficiency, GECDSB schools have designed their kindergarten programs to include ample outdoor time as part of the curriculum.

“The five senses are alive in the outdoors, highly engaged and working together to advance the important stages of development,” Jocelyne notes. “We’re supporting our children to be the best they can be, indoors and out.”

“We’re outside not only the for the enjoyment of it, but also for discovery, fine and gross motor development and other benefits,” Joanne says. Students are taught social science in the fresh air. They understand where their food comes by planting and transplanting in the school garden. “We are also instilling a love of the environment.”

The healthy lessons they acquire at school are brought home. “Kids encourage their parents to go outside, as well,” says Joanne.

Sharing knowledge and being excited about learning are at the heart of GECDSB’s education strategy and ethos.

Great effort has been invested in establishing the right conditions for growing youngsters’ minds. Inviting classrooms with intriguing

stations encourage hands-on exploration and nurture kids’ natural and abundant creativity and curiosity.

At Dr. David Suzuki Public School, 56 kindergarten children are in the care of two teacher/early childhood educator teams. One team is comprised of Joanne and Jocelyne. On the other is teacher Julie St. Onge and ECE Joy Lauzon. All four collaborate and know every student.

“The beauty of our program is we all work together as a team,” Joanne says. They are flexible in their interactions with the students, helping to develop the whole child while allowing learning to happen organically. Engaged with the four familiar teaching staff and classmates for two years, the kids can feel secure and focus their energies on new discoveries.

“The program we have created together as a team values each kid,” Joanne says. “We develop a partnership with the child and family the moment they walk through our door.”

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The students’ learning experience is enhanced through professional development for the educators. Everything is geared to help the students, beginning in JK, acquire 21st century competencies, develop literacy and acquire critical thinking skills.

“Our team is made possible because of the professional development our school board has afforded to every teacher/ECE team throughout our whole system,” Jocelyn says. “We are fortunate to have Clara Howitt as our GECDSB program superintendent. She has supported and ensured the rich professional development that benefits our GECDSB early years program.”

Leading experts in education are brought in to facilitate workshops. The GECDSB staff learn from one another, as well. Jocelyne benefited from four months of ECE coaching and professional development that included mentoring. “We’re always fine-tuning ourselves as educators,” she says.

The teachers invite colleagues into their classrooms and share ideas that work for students in the modern school. For instance, Jocelyne says, “Thirty percent of the population in Essex County is foreign-born. We make certain we understand the very diverse needs of our communities.”

Joanne draws on what she has learned on the job to teach kindergarten courses for the Ontario Teachers’ Federation.

“We’ve formed a group, Leading Young Learners, and come together to do planning for educators,” she says.

“Whether it is for the little learner or professional learner, we are on a continuum for learning,” says Jocelyne.

KINDERGARTEN OPEN HOUSE

The GECDSB teaching teams are eagerly anticipating the upcoming kindergarten open house. “For us, the open house each year is like Christmas because we don’t know who is coming through the door. We’re excited to meet the great kids who will be in our class this September,” says Joanne.

The Kindergarten Open House is 5 to 7 pm, Wed., Feb. 20 at all GECDSB elementary schools. Registration for kindergarten begins Feb. 19. Families may return on Apr. 14 for A Day in the Life, when they can experience what kindergarten is like.

The GECDSB education team considers it a privilege to help young children learn and embrace who they are. Joanne says, “We love what we do every day.”

Left: Teacher Joanne Pizzuto (left) and Early Childhood Educator Jocelyne Brent are on the teaching team dedicated to the junior and senior kindergarten program at Dr. David Suzuki Public School in Windsor. Playing and learning outdoors is a vital component of the Greater Essex County District School Board’s early years curriculum.

JENNIFER HOFFORD

When Precision and Expertise Matter

Facial Transformations

Are you unhappy with your skin? Is it looking dull? Are those pesky little skin imperfections starting to get to you? Have you had a bad facial that left you skeptical and unhappy with the results? Skin tags, trapped milia, broken capillaries, hyperpigmentation or all the other little bits that seem to just pop up overnight as we age can have quite a negative impact on our self-esteem. You may think of a facial only as a luxury or perhaps an annual treat. The truth is that regular facials can have a great benefit on both physical and mental wellbeing. Moreover, high quality facials are more than just cucumbers on the eyes and moisturizing creams.

With over 20 years of hands on clinical and holistic experience in the beauty industry, Jennifer is able to offer a wealth of knowledge in skincare. Providing highly customized facials with a unique exclusive methodology using pure concentrated raw and active ingredients, delivering transforming results. A definite must have facial for every “in the know” beauty enthusiast.

“I highly value the trust you place in my hands and genuinely work with you to build better skin. I truly believe in rebuilding the skin from the foundation up while providing an uncompromising level of excellence and effectiveness,” says Jennifer.

Whether it is brows, eyeliner or lips, elegantly applied with tasteful colour choices, permanent makeup is a game changer. Not only does it save the time for daily makeup application, it also eliminates the possibility of smearing or smudging. Jennifer is a highly sought after micro-pigmentation specialist who holds an international license along with numerous North American advanced certifications. The highest quality needles and pigments are sourced

resulting in a lasting elegant look. There are often times when a permanent makeup application done elsewhere has not achieved a desired look. In such cases, removal treatment can be offered for correcting this situation.

From elite couture permanent/semi-permanent makeup to state of the art cutting edge technology and products fit for a socialite, Jennifer is definitely a one stop shop. Immaculate pores, glowing skin and a little relaxation are offered, all tucked away in a sun-filled extremely private studio in Lasalle.

Services offered include customized facials, needling, dermaplaning, chemical peels, silkpeel dermalinfusion, hydra facial md, high frequency, IPL, laser hair removal, full body waxing and Brazilians, eyelash tints and lifts, makeup application/airbrush. Specializing in permanent makeup and medical and 3d areola tattooing.

JenniferHofford.com

(519)962-5699

By appointment only

ART EXPRESSIONS

Express Yourself with Art

Terry and Laurie Argent have been dazzling customers with unique artwork and home décor at Art Expressions for 20 years. Located at 1519 Drouillard Rd, customers new and old, are never disappointed.

Whether your taste is contemporary, traditional or nouveau, Art Expressions has something for every taste and budget. The store is famous for its distinct art and unique giftware. The colourful rooms include numerous distinctive items including paintings with metallic elements, wooden pieces and more.

Maximizing each square foot of this eight-room, two-story gallery, its walls and floor space overflow with extraordinary paintings, colourful mouth-blown glass vases, unusual metal wall art, area rugs and the striking pieces of furniture guaranteed to spark up a room. Selecting the most edgy, yet tasteful items from their frequent trips to Ontario and British Columbia art shows, the success of Art Expressions has always been based on word-of-mouth from satisfied customers.

“No two homes are the same and no two rooms alike. We believe that every piece of art should be a conversation piece,” states Laurie. “Art is not meant to blend into a wall, it’s about making a statement.”

“We find the best quality at the best prices every season,” says Terry.

They also take pride in educating customers about art and how it can accentuate personal spaces. For example, distinctive mirrors in various shapes and sizes make powerful statements, reflect and generate more light and double as wall sculptures.

In 2001 Art Expressions was awarded the “Preferred Place to Get Artwork” by BizX magazine and they were a Top Canadian Retailer of the Year through the Gift Association.

Whether you are looking for a signature art piece to complete a room, or that perfect gift for someone special you will not be disappointed with a visit to Art Expressions.

If you cannot personally visit the store, Art Express Decor is your online Home Decor store! Visitors can explore a wide variety of unique items for the home, original paintings, prints, sculptures, pots and vases, metal wall art, garden decor and other home accents.

The Argents are proud of their location in Ford City. Although it has been going through a renaissance over the last couple of years that was not always the case.

“From the beginning the community has been very positive. Its expressionistic modern taste brings clients and even their families when they visit town. It’s nice to know that the community appreciates something done

a little differently,” says Terry. It’s not hard to believe that the store has become a huge success due to loyal customers and word-ofmouth advertising. “The best form of advertising is word-ofmouth,” says Terry. “It’s the good people of Windsor and the area that have kept us here.”

Art Expressions also has a robust Facebook page that allows people to see the art in customers’ homes with décor they’ve purchased at the store. They especially love when customers share photos and “like” the posts.

Make 2019 the year to update your home or office with some unique art and accessories. Terry and Laurie take pride in assisting customers bring their vision to life based on their taste and budget.

Be sure to visit their website, www.artexpressdecor.ca for a preview of what you can expect when you visit the store. You won’t be disappointed!

YOUR HOME DÉCOR STORE

THE STORY OF BOB PROBERT ON FILM

STORY BY DICK HILDEBRAND / PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY NIGHTSCHOOL FILMS

ON JULY 5TH, 2010, the hockey world was stunned with the sudden death of NHL enforcer Bob Probert at the age of 45. He suffered a massive heart attack, while on a day of boating with his family, shortly after he had completed a collaboration with Calgary author, Kirstie McLellan Day on a tell-all autobiography which was released several months after his passing.

Titled, “TOUGH GUY…my life on the edge” the book presented a no- holds- barred look at Probert’s controversial life both on and off the ice. Now, more than 8 years later, the author’s son Geordie, has released a TV documentary based on that book.

The 28 year-old Day, who grew up in western Canada studied broadcast journalism in Calgary. One of his first jobs was at a radio station in Comox British Columbia, after which he moved to Los Angeles, aiming for bigger and better things. He interned on the Jimmy Kimmel show for a summer, an experience he relishes; “I really liked seeing how smoothly a machine like that works and operates.” Even though he loved journalism, he preferred documentary film production so he moved to Toronto and obtained a degree in film at York University. After graduating about 7 years ago he returned to Calgary where his parents were “doing some cool and exciting documentary work”, and began working for them. He got his feet wet behind the camera, producing a number of hour long tv presentations before embarking on his first independent feature, ‘Tough Guy: The Bob Probert Story’.

As a youngster Geordie played hockey and has always considered himself a fan of the game. Picking Probert as the subject was not difficult since his mother had hours and hours of tape gleaned from her interviews with the controversial player and others. Using those tapes in Probert’s own words, Geordie fashioned a movie around them. The producer figures he listened to more than 100 hours of audio, including the 40 or so his mother had taped with Probert and interviews with other players and family members…a painstaking operation that resulted in a 1 ½-hour video story. The film was shot in June and July this past summer at various locations that highlighted Probert’s life. The crew went to the funeral home where services were held. They were on the boat in Lake St. Clair with Probert’s wife Dani, who described the events of the day. “We went to the exact spot where that happened,” says Geordie, “to the spot where he was brought to shore and we went to the hospital in Windsor where he was pronounced dead.” Filming also took place at the intersection where Probert had crashed his car and to the spot in Michigan where he had a near-fatal motorcycle crash in 1994. Along with new commentary from his wife, teammates and opponents were also interviewed; among them Don Cherry, Joey Kocur, Steve Yzerman, Tai Domi and Chris Chelios. As Geordie points out, “there was a definite consensus that he was the best hockey player of his generation. And many of his opponents claimed that when they knew Probert would be in town for a game they had trouble sleeping the night before, because of the anxiety they felt.” Even Tai ▼

Domi, the Maple Leaf scrapper from Belle River, admitted feeling vulnerable.

The film was edited and ready for viewing at the end of October. After family members and friends had seen it, it was presented to a sold-out audience at the Olde Walkerville Theatre on Wyandotte Street a couple of weeks before Christmas, It made its television debut on the Super Channel the following day.

While it’s difficult to describe what he considers to be the documentary’s highlights, Geordie suggests; “maybe we should call it Probert’s greatest battles. In fact, most of us can say that the biggest achievements of our lives were preceded by our biggest challenges. This is very true in the case of Bob Probert – just when he appeared to be at his lowest, he came back!” When Geordie thinks back on the hours of tape he heard, the one thing about Bob Probert that stuck in his mind was, “his kids. You meet them and they’re smart, confident and articulate…they’re incredible. I’m totally convinced he must have been an absolutely great father and a very important part of that family.” Then, there was Probert’s dark side. The film doesn’t hide the warts, like his habitual use of cocaine, his binge drinking, his rage on the ice and the injuries that plagued him, both mentally and physically. Even though Dani Probert has said, “the film is dark,” she wanted the world to see Bob as a human who made mistakes and took responsibility for them. The documentary succeeds admirably, a fact that family members and friends all agree with.

“It’s definitely not G-rated,” says Geordie, “It’s an honest look at the former NHLer and because of some language, it’s not suitable for kids. It contains lots of archival footage from the NHL and home videos that, hopefully, will give viewers a complete picture of Probert. You can’t actually call it a sports video, but in the end we wanted to have the hockey community appreciate who he was and to give viewers an insight into the Red Wings organization and how they dealt with the situation.”

Currently Geordie is working on a project for a wider distribution, but is staying mum for the moment. The film is designed for an audience that’s interested in learning about the life of a Windsor native who retired from the game in 2004 after finding success with 2 NHL teams — the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks, and success as a devoted family man, despite the horrendous consequences he faced as a result of a life punctuated by bad choices. It

well worth seeing.

NEW AND NOTICED

ANGIE GOULET & ASSOCIATES TURKEY FEAST GIVEAWAY

Andre Goulet (left) of Lakeland Homes Ltd. and Angie Goulet of RE/MAX

Preferred Realty Ltd. – Angie Goulet & Associates were joined by community donors, volunteers and RE/MAX Preferred Realty Ltd. realtors in preparing and distributing 1,000 baskets containing complete holiday dinners. Working with local food banks, organizations and schools, organizers of the 4th Annual Christmas Angie Goulet & Associates Turkey Feast Giveaway gifted the baskets to people in need on Dec. 20th at the RE/MAX

Preferred Realty Ltd. parking lot. Santa, carolers and treats added holiday cheer. 519-997-4460.

SEATON SUNROOMS

The Seaton-Watorek family is expanding their Seaton Sunrooms’ manufacturing facility by 3,000 sq. ft. to better serve customers who want to enhance their homes and businesses with custom sunrooms and motorized screens. The showroom will be located at unit 350, 4570 Rhodes Dr., Windsor until June 2020. The same phone number is still in service: 519-944-6006. seatonsunrooms.com.

WINDSOR ESSEX CARE FOR KIDS FOUNDATION

Wrapping up its fundraising campaign with a Nov. 16 gathering at the Caboto Club in Windsor, W.E. Care for Kids and its SpokesKids announced to more than 100 supporters in attendance that 2018 was a record year. In total, $500,000 was raised to support local paediatric programs – the largest annual total the foundation has raised in its 21 years. Emcees Jim Crichton of CTV News and Leah Hanson of AM800 helped host the celebratory event. Also on hand were (from left) young donors Nina Laus, Adrianna Spidalieri, Brynn Higginbottom, Tessa Brain. Dedicated to enhancing the health and wellness of children, W.E. Care has raised more $7.45 million since 1997. 519-985-2608. wecareforkids.org.

LIBRO CREDIT UNION

Libro Credit Union is launching a new location in Windsor, starting February 4th. As a business partner and supporter, the financial institution is taking space in the Downtown Accelerator, and is excited to become part of the initiative to generate economic development in the area. Account manager and financial coach Lindsay Lovecky will be setting up her office in the space, at 1501 Howard Ave (Suite 106) and is looking forward to establishing new partnerships and developing ongoing relationships. This is Libro’s first commercial office in Windsor.

SAMYOGA BUNGEE WORKOUT STUDIO

Adults and kids are flying like superheroes at Samyoga Bungee Workout Studio at 2615 Howard Ave., Windsor. Owner and instructor Sam Duff is the first to bring the Bungee Workout to Ontario and has exclusive local rights. Safely strapped into harnesses, people do lowimpact handstand push-ups, zoom around the room, play bouncy games, dance, do yoga poses and laugh out loud. The cardio core workout burns over 500 calories in an hour, yet is so fun, people are booking private parties for groups of 7 to14 people. Sam also leads individual Bungee Workout classes, as well as yoga. 519-819-0176. samyogawindsor.com.

AUTUMN KINGS

Playing their own brand of rock music, Windsor’s Autumn Kings are getting a lot of air play. Starting as teenagers, they have worked tirelessly to capture the attention of music fans and industry personnel alike. Their songs, Devil in Disguise, Want You to Stay and other tracks are being played on FM stations 89X Windsor/Detroit, 93.9 The River Windsor/Detroit and Mix 96.7 Windsor/Leamington. The Autumn Kings are from left

FIRST ROBOTICS TEAMS AND ST. CLAIR COLLEGE

St. Clair College helped enterprising teenagers get their robot-building projects off the ground on Jan. 5 with a special cheque presentation at the college’s Student Life Centre in Windsor. Twenty local high school teams competing in FIRST Robotics’ Windsor-Essex Great Lakes Regional event each received a $1,000 donation, bringing the college’s total team support to $125,000 since 2014. St. Clair College is a gold sponsor of WEGLR, the largest FIRST Robotics competition in Canada, drawing over 1,500 students from more than 45 teams. After six weeks of construction, the teams and their robots will face off at the University of Windsor, Mar. 28 to 30. stclaircollege.ca. windsoressexfirst.org.

CEDAR VALLEY SELECTIONS AND THE CHEESE BAR

After meeting at a farmers’ market, Surria Fadel, co-owner of Cedar Valley Selections, and Sarah Barrette, owner of The Cheese Bar, have joined their companies under one roof in Lakeshore at 25 Amy Croft Dr. on the east side of the building. Together, they offer customers delicious, locally sourced products, including Cedar Valley Selections’ own fattoush and other products made from Surria’s recipe. Customers can learn the origin and uniqueness of The Cheese Bar’s cheeses, sold individually or arranged by Sarah on platters. 519-956-7850 or 226-348-5277.

WINDSOR-ESSEX COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Representing over 945 active members, the Windsor-Essex County Association of REALTORS® (WECAR) is now guided by its 2019 board of directors and new president, Tina Roy. A licensed REALTOR® for over 13 years, Tina ranked as number one Broker at her firm in 2016 and is consistently in the top two percent in sales. She is an avid volunteer with the association and in her community. Founded in 1918, WECAR is the second oldest real estate association in Canada. It is located at 3020 Deziel Dr., Windsor. 519-966-6432. windsorrealestate.com.

to right: Jake Diab, Joseph Coccimiglio and Tibor Bognar. Photo by Jesse Hebert. autumnkings.com.

WE’RE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY

THREE YOUNG LADIES who have spent the vast majority of their lives together say the foundation of their friendship and their academic success is rooted in the life lessons they were taught in local Catholic schools.

Hannah Mills, Mikayla Oliver and Alexis O’Neil all started kindergarten together at St. Christopher Catholic Elementary School. They remained best friends through to their grade 12 graduation from Assumption College Catholic High School.

They all enjoyed a positive learning experience that helped them become successful, young women today. For the first time since they were five years old, the women have taken their education in different directions. Hannah is attending the University of Waterloo in the Arts and Business program, Mikayla is at the University of Toronto in the Humanities program and Alexis is in the Biomedical Sciences program at the University of Ottawa.

They agree that the values and education they received at their elementary and secondary schools played a pivotal role in shaping them today and setting them up for success after graduation.

“The teachers worked hard to instill values in students. It was often the simple things like treating others how you would like to be treated, working to the best of your ability and treat others with fairness and respect,” said Hannah.

Looking back, she fondly recalls Miss Cooper and Mrs. Azar as her favourite teachers.

“I had Miss Cooper in grades 1 and 2. She was really encouraging of all students and made me enjoy going to school.”

Alexis also fondly recalls Mrs. Azar as one of her best teachers.

“She would push me to go above and beyond what I thought I was capable of,” said Hannah.

Alexis agrees, “She constantly challenged me to do my absolute best and was the first teacher who inspired me to become dedicated to my academics. Mrs. Azar’s passion for teaching was shown everyday through her enthusiasm and excitement and willingness to help us succeed. I still go out of my way to visit her when I can because she was just so amazing.”

Both Mikayla and Alexis cite Mr. Conlon as their favourite high school teacher.

“He was an amazing teacher who could engage students. He made students eager to learn and personally it helped me discover my love of history, reading and writing. His enthusiasm pushed me to work harder,” said Mikayla.

Alexis had Mr. Conlon for three years and recalls that he made a typically boring class, exciting and entertaining.

“Mr. Conlon made sure each of our opinions were heard in class discussions and always helped us out when we got stuck. Both of these teachers have inspired me to consider teaching as my future profession because their passion has had a lasting impact on my education and I would love to pass that on to a future generation one day,” states Alexis.

When she reflects on her experiences in elementary and secondary school, she is grateful for the advantages a Catholic education provided about learning about different religions.

“It really opened my eyes to different perspectives, cultures and beliefs and broadened my scope for sure.”

Like her friends, Alexis found the lessons taught in the Bible to be invaluable.

“I was taught respect and love and compassion and how to truly care for the people around me through various parables and stories found in the Bible. This has carried through to my young adult years as I have been able to form meaningful friendships with the people I have met in high school and now university.”

One of the highlights for all three women was the exposure and interaction with people from different cultures.

“Assumption is a very ethnically diverse school,” states Hannah “It really benefitted me. I saw first-hand that it doesn’t matter your religion or your race, we can all co-exist.”

Alexis is also grateful for attending a school with vast diversity.

“The most valuable experience I had in high school was the world religions course. For my entire life, I had only been exposed to Catholicism and only knew the bare minimum about other faiths, which was unfortunate because we celebrate the fact that Windsor is such a culturally diverse city. Taking world religions gave me a greater appreciation and broader understanding of the different cultures and practices around me allowing me to become more open minded and globally aware moving forward.”

Although the women have different career paths, they know that the foundations formed at their Catholic elementary and secondary schools will make them life-long friends.

Their academic motivations helped them to encourage one another throughout the years. In addition, they have been friends for such a long time they understand the value of true friendship.

I gained so many valuable experiences and memories through volunteering and being so involved at school with Hannah and Mikayla, I could not imagine my school experience without them. We also made it through some pretty rough times together, especially in high school. Having such a great support system was amazing. I would not be the person I am today if I did not have them by my side, said Alexis.

Educational experiences highlighted by Hannah, Mikayla and Alexis are not unique at the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board. Teachers recognize values are paramount inside and outside of the classroom and make a concerted effort to understand and get to know each student to better promote their intellectual, spiritual, emotional and physical well-being. Learning environments are created to be positive, welcoming and safe where every child can achieve success.

To find out how your child can benefit from a Catholic education visit, www.wecdsb.on.ca. Registration for fall 2019 is now underway.

Above from left are: Hannah Mills, Mikayla Oliver and Alexis O'Neil.

DAN LANDRY D.D. DENTURE CLINIC Introducing a New Denturist and Fourth Location

There are many undetected denture wearers in Essex and Kent Counties – proof that denture design and engineering have really progressed in recent years.

“When my patients transition from their natural teeth or older dentures to modern partial and full dentures and dental implants, they experience a significant upgrade in their smile’s appearance,” says denturist Dan Landry. “Their new teeth are beautifully yet naturally shaped and positioned. White and polished teeth help them look more youthful and attractive. Maintaining their oral health also benefits their overall health, nutrition and well-being.”

Taking care of patients since 1991, Dan has been part of big advancements in dentures. His family’s practice was first established in Windsor and Essex in 1975. Dedicated office hours were set up in Belle River in 1992. Listening to his patients in Chatham, he brought Dan Landry D.D. Denture Clinic to that city in 2018.

“From 9 am to 5 pm on Mondays, patients can find me at Lighthouse Dental at 185 Grand Ave. W.,” Dan says.

A second, equally important advancement occurred for the denture clinic in 2018: Denturist Grant Thompson joined the practice. “We are excited to have him on our team. He expands our ability to help more patients,” Dan says.

Grant looks after patients in the Windsor office. “Now there is always a denturist present during our Windsor clinic hours, even when I am at another location,” says Dan.

Patients who are new to the denture clinic are welcomed with a free initial, no obligation consultation. “People are often surprised

by the many dental care options we offer, including night guards and sports guards to protect teeth,” Dan says.

“When I first consult with my patients, they mostly complain about the lower denture moving around when they are talking and eating. Such frequent movement can wear on the gums and cause sores,” Dan explains. “It also causes self-consciousness as people don’t want to be embarrassed by loose-fitting dentures when eating or laughing.”

The most effective solution is to attach dentures to dental implants. The implants are surgically placed in the upper or lower jaw and normally integrate with the bone after two to three months. Once the gums heal, the denture is secured to the implants.

“Since every person is unique, there are several styles of implants available,” Dan says. “We are happy to inform you about your options and help you determine which implant is right for you.”

Patients notice the improvement immediately after receiving their implant dentures and adjust easily to their hassle-free, secure teeth. “This truly is life-changing,” says Dan. “You’re never too old to invest in implants. You’re worth it and your health deserves it.”

Everyone on the Dan Landry D.D. Denture Clinic team gets to know each patient’s smile, created in the in-house denture lab. The lab technician consults throughout the smile makeover, providing custom fit adjustments and bringing artistry to the selection and positioning of the new teeth.

“Even if we haven’t made your dentures for you, we advise that you visit us or your regular denturist regularly,” Dan says. “You should have your dentures checked on a yearly basis and refitted every three years to make certain they are performing at optimal level. We’re here to help.”

A New Year ...A New You!

Skinov8ive welcomes in the New Year with the goal of bringing you the latest and most advance treatment options for healthier and younger looking skin. Make 2019 the year for a new you...and the best you!

3 VITAL STEPS to Healthier and Younger Looking Skin

STEP 1 – Skin Analysis-What's Your Type?

Have you ever wondered about your skin type? Is it dry or oily...are there underlying skin conditions you're not aware of?

Determining your skin type is the missing, essential step to finding the most beneficial products and treatments. At Skinov8ive we use skin analysis technology to measures skin hydration, oiliness, pigment density, redness, skin texture, pore size, wrinkle concentration, skin texture, sun exposure and sensitivity. This information then allows us to develop a concrete, customized program specifically and individually tailored to the unique attributes and condition of your personal skin type.

STEP 2 – PhotoFacial Skin Treatment

Take years off of your appearance and reveal clearer, healthier and youthful skin with photorejuvenation. PhotoFacials use a series of gentle pulsed light treatments that allow patients to achieve outstanding results in a short period of time. PhotoFacials penetrate the skin below the epidermis to remove unwanted redness and brown spots, improve skin texture, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and reverse the signs of aging. PhotoFacial treatments also help correct skin conditions including freckling, telanglectasia, rosacea, angiomas, reticular veins and port wine stains. With over a decade of experience, the skin care professionals at Skinov8ive will help give you beautiful results with clearer, smoother and younger looking skin.

STEP 3 – Dermaviduals Skin Care

Keep your skin looking radiant and healthy with a customized skin care regimen developed especially for your skin's needs. Dermaviduals Skin Care products offers personalized skincare and include NO emulsifiers, preservatives, perfumes & minerals, oils & silicones or colorants and amines. At Skinov8ive, our skin care specialists will develop a customized clinical treatment plan for optimal results.

A unique patented technology of skin fluorescence and polarized light illumination that reveals skin conditions for targeted treatment.

13300 Lanoue St., Tecumseh (Off Manning, behind McDonalds) 519-966-7200

WHERE SCIENCE MEETS BEAUTY

Slajana Saveska Skin Care Specialist & Owner

HEALTHCARE WITH A HEART

Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Celebrates 130 Years

Story by Kim Willis/Photography Courtesy HDGH

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WINDSOR’S first hospital all started when a letter, sent by Reverend Dean J. T. Wagner, pastor of St. Alphonsus Church, arrived on the steps of the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph (R.H.S.J) in Montreal. This letter began a tradition of caring for the needy, marginalized, and disenfranchised of the Windsor-Essex community. Today, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) continues to uphold the principles of caring first laid down by its founders. HDGH continues to take pride in being more than just a hospital, rather, it is a place of shelter, safety and healing.

One hundred and thirty years ago Wagner was concerned about the influx of African-American children who came to Windsor through the Underground Railroad. Many were orphaned and not permitted to attend school. Wagner felt compelled to organize a mission for the children but lacked the necessary funds. After receiving permission from Bishop J. Walsh of London, he organized a fundraising campaign by sending out circulars asking for donations. One of these letters reached Mother Justine Bonneau, Superior of the R.H.S.J in Montreal. She was so touched by this devotion that she sent him $2.50 adding that if he contemplated building a hospital in Windsor, she and her Sisters would be happy to help.

There had been talk of building a hospital in Windsor but there was lack of effort and necessary funds. Wagner seized this opportunity to invite the R.H.S.J to visit Windsor.

On September 14, 1888, five Sisters of Hôtel-Dieu of Montreal arrived in Windsor to take charge of building the first hospital. Without any financial means, the Sisters depended on the generosity of the Windsor community. The Sisters went door-to-door and sent letters to businesses asking for money. Many of Windsor’s prominent business leaders supported the project, including Windsor’s distiller, Hiram Walker, who donated a lead gift of $500 dollars.

Although much has changed, their spirit and values remain firmly entrenched at HDGH.

“The sisters came to look after orphans who had nothing,” said Janice Kaffer, President & CEO, HDGH. “They stayed to build a hospital for people who had nothing. We work now with some people in our community that have everything, and some that have nothing.”

Construction of the hospital began on October 10th, 1888 and in February 1890 the Sisters admitted their first patient, Miss Kate Flynn. The Orphanage and Day School was built next to the hospital and opened in May 1890.

A School of Nursing was opened in the hospital in

Clockwise from top left: From its humble beginnings, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare has evolved from its Ouellette location to the current Tayfour campus on Prince Road. Some previous staff and volunteers: Col. Grace Dockeray, Harold Hyatt (member of Grace Hospital Board), Armando DeLuca (member of Hôtel-Dieu Board), Frank Bagatto (CEO HôtelDieu) are pictured. The School of Nursing was opened in 1907. Nurses are shown caring for infants in the nursery.

1907. Enrollment continued to grow and a separate building was constructed and renamed the Jeanne Mance School of Nursing. The school was ultimately closed in 1973 when the government decided that nurses’ training had to be done in community colleges.

As Windsor-Essex grew in population there was a need for a second hospital. An article, in the Border Cities Star (now the Windsor Star), proclaimed that the Salvation Army had purchased property and planned to build a hospital in Windsor.

Adjutant Fredrick (Fred) Martin, a Salvation Army Officer, was in charge of financing the construction of Grace Hospital. The property Mr. Martin purchased for the Salvation Army was the former property of the city’s magistrate, Henry T.W. Ellis located on the corner of Crawford Ave. and London St. (now University Ave).

The Salvation Army Grace Hospital opened in 1920 with 28 beds. In December 1921, the foundation for a new “South Wing” was laid and the following December the new wing was officially opened increasing the number of beds to 122.

Like Hôtel-Dieu, Grace Hospital also had a nursing school. From 1920 to 1973, over one thousand, five hundred students graduated from Grace Nursing School.

Over the years many milestones occurred. In 1960, Grace Hospital was the first hospital in Windsor to perform dialysis on a patient. Grace was designated as the Regional Dialysis Unit for all of Windsor and Essex County. In 1979, a chronic care unit was opened and a cardiac care unit was opened in 1981.

With increased demand for healthcare funding, in 1991 the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph and the Salvation Army Grace Hospital discussed the advantages of sharing services. The city’s four hospitals (Grace Hospital, Hôtel-Dieu, Metropolitan Hospital and Windsor Western Hospital Centre) were trying to improve healthcare services with less money. During negotiations, it became clear that Grace Hospital and Hôtel-Dieu shared similar values and missions. After two years of planning, an official Alliance Agreement was signed between the two hospitals in 1993 to form Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital.

This merger was believed to be the first of its kind in Canada.

For the next 20 years, Windsor’s healthcare system was in a period of transition. Following the merger of HDGH, Windsor Western Hospital Centre (WWHC)

Terry T. Turner CPA, CA

amalgamated with Metropolitan Hospital to become Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH).

In October 2013, HDGH and WRH underwent a historic re-alignment of services. WRH became responsible for trauma and acute care services at the Metropolitan and Ouellette campuses. HDGH moved its services from Ouellette to Prince Road, where it continues the tradition that started over 130 years ago.

As a unique community hospital HôtelDieu Grace Healthcare now offers services in Mental Health & Addictions; Rehabilitative Care; Complex Medical and Palliative Care; and Children and Youth Mental Health. HDGH provides a unique blend of services including but not limited to community and home based services.

“We’re working with children, folks that have mental health and addiction issues, elderly folks that have complex medical care issues, end of life through palliative care. The celebration takes on a very nostalgic and meaningful purpose for us, because we’re doing exactly what the five nuns and Rev. Dean Wagner set out to do 130 years ago,” says Bill Marra, Vice-President, External Affairs.

In honour of HDGH’s 130th, a “Heritage Hallway” is being designed to celebrate and tell the amazing story of the founding. Marra says the hallway will highlight milestones emphasizing HDGH’s continuing mission of providing the best possible care to everyone.

Last spring, HDGH unveiled new branding. Every part of their new “look” tells the HDGH story and highlights their values. Looking to the future HDGH will continue its focus on patients, people and their identity.

This mission has been woven intricately through all moments of HDGH’s history leading to the work they have done up to this point and that will be done tomorrow.

At its foundation is the belief humans, are all inextricably connected. As healthcare continues to evolve, HDGH knows that partnerships are essential. They work with numerous healthcare and inter-sectorial partners in providing care in new ways and in new locations throughout the region to address barriers, improve access, patient outcomes and improve the overall patient experience.

“This is what really matters. This work. Our work as human beings – to build up a community. To be allies not enemies, to collaborate not confront…to be healthcare with a heart,” says Kaffer.

Enhancing Patient Care With More Services

MAKING THE RIGHT MOVE to a new larger location one year ago, Guthrie Optometry is growing in the right direction. “Our new building at 7786 Wyandotte St. E. is great, giving us more room for everything, including new team members,” says Dr. Tim Guthrie. “We recently added a new optometrist, a licensed optician and a frame stylist.”

Patients both long-time and new are thrilled with the new location and expanded optical boutique. Although significantly bigger, Guthrie Optometry has retained the personal touch in delivering the comprehensive services patients depend on.

Marlene Corey and her family appreciate the care they receive. “Guthrie Optometry provides exemplary vision care for the entire family. Dr. Tim and his staff go above and beyond to ensure and inform how to manage age-related vision concerns in a modern, comfortable, state of the art facility, with free parking to boot,” Marlene says.

Leading edge equipment enables advanced diagnostics and helps patients to receive timely treatment. Dr. Guthrie says, “We can treat most non-surgical cases in our own office including diabetic management, macular degeneration and glaucoma.”

The onsite technology was one reason Dr. Kelly Boutette chose to join the practice in September 2018. “It allows me to practice more of the medical aspect of optometry by monitoring various eye conditions in the office,” she says.

Location was another draw. “I am originally from the Riverside area and still live there. It was always my goal to return after school and take care of the wonderful people in this community,” Dr. Boutette says. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at the University of Windsor and holds a Doctor of Optometry degree from the Indiana University School of Optometry.

“Many new patients don’t know there is more to an eye exam than just getting a prescription for glasses. Optometrists are trained not only to solve common visual complaints, but also to detect and treat a wide array of ocular conditions, most of which the patient would have no idea they had without the eye exam,” says Dr. Boutette.

Also new to the team are experienced frame stylist Natasha Quinn and optician Amanda MacDonald, who is a graduate of Georgian College’s Opticianry program.

“Our team will work one on one with you to select the perfect frame and then recommend the right lens for your prescription and lifestyle,” Dr. Guthrie says.

Guthrie Optometry continues to provide contact lens consultations including patients who require bifocals or have astigmatism. Dr. Guthrie now uses scleral contact lenses to manage patients who have dry eyes, corneal disease such as keratoconus or have undergone corneal transplants.

“I couldn't be happier with my new contact lenses and my experience with Dr. Guthrie,” one patient says. “I was referred to Dr. Guthrie because I could not get good comfort and vision with my old contacts due to my keratoconus. He was able to improve my vision with a scleral contact lens and delay the need for a corneal transplant. Even the corneal surgeon was impressed with how good my vision is now.”

New patients are always welcome. Guthrie Optometry can be contacted at 519-945-8000 or info@guthrieoptometry.com.

Guthrie Optometry staff: Lisa, Amanda, Natasha, Dr. Boutette, Robin and Dr. Guthrie.

Come Experience the Unique Ambiance of Vito’s Pizzeria

1731 Wyandotte St. E. 519.915.6145 vitospizzeria.net

APPETIT! BON

Boston Pizza - Fresh gourmet pizzas to burgers and amazing salads. We have it all. Family dining room and sports bar.

4450 Walker Rd., Windsor 519-250-7670

4 Amy Croft Dr., Lakeshore 519-739-1313

bostonpizza.com

Brews & Cues - LaSalle’s premium destination for craft beer, award winning wings and pool tables. Private party rooms available for groups up to 60. Call to reserve. 5663 Ojibway, LaSalle 519-972-7200. brewsandcues.net

Capri Pizzeria - Capri’s casual atmosphere and welcoming staff attracts a varied 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 served in a casual, completely handicap accessible setting. For many years, chef and owner Frank Puccio has been making lunch and dinner fresh to order. Gluten free options. Closed Sunday and Holidays. 519-728-2224

523 Notre Dame St., Belle River.

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

The Dalhousie Bistro - We are a real Bistro, not a burger joint! Belgian Waffles and Eggs Benedict at Breakfast. Homemade Soups, Gourmet Paninis and Salads at Lunch. Fine Artisanal Cheeses, Pâtés, Charcuterie and Smoked Salmons. French Country Cooking at dinner. 219 Dalhousie St., Amherstburg

519-736-0880. www.thedalhousiebistro.com

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 Manning Rd. in Tecumseh. Takeout, catering, private parties. For reservations call 519-735-0355. www.fratellipastagrill.com

Fred’s Farm Fresh - Fresh fruits & vegetables, butcher, deli, cheese, salad bar, soup bar, sandwiches, hot & ready food, sushi, catering, organic, vegan, gluten-free, specialty grocery & quality service. 2144 huron Church Rd. 519-966-2241

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 in LaSalle. Handcrafted burgers, sandwiches and salads. Fresh ingredients and house made sauces. Local wines; 12 Ontario craft and commercial beers on tap. HDTVs. Fast, cheerful service. 5881 Malden Rd. (behind Rexall) 519-250-5522 www.eatatjoes.ca

Johnny Shotz - Tecumseh’s #1 roadhouse and home of the New Chicken Deluxe. 2 for 1 wings (Sun 1-4, all day Mon). Breakfast served Sunday. 38 HD screens covering every game, 7 pool tables & 13 beers on tap. johnnyshotz.com 13037 Tecumseh Rd. E. 519-735-7005

Kelsey’s - Social gathering and family friendly eatery located at 4115 WALKER RD (the old Casey’s site). Diverse menu from messy sammies, burgers, and wings with many healthy options too. Not to mention off the chart appies, bevvies, and sawwweeeet desserts! Open 7 days a week. Take out option available. 519-250-0802

Nola’s, A Taste Of New Orleans - Located in Historic Walkerville. Cajun and Creole cuisine with the New Orleans Twist. Lunch dinner and lots of parking. nolaswindsor.com

1526 Wyandotte Street East. 519-253-1234.

Thai Palace Restaurant - Authentic Thai Cuisine featuring local wines, daily lunch specials and weekly specials. Voted “Best Asian Spot In Windsor Essex”. Finalist in “Taste of Windsor Essex Award”. Take out and catering available. 519-948-6161. 1140 Lauzon Rd., Windsor.

Thai Time - Thai Palace’s sister restaurant. Your convenient spot for Authentic Thai Foods. Dine-in, take-out, catering. For placing orders or reservations call 519-967-1919. Gift certificates available. 3395 Howard Ave. (Kenilworth Square)

Neros Gourmet Steakhouse - Indulge in the finer 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.

Swiss Chalet – Nothing else is Swiss! Famous rotisserie chicken, ribs, roast beef and much much more. DELIVERY AVAILABLE 7 days a week. Dine in, drive thru, take out also available. Open 7 days a week

500 Manning Road 519-739-3101 4450 Walker Road 519-250-7106

For information on listings and advertising in Bon Appetit! please call 519-979-5433.

1526 Wyandotte St. E. | 519.253.1234 | nolaswindsor.com

Now Providing Boutique Services Through Keller Williams Lifestyles Realty

THE IMPORTANCE of home and family is significant for Terra Lavack and her mother, sister and daughters. The three generations of Realtors connect local home buyers and sellers, helping families at every stage of their lives.

“While the homes vary widely in size, style and price, clients share the desire to have attractive, safe havens of their own,” Terra observes. “It is our mission and privilege to find each of them their ideal home.”

Terra can remember the first home she ever sold – and the hundreds of property transactions she has handled since becoming a real estate agent 25 years ago. As a rookie with RCP Realty, “I started off working alongside my mom, Shirley Goulet, who mentored, led and guided me. Eventually, we became partners,” Terra says.

The women later decided to join RE/MAX Realty, where they worked for 17 years. During that time, Terra’s sister, Rachelle Genna, and Terra’s daughters, Tiffany Lavack Westen and Ashley Lavack, signed on. “We absolutely love RE/MAX,” says Terra. “The agency taught us a great deal about the real estate industry.”

In December 2018, “my family and I transitioned to Keller Williams Lifestyles Realty,” Terra says.

As a boutique real estate agency, “Keller Williams Lifestyles Realty offers training that is helping us expand our knowledge and enhance the quality of our client service.

Everyone in our family appreciates the value of mentorship and guidance. We understand that even the best athletes have coaches to keep them on top of their game. Keller Williams is providing us with a different kind of coaching than we’ve experienced before. This is an exciting, energizing time,” Terra says.

Collaborating as a team, the women ensure there is always at least one of them available to their clients, whenever required. “As a family, we have a special relationship. Clear communication is important between one another and our clients.”

Everything the team does is a reflection on the family. Terra says, “We do our utmost so our services can be an experience our clients will be confident in recommending to their own families and friends.”

The team has “a soft spot for first-time

homebuyers” and offers guidance every step of the way, from searching to taking possession.

Connecting buyers and sellers with trusted partners, the team provides clients with smart options for mortgages, home inspections, repairs and staging. “If we feel a home needs staging before being listed for sale, our team provides and pays for a staging consultation so the property can get top dollar,” Terra explains.

Building a custom home is an exciting, satisfying process that benefits from the expertise of an experienced Realtor. The team specializes in new builds on single lots and in developments. Terra says, “For many years, I represented Lakeland Homes, one of the top builders in the city, along with other builders, taking care of homebuyers from start to finish.”

When ready to make a move, past clients return to Terra and her team. She says, “As a family looking after other families, we measure our success by our clients’ happiness with their home purchases and sales.”

As the team hits the ground running with Keller Williams Lifestyles Realty, Shirley is embracing her new life as a retiree.

“My mother started all of this 35 years ago, securing independence first for herself and then for us. She instilled integrity and a strong work ethic in each of us,” Terra says. “We are grateful to her for building this legacy.”

Lavack & Associates Real Estate team: Tiffany, Rachelle, Terra and Ashley

Say Yes to the Prom Dress

New Beginnings Set To Host Annual Dress Event

STORY BY KIM WILLIS

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN. Prom season is quickly approaching. While it is a time of great excitement and celebration, for many young women cost can be a barrier to attend this special occasion. Buying the perfect dress, prom ticket, hair and make-up and the cost quickly escalates.

As an organization that assists youth, New Beginnings holds Say Yes to the Prom Dress annually to alleviate the cost barrier of attending prom. Now in its 12th year, Say Yes to the Prom Dress is scheduled for Saturday, March 17 at 1015 Highland Avenue from 10 am to 2 pm. The event is free and open to the public.

“It’s all about providing opportunities for all youth to have access to rituals like prom. Sometimes the cost of a dress is a barrier to attending this special night,” said Mary Kay Morand, Executive Director, New Beginnings.

The need has never been greater with one out of four of our youth living in poverty. Dresses are donated by local businesses and individuals until March 1st. Interestingly, many of the girls donate the dress back to pay it forward. Over 2,000 dresses will be on display this year.

“Often times we have over 200 young women lined up outside our doors well before we open,” said Morand. The huge selection of formal and graduation dresses range in size from 0-26 and everything is free of charge.”

Many of the dresses are new and still have price tags on them. The girls see the values of the dresses which can be hundreds of dollars.

Morand notes that this is important as it shows that these women are getting the same calibre of dresses as their peers, something that makes them equal.

Following the prom, New Beginnings staff often hear from caregivers about the positive experience they provided for their daughter.

“Many of the comments say ‘you provided an opportunity for my daughter to celebrate an important occasion with her friends, something she would have missed out on otherwise.’”

For youth it’s all about validation from their friends. This is particularly apparent in Windsor with hundreds of newcomers who are youth in the community.

“Newcomers feel different in so many ways, attending an event like a prom allows them to be like everyone else,” said Morand.

At Say Yes to the Prom Dress, volunteers act as personal shoppers for the girls. They are very familiar with the inventory and work with the young ladies to ensure they find the “perfect dress” for the big day.

Eighteen fitting rooms are available to ensure it’s a perfect fit!

“Many girls leave with a full outfit for their special occasion.”

Over four hundred women and their caregivers are expected to go through the doors this year. For Morand, they also use the event as an opportunity to promote beauty from within.

“We really try to make it a positive experience. Each year we attach an art therapy activity to the day and include positive messages in fitting rooms. There’s such a big focus on the glitz and glamour, we want them to focus on beauty on the inside,” states Morand,

The event is a favourite for many staff and volunteers including Morand and her two daughters,

“I absolutely love this event! It is such a feel good experience. My daughters absolutely love helping at this event too. Within 15 minutes you can make a young girl feel amazing about herself. You see instant positive results.”

New Beginnings offer holistic programs for individuals, families and communities providing opportunities for growth and development. They have been providing services in the community since 1971.

For more information or to donate a new or gently used dress you can email opportunities@newbe.ca or contact at 519-254-2363 x6.

WLM

ARIES

MAR 21 - APR 20:

Perhaps you may need to slow down and figure out what your options are. There tends to be a difference between what you want to do and what you must do. Times are changing and there is no easy way to go back for a remake. What you say and do can prove to be important for the final outcome.

TAURUS

APR 21 - MAY 21:

New ideas are on the horizon. Life begins to slow down. You do not like to be pushed. You do things your way. Renewed vitality can give you the time and space you need in order to work on a project that caught your attention once or twice before.

GEMINI

MAY 22 - JUN 21:

Busy, busy, busy. When are you not? You may find yourself being very restless. Reading and writing may take center stage when you are looking for answers that suddenly pop up out of nowhere. Be careful that you do not say one thing and then do another. It would be easy to do, but hard to fix.

CANCER

JUN 22 - JUL 23:

New friends, new places in addition to those you already have may help you find what you have been looking for. Life itself seems to be unpredictable at times. You may have to test yourself regarding being more flexible where others are concerned. Roads less travelled can be of interest for you.

LEO

JUL 24 - AUG 23:

There may be some radical changes in your lifestyle. You are not one to be held back when it is time for you to move forward or to set off in a different direction. You seem to be able to juggle work and play. You need an outlet for your energy. Channel it wisely for good results.

VIRGO

AUG 24 - SEP 23:

You may remain forever young by trying out new experiences. You may be able to create perfection as you move forward one step at a time. Each step gives you a different point of view and it will help you put together the puzzles of life one piece at a time.

BY LESLIE NADON

LIBRA

SEP 24 - OCT 23:

You may be feeling uncomfortable with some of the situations around you. Peace may be hard to find. It feels as if you need to take a step back to get a good view of what is happening right now. Just because somebody says something does not mean it is true. Investigate before you decide.

SCORPIO

OCT 24 - NOV 22:

Sudden changes can be upsetting. You are very resistant to change, but that is what life is all about. Try as you might, you can only hold the fort for so long. Think carefully about actions you may be able to take that might turn out to be better in the long run.

SAGITTARIUS

NOV 23 - DEC 21:

Check out everything before you make a move. Do not take anything for granted. Read all of your documents at least twice, maybe even three times before you sign the dotted line. One word missing or spelled wrong can make all the difference in the results you get both now and in the future.

CAPRICORN

DEC 22 - JAN 20:

You win some. You lose some. You know it is how you play the game that counts. You seem to be in a fairly good position. Keep your eyes open to sudden changes, actions and reactions in the environment around you. You should be able to handle it. Good ideas come to you when you least expect it.

AQUARIUS

JAN 21 - FEB 19:

Try not to get upset, either with yourself and/or with others. Your mind may be getting ahead of you when you contemplate the next move you need to take. You definitely need to have a plan B because everyone has a different point of view regarding how to decide what to do.

PISCES

FEB 20 - MAR 20

Working with others can be beneficial at this point in time. You have the knowledge to put plans into action. You may not give yourself enough credit at times. You will begin to look at your life in a new way. The world around you could become a new source of wonder and excitement.

IS THE TRADITIONAL SEDAN DEAD?

PERHAPS IT HAS JUST BEEN RECONFIGURED

YOU CAN’T HELP but notice that among the vehicles around you on whatever streets you happen to travel, there are simply fewer and fewer vehicles with an honest to goodness trunk. Of all the characteristics that define a passenger car, the trunk has to be it. Not minivans, SUVs, CUVs, Crossovers or pickups. But what caused this fundamental shift in the vehicles we see on the streets?

Let’s look back to 1973. Then much of the world faced its first oil crisis. Long lines formed. Gas was rationed by stations rather than the government. President Richard Nixon went on national tv telling his citizens not to buy big cars anymore. Big cars didn’t go away immediately but the transition to and growth of the intermediate and compact cars was pretty much in lock-step with the full size car decline.

In 1977, General Motors caught the rest of the domestic industry flat-footed, and announced their downsized full size cars. Ford and Chrysler immediately threw the baby out with the bathwater and furiously worked on their own downsized, full sized cars. They showed up in the 1979 model year.

Ironically, Chrysler had had thoughts of producing a Honda Civic/Toyota Corolla sized sub-compact car and towards the end of 1977 as 1978 models introduced the Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon “L” body four door hatchback cars. Lee Iacocca freshly arrived at Chrysler from Ford in 1978 saw the merits of small front wheel drive (FWD) cars and encouraged the development of what became the 1981 Dodge, Plymouth and Chrysler K-cars. Ford and GM both brought out their visions of what small cars should be.

Burning a hole in Iacocca’s brain was a totally new kind of vehicle that the automotive market hadn’t seen before. When it arrived in the fall of 1983, the minivan was born.

Chrysler initially referred to these vehicles as “Magic Wagons” and there was more than just a grain of truth in that phrase.

It was Chrysler’s turn to catch the industry flat-footed and both Ford and GM quickly turned their attention to building minivans. But much as they tried, neither Ford nor GM could successfully mimic the Chrysler formula for success in this market.

As cars continued to shrink, and smaller and smaller cars appeared, we found ourselves shoehorning our bodies into a widening array of nameplates. Being the first high volume attempts at building small cars, mistakes were made both on the engineering as well as the manufacturing side of the equations with the result that the previously laughed at efforts from Toyota/Honda etc, were now taken more seriously by the car buying public. Couple this with the simple fact that while the cars may have been downsized, people were not. This writer’s size 46tall simply doesn’t fit into many of these cars.

Full size cars offered plenty of room for six people and their luggage. Also throughout much of the postwar period, families with lots of people and lots of cargo bought station wagons. For a variety of reasons, wagons fell out of favour and manufacturers stopped offering these versatile vehicles.

Trucks had been considered work vehicles since the dawn of the industry. SUV type vehicles began with the post WWII Jeep and spawned a number of competitors. Along with these vehicles, manufacturers had been building, in some cases, from the early 1950s, crew cab, four door trucks. Originally intended for work crews, people started to consider these vehicles for personal use. In 1973 Chrysler introduced the Club Cab for their line of Dodge trucks. They were essentially a cab and a half, and it wasn’t long before Ford had their Supercab with GM following along as well. The product planning guys realized they were on to something and these trucks became citified with more upscale interiors, passenger car amenities like a/c, power windows, cruise control and better radios and bright trim and mouldings on the outside.

Part of the allure of these vehicles was their raised seating positions that provided occupants with a view of the world that wasn’t possible within the confines of not only normal sedans, but also the even closer to the ground compact and subcompact cars being

Top: Dodge Dart 1960.

Above: 2019 Chevrolet Impala.

offered in the name of fuel economy and efficient transportation. Drivers of the newly produced compact and smaller cars were soon intimidated by the size of these trucks beside and behind them in traffic.

Along with the urge to downsize for fuel economy’s sake, the U.S. and Canadian federal governments decided it was their time to get into the car business, not as manufacturers, but as regulators demanding that emissions be controlled and the general safety level of cars improve.

While none of these things were at all bad, the technology to comply with this growing list of demands was struggling. Postwar advances in so many areas came so quickly that people assumed (not always rightly) that compliance was not only easy for the manufacturers but would also come quickly. Not exactly so.

The 1980s were a low water mark for much of the industry. Function prevailed over form with a general sameness prevailing in each car segment. Between the quietly growing acceptance of the Japanese manufacturers as builders of cars as competent appliances and the domestic manufacturers struggling to do the same, the tide started to turn.

When the feds defined what constituted a car and what constituted a truck with all of the hidden benefits that entailed, the domestic guys as well as the offshore folks began to explore non-car alternatives to the generally accepted transportation fleet.

Today technology has caught up with all of the safety and emission regulations that weigh on the shoulders of manufacturers. Not only is there the peace of mind for us as consumers, there’s also the reintroduction of form into the transportation equation. Style has returned to the auto industry with manufacturers scratching and clawing to find a new niche market with which they can introduce a new people carrier. The desirable attributes of full size cars have returned. Lots of space for people and their cargo, decent fuel economy from ever smaller engines, many having turbocharging and direct injection.

The marketing people turn positively pallid if you call the new array of non-car vehicles, station wagons, even though they share many of the same attributes. Four wheel drive abounds even if the vast majority never see anything more than a water filled pothole. But the view out is expansive, the ride is comfortable and all your stuff is with you.

Is the sedan really dead? Or is it just reconfigured? WLM

David Deluzio Law Firm

David Deluzio BA LL.B. Barrister, Solicitor and Notary Public

INCREASING WELLNESS AND LONGEVITY WITH RAW PET FOOD

he was meant to be, after overcoming multiple health challenges with the help of The Hungry Pooch.

His pet parents, Vanessa and Willie, were alarmed by their puppy’s eye and ear infections, allergies, digestion troubles, skinniness and what veterinarians thought to be colitis. A special diet didn’t improve anything.

Worried, the pet parents brought Harley to The Hungry Pooch. “They listened to all of our questions and concerns, gave us reading material and offered suggestions,” Vanessa says. “Most importantly, they gave us hope. We started Harley on a plan to healing naturally. It has been a long road and we are thrilled to say that Harley is now doing amazing!”

Ongoing support from The Hungry Pooch’s staff aided the family. “We have even received personal phone calls just to check in and see how Harley is doing,” says Vanessa. “They are more than just a store, they are like family!”

“People are realizing that putting healthy things in their own bodies is important. The same is true for their pets,” says Alina Sherman. She and her husband, Attila, are raw feeding experts and owners of The Hungry Pooch, located in Lakeshore and South Windsor.

“The commercial pet food industry, run by large corporations, has been challenged for

some time,” Attila believes. “Contaminated dry pet food has led to many recalls and highly processed pet food may lead to chronic health issues.”

“Raw meat and raw pet food are coming to the fore as healthy alternatives to big brand pet foods,” he says. “However, it’s challenging and inconvenient to prepare a balanced, biologically appropriate raw diet yourself for your dog or cat. Thankfully, in the last decade, concerned and informed pet owners in Canada have created independent lines of raw food.”

The Hungry Pooch has carefully selected the products they carry for quality, transparency and consistency, proudly selling responsibly made products by Iron Will Raw, Big Country Raw, Tollden Farms, Mega Dog Raw, Carnivora, Naturaw Canine Food and more.

“When pet owners switch to raw, they soon notice their pets are more energetic and engaged. There is noticeable improvement in existing health issues. Studies indicate cats and dogs who are fed raw live longer,” Alina says. “Through raw food and holistic supplements, we’ve been able to turn around ill pets and stabilize them.”

Many caring pet parents are not yet aware of the affordability and benefits of raw pet food. Fatima and Kristian were among them. “Two days after we got Rebel, we went to Hungry Pooch,” says Fatima. “The amount of information we received was amazing and the comfort level we felt about the decision to go raw was immediate....The staff is so knowledgeable about the products they carry.”

When Rebel became itchy and developed red-rimmed eyes, The Hungry Pooch “helped us with how to properly figure out some of his allergies and recommended holistic products to help soothe our pup. I can’t say enough how much their Legendary Canine and Adored Beast products saved us and Rebel,” Fatima says.

Eager to educate people one-on-one, The Hungry Pooch also hosts group seminars throughout the year. Such customer care is one of the reasons it has been chosen as a finalist in the Windsor Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards for New Business of the Year.

Attila says, “We look forward to making Windsor-Essex one of the healthiest pet communities in the Country.”

More happy pet family stories are shared on Instagram and thehungrypooch.com.

The Best French-Language Education In Ontario!

FROM JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN to grade 12, exciting things are happening at the Conseil scolaire catholique Providence - French Catholic School Board — (Csc Providence). The Board prides itself on offering a quality learning environment that ensures each student enjoys an educational experience that promotes French language and culture within the context of the Catholic faith.

Csc Providence is also proud to offer initiatives and programs that boast an optimal learning experience for students in the 21st century.

In the last five years, several elementary schools have introduced Positive Behavioural Interventions and Supports (PBIS). The goal is to create an affirmative school environment that encourages positive behaviour on the part of students and teachers.

“The schools have found that PBIS brings students together in an effort to allow students and teachers to have positive interactions. Ultimately, it creates a positive school climate,” says Joseph Picard, Director of Education, Csc Providence.

Another area of focus is technology. Csc Providence recognizes that technology plays a huge role in the lives of today’s students. Many students these days cannot recall a time without cellphones or iPads. As such, robotics and technology continue to grow and expand at Csc Providence schools.

For this year’s Hour of Code, 203 classes have enrolled — an all-time high. The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify coding and show that everyone can learn the basics and to spark interest and broaden participation in the field of computer science. It has since become a worldwide movement celebrating computer science and computational thinking. “We continue to adapt teaching styles to the world we live in,” states Picard.

Csc Providence has created a roadmap to shift the entire Board towards a holistic approach to technology in the 21st century. With this in mind, technologically infused learning is visible in every grade. “This is a Board-supported, school-driven strategic direction,” says Picard.

Spaces in schools have been transformed into innovative models

that encourage creativity, communication and collaboration. Teaching practices have also been transformed to reflect these new realities.

“The engagement amongst students is absolutely amazing,” states Picard. “These students don’t know life without technology, yet they still need to be guided on how to use these skills. It creates a systematic approach to solving problems which is a win-win situation.”

Teachers are also continuously learning about neuroscience and the effects, good and bad, that screen time has on students. Neuroscience allows students and teachers to understand how the brain functions and to make better choices.

“We teach students what they need to learn and the actions that are needed to perform at school and in life. One of the focus areas over the last couple of years is sleep-hygiene and the importance of getting enough sleep,” explains Picard.

This work has also enlightened teachers about how the brain learns and grows. Not only can it really make a difference in how students see themselves, but it also impacts teaching styles.

However, for all the benefits of technology, Csc Providence also places great emphasis on the importance of social activities that engage students. For example, many of the elementary schools now have “active” playgrounds for kindergarten pupils. These natural environments encourage children to participate in physical and art-related activities.

Csc Providence continues to stand out for the top academic performance of its students, its high graduation rate and its holistic approach that ensures student development from every perspective. Its unique character and achievements, made possible through the dedication of its staff and the support of the community, enable Csc Providence to continue to offer the best French-language education in Ontario.

Unlike in French immersion education, all instruction is provided in French at Csc Providence schools. However, children who attend a French-language Catholic school do much more than speak French! They thrive in a French learning environment by thinking, dreaming, learning and speaking the language! In addition, as a Catholic school board, Csc Providence offers a values-based education. Essential tools and skills that will be helpful throughout life are woven into the curriculum. Currently, 30 schools are part of Csc Providence, with total enrollment exceeding 10,000 students.

“We are very proud of the educational experience that we offer to all of our students,” says Picard. “Our staff are committed to hard work and providing innovative programs that meet the changing needs of our students. This includes access to sports, arts and academics.”

Interest in French education has increased throughout the province in recent years. This is a trend that Csc Providence has experienced as well.

“There are not many guarantees in life, but giving your child an opportunity to learn in a different language can only help them later down the road,” states Picard.

“Being exposed to languages has a positive impact and provides a different learning environment than they may experience elsewhere.”

PANOS SECHOPOULOS WEALTH MANAGEMENT OF RBC DOMINION SECURITIES A personalized strategy to meet your needs

Whether your goal is to build wealth for your retirement, protect your family’s financial security or create an enduring legacy for future generations, Panos Sechopoulos Wealth Management of RBC Dominion Securities is here to help you achieve your goals at each stage of your life. Working with a professional advisor can give you peace of mind and confidence in achieving all your financial goals. Panos is a modern day financial services professional perfectly suited to our increasingly globalized, interconnected world.

Over the past 15 years Panos has served as an Investment Advisor and Portfolio Manager with RBC Dominion Securities, a division of RBC Wealth Management and Canada’s largest wealth manager. Panos’ top priority is to provide his clients confidence and peace of mind when it comes to their investments and a clear road map on how to reach their goals. He offers transparent, comprehensive and personally tailored wealth management services to successful families, corporations and charitable institutions.

“As a Portfolio manager, we are able to execute trades in an efficient and timely manner. Our clients lead busy lives and rely on us to make the day-to-day investment decisions of the portfolio. Our clients are comforted that their investments are being managed every day to their exact specifications and all portfolio details are a click away on our industry-leading online portal.”

When it comes to wealth management and financial planning services, Panos, Stella Dhono and his team work with their clients to determine their financial goals and objectives.

“The average age of our clientele is 59 and they are looking for

flexibility when it comes to financial planning and retirement. They want to be in a good position to retire when they want to, not when they have to.”

Panos says the best thing that any of us can do when it comes to financial planning is to start saving.

“The sooner that people are out of debt the more time they have to build up their wealth. An avid reader of financial periodicals and international publications, Panos is able to proactively tailor and adjust portfolios in real time as the world changes around us. His proactive, discretionary approach ensures that his clients are able to benefit from time-sensitive investment opportunities quickly and efficiently.”

“Ideally you want to be out of debt by the time of retirement. Once a mortgage is paid off and children are done school it allows for significant savings.”

His second piece of advice to his clients is to invest at a risk tolerance you are comfortable with.

“Risk tolerance is something that is unique to each client. The client’s investment have to mirror each’s client risk tolerance. Many people get excited when the markets are good and let their investments get more risky but this is a mistake, you really have to be patient and buy conservative investments when things are good to help you weather the storm when it’s bad.”

Panos and his team at RBC bring the expertise of Wall Street to Windsor.

Panos works closely with each of his clients to develop and implement strategies to minimize taxation, generate sufficient retirement income, safeguard wealth, and effectively transition assets between generations.

Now with Two Locations and Physician-Directed Technology to Serve Clients

WEARING A SHOE SIZE that is ordinarily too large for them, many local women and men figure that is the only way they can live with damaged toenails, corns, warts and other foot problems. “It’s really sad – and unnecessary,” says Janis Boudreau, a Registered Practical Nurse who founded Advanced Foot Care Nurse and Wellness Centre four years ago.

Her team of nurses, all certified in Advanced Foot Care, see heart-breaking cases in the offices of Advanced Foot Care Nurse and Wellness Centre and on their house calls to clients’ homes and retirement and nursing residences throughout Windsor-Essex County and Chatham-Kent County.

“If you can’t stand on your feet, it affects your entire life,” Janis says. “Once people realize our services are available and they receive treatment, they experience major relief. Often, there are tears of happiness.”

The great need for medical footcare provided by medical professionals prompted Janis to twin her Belle River office in January 2019. Clients can now enjoy the convenience of the new Windsor location at 4255 Tecumseh Rd E.

Advanced Foot Care Nurse and Wellness Centre cares for more than 1,700 pairs of feet. Clients include athletes, kids, pregnant women, diabetics, cancer patients, seniors and people with back injuries, limited vision, mobility issues, poor circulation, arthritis, loss of sensation (neuropathy) or thick nails that are hard to cut. Some clients simply can’t reach their feet.

“We ensure we have plenty of nurses to care for everyone,” says Janis. “We don’t watch the clock; we give each person the time and attention they require.”

The foot pros learn a lot about their clients to fully understand the challenges they have been dealing with.

Leading edge and fully integrated digital platform and diagnostic equipment onsite provides in-depth insight. “This new technology will give our patients full access to medical doctors, foot care specialists and state-of-the-art therapies at one single location. That means our nurses can get prescriptions and dispense custom orthotics, compression socks and medical bracing right in our own offices. We’re forerunners in working with this new, efficient model of modern healthcare,” says Janis, who is also a skilled diabetic educator and compression fitter.

“No nail is too thick” is the can-do motto of the resourceful nurses, who use podiatry equipment and other professional solutions for reconstructing thick, fungal, split, cracked, damaged and missing toenails. Their ingrown toenail correction system is effective and pain-free.

Callouses and corns are reduced or removed. Plantar warts are treated on the spot. Athletes foot is cleared up.

Treatments last 30 minutes or more and typically involve hot towel application and a therapeutic leg and foot massage to promote circulation and lymphatic drainage.

All services are done with sterilized instruments and utmost care. “Whether treating clients in our offices or in their residences, our nurses are scrupulous in disinfecting their work areas and equipment. There is no risk of cross contamination,” Janis says.

Clients and nurses alike are so delighted with the results that they want to share the good news. With clients’ permission, impressive before and after photos of their feet are posted each Transformation Tuesday on Advanced Foot Care Nurse and Wellness Centre’s Facebook page.

People wanting to receive services can call Advanced Foot Care Nurse and Wellness Centre at 226-363-0476.

LOOK WHO’S COOKING AT HOME

AMBER AND DAVE HUNTER

“Growing up, everything was about food and hosting friends and family,” says Amber Hunter, Executive Director of Transition to Betterness. “My parents are amazing cooks and spent so much time in the kitchen. They always made enough for 20 just in case anyone dropped by. As much as I love to entertain, I can’t devote the time they did. I figured out time saving hacks and modernized their recipes, trying to keep the integrity of the flavours,” she says. Her husband, Dave, and their kids, Aidan and Zain, approve.

“We are generally the home that hosts all the family occasions and I truly love it. As an only child, it took some getting used to, but a full home is a happy home. Amber makes sure that we are fully prepared and overstocked at all times in case of visitors,” says Dave, host of Dave & Chuck the Freak show on 101.1 WRIF in Detroit and syndicated in Boston, Fort Myers/Naples and Tampa, Florida.

The Sauce

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp olive or vegetable oil

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 2 tsp Garam Masala

• 1-1/2 tsp turmeric

• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tsp ground black pepper

• 2 tsp ginger

• 4-6 garlic cloves, chopped

• 1 tbsp ground coriander

• 2 tsp paprika

• 1 tsp garam masala

• 1 14-ounce can crushed tomatoes or fire-roasted tomatoes

• 6 tbsp of full fat, plain yogurt

Heat oil and add the onion garlic and ginger. sauté for 5 minutes. Add remaining spices and cook for a minute. Add tomatoes and cook for another 5-6 minutes. Then add yogurt. Simmer for 10-15 minutes on low to combine flavours and thicken the sauce.

Tikka Masala Pizza

Curry Chicken Ingredients:

• 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts – cut into bite size pieces

• 4-6 garlic cloves, chopped fine

• 1 chunk ginger, chopped fine

• 3 tsp cumin powder

• 2 tsp paprika

• 2 tsp salt

• 6 tbsp of full fat, plain yogurt

• 4 tbsp oil for cooking

Blend all ingredients and marinate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Cook chicken in oil in a large skillet over medium heat until it’s fully cooked, approximately 10 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside.

Shortcut: Sauté chicken with onion, fresh ginger, garlic, cumin and coriander. Cook for 5 minutes. Then add a Tikka Masala Cooking Sauce.

To Assemble the Pizza

Use a large Naan Bread or a nice quality thin crust pizza shell. Ladle sauce onto bottom of the pizza. Layer on chicken and parmesan cheese. Bake at 400˚F for 15-20 minutes. Top with cilantro before serving. Makes 4 pizzas.

Carbless Beef Samosas

Ingredients:

• 1 lb lean ground beef

• 1 large onion, diced

• 8-10 garlic cloves, chopped fine

• 1 chunk ginger, chopped fine Spices – increase to your taste:

• 1 tsp red ground chilli powder

• 4 tsp coriander powder

• 3-4 tsp cumin powder

• Handful of cilantro, chopped

• 2 tsp salt

• 1 tsp pepper

• 3 tbsp olive or vegetable oil

• Peas, optional

• Lettuce wraps

Add all the spices into the oil and fry for a minute. Add more oil if needed. Add the ground beef and a bit of water to mix. Fry for about 5 minutes, then turn the heat down to low. Cook for 20 minutes or until the meat is fully cooked and there’s no liquid left.

If you want peas, add them in the last few minutes of cooking time. Just before serving, add cilantro or put it on the side. Ensure no water is left in the meat; otherwise it will make the lettuce wraps soggy.

Serve the meat mixture with chopped cilantro, chutney, lettuce wraps and Indian savoury snacks (Sev) for crunch. Serves 6-8 people.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SOOTERS PHOTOGRAPHY, JOHN LIVIERO

ATLANTIC CANADA

Maritime Hospitality and Beauty at Every Turn

STORY BY KAREN PATON-EVANS / PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAREN PATON-EVANS & JIM EVANS

WITH THE SNOW PILING outside and the furnace cranked up today, thoughts in our household are turning to last summer, when we packed our sunhats and sand pails and headed Down East.

My husband, Jim, and I felt Atlantic Canada calling on New Year’s Day 2018, when we sat in front of the fireplace, mapping out our Maritimes trip and booking accommodations.

Finally, on Sun., June 17, we nosed our car eastward. Marked in bold on our travel plans were things we absolutely must do and places we must see. It was a given that food we must eat would include lobster, scallops and seafood chowder.

To acclimate our appetites to delicious vacation food, we ate our way through Old Montreal and Quebec City en route to Atlantic Canada. After staying overnight in Bathurst, New Brunswick on June 20, we journeyed 5 ½ hours to Prince Edward Island, over Confederation Bridge to West Point Lighthouse Inn & Museum.

Overlooking Northumberland Strait, the lighthouse has several cool points: Built in 1875, it is PEI’s tallest lighthouse, standing over 67 feet tall; the cedar shingles covering its square-tapered tower are painted in black and white stripes to enhance daytime visibility; and it is one of the few lighthouses in North America where guests can sleep in the tower.

Which we did.

Like most travelers, there have been moments when our anticipation of the visit exceeded the actual experience. West Point outdid our hopes.

Arriving just ahead of high season, Jim and I were among a handful of guests.

We settled into our accommodations in the Tower Room, furnished in antiques. The sound and scent of the sea entered the open windows and beckoned us to take our picnic lunch onto the red sand beach.

Later, we ate seafood at The Catch Kitchen and then prowled through the lighthouse museum, seeing the other restored rooms and learning of the men who kept the light for 88 years before it was electrified. Climbing the steep stairs to the fourth-floor lantern deck, illuminated by a big flashing green Fresnel lens, we watched the sun set.

PEI’s tourism industry has been growing exponentially since the 1908 publication of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables and other novels set in her native province. Buildings and sites connected to the author and her stories have been preserved by her descendants and organizations. I visited all that I knew of on prior trips. While researching accommodations for this vacation, I was elated to discover

Clockwise from opposite top left: The colourful UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia was settled in 1753; Fortress of Louisbourg in Nova Scotia was France's stronghold during the 1700s and rebuilt last century; lobster, scallops and seafood chowder were enjoyed at West Point, PEI by travellers Karen Paton-Evans and Jim Evans; the rocky shore of the Cabot Trail borders the dramatic landscape; John Hooper sculpted street characters for downtown Saint John, New Brunswick; the historic mill is powered by water at Kings Landing, New Brunswick; Jim takes the helm of the docked Bluenose II; the green light of PEI’s West Point Lighthouse seems to flash a response to the sun setting over the Northumberland Strait.

Paul Montgomery had recently opened the home of Maud’s grandfather to receive overnight guests.

On June 22, Jim and I unpacked our bags in Maud’s own bedroom in the Montgomery Inn at Ingleside in Park Corner. In the kitchen and parlour during our three-night stay, we chatted with Paul and housekeeper Denise, both who exemplify Island hospitality and told us where to find unmarked spots that inspired Maud’s tales.

Across the road is Anne of Green Gables Museum at Silver Bush, the 1872 farm still belonging to Maud’s Campbell relations. Cousins Road led us to a secluded beach sheltered by dramatic red sandstone cliffs.

Twenty minutes away is Green Gables Heritage Place and Cavendish, with Avonlea Village recreating Maud’s fictious setting. While the old Green Gables home is lovely, our favourite park experience is rambling through Lovers’ Lane, the Haunted Wood and other real spots dear to the author and her Anne.

The shaky path to romance that the famous redhead took was wonderfully presented in Anne & Gilbert The Musical, playing in Charlottetown. Before attending the performance, Jim and I boarded the amphibious Harbour Hippo to tour the historic capital city by land and water. Standing proudly is Province House, where political leaders met in 1864 to discuss confederation of the British North American Colonies.

We departed PEI on June 25, sailing the ferry between Wood Islands to Caribou, Nova Scotia, then driving two hours to Baddeck, Nova Scotia. This was home base for exploring Cape Breton Island for four days.

Surrounded by the sea and dotted with lakes, Cape Breton invites drivers and cyclists to explore its tree-covered hills, deep valleys and rocky shores, punctuated periodically with fishing villages and towns. The area is divided into the Cabot Trail, Ceilidh Trail, Bras d’or Lake Scenic Drive, Fleur-de-lis Trail and Marconi Trail.

Driving east on the Fleur-de-lis Trail, Jim and I were bound for the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, founded by the French in 1713. The size of North America’s largest reconstruction project is awesome, although only one-quarter its original footprint. The British demolished it in the 1760s; 200 years later, the government began reconstruction of the coastal fortress and town, retraining laid-off coal miners as stone masons and carpenters.

The costumed interpreters portraying French militia, housekeepers, cooks and servants working on the grounds and in magnificent buildings brought authenticity to our trip back in time.

Another full day was happily whiled away on the Cabot Trail, which includes Cape Breton Island National Park. Fortifying ourselves with a lobster lunch in a fishing village, we tackled the 14 kilometre Skyline Trail, which posts a warning regarding high winds potentially blowing people into the sea. Throwing caution literally to the winds, we hiked through woodlands and along a boardwalk to the end of the Skyline Trail, rewarded by a view of the plummeting Cape Breton coast.

June 28 saw us in Halifax, learning the city’s military and civic history at the Citadel. At Pier 21, the stories of immigrants to Canada, past and present, are intriguingly portrayed. Researchers at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 assisted Jim in locating records of his British and Finnish grandparents.

My own hunt for family history brought us to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia next day. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is a brightly painted, charming and well-preserved town, founded in 1753 by settlers invited by the reigning King of England.

Arenberg relations of mine were among the 1,453 Foreign Protestant settlers recruited from the German Palatinate, SwissGerman and French Montbéliard regions of Europe. In the Knaut-Rhuland House Museum, a relief model of the original town plan let me walk my fingers over the residential, business and farm lots owned by my pioneer family.

To celebrate being Canadian, Jim and I sailed the tall ship Bluenose II docked at its Lunenburg home port.

A five-hour drive landed us in front of my late grandparents’ house in Saint John, New Brunswick, evoking pleasant childhood memories. We then checked into Chipmanhill Suites on Sydney, formerly a mayor’s mansion. Wonder what Grandma would have thought of that!

The Canada Day Countdown party on Saint John’s Market Square Boardwalk primed us for July 1 celebrations in Fredericton, New Brunswick. In the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, we half-jokingly wondered if the collector Lord Beaverbrook decided to purchase a piece or two from the Group of Seven, Monet, Reynolds and every other great who caught his fancy.

Outside of Fredericton is Kings Landing, a 19th century village and working farm. Jim, watching the waterwheel turn at the wooden mill, noted that was the last must-see item on our list. Time to drive home.

In Green Gables, PEI's most famous farmhouse, Anne's first beautiful gown - with coveted puffed sleeves - hangs in her bedroom, as imagined by author Lucy Maud Montgomery.

LEAVE THOSE KIDS ALONE

FOUR MUSICAL PRODIGIES PLAYING THE CLASSICS

STORY BY DICK HILDEBRAND / PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN-PAUL BONADONNA

THE NAME WAS INSPIRED by Pink Floyd’s THE WALL. The band’s repertoire is stocked full of songs that were written before they, or even their parents were born. The end result is amazing! And, true to the name, the music is total classic rock.

The four kids in the band are students of Pete Palazzolo of the Canadian Conservatory of Music, with valuable assistance from John-Paul Bonadonna, who joined the kids on bass solely because there “wasn’t another youngster to fill the role.” John-Paul himself had been a keyboard player in numerous bands for more than 20 years, before taking a rest and looking after his family a few years ago. He is no stranger to the stage. As a bass player, he proudly performs with the four young players…two of them who are his own. Occasionally he throws in some accompanying vocals, but he leaves most of the work to the kids. And, as he states, “I’m the band’s manager, roadie, sound tech and for now, bass player. To say it’s a lot of work is an understatement, but it’s real easy to find the motivation when two of your kids are involved and two other great kids are joining them.” Even though each of the youngsters is a multiinstrumentalist, each has a specific role in the band.

Timothy Hole, 15, is the lead vocalist and plays rhythm guitar. The Walkerville Collegiate arts program student could also be called an expert in classic rock, which he has played since he was 6 or 7 years old. “When we suggest a song to the band, chances are he already knows the words,” says John-Paul, “and I’m sure that when other kids were watching Thomas the Train, Tim was looking at music videos. This is a great benefit to the band. He doesn’t have to memorize the lyrics…he already knows them!”

John Dorman, 13, is the keyboard player and, according to JohnPaul, “is extremely motivated. He handles the many parts thrown at him like a musician at least twice his age.”

11 year-old Alex Bonadonna, is the lead guitar player and has

been studying the instrument since he was 6 or 7 and according to John-Paul, he’s a hard worker and his growth on the guitar has been “amazing. I’m quite taken back by the way he pulls off some of the riffs.” Alex’s diminutive 8 year-old sister, Addisyn is the show stopper, according to proud papa. “She’s the one with the long hair beating out the rhythm.” John, Alex and Addi are all students the Tecumseh Vista Academy. And even though extremely professional and adult-like on stage, says their proud manager, “they’re still kids and during a break or waiting to go on, they talk about normal kid stuff like the latest video games or their favorite pop tunes. They’re having loads of fun. It’s very refreshing being around them.”

It all began about three years ago with jam sessions in John-Paul’s basement. Alex was on guitar, little Addisyn was getting pretty hot on the drums and, of course, dad was on the base. They played live on Facebook, or recorded a tune and posted it. “All of a sudden,” says John-Paul, “the requests started coming taking me completely by surprise. People would ask if we would come and perform at their special events. Eventually, after some hesitation, I said why not…let’s do it.” Through his previous band experience, John-Paul says he already had a house full of gear…“I have the lights, I have the speakers…I have the mini van…basically, everything.” He approached the other two parents, suggesting live appearances and a new band was created. In the beginning, the band had learned 8 songs, but as the demand for services got larger, so did the play list which is now upwards of 30 songs.

The group’s first gig was last June 29th at the City of Windsor’s Social Media Day at Lanspeary Park. “The crowd,” says John-Paul, “was simply amazed. We actually played our half-hour set, twice.” And, wouldn’t you know it, one of the biggest responses was to the drummer…an 8 year-old female dynamo, with a personality to match her musical talent…not to mention the contributions from

Leave Those Kids Alone members (l-r): John Dorman, Timothy Hole, Addisyn Bonadonna and Alex Bonadonna.

the remaining members. The performance was so well received, that the band was invited to play the following weekend at the Volunteer Appreciation dinner for the PGA Tour Canada event at the Ambassador Golf Club. There have also been appearances at Transition for Betterness, In Honour of the Ones We Love, the Rockin’ for Kaleb’s Courage benefit and events for the town of Lakeshore and Open Streets in Windsor. The band has also been a regular feature at Windsor Spitfire games, providing in-game entertainment since opening night. On one occasion, when gremlins attacked the WFCU’s sound system, the band was called upon for a special favor…to provide music at ‘every’ stoppage of play. The musicians rose to the occasion and performed without a hitch!

Even though ‘Leave Those Kids Alone’ has been in existence for little more than half a year, the group has already played at least once a week for a total of 25 gigs. Appreciative fans hear material from Styx, Aerosmith, the Beatles, Journey and, of course, Pink Floyd. Arrangements are as close as possible to the originals, so fans receive the full aural experience. “We’re not doing watered-down arrangements,” says John-Paul, “people love hearing those guitar riffs and if we’re not doing it right, they’ll be disappointed. This is classic rock and we need to keep the familiarity.” Pete Palazzolo, himself is the ultimate perfectionist. As leader of the popular ‘Greatest Hits Live’, he insists on the best possible performance from his group and expects nothing less from his students.

Next year’s bookings for ‘Leave Those Kids Alone’ are coming in quickly. The group has already sealed its deal for Canada Day, July 1st to be at The Town of Lakeshore’s Beachfront celebration, while John-Paul is also diligently working toward festival appearances. “We want the festivals,” he says, “our goal is to play the Strawberry Fest, the Corn Fest and Sun Splash…basically those small town events that have the biggest audiences.”

‘Leave Those Kids Alone’ is a special band…four very young people, still in school, making beautiful music and loving it, perhaps heading for a successful career in the music business.

Visit leavethosekidsaloneband.com for more information. You’ll find links to the videos, schedules and booking information.

Give the band a listen. You will not be disappointed. WLM

SAMYOGA BUNGEE WORKOUT STUDIO

Introducing the Bungee Workout for All Ages

Elevating fitness to new heights, Samyoga has brought the groundbreaking Bungee Workout to Windsor.

If you’ve ever wanted to fly around the room or swoop and dive into a handstand push-up, the Bungee Workout makes it all possible. “Defy gravity in this exuberant exercise that is taking the international fitness world by storm,” invites Sam Duff, yoga instructor and owner of the Samyoga studio in Windsor.

The first to launch the Bungee Workout in Ontario, Sam says, “It’s a unique way to work out that is not as easy as it looks, yet more fun thank you’d think.” She trained as an instructor for the Bungee Workout in Arizona and is qualified to lead classes.

After a brief warmup, the student gets into a harness that wraps around the hips and thighs. The harness hooks into a secure bungee. “It’s the bungee’s resistance that provides the whole body workout,” Sam explains.

Body and mental awareness combine for an exciting experience. “When you step backward and then release, you get more momentum. Once you keep your core engaged, the higher you fly and the smoother you land.”

“With the bungee, it’s actually harder to go down than up. The bungee cord takes some of your weight on, so you are able to do push-ups even if you have bad wrists or knees,” Sam assures.

Whatever the action, “it is very low impact. You use your weight and your strength to your advantage. Land gracefully on your hands or feet, without putting undue stress on your joints or muscles.”

“First-timers sometimes hold back a bit. By the second time around, they just go for it,” Sam finds. “Other people are naturals; as soon as they get into the bungee, they dive right down.”

A session can entail tossing and chasing after bean bags and playing other games. Cardio weights can be added for more resistance. “Lots of stretching is involved. Sometimes we dance,” Sam says. “Yoga moves can be incorporated with the Bungee Workout. It doesn’t matter if you know yoga or not.”

Fun is a big element of the Bungee Workout, so much so that people are reserving times for private celebrations, like a birthday or bachelorette party or healthy night out with friends.

Even kids are getting into the action. Samyoga hosts parties for youngsters age 7 and older, with a Bungee Workout for everyone, followed by cake and beverages.

There are harnesses for eight people ready to play. Up to 14 people can be invited to a private party, swapping turns during the same session, lasting up to one to two hours.

“If people wish, we take photos and videos so they can see themselves in action afterward. A lot of joy happens here,” Sam says. “Burning 500-plus calories in an hour is a bonus!”

At Samyoga, Sam hosts regular yoga classes and teaches kickboxing, as well. People come per class or sign up for monthly memberships for unlimited bungee and/or yoga.

Sam also created YogaBeatz, a fusion of fluid motion, yoga and music. “It’s six weeks of yoga flowing through music – a whole different rhythm for people who enjoy yoga and want to experience it in a fresh way,” she says.

Since opening Samyoga a year ago, the native Windsorite has been having a blast, energizing people to exercise, reduce stress and laugh more. “I love what I do. It’s really great!”

2615 Howard

Dr. Hana Farhang Khoee

The New Face of Plastic Surgery in

Southern Ontario

EVERY YEAR, thousands of Canadians elect to have cosmetic surgery and, while their reasons for surgery are varied, each faces the same two questions: “Where should I have my surgery?” and “How can I be sure that the surgeon I’m speaking to isn’t just qualified, but capable of achieving the outcome I desire?” For some patients, this search is further complicated if they’re looking to have their surgery performed by a female surgeon. Regardless of personal preference, these are daunting matters for people weighing one of the most significant and, in some cases, potentially life-altering choices of their lives.

Over the past two years, finding the answers to these questions has become easier for patients in Southern Ontario with arrival of Dr. Hana Farhang Khoee, a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and Adjunct Professor at Western University. Dr. Farhang performs both Reconstructive and Cosmetic Plastic Surgeries and is one of only a handful of Canadian Plastic Surgeons certified to Practice Plastic Surgery in both Canada and the United States.

A graduate of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Farhang began her career at the renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. There, she was mentored by the some of the world’s foremost breast surgeons and established a network preeminent international Plastic Surgeons. Upon returning to Canada in 2016, she worked in Toronto as a Trauma Surgeon at St Michael’s Hospital and at the McLean Cosmetic Surgery Clinic, where she specialized in Cosmetic Procedures. But in 2017, Dr. Farhang was recruited by the Windsor Regional Hospital to develop a new Breast Reconstruction program from ground up. The development of the program has since been recognized as a watershed moment for women’s health in the area, being profiled on the CBC, CTV, and local radio and news outlets. It was for this work that Dr. Farhang received the

2018 Erie St. Clair Regional Cancer Program Summit award, which recognizes those who have substantially contributed to improving the quality of life of cancer patients.

Dr. Farhang is now focusing on the needs of elective Cosmetic Surgery patients in the Windsor region. Breast augmentation, body contouring, and facial aesthetics represent just a few of the procedures she offers.

In speaking about her Aesthetic Surgery practice, Dr. Farhang said: “I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish with the Breast Reconstruction program at the WRH, but I’ve also recognized the need in this region for an elevated standard of service on the elective surgery side. Patients considering breast augmentation, for example, shouldn’t have to travel to Toronto or out of province to get the kind of refined results they’re looking for. Helping women and men to achieve their desired appearance can have substantial impact on their quality of life and well-being that shouldn’t be undervalued – and that’s something I’m excited to bring to clients here.”

With expertise obtained from some of the most highly regarded institutions in North America, Dr. Hana Farhang is now helping patients in Windsor to achieve quality of life and surgical outcomes that they aren’t only satisfied with, but which make them truly happy.

Dr.

Dr. Farhang Khoee, a specialist in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, is now offering her services in Windsor.

At work with focus and precision.

TECUMSEH LASER CENTRE

Introducing Venus Legacy, the NEW 4D Technology Combined with Zerona for Ultimate Body Contouring

Setting the bar even higher for pain-free fat loss and skin tightening, Tecumseh Laser Centre has launched the new Venus Legacy and Zerona harmonized treatment.

“Tecumseh Laser Centre is proud to have leading edge devices,” says Joanne Duff, owner and laser technician. She diligently searches for and invests in advanced technology that is healthy and achieves the best results, without invasive surgery or downtime for recovery.

“There is a great deal of technology for body contouring out there and it can get confusing. Consumers should be aware many body contouring devices destroy fat cells which may seem great but if they gain weight in future, fat can’t go back to that area, leading to fatty

deposits that appear on the body disproportionately,” Joanne explains. “Zerona is a healing laser and does not destroy the fat: It empties it and closes it up, never to be filled again. The benefit from this is there won’t be disproportionate weight gain down the road.”

“Venus Legacy DOES destroy fat cells but when combined with Zerona there can’t be uneven fatty deposits. The combo’s advantage is Zerona releases fat all over the body and Legacy targets smaller areas like abs or thighs for extra inch loss. We call it the double whammy! Venus Legacy is the ultimate for skin tightening, contouring the silhouette and reducing wrinkles and cellulite. Win, win,” says Joanne.

Venus Legacy marries Multi-Polar Radio Frequency with Magnetic Pulsed Fields in one tool that jumpstarts a thermal reaction in skin’s tissue, stimulating the body’s natural healing response. New collagen is created, leading to the production of new elastin fibre for firmer skin. Warm and painless, the 20 to 30-minute treatment relaxes the client. Results are visible after just one treatment.

“Women and men who want to tone and smooth the face, neck and body love Venus Legacy,” Joanne says. “It’s a terrific solution for mothers looking to eliminate fat and saggy skin after pregnancy.”

The Venus Legacy and Zerona double treatment gets real, lasting results. “Both procedures are an incredibly safe and painless way to have non-surgical fat reduction,” Joanne says. “We guarantee five inches of fat loss overall in the first week.”

“As we age, fat starts accumulating around our organs. Zerona perforates 12,600 fat cells with every session and clears fat from organs. This allows the body to function properly, making weight loss easier,” says Joanne.

“Cardiac surgeons in Toronto started a trial to see why so many of their patients didn't need surgery after undergoing Zerona treatments. The reason is Zerona pulls harmful fat from the heart, so heart patients can lose fat without stressing their bodies through strenuous exercise.”

Joanne finds the greatest outcomes are achieved when the client undergoes 10 Zerona and 10 Venus Legacy treatments in as little as six weeks. Tecumseh Laser Centre offers a money-saving package price.

Also helping clients to experience their best health, certified nutritionist Bridget Fauteaux is now on board with Tecumseh Laser Centre.

“Bridget will be giving free nutritional consultations – a $200 value – during our special information evening, 5 to 7 pm, Thurs., Feb. 7,” Joanne says. “This event is open to everyone who wants to learn more about Venus Legacy and Zerona. Space is limited so contact us to reserve your spot.”

A free, private consultation can also be booked for another time with Tecumseh Laser Centre to discuss positive options.

CALENDAR

february/march 2019

FEBRUARY

Saturday, 2

CHINESE NEW YEAR GALA

Celebrating the Year of the Pig, the Chinese Association of Greater Windsor presents its Chinese New Year Gala, with dinner, games, art, live music and dance performance. St. Clair College Centre for the Arts and Chrysler Theatre, 201 Riverside Dr. W. 4:30 pm. $50 to $70. 519-252-6579. chryslertheatre.com.

IN HONOUR OF THE ONES WE LOVE GALA DINNER

In Honour of The Ones We Love presents its Diamonds & Ice Dinner & Candle Light Ceremony, with champagne, martini bar, silent auction, raffles, live music and more. Benefiting the charitable organization, the gala pays tribute to individuals who lost their battle with life threatening illness. Ciociaro Club of Windsor, 3745 North Talbot Rd. 6 pm. $150 per adult. 519-972-0083. inhonour.ca.

Friday, 8

ROAD TO KINGSVILLE FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL CONCERT SERIES PRESENTS SLOCAN RAMBLERS

The Road to Kingsville Folkfest Concert Series presents contemporary bluegrass artists Slocan Ramblers. Kingsville Lions Community Hall, 23 Mill St W. 8 pm. $25 per person. 1-800-838-3006. kingsvillefolkfest.org.

DUMPED! PRESENTED BY WINDSOR LIGHT MUSIC THEATRE

Also Feb. 9 and 10. Dumped!, a musical comedy performed by Windsor Light Music Theatre, reveals Cupid trying, with mixed results, to help people with their love lives. Chrysler Theatre, St. Clair College Centre for the Arts, 201 Riverside Dr. W., Windsor. 8 pm, Fri. and Sat., 2 pm, Sun. Ticket price to be announced. 519-974-6593. windsorlight.com.

Saturday, 9

HEARTS TOGETHER FOR HAITI CHARITY GALA

Helping to improve living conditions for children and others in Haiti, the 19th annual Hearts Together for Haiti Charity Gala includes dinner, local wine, dancing, live music by Big Louie and the Band, silent auction, raffles and Haitian culture and dancing. Fogolar Furlan Club, 1800 North

Service Rd., Windsor. 5:30 pm. $75 per adult, $50 per student. 519-564-6975. htfhaiti.org.

Sunday, 10

EMPTY BOWLS BREAD AND SOUP LUNCHEON

Local restaurants and bakeries donate the food for the Empty Bowls Windsor Essex County Bread and Soup Luncheon, raising funds for area food banks and soup kitchens. Optimist Community Centre, 1075 Ypres Ave., Windsor. 1 to 3 pm. $25 per person. 519-253-5592.

Friday, 15

WINDSOR POLAR PLUNGE

Be Bold & Get Cold is the invitation of St. Clair College and the Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run, cohosting the 5th Annual Windsor Polar Plunge in support of local Special Olympics athletes. St. Clair College SportsPlex, Geraedts Drive, Windsor. 9:30 am. Public registration or pledge fee information online at polarplunge.ca/plunges/windsor-essex.

Friday, 22

RUTHVEN ROCK N BOWL FOR KIDS SAKE

Till Saturday. The County edition of Rock N Bowl for Kids Sake in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters Windsor Essex is open to everyone who wants to help support the organization. Empire Lanes, 1771 Talbot Rd., Ruthven. 6:30 pm, Fri.; 1 pm, Sat. The city version is from 6 pm, Fri., Mar. 1 and Sat., Mar. 2 at Rose Bowl Lanes, 2482 Dougall Ave., Windsor. Teams can register 519-945-6232, ext.12 or windsor.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/event/bowl-for-kids-sake.

BOWIE AND PRINCE PRESENTED BY THE WINDSOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Windsor Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Wiley, plays the greatest hits of music icons David Bowie and Prince. Chrysler Theatre, St. Clair College Centre for the Arts, 201 Riverside Dr. W., Windsor. 8 pm. 519-973-1238. windsorsymphony.com.

Saturday, 23

COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR

Participants walk 2, 5 or 10 km in Canada’s national walk for homelessness, Coldest Night of the Year. Locally, it raises funds for the Downtown Mission of Windsor, the starting point of the walk. 664 Victoria Ave. 4 to 8 pm. Register or donate at coldestnightoftheyear.org/location/windsor or 877-743-3413.

DUELLING PIANOS

Two humourous musicians play two pianos,

sing and entertain during Duelling Pianos, a fundraiser for the Brain Injury Association of Windsor and Essex County. Windsor Yacht Club, 9000 Riverside Dr. E., Windsor. 6 pm. $50 per person for dinner and the show. 519-981-1329. biawe.com.

MARCH

Saturday, 2

CHAPS AND SPURS COUNTRY FEST KICKOFF PARTY

Featuring Canadian rising country star Eric Ethridge with special guests Buck Twenty, Chaps & Spurs Country Fest Kickoff Party and Country Music Concert supports Autism Ontario Windsor-Essex. Essex Recreation Complex, 242 Talbot St. N. 7:30 pm. $20 in advance per adult, $25 at the door. chapsandspurs.com.

Tuesday, 5

HATS ON FOR HEALTH CARE DAY

Individuals, co-workers and organizations can donate $2 for the privilege of wearing their choice of headwear during the official Windsor Regional Hospital’s Hats On for Healthcare Day. The money helps pay for diagnostic imaging equipment. 519-973-4433. HatsOnForHealthcare.com.

Saturday, 9

STAMP SHOW

Essex County Stamp Club hosts its annual Stamp Show, with dealers selling and buying stamps and postcards. There is a special area with free stamps for school-aged kids. Caboto Club, 2175 Parent Ave., Windsor. 10 am to 4 pm. Free admission. 519-966-2276.

Wednesday, 13

LET’S TALK THEATRE LUNCH & DISCUSSION SERIES WITH UNIVERSITY PLAYERS

Love and Information, a modern comedy/drama written by Caryl Churchill, will be performed Mar. 22 to 31 by the University Players. In advance, UP Windsor is hosting its Let’s Talk Theatre Lunch and Discussion, with guest speakers focusing on the play. Willistead Manor, 1899 Niagara St., Windsor. 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. $45 per person. 519-253-3000, ext. 2808. UniversityPlayers.com.

Saturday, 16

ART THERAPY ART SHOW

Anonymous artists contribute their art for purchase at the Art Therapy Art Show. All proceeds are in aid of the Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor-Essex County Branch. Common Ground Art Gallery, Mackenzie Hall, 3277 Sandwich St., Windsor. 7 pm. Free for all ages. 226-348-5004.

JOSH INDIG

Local Car Racer Has His Sights On A Full-Time Racing Future

STORY BY DICK HILDEBRAND

JOSH INDIG, 21, considers himself a very fortunate individual. Blessed with an analytical mind and an innate ability to race cars, the Belle River native is realizing a childhood dream and his future looks bright.

He’s been racing Legends cars since he was 13 and in his words, “When I started, the only way you could be eligible for the series was to have had previous racing experience of some kind.” Well, Josh was at the right place at the right time, since he had been racing go-karts for years. He successfully completed a drivers’ aptitude test that proved he was competent enough to be on the track with the rest of the competitors.

In 2011 he ran in the Michigan Legends series and it was “very daunting. Every weekend there were 30 to 35 seasoned veterans at the track, some with upwards of 10 years experience. In my first race I got lapped twice and I was really slow…there were so many things I was worried about.” In race two, Josh was only lapped once. In the next race, the young phenom finished in the lead lap! The following year, Josh drove in 8 events, mostly in Canada, and took the checkered flag for the first time in Grand Bend. He completed the season with several second place finishes.

Unfortunately, health issues virtually sidelined the young racer for the next two seasons. “I was in high school and had collapsed lung issues,” he says, “in fact I had five episodes over a two year period. And racing wasn’t the cause. It could happen while I was sitting in class, or lying in bed…all random.” He did a bit of racing during the off-period, but heeded his doctor’s advice and avoided strenuous activity. Even then, he was still named Canadian Legends Cars Young Lions national champion in 2014. The following year, he returned to the sport full-time.

Josh’s love of motor sports began at the age of 4 after his father, Rob, head of the B.O.S. Auto Group in Belle River and a former Super Late

Model racer, took his young son to the Glass City 200 at the Toledo Speedway. That was all it took…the young guy was hooked and by the time he was 5, he was driving his first go-kart around empty parking lots. At age 7, his father bought him his first racing kart. Before long, Josh was leaving his mark at local tracks. In his first year of competition in 2008, Josh was named Sun Parlor Karting Club ‘Rookie of the Year’ in Leamington. As he moved up the ranking ladder, he won two feature races in his first two Ontario Junior Rotax Go-Karting starts and twice was the Point Pelee Karting championship runner-up.

Top: Josh Indig in his #5 Legends Car, heading for another checkered flag. Above: Josh with just a handful of his many trophies. Photo by Dick Hildebrand.

BEST DRY CLEANERS

After six years of Karting, the team made the move to the travelling INEX sanctioned (inexpensive) Legends Car series in Michigan, eventually driving at tracks all over Ontario and many parts of the U.S.

With his winning attitude, Josh is quick to point out that every circuit he has visited, has presented him with the chance to win, no matter what the track. Needless to say, he has lots of good stories to tell. He recalls travelling to New Jersey for the Turkey Derby on the American Thanksgiving. “40 Legends cars showed up. We unloaded and practiced 8th, but through a mix-up in the heat races, we wound up in an altercation with other drivers, so I ended up finishing last. As a result I had to enter a consolation race to qualify for the main event. I started in 17th and wound up 5th, but only the top four drivers made it. But I guess the officials liked my performance so they wrote me in as a ‘promoters choice’ in the 33 spot. I worked my way up, but because I started at the back of the pack I only finished 15th by the end of the race.”

Extremely professional, the entry-level Legends series is seen as the most professional, small car, short track racing series and is a stepping stone to NASCAR. Many retired pro drivers compete for fun, while others see it as an opportunity to advance their careers. In fact, almost every NASCAR driver in the last 20 years has come out of Legends cars. Josh sees his next step either in Super Late Models or the NASCAR Pinty Series, the upper level of NASCAR in Canada.

CHARLES

THOMPSON

He’s also been at the Orlando Winter Nationals where he’s run against many top drivers who today have moved to various NASCAR positions and he has run at the Atlanta Motor Speedway Legends Car Winter Flurry event, where he finished second. Last year, with five feature wins, 3 second place finishes and a 6th place in 9 starts, he was the Ontario Legends Cars champion. As he puts it, “to be able to say I did that is pretty cool considering what our budget level was!” Many of the teams spend tens of thousands of dollars per year to race. They come to the track with back-up cars and full teams of people. In the case of Josh, it’s just him and his father….with occasional assistance from mom and another crew person. Their extra equipment generally includes tires, extra fenders, running boards and spare engine parts. Since the team has to pay its own way, sponsorships are vital. Josh has four primaries: Riverside Rentals, Walkerville Brewery, BOSGROUP.ca and Cross Trailers. They mostly supply parts to keep the car on the track. Cross Trailers, which are handled locally by B.O.S. modified one of their carriers for Josh’s racer. Keeping in mind that racing is #1 in brand loyalty and that race fans are three times as likely as non fans to buy a sponsor’s product, there is always room for more sponsorship. Prospects are invited to contact him for a personal consultation. He can be reached by email at jirmedia@outlook.com or by calling 519-728-2363 or 519-965-4933.

Legends Cars are manufactured in Harrisburg North Carolina and are 5/8 scale replicas of vehicles of the 1930s and 40s. Josh’s car is based on the 1937 Ford. Capable of reaching speeds up to 125 miles an hour and extremely difficult to handle, the short wheel-based rockets, until this season, have been powered by Yamaha 1250 cc, carbureted motorcycle engines, mated to 5-speed manual transmissions. Josh feels they are at their best on a 3/8 mile, partially banked oval track, but can be adapted for road racing. Next season will mark the introduction of brand new cars, powered by the fuel-injected Yamaha 3-cylinder, FZO9 motorcycle engine. Indig will be racing in one of the new models next year.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for a good, used race car, Indig’s current #5 is for sale.

Intending to stay with racing for the remainder of his life, either as a driver or a crew chief, Josh will graduate from the University of Windsor in August with an engineering degree. As part of his curriculum, he’s been a member of the university’s SAE team in designing, manufacturing and racing a Formula-style racer against other universities. At the same time, he’s currently wrapping up a co-op term with FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) which means when he graduates, he’ll already be a certified engineer. He’s been given what he terms a ‘wonderful’ opportunity of staying with the automaker but is definitely not ruling out the possibility of getting into a professional race team if an offer comes his way.

Josh Indig is firmly grounded. He’s a goal setter and knows where he’s headed and he works hard at it.

Already in his pro racing career, he’s earned upwards of $15,000 to $20,000, which, instead of squandering, has put into his education. He believes in paying his own way and taking responsibility for his actions. And with his parents solidly behind him his racing enterprise is definitely a family affair.

TLrue ove