Windsor Life Magazine February/March 2015

ton

What things do you enjoy about being an Audiologist?

I truly enjoy getting to know each of my patients and creating specific treatment goals together which fit their lifestyle. It feels like a big family over here at the office and seeing my patients regularly over time provides a real continuity to those goals, as we sometimes modify things as their needs or lifestyle may change My goal is to make everybody feel that they are informed and active partners in their own hearing rehabilitation, with a little bit of inspiration and creativity added in!

Who is your ideal patient?

My ideal patient has typically identified some degree of trouble with their hearing and is motivated to learn more about hearing in general as well as possible treatment outcomes and/or communication strategies Others are aware that their hearing may be at risk due to noise exposure or other factors, and wish to simply establish a baseline in the process of beginning to monitor their hearing levels

What would you say to the person who feels reluctant to check their hearing?

I would encourage that person to trust Sound Hearing Care with their hearing health A hearing test is one of the easiest and quickest assessments out there So often we are diligent about checking our vision, but we tend to forget about hearing as it is more of an invisible impairment that people have often been told to ‘live with’ It is so important to proper communication however, and ultimately our relationships with friends and family can be negatively affected There is no doctor’s referral required, plenty of free parking, and appointments can usually be scheduled within the same week! Regardless of the results of one’s hearing test, one can be assured that they will walk away from their appointment with some valuable and personalized information about their hearing, as well as some communication strategies or hearing recommendations that can be immediately applied. 2015 is a great time to take an active interest

This Year, Try Making and Sticking to a Financial New Year’s Resolution

This year, for a resolution with real significance, why don’t you try committing to improving your personal finances? It might help you stay on target toward key goals, such as a comfortable retirement Here are four ideas you might want to consider:

Understand your full financial picture

It’s important to know where you stand today in terms of your assets and debts, as well as your goals for the future – particularly as they relate to your retirement – so you can come up with an appropriate plan to help you get you where you want to go.

Take full advantage of your RRSP, TFSA and RESP

As part of your retirement and children's education planning, don’t miss out on the chance to utilize these valuable savings vehicles the government has put in place for you As early as possible in 2015 – and every year after that –make sure you contribute the maximum amounts you can. All three programs have the enticement of key tax advantages.

With the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), you have an attractive structure for housing a portfolio of investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds and more. Your contributions can be deducted from your income, which will help reduce the amount of income tax you pay In addition, any growth earned in your RRSP is not taxed as income until funds are withdrawn, meaning your RRSP investments grow tax-deferred so the total value may grow more quickly

You can also save and invest up to $5,500 per year in a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). You can take the money out whenever you desire, no tax is paid on that withdrawal, and whatever growth occurs within the account does so tax-free. That means the TFSA can be a great supplement to your RRSP.

The Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) allows you to save and benefit from tax-deferred growth until the accumulated amount is used for financing your children’s education. Although you are not able to deduct your contributions from your income, the money you contribute can generate additional funds through the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG), a program that adds government-sponsored contributions to your RESP.

Build an emergency fund

You should have some easily accessible cash kept aside specifically for emergencies. If something unforeseen happens, you want enough in your emergency fund to avoid relying on your credit cards for the necessities of life And it’s just as important that you not tap into your retirement savings, or you could put your retirement plans in jeopardy. So you might find it’s a prudent goal in 2015 to get the equivalent of three to six months’ worth of living expenses into an emergency fund

Cut your debts

It sounds simple, but it’s difficult to achieve. Remember that every dollar that doesn’t go toward a debt payment can be applied toward your retirement savings So in 2015, you might want to commit to borrowing only when necessary, shopping around for competitive rates, paying off credit card balances every month, consolidating your investing or banking in one place, and generally looking for ways to cut whatever costs you can while living within your means. Here’s one other commitment that might be the most valuable of all: If you don’t already have a financial advisor, make 2015 the year you get one. A qualified financial advisor can objectively evaluate your situation, suggest appropriate financial strategies for helping you achieve your long-term objectives, and maybe even help you stick to your financial New Year’s resolution

Edward Jones, Member – Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

Dr. Markovic attended many cosmetic conferences this past year looking for the most innovative devices used for skin rejuvenation. Skin rejuvenation is the most important aspect of looking good. We have found the answer with the Venus Viva, which is a Nano-fractional Radio Frequency device using Smart-Scan Technology

The Viva successfully decreases pore size, reduces fine lines which are a sign of aging, evens out textural irregularities, reduces acne scars, and even diminishes deep lines and folds for a younger healthier looking skin. It can also correct neck lines and tighten lax skin.

Once the skin looks younger and fresher there is more benefit to the use of Botox, Xeomin and fillers which restores the natural contours of the face This overall improvement gives a boost in conference and is the most effective way to give a lasting result. We at Cygnus clinic are fortunate enough to have two licensed laser technicians who are experienced with the new technology of the Venus Viva in addition to our many other lasers and devices We are very excited about the Viva adding a much needed new aspect to skin rejuvenation This will round out the complete rejuvenation in one procedure with fewer treatments needed and lasting results.

Dr. Ruth Mar kovic

Dr Markovic has 19 years experience in cosmetic procedures

CYGNUS

REJUVENATION CLINIC

Concept to Completion

Publisher’s Note

2015 is starting off just as a new year ought, with positive news and initiatives that bode well for the prosperity and health of Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent

As a car enthusiast, I really appreciate being able to cross the border every January to drool over the new models unveiled at the North American International Auto Show Rather than the cars, the thing that really got my attention this year was the tremendous announcement made by Fiat Chr ysler Automobiles NV.

The automaker is planning to spend more than $2 billion to develop and engineer the new Chr ysler crossover vehicle and retool the Windsor minivan plant, where it will be made This commitment is something for all of us to celebrate, par ticularly since ever y good paying automotive job results in five or more spinoff jobs and strengthens our community.

Read about what is coming down the line in Windsor Life’s two articles about the Auto Show

Then keep the motion going by joining Allen and Peggy Shearn and their friends on a journey by land and by sea as they explored Croatia, Nor way and Finland.

If you ’ re a homebody, you will appreciate the ambiance and style of the model townhouse that Ezio Tartaro of Gintar Contractors Ltd. built in LaSalle. Windsor Life takes you inside

Feel some hometown pride in The Walker villes, the cool local band that will be the opening act at the Caesars Windsor Colosseum stage for the Juno award winning Sam Roberts Band when they unite this Februar y

Music has the power to heal. Hear what the all doctor band, Tragically O’HIP, are up to.

Dr Michael Akpata is also revealing another side of medical professionals with the ne w book he has penned, Life Behind the Mask: A Surgeon’s Memoir Windsor Life shares a glimpse.

Looking for ward at the outset of this new year, Windsor Life took a moment to look back We attended the launch of From the Vault: A Photo Histor y of Windsor, an intriguing book written by Dan Wells and Craig Pearson The book is an intriguing record of this great city’s past, reminding us of why we are so proud to be a par t of our community.

All the best for 2015!

Bob Robinson

Dr. Peter Bray MD, MSC, FRCS(C)

Your shape revealed™

Pregnancy, weight fluctuations, stubborn fat pockets, and the normal passage of time can all cause physical changes that are difficult to reverse through diet and exercise alone Fortunately, the treatments available to help you achieve your physical goals have never been better BoardCertified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Peter Bray and his team are proud to offer a full range of surgical and non-surgical options geared toward tasteful transformations. While many discriminating clients seek consultation with Dr Bray because of his cutting-edge treatments, recently featured by the likes of Global TV and Today's Parent magazine, it is his commitment to safety, comfort, and natural results that all of his patients consistently appreciate Call today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bray at his Windsor-area office.

Holli Campeau CERTIFIED

Barb Deneau RN,

The North American International Auto Show

The Muscle is Back

STORY BY DICK HILDEBRAND & BOB JANZEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY DICK HILDEBRAND

Over the past five years, the North American International Auto Show has been a study in contrasts. At one time, there was even talk of moving the exhibition to Chicago, while a recessionar y downturn in the American auto industr y resulted in sombre moods at several of the shows Then came the government rescue of Chr ysler and General Motors, the quality of our domestic vehicles increased and sales were re-booted amid a steady drop in fuel prices

Enter 2015 With renovations to Cobo Center that substantially increased floor space – Detroit’s convention jewel was transformed into a venue where the crème de la crème of the automotive world was proudly displayed. It

This page clockwise from right: The new Ford GT; the Ford Shelby Mustang GT 350R; Ford F150, the North American Truck of the year; the 2015 Ford Focus ST

seemed like time travel took us back to an age where performance was king...and gas-powered engines again rose to the top. The gauntlet was dropped as the Detroit Three brought out their latest in tooth-rattling performers IT ’S ON!

Ram introduced the Rebel, a hot version of its 1500 pickup, designed for war with the Ford Raptor The Rebel has, among other features, a black front grille design which is a significant styling departure from other Ram trucks Its huge 33-inch, allterrain tires are mounted on 17-inch wheels and the entire unit has extra ride height for increased wheel clearance, thanks to its exclusive air suspension The truck sits 15-inches off the ground and combined with re-designed stabilizing devices, it’s seen as a superlative off-road performer. Inside, drivers will dig new seats with the embossed Toyo Tire tread design and they’ll appreciate the new center console bin that incorporates a cell-phone/tablet holder with a molded insert allowing for devices of var ying sizes. Two engines are available – the standard 3.6 litre V-6 Pentastar delivering 305 horsepower and the optional 5.7 litre Hemi V-8 that churns out 395 horsepower An 8-speed automatic transmission is the standard fare with both engines Built in Warren, Michigan, the Rebel will be in dealer showrooms within six months

Meanwhile, Ford has re-engineered ever y aspect of its F-150 Raptor to make it, as CEO Mark Fields says, “the company ’ s toughest, smartest, most capable off-roader – more efficient than ever ” Like the other F-150s, the Raptor’s body is made from a militar y-grade aluminum alloy, resulting in a 500 pound weight reduction. It’s 6-inches wider than the standard F-150 for improved off-road stability. Power travels to the wheels by means of a 3.5- litre EcoBoost engine which is exclusive to the Raptor. A 10-speed transmission with paddle shifters, has been added for improved efficiency and depending on terrain and driving conditions, the Raptor has six preset modes that provide calibration changes to the powertrain The Dearborn built truck goes on sale in the fall of 2016

Ford continued to flex its muscles with the Shelby GT350R Mustang touted as “the most race-ready, road-legal Mustang ever ”

Raj Nair of Global Product Development says “the 350R is

This page clockwise from top: The Buick Casada C o n v e r t i b l e ; t h e Vo l k s w a g e n G o l f , M o t o r Tr e n d Magazine and North American Car of the Year; the Chevy Bolt concept; the Chevy Volt

a no-compromise car in the pursuit of maximum track c a p a b i l i t y a t h o ro u g h b re d s t re e t c a r m a k i n g u s e o f t e c h n o l o g y a n d i n g e n u i t y t o d e l i ve r p e r f o r m a n c e f e w enthusiasts have ever experienced It’s an all-around bala n c e d a t h l e t e – o n e t h a t i s e x t r a o rd i n a r i l y p re c i s e a n d a g i l e ” . Powe r c o m e s f ro m t h e n e w 5 . 2 - l i t re d u a l - ove rhead-cam V-8 with a flat-plane crankshaft, usually found o n l y i n r a c i n g a p p l i c a t i o n s o r e xo t i c Eu ro p e a n s p o r t s cars.

Now, before you sign the order form – remember this: The car has no air conditioning, no stereo system, no rear seats, no trunk floorboard and carpet, no backup camera and no emergency tire sealer and inflator in order to save weight Even exhaust resonators have been removed-not only to reduce heft, but to provide a much sharper tone The limited production 350R will be available in both Canada and the United States later this year

Coming in 2016 is the 50th anniversar y edition of the all new GT, an ultra-high performance supercar that celebrates the original Ford GT ’ s 1-2-3 place finish at the 1966 24 Hours of LeMans. Even standing still, the aerodynamic supercar appears to be doing 200 mph. It’s a rear w h e e l d r i ve t w o s e a t e r, w i t h i t s Ec o B o o s t t w i n - t u r b o

Clockwise from bottom: The Ram Rebel; the Cadillac CTS-V; the Chevy Colorado, Motor Trend Magazine Truck of the Year; the Lincoln MKX; the Ford F150 Raptor.

V-6 that produces 600 horsepower mounted in the middle of the car. An extensive use of carbon fiber and aluminum enables the GT to achieve outstanding acceleration and handling

Lincoln also got into the auto show mood as it presented the MKX, a gorgeous premium crossover, due for release in 2016 Designed to go head-to-head with the Lexus RX and Mercedes M-Class among others, it’s described as having “living room comfort” with front seats that can massage the pampered driver and a power thigh extender with 22 different adjustments. The upscale Revel sound system features up to 19 speakers that provide audiophile-quality sound. Leather, wood and suede which can be customized to a number of themes, are used extensively inside the vehicle. The MKX is powered by a standard 3 7-litre V-6 A 2 7litre twin turbocharged EcoBoost 6 banger can also be ordered by a driver demanding a little more off the line As usual, a wide array of electronic safety equipment can be found on the order sheet The MKX will hit the streets in the U S this fall a bit later in Canada

General Motors brought a loaded gun to the show...introducing its newest Cadillac.... the CTS-V, a high performance, 640 hp

beast, capable of travelling down the road at 200 miles per hour! Division head Johan de Nysschen, told his huge audience that Cadillac has faced “ some adversity” over its 112 year history, but the brand is “determined to fight its way back to the fore that Cadillac is re-inventing itself ” While North American sales were down 6 3 percent last year the brand is ‘ on fire’ in China where deliveries totalled 74,000 units in 2014 an increase of 47%

At the same time, GM’s Buick division showed off its new Cascada convertible the marque ’ s first drop-top since the first Bush administration.

The four-seater, which is made in Germany by Open, shares chassis components with the Verano sedan and is powered by a 1 6-litre, turbo-charged 4 cylinder engine Its unique fabric top can be lowered in 17 seconds, even while the car is on the move It’s expected to be in dealer showrooms early next year

Chevrolet showed off its green side with the 2016 Volt, featuring sportier styling and an increased cruising range in the electric mode The automaker also presented, for the first time, the Bolt concept...a compact electric hauler that’s able to go 200 miles on a single charge. At $30,000 a copy, the

hatchback is designed to compete with the Tesla 3 sedan. The Bolt, which shares parts from the sub-compact Sonic, could be going into production within the next 2 years amid speculation that the production ride, won ’ t differ substantially from its concept version

For a closer look at automotive innovations, check out Kevin McCabe’s article on page 92 of this magazine, on some of the amazing technology that’s built into the rolling computers that we know as cars

Auto Show visitors this year noticed several things: that there are more trucks on display than ever before, that automotive muscle is back with a vengeance and that the aisles and viewing areas are larger and more accommodating for huge crowds thanks to the Cobo changes. The economic impact on Detroit is profound – last year the show generated an estimated $375 million for the region and attracted about 800,000 visitors

The North American International Auto Show has matured into one of THE major exhibitions in the world many of the 5,000+ automotive writers who attended from various parts of the globe echoed those sentiments. One German journalist was overheard as saying, “this is absolutely the best auto show I’ve ever attended.” WLM

MOST PEOPLE HAVE MINOR OR MAJOR THINGS they would love to change about their physical appearance, if they could As the women and men who have trusted The Windsor Breast and Tummy Tuck Centre know, little tweaks and significant makeovers can be done safely, skillfully and affordably, whenever you choose

“At The Windsor Breast and Tummy Tuck Centre, we ’ re delighted to be able to offer a full range of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in Windsor’s only private, state of the art and discreet surgical facility,” says Dr. Marcus Niessen, the Centre’s Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.

Placing patients’ safety above all else, The Windsor Breast and Tummy Tuck Centre is a fully accredited surgical facility with a Board Certified Anesthesiologist, enabling select procedures to be done with general anesthesia and Twilight anesthesia The centre is conveniently located in the South Walkerville Health Centre, so local patients don’t have to travel far for consultation, care and follow-up visits

Heading the medical team is Dr Niessen, who holds a specialist’s designation in Plastic Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons (Canada) He has been in private practice since 1997 An innovator in cosmetic medicine, Dr Niessen developed InvisibleLift™ in response to patients who were pleased with the youthful effects they were getting with injectable facial fillers yet wanted some tweaking done to the neck and the lower half of the face

Dr Niessen’s trademarked InvisibleLift™ tightens the skin and muscles in the neck, contours the jawline and reduces the appearance of jowls. The result is a more youthful

looking neck and jawline that gives the woman or man a more refreshed appearance overall –and often, an increase in self-esteem. Less invasive and less costly than a traditional facelift, InvisibleLift™ only leaves a scar behind the ear

After an InvisibleLift™ has been performed, recovery downtime is minimal “Usually, my patients are back to their daily lives in three to five days,” Dr Niessen says (InvisibleLift com)

Younger people also turn to The Windsor Breast and Tummy Tuck Centre, particularly moms unhappy with their skin stretched by pregnancy and breastfeeding. “As rewarding as motherhood is, it leaves its mark on a woman ’ s body,” Dr. Niessen says. To reverse the effects of pregnancy or significant weight change, he offers a special Mommy Makeover “It’s a simultaneous tummy tuck and breast augmentation or lift ” (breastandtummytuck com)

Both are surgical procedures The tummy tuck or abdominoplasty removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and tightens the abdominal wall muscles Liposuction may also be employed to take away fat deposits on the hips.

To restore or enhance the shape and firmness of breasts altered by pregnancy, nursing and aging, Dr. Niessen performs a breast lift or mastopexy. Another option is breast augmentation, the procedure most requested by Dr Niessen’s patients The doctor offers a full range of implant options, including the newest generation of saline and cohesive “Gummy Bear” gel implants (cosmeticbreastsurgery ca)

Positive changes can also be achieved without surger y One popular procedure is CoolSculpting, which The Windsor Breast and Tummy Tuck Centre uses to eradicate muffin top and other unwanted bulges caused by excess fat cells and proving resistant to diet and exercise. “CoolSculpting is a quick, needle-free solution that uses controlled cooling to target and crystalize fat cells, which gradually die off and are eliminated naturally by the body,” Dr Niessen says Just one session continues to have positive effects over several months as the remaining fat cells condense, further trimming the physique There is no downtime after treatment (cool111 com)

To discuss the best options for you, book your consultation with The Windsor Breast and Tummy Tuck Centre. Call 519-254-2676 or any of the toll free numbers on Dr. Niessen’s websites.

COLLINS BARROW WINDSOR LLP

The Accounting Assurance and Tax Team for Professionals, Entrepreneurs, Businesses and Not-for-Profit Organizations

The Tax Team of Collins Barrow Windsor LLP

The smartest leaders do what they know best and entrust the rest to the experts To guide its clients in important fiscal matters, Collins Barrow Windsor LLP has skilled, experienced teams in place, each focused on specific tasks to increase the efficiency and profitability of ever y client ser ved

Partner Scott Dupuis, CPA, CA, and partners Dan Dwyer and Brenda Griffith lead the strong tax team at Collins Barrow, where ever yone exchanges their expertise among the firm’s various departments. For instance, “ as a specialist in taxation, I also depend on the Collins Barrow assurance team Together, we work hand in hand with our clients,” Scott says (Read about the assurance team on the following page)

Those clients are primarily professionals, entrepreneurs and businesses, people who are leaders in their own right and recognize the value of having trusted, talented advisors on their teams.

Responding to increasing demand for ser vices, “ our local Collins Barrow tax team has grown substantially over the past three years, ” says Scott Ten team members now offer special knowledge and guidance in tax matters for Canadian and American business clients.

“Business owners realize there is opportunity on the other side of the border but they have many questions We provide guidance that enables our Canadian and American clients to do business in one another’s countries,” Scott says “ The size of Collins Barrow enables us to give personal ser vice and partner attention at a superior level ”

The Collins Barrow tax team also includes a mechanical engineer,

senior manager Daniel Coccimiglio “His job is to understand the technical aspects of our clients’ manufacturing business, so we can take advantage of R&D tax incentives and other tax-saving opportunities,” Scott explains

In 2014, Collins Barrow added new team member, manager Craig Hoover, who specializes in researching and applying for government grants that clients may be qualified to receive “ We match government grants to our different clients and then advise them as to what they should pursue, ” says Scott “ With our clients’ approval, we do the grant writing, which is a specialized task. That enables our clients to focus on what they do best.”

“ We regularly follow over 200 grants and are continually filing grant applications on our clients’ behalf We have a healthy rate of success in securing new, vital sources of revenue for our clients,” Scott reports.

Collins Barrow is not only committed to helping its clients make and accumulate wealth, the firm also helps preser ve it “Our team brings our clients creative ideas and tax efficient strategies for building and expanding their companies, as well as ensuring endurance through estate planning,” says Dan

Positioned for growth, the firm welcomes new clients in need of business tax ser vices and other financial guidance. “At this time of year, business owners and managers see how they really did fiscally in 2014 Many may wonder if there are ways to do better A conversation with Collins Barrow can be enlightening,” Dan says

Collins Barrow continues to search for talented people who are interested in a career in tax and will be the right fit for the local team “ We get energized by what we do,” Scott says “ When we find another tax or assurance professional that shares our values and work ethic, that further strengthens our team and what we provide our clients ”

Daniel Coccimiglio

David Gardner

Jennifer Gyorgy

Erica Iarusso

Scott Dupuis

COLLINS BARROW WINDSOR LLP

The Assurance Team

Collins Barrow serves a diverse range of primarily private companies and not for profit organizations across Southwestern Ontario Clients range in size from 10 to 300 employees and annual revenues of $100,000 to $50 million “We serve the manufacturing, automotive, insurance, financial services and technology sectors; clients engaged in agriculture and transportation; not for profit organizations; and professionals,” says Carl Hooper, CPA,CA, Assurance Partner at Collins Barrow Windsor LLP

“We understand the unique, specific needs of each client and customize our services and deliverables accordingly ”

The Windsor office has six accounting and auditing partners supported by a talented, dedicated group of assurance managers and senior managers empowered to lead team members. Collins Barrow offers the national reach of its competitors but goes beyond in service delivery. In a recent survey, clients ranked Collins Barrow ahead of its competition for:

• Partner attention to clients

• Having a highly collaborate culture

• Accountability to clients, their engagements and their people

• Having extensive technical expertise

• Being proactive to the needs of clients

“We’re committed to ensuring our talented, experienced client service team is in place,” says Michael Frenette, CPA, CA, Assurance Partner “Our structure means our partners are directly involved in the planning, management and review of our assurance engagements ” With this approach, Collins Barrow ensures engagements are conducted in an efficient, cost effective manner and that

on-going questions and concerns are addressed on a timely basis Business owners are required to make decisions affecting their companies every day. In many cases, they seek input from a trusted advisor. To meet this need, Collins Barrow makes certain its assurance and advisory team is prepared to provide timely advice tailored to each client.

“When we begin a new relationship, our team members meet face to face with the business owner. We’re very hands on, ” says Denise Hrastovec, CPA, CA, Managing Partner “We assist in all aspects of their business Our objective is to earn the right to be considered their trusted advisor ”

For instance, when working with a new client engaged in the purchase of a business, the Collins Barrow assurance team assists with conducting due diligence on the company to be purchased, helps to obtain optimal financing and works with the Collins Barrow tax team to structure the deal tax efficiently After the transaction takes place, the assurance team assists the new business owner with the business transition and operational issues. “We become a key part of the team, ” says Brenda Griffith, CPA, CA, Assurance Partner.

The assurance team is also beneficial when an existing business wants to expand through building an addition to its facility or acquiring new equipment and technology. “We help our clients structure their debt to finance assets that can grow or reinvigorate their business,” says Paul Kale, CPA, CA, Assurance Partner “We have a great relationship with many competitive lenders in the Windsor community ”

“We’re excited about our city and the current state of our local economy and proud to be part of it,” says Carl “We enjoyed impressive growth in the past 24 months and have exciting plans for 2015 We believe we ’ re one of the best ‘good news ’ stories in town ”

Brian Sweetman

Linda Lukis

Melissa Cuzzocrea

Brian Cowell

Paul

Brenda

Emma Bufton

Michael Frenette

A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ORTHOPEDIC AND MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS CLINIC

WHETHER SEEKING CARE FOR ACUTE INJURIES such as sprains and strains, or more specialized care for chronic conditions, the Bone, Joint, Muscle and Spine Walk-In Clinic can help Windsor-Essex community residents are fortunate to have access to this musculoskeletal centre of excellence

Located at 1505 Ouellette Ave in Windsor, the clinic has been open since July 2014 and has been very well received by the community.

“Our initial thought with the clinic was to help alleviate wait times for the emergency rooms. We are also seeing a lot of nonemergent cases with patients that have been suffering from long standing aches and pains. Patients are looking for more options and detailed explanations as to their condition and options for treatment Having all these services available under one roof provides a seamless experience for patients where they can get answers quickly,” says clinical director John Spirou, PT, Doctor of Physical Therapy

The clinic is open Monday to Friday and is the creation of a group of medical visionaries with a goal of alleviating emergency room wait times and allow for patients to access high quality and efficient care No appointments or referrals are necessary. Services are covered by OHIP and X-rays, ultrasound and advanced imaging are all available and parking is free.

There is also an infection control benefit to visiting the clinic. Often times when people suffering from musculoskeletal injuries visit the hospital they have long waiting times in areas with patients that have coughs, colds and other contagious illnesses The risk of adverse events as a result of this exposure is minimized by a visit to the clinic

The clinic has been embraced by the community As word has spread about the care and services available at the clinic, demand continues to increase

“We are seeing a lot of patients that have suffered a variety of different injuries, especially from car accidents, work injuries, sports injuries and chronic pain,” says Spirou. “Many of the injuries people sustain in the winter months revolve around neck/back, shoulder and knee. We are also seeing a significant number of slip and fall injuries and exacerbations of chronic aches and pains.”

To meet this demand the clinic has already expanded their interdisciplinary team to include onsite consultations by neurosurgeons, a sports medicine and physical medicine specialist and pain management “We are thrilled to expand our specialist team to further enhance the care we provide to patients Collaborative care has been shown to be a very effective tool in the treatment musculoskeletal conditions,” says Spirou “By working alongside other providers and specialists, we can share our collective views and opinions that further enhance the treatment options for patients Thus far, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and supportive Because this clinic is such a new concept across Canada, we know that there will be ongoing improvements in the services we can offer our patients. Rarely do healthcare providers get to innovate on this scale

and we are fortunate to be able to visualize, develop and implement such a unique service ”

Musculoskeletal conditions consume enormous healthcare resources They are the most common cause of pain and physical disability and the second most common reason for consulting a doctor

“Up to 60% of people on early retirement or long-term sick leave claim a musculoskeletal problem as the reason. With the exclusion of trauma, these conditions represent almost 25% of the total cost of illness in westernized countries and are a major contributor to backlogs and long wait times in the ER,” notes Dr. Ed Sabga, Windsor Regional Hospital ER specialist physician and the clinic’s medical director

Dr Yuri Marchuk, MD is a Physical Medicine specialist who works at the clinic “The multi-disciplinary philosophy we use at the clinic is unlike any other The team ’ s combined experience draws on many specialized resources that are unique and innovative Our ability to work as a team provides patients with an improved patientcentred approach for treating acute and chronic injuries ”

The team-based approach to care provides an added tool to treat complex cases.

Patients at the clinic receive thorough evaluations along with a detailed explanation about their condition and treatment plan. Family doctors are also kept informed of any procedures or referrals that are made. The objective is getting the patient back to a pain free state.

“Patients want more knowledge about their conditions That is where we come in, our multi-disciplinary team and specialized services allow us to provide this knowledge efficiently,” says Spirou

The clinic is centrally located and is housed in the same building as Solaris Rehabilitation Centre at 1505 Ouellette In addition to offering physiotherapy, chiropractic and massage therapy, Solaris features Windsor’s only 98 degree professionally super vised hydrotherapy pool for musculoskeletal conditions “The hydrotherapy pool is a fantastic addition for many acute and chronic conditions that do not respond well to first line treatments. Having all these resources at our disposal ensures that patients have all the treatment options available,” say Spirou. “We always try and recommend the least invasive treatment options where possible to treat the problem at hand. With all these resources under one roof, we can quickly and efficiently facilitate the healing process for any orthopaedic or musculoskeletal injury ”

The clinic is a great healthcare addition to the Windsor-Essex community With its highly trained team of multi-disciplinary professionals patients can expect excellent care Whether the situation is an emergency such as a serious sprain or an ongoing, recurring issue such as persistent back pain, the medical professionals at the Bone, Joint, Muscle and Spine Walk-In Clinic can help

For more information about the Bone, Joint, Muscle and Spine Walk-In Clinic please visit www.windsorwalkin.com or call 519-254-8188.

EYEWARES OF WINDSOR

Pairing the Optimal Lenses and Frames for Your Best Vision and Appearance

People who depend on glasses to bring their world into focus may not know what they are missing while wearing their current pair “The frames might look great on your face but are the lenses working at a superior level?” asks John Walker, co-owner of Eyewares of Windsor “Not all glasses are created equal ”

John and his partner Susan have been optimizing the sight of local children, teens and adults for over 20 years at the Eyewares of Windsor optical centre The Walkers and their staff feel honoured that several generations of the same families entrust them with their vision.

“As an independent, family business, we appreciate that our clients are also our neighbours. Building long term relationships is important to us, especially as that allows us to really know each client, how his or her vision is changing over time and how we can address each phase,” John says.

While finding a flattering frame is important, even more critical is selecting the correct lens type and then having it expertly crafted Eyewares of Windsor invests time in every client in order to learn how the person uses his or her eyes throughout the day “This helps determine the most beneficial lens type and size,” John explains Special anti-reflective coatings may also be appropriate for reducing eye fatigue and glare from sunlight or a computer or TV screen

When a client brings an optometrist’s prescription for task specific, single or multifocal vision glasses to Eyewares of Windsor, “ we don’t just manufacture a pair of glasses, we interpret the prescription,” John says. “You deserve to enjoy the very best vision, so

we discern unique features about your eyes and adapt the prescription to your greatest advantage.” Minute tweaks done in the lab can add up to sharper focus and enhanced eye comfort.

Most of the lenses are made right onsite in Eyewares of Windsor’s own lab. “That enables us to get very specific in making each pair of glasses The big labs don’t really have the flexibility or creativity that we do,” John says “Our lenses are one of a kind, crafted just for you ”

To reflect the client’s personality and taste, Eyewares of Windsor offers an impressive range of frames and sunglasses In the large boutique, staff offer assistance to clients as they try on new styles designed by Tiffany & Co , Prada, Versace, Hugo Boss, Fysh, Dolce & Gabbana, Jill Stewart, Ralph Lauren and others With 1500 or so frame styles engineered for regular, task-specific, sports and safety wear, there is the perfect pair for every person, in every price range.

Contact lenses provide another outstanding vision option for teens and adults. The opticians recommend the most appropriate models and show clients how to wear and care for their contacts.

“Bausch & Lomb, CIBA Vision, Johnson & Johnson and Cooper Vision all make contact lenses to correct near and far-sightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia,” John says “The new generation of multifocal contacts enable people over 40 to see well, without having to juggle reading glasses or bifocals ” Eyewares of Windsor staff explain inserting, removing, cleaning and storing lenses and discarding them when they are done

To experience your very best eyesight through the latest vision technology and the Walkers’ custom fabrication capabilities, drop into Eyewares of Windsor or schedule your appointment Monday through Saturday. Try to allow ample time so the staff can take care of you and your vision the Eyewares way.

SOUTH WINDSOR HEARING CENTRE

People who have considered their hearing loss as a disadvantage may now be able to hear even better than their friends who have normal hearing South Windsor Hearing Centre is fitting patients with Siemens’ binax, the world’s first technology that, research supports, surpasses the capabilities of the average person ’ s healthy auditory system

“ This is not your grandfather’s hearing aid,” says Allison Stevenson, Audiologist at South Windsor Hearing Centre Her partner, Audiologist Neesha Dunkley, notes that binax “maximizes your ability to communicate and engage confidently in conversation ”

In creating binax, Siemens applied nature ’ s wisdom in equipping a person with two ears, not just one. A healthy pair of ears receives information that is processed by the brain to localize sound sources, maintain spatial orientation and better comprehend what other people are saying.

This is binaural hearing, which increases loudness, enhances clarity, adds richness and superior quality to sound

“One of the big complaints that hearing aid wearers have is when they are in workplaces, restaurants and other noisy environments, they can ’ t hear conversations properly,” Neesha says “The binax device helps the person communicate effectively.”

The engineering is fascinating. Mimicking natural binaural listening, binax links both hearing aids so audio signals can be exchanged between the aids when worn in the person ’ s two ears. The benefits accumulate: Each hearing aid uses the information picked up by its own two microphones, as well the acoustic signal from the two microphones of the other hearing aid Harmonizing together as a bilateral pair, these hearing aids create a virtual eightmicrophone network

The result is Siemens’ High Definition Sound Resolution, which delivers heightened sensitivity of the acoustic environment. “Siemens’ binax hearing instruments are clinically proven to allow wearers to hear in cocktail party like situations even better than their normal hearing friends,” Allison says. “You can easily focus on the person who is speaking whether he is in front of, beside or behind you The hearing aid suppresses background noise even while you ’ re in a car It also works well outside on windy days ”

To control the binax hearing aids, Siemens has made an optional remote control “It is Bluetooth compatible so you can download an app that enables you to control your hearing aid with your smart phone,” Allison

explains. “This is in keeping with our tech savvy world. No one will detect you ’ re adjusting your hearing aid; it will appear you are just on your phone like everyone else around you. ”

“With any of the different models of hearing aids we offer we help our patients get comfortable with them,” says Neesha “We support our patients so they are not left on their own to figure out how to make binax and other aids work in their lives ”

Allison and Neesha have 20 years of experience testing hearing and fitting hearing aids They strive to listen to each patient’s hearing concerns and work with them to develop a plan to maximize communication “Everyone’s life is different and will require flexibility in amplification options,” Allison says

To learn more about binax and other hearing solutions please contact South Windsor Hearing Centre at 519-250-9774 or visit windsorhearing.com.

Now Offering New Hearing Aid Technolog y that Outperforms Normal Hearing

Caring For Your Medical and Cosmetic Needs

WAITING AN UNREASONABLE LENGTH OF TIME to access medical care for your health concerns is so last year. Proving this, another family doctor has just joined Coral Medical Health Spa, a comprehensive wellness facility that blends traditional and holistic medical care and spa ser vices for its patients’ optimal health inside and out.

Since the medical practice doubled in size in 2014 to accommodate its new medical clinic, Coral Medical Health Spa has been able to connect patients to family doctors who provide professional care when their patients need it most “Our patients are astonished how soon our doctors can tend to them,” says Ken Sherman, general manager of Coral Medical Health Spa

“Dr Renda Dawoud, a general practitioner, recently came to us from the United States where she has been practicing medicine for 20 years, ” Ken says “ This means we are able to accept even more new patients ”

People are treated in the attractive, efficient medical centre which has just received its finishing touches One significant attribute is the state of the art electronic record keeping system that enables the medical staff to easily and quickly transfer patient records between labs, hospitals and other physicians. “ When it comes to our patients’ wellness we are doing ever ything possible to ensure they receive timely care, ” Ken explains.

The same respect for people’s time is apparent in the spa side of Coral Medical Health Spa. It is directed by Dr. Zoia Sherman, M.D., who is certified in the latest non-surgical cosmetic procedures including BOTOX® Cosmetic; Restylane, Perlane, JUVÉDERM and Voluma filler treatments; BOTOX®/ JUVÉDERM Soft Lift; and mole and skin tag removal

Coral Medical Health Spa’s team is also certified in laser and Intense Pulse Light treatments that are effective for hair removal and treating rosacea, sun damaged skin and spider veins

An impressive range of lasers are used at Coral Medical Health Spa The LUTRONIC Spectra VRM III Dual Mode Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser 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 in all colours of the spectrum, ” Ken says It also tightens pores and resurfaces the skin, giving an immediate glow

Other skin care ser vices performed at the spa include Revitalight acne treatments and facials; Dermasweep MD microdermabrasion; Velashape cellulite treatments; and chemical peels

“In 2015, we will be introducing a new technique that combines laser, Intense Pulse Light and fractional carbon diode laser treatment to reduce cellulite, sun damage and rosacea, ” Ken says “It is a really powerful treatment that achieves results fast, saving our patients time and money. ”

One of the most rewarding ways for a patient to look and feel great is to shake off stress and unwind with relaxing and detoxifying registered massage therapy offered at Coral Medical Health Spa. The spa manicures and pedicures make a person ’ s hands and feet feel brand new.

Lifestyle Educator Lynette Dela Cruz and Registered Nurse Practitioner Christine Russette guide patients in the nutrition and weight loss program based on nutrition, supplements and supportive counselling

“ To access professional medical or skin care ser vices or simply enjoy a little pampering, make an appointment at Coral Medical Health Spa,” Ken invites “Our wellness team is going to take good care of you ”

STORY BY KAREN PATON-EVANS PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL PIETRANGELO

FOR THE FAMILY, EMPTY NESTERS OR RETIREES who want the convenience and unity of one floor living, there is the concern that the house will either sprawl or be chopped into tiny rooms. However, a model luxury townhome in LaSalle proves that homeowners really can have it all, without sacrificing comfortably proportioned rooms, storage space or the intimacy of an open concept design.

At 2,200 square feet, the main floor makes room for three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, sit down dining for up to a dozen guests, an airy living area and an efficient laundry room, as well as a garage spacious enough to accommodate three vehicles plus assorted outdoor gear. Stairs descend to a big partially finished basement. Patio doors open onto a raised maintenance free deck. Nothing feels cramped Everywhere the eye looks, there is architectural interest, casual designer elegance and upper tier finishes

Ezio Tartaro of Gintar Contractors Ltd. is the builder of the townhome development located in Seven Lakes in LaSalle Several years ago, his residential clients asked Ezio when he planned to start building more developments in other locations. “They told me that they would move into a townhome if the unit had the types of meticulous, luxury features and finishes found in custom homes,” he recalls. “We realized there was an opportunity to take customization and our attention to detail and apply it to neighbourhoods at the townhouse market ”

Left: Clean-lined and uncluttered, a LaSalle kitchen stays organized with a place for ever ything in the dark charcoal stained maple cabinetr y and a large walk-in pantr y Hungr y family and friends dine at the island or around the dining table in the open concept townhome

Above: Artwork and a drinks tray on a console table in the living room area are part of the gracious lifestyle waiting to be savoured

The Seven Lakes community is one of several in Essex County featuring townhomes constructed by Gintar Contractors To showcase the luxury model townhome, the talents of Danielle Nicholson of Urban Home Furniture and Design Studio were engaged She designed the interior and selected the furnishings, which helped prospective buyers envision the degree of good taste they could experience if they purchased one of the new, custom finished townhomes in Seven Lakes or Gintar’s upcoming Lakewood Estates development in Tecumseh.

Now available for sale, the model demonstrates how well an open concept floorplan works when there is ample, easily accessible storage to keep clothes, laundry, groceries and files organized and out of sight

Without the distraction of clutter, residents and visitors can appreciate the architecture. “Luxury homes demand a high level of detail because you ’ re catering to a detail-oriented clientele They want to have exceptional value, craftsmanship and quality. And that’s something that resonates with me, ” Ezio says

The sophisticated palette of soft white, dove grey and dark charcoal accented with silver unifies the townhome’s spaces. The crisp tailoring of the furnishings upholstered in velvety and neutral fabrics balances the home’s feminine and masculine sensibilities.

The home opens onto a foyer featuring a practical double closet and a handsome silvered console table A tall table lamp and a contemporary crystal chandelier cast bright light for homeowners retrieving their coats. Grey and white streaked tiles set against white mouldings and pale grey walls offer a gentle reception to guests

Veering off the foyer is a room that could serve as a bedroom, home office or den It is naturally lit by a large window at the front of the home Nearby is a powder ▼

This page, clockwise from top: Sleek in black and accented with brushed steel door pulls, the extralong vanity offers loads of storage in the master bathroom; in the master bedroom, a button tufted upholstered headboard provides a soft place to land at the end of an active day; the natural veining in the white and grey Carrera marble tile provides pattern to the master bathroom’s walls and floor

This page, clockwise from left: Books and a mercur y ball add personal touches to the living room area; a spacious glass enclosed shower spans the width of the second bedroom’s en suite bathroom; A grey and white graphic area rug anchors the living room area. The tile cladding the feature wall is warmed by a simple contemporar y fireplace; the tone of the townhome is established in the soft grey and white foyer, illuminated by a sophisticated cr ystal chandelier

room adorned in mosaic tile and grass cloth wallcovering A second bedroom is tucked into the left side of the home and boasts a private bathroom graced by a glass enclosed shower along one entire end

At the back of the home is the master bedroom suite, a quiet retreat secluded from the common living areas. Before entering the sleeping room with its button tufted upholstered bed, the homeowners can step into the big walk-in closet to the left or the boutique style bathroom to the right. One of the townhouse’s most luxurious finishes is found in the bathroom: Carrara marble tile, spread across the floor, wrapped around the deep tub and covering the walls from floor to ceiling. With its white background and hazy veins of grey, Carrara marble is highly coveted and one of the most costly building materials.

Large, open and welcoming, the physical centre of the home is an open space containing the kitchen, dining and living room areas Hardwood flooring in a dark grey finish runs throughout

In the living area, a feature wall is clad in oversized tile, serving as the backdrop to the simple gas fireplace and big screen television. All of the audio/visual equipment and wiring are hidden away, accessible behind the scenes in a tidy closet

The raised rectangular ceiling is framed in custom crown moulding and hovers above the grey toned sofa, armchairs and area rug that define the living room area. Contributing to the light feeling is a silver coffee table topped with glass

Overlooking it all is the kitchen and dining area Six chairs, tufted in rich velvety pearl grey fabric and studded with silver, encourage lingering over meals. The wooden dining table’s aged grey stain is shielded by a glass top that catches the reflection of the chrome dr um chandelier dangling above More sparkle winks from a circular glass mosaic mirror hanging over the grey wooden sideboard. A framed chalkboard mounted on the wall announces the day’s menu

In the kitchen, two walls are lined with maple cabinetry crafted with raised panels and finished in a dark charcoal stain In the centre is a massive island, big enough for five or six upholstered bar stools to cluster around its white polished counter top Recessed lighting in the ceiling and a trio of chrome pendant lights can be adjusted to suit the mood

Built-in stainless appliances maintain ▼

orderliness in the kitchen. Perhaps the greatest asset, however, lies behind the door leading from the kitchen: The pantry, as commodious as a walk-in closet but intended for non-refrigerated food and serving dishes There is even a built-in coffee station, always at the homeowners’ service.

A charming spot to savour a cup of coffee is out on the covered porch, accessed by patio doors off the living room area. It is protected against pests by motorized screens that open and close at the homeowners ’ discretion. A gas heater is already in place to take the chill off cool days. It is also beneficial should the porch ever be converted into a four season room.

If more space is wanted, there is the partially finished basement downstairs

Constructed with responsible water and energy usage in mind, the townhome is built above building code standards and is warmed by a high efficiency furnace Every bathroom is fitted with a dual flush toilet.

“Adding to the efficiency and healthy environment of the home, the mechanical system also includes a heat recovery system which provides continuous fresh air and proper humidity levels as the home requires it. The home has a smart thermostat that will control these functions without manual interruption,” Ezio explains He adds, “This place will achieve the same values as an Energy Star rated home ”

The busy families and active Boomers and Zoomers who are moving into the neighbourhood appreciate the privacy of the generously sized residences combined with the community’s shared maintenance services “Both demographics are getting tired of maintenance and appreciate the convenience and affordability of having all exterior services provided by someone else,” Ezio notes “This lifestyle enables anyone to simply enjoy the valuable time you have at home.”

Windsor Life Magazine is always searching for interesting homes, landscaping, gardens, patios and water features to show our readers what others in the community are doing with their living spaces. If you have a home that you feel would be interesting please email photos to publisher@windsorlife com Photos need to be for reference only. If your home is chosen we will arrange for a complete photo shoot If you wish, you may remain anonymous and the location of your home will not be disclosed

Ezio Tartaro PRESIDENT GINTAR HOMES

PRESIDENT GREATER WINDSOR HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION 2010-2012

WLM

WHEN A LOVED ONE DIES, grieving families need the support of caring professionals in the comfort of a gracious homelike setting. With six funeral homes throughout Windsor and Essex County, Arbor Memorial Services Incorporated is at hand whenever families are in need.

“Our family of funeral homes has been serving the families of Windsor-Essex County for more than 100 years, ” says Mike Burnett, Licensed Funeral Director and Manager. Over the decades, the funeral professionals have listened to the bereaved by enhancing their services and amenities accordingly The immaculate homes are regularly redecorated and renovated and the audio/visual technology is continually updated There are two attributes, however, that will always remain constant: the Arbor Memorial team ’ s old-fashioned courtesy and genuine care for the people who enter their doors

Arbor Memorial professionals appreciate that relationships are more important than anything else while assisting with end of life matters Arbor’s Funeral Directors do their utmost for the person pre-planning his or her own funeral; families making arrangements for celebrating the life of their loved one; and the colleagues, friends and relations paying their respects at a visitation and saying goodbye at the funeral and cemetery.

The most unique Arbor facility is the Victoria Greenlawn Funeral Home & Cemetery: a complex featuring the Memorial Gardens Cemetery and Mausoleum, Cremation Centre, Memorial Chapel and Visitation & Reception Centre All final arrangements are carried out seamlessly and conveniently at Victoria Greenlawn

It is the only funeral home in southern Ontario with a full liquor license Last spring, the reception centre received a new outdoor kitchen to service the patio, accommodating 80 guests Established in 1932, beautiful Victoria Greenlawn is a well-groomed, tranquil place with traditional burial and cremation gardens, a pond, memorial benches and mature trees. Situated at 1805 Highway 3 in Oldcastle, Victoria Greenlawn is convenient to mourners traveling from Windsor, Essex County and beyond.

The other Arbor Memorial locations each have their own appealing architecture and interiors, designed to exude a soothing, welcoming ambiance. Seated on comfortable furniture, warmed by the fireplace in winter and surrounded by tasteful décor and artwork, everyone is put at ease

To accommodate visitors, Arbor Memorial’s visitation rooms seat up to 220 people, depending on the location For a funeral, as many as 500 people can be seated “We set out fresh coffee and cookies during visitations so our families can extend their hospitality to their visitors,” Mike says “Whatever your culture, faith, ethnicity or family tradition, our home is your home ”

When a death in the family has occurred, a custom stationary package can be a meaningful and practical way to give family and friends a keepsake of the departed loved one. Arbor Memorial’s packages are fully customized, offering a variety of legacy books, memorial cards, candles, bookmarks and much more. Arbor Memorial’s audio/visual equipment, including flat screen televisions and iPod stations, enable the playing of home movies, custom photo slide shows and the loved one ’ s favourite music With that in mind, it is only fitting that the family can display photos, mementoes and some of the deceased’s special things in the visitation room

The Arbor team has many years of experience in helping families create funerals that honour the life journeys of their loved ones Part of the celebration often includes a reception for guests Following the funeral, family and friends can gather in the funeral home’s reception room or lounge Arbor Memorial’s caterers are on standby to prepare anything from finger foods to full meals. “Our lounges and community rooms are also available to local service organizations and non-profit groups for their meetings. There is no cost. Just call us and reserve the room, ” Mike invites.

Arranging and holding a funeral often generates a flurry of activity for family members. Afterward, the bereaved are faced with dealing with estate tasks Arbor Memorial’s team ensures people overwhelmed by grief don’t have to face everything alone Practical guidance, literature and emotional support are offered with Arbor Memorial’s free After Care service benefits Mike assures, “We’re ready to help you in any way ”

One of the best ways to prepare for a funeral is to pre-plan Individuals, couples and families are increasingly choosing their own arrangements while still living At Arbor Memorial, Susan Tope, a Licensed Funeral Director and Pre-planning Specialist, is glad to assist “Pre-planning is truly a gift to your loved ones. After you pass, they won ’ t have to second-guess what you want, ” Susan explains. “Pre-planning removes the burden of additional stress from families when they are overwhelmed by sorrow. ” Meeting people at the funeral home or their own residences, Susan can help discuss options. “Realizing how unpredictable life can be, it makes sense to pre-plan sooner rather than later.”

Pre-planned arrangements can be entrusted to Arbor Memorial Services, which offer many exclusive benefits to those who plan ahead To simplify the process, Arbor Memorial Services provides anyone with its Family Registry Estate Planner, available free of charge, through all funeral homes “You can also choose to pre-pay your funeral through our convenient, money saving payment options, designed for any budget,” Mike says “We can provide reliable information so you can make educated decisions about what suits you best ”

Funeral Homes and Compassionate Ser vices for Ever y Faith, Taste and Budget throughout Windsor-Essex County

FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS, WE AT HARMONY DAY SPA have been happy to provide our clients with not only a welcoming & professional spa atmosphere, but the latest trends in spa ser vices at the highest quality possible We will always do our best to bring you new and exciting products and ser vices.

Planning on getting away to beat the winter blues? Let Harmony Day Spa get you vacation ready. We offer a variety of ser vices to prepare you for your travels and help you look your best.

Winter months often leave our skin feeling dr y and itchy. A Tropicale Body Treatment is a great way to help rehydrate and restore skin to its softest. A salt mousse exfoliation,

yogurt based body wrap and rich body balm will invigorate your skin, leaving it beach ready and absolutely glowing The Plantomer or Oxy Vital Facials both offer soothing hydration and leave your skin looking healthy, hydrated and radiant so you can be sure to put your best face for ward For best results we recommend doing body treatments or facials one week prior to your departure

Need waxing? Don’t forget that ¼” growth is necessar y for waxing ser vices and no tanning 24 hrs before or after your hair removal ser vice.

Those toes will need to look their best while walking through the sand; book our trademark Therapeutic Pedicure for one hour of pampering that will leave your feet feeling like you ’ re walking on air

Shellac Manicures are a go-to hit They dr y instantly, so no smudging while doing last minute packing and generally last up to 2-3 weeks Fuss free, per fectly manicured nails that last

We also offer a variety of products to help make your travels easier. Our vacation favourites: OkaB sandals, I love my muff personal hygiene products, Jane Iredale mineral makeup and Magic Mitt and Pevonia skin care travel kits all make planning a trip and looking your best a breeze!

Co-owners Lynda Calcara, Pam Bowsher and Carla Comperchio

Talking to parents ab out mone y.

It can be one of the most difficult conversations to start but it’s also one of the most important As parents get older, it’s essential for their children to understand the investment, insurance and estate plans they have in place. I have helped many clients over the years understand these incredibly important issues.

1. Open your books: Set the tone with a frank discussion of your own financial plans. Explain the work you are doing with your advisor to build wealth and protect your family. Describe why you ’ ve made this a priority in your life.

2. Emphasize the benefits: Tell your parents that you would like to become familiar with their financial plans to ensure that you are prepared, whatever happens

3. Acknowledge discomfor t: Don’t be afraid to admit that you feel awkward talking about money, if you do You might want to lighten the mood by pointing out that this discussion is easier than conversations you may have had with them as a teenager

4. Don’t judge: Whatever immediate thoughts you have about your parents ’ plans, be positive, not negative, in initial discussions You don’t want to shut down lines of communication before they’re fully open

5. Be patient: It may take time for your parents to feel comfortable sharing all the details of their financial plans with you Be prepared to have a series of conversations over a period of some weeks or months

6. Come and see me: If your parents aren ’ t working with an advisor, point out the benefits of an objective, professional opinion. I have helped many clients, both parents and children alike, resolve the issues surrounding these important discussions

7. Involve other family members: How soon you ask other family members such as siblings to join the conversation depends a lot on family dynamics, aptitudes and interests While this process may be complicated by geographic distance, it can help to prevent resentment and family disputes later in your parents ’ lives.

8. Fine-tune your plan: Understanding what strategies your parents, may or may not have to manage costly risks from requiring long-term care to running out of money in retirement can help you prepare for expenses you may be expected to finance. It is always better to anticipate than to manage unexpected costs on the fly

AN OPEN APPROACH can help identify and address any gaps in planning In addition, a multi-generational perspective frequently enables implementation of more efficient and cost-effective strategies that benefit the entire family. Here are some ways to raise the topic and make the most of money conversations with your parents © 2014 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

N E W A N D N O T I C E D

SLEIGHING HUNGER FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

More than $45,000 has been raised as a result of collaborative efforts of the S’Aint’s, St. Clair College, Blackburn Radio and Caesars Windsor. Proceeds from the charity concert and CD sales plus Caesars Windsor’s annual holiday donation are being shared among the food banks of the Unemployed Help Centre, The Downtown Mission and Outreach for Hunger in Chatham, as well as St Clair College scholarships and bursaries The CD is still selling for $10 on iTunes, sleighinghunger com, St Clair College campuses and Blackburn Windsor and Chatham stations. The S’Aint’s bandmates are Kelly Hoppe, Kelly Authier, Garrett Bielaniec, Jody Raffoul, Wes Buckley, Jeff Burrows and David Cyrenne.

ARAMESH DAY SPA

Lilly Movahedi (left) and Mar yam Aliasgarian (right), along with staff members Robyn and Alannah, celebrated the launch of Aramesh Day Spa on Dec. 15th, 2014. Located at 4450 Walker Rd., Windsor, the spa offers facials using M D Collen products from France and makeup applications using GLO Mineral Makeup formulated with 24K gold or diamond powder Hairstyling, massage therapy, manicures, pedicures, face and body waxing, eyebrow threading and more are available. Kids have their own area for playing and parties. Aramesh Day Spa is the sister business to Eyebrows By Lilly at Devonshire Mall. arameshdayspa.com.

FRANK MOCERI

The Giovanni Caboto Club of Windsor has named Frank Moceri its Italian of the Year. Selected by the Italian community, Frank is being recognized as an individual who exemplifies honour and excellence in his profession; is involved in and displays a commitment to the spirit of the presence of Italian culture in Windsor-Essex County; and is involved with the community as a whole Retired from WDS, Frank is the acting President of the St Clair College Foundation B oard and ser ves on several other boards He is also engaged in fundraising to benefit the community.

TRAIN STATION FITNESS & EXPRESS WEIGHT

LOSS

Offering specialized education and support in nutrition and exercise, par tners Richard Milne, Jamie Bertrand and Dennis MacDonald have created Train Station Fitness & Express Weight Loss. Cer tified Medical Exercise Specialists provide members with training on upper tier equipment

Starting early February, the club will be open daily Club tours and memberships are offered now

SALON TABEYA & PURE DAY SPA

Taking care of each other’s clients, Salon Tabeya and the second Pure Day Spa are now open at 3001 Dougall Ave., Windsor. Salon Tabeya specializes in hair colour, curly hair and multigenerational hair styles Andre Abouash’s relaxing salon features a coffee, tea and Wi-Fi bar Upstairs, Pure Day Spa offers facial and body treatments, massage, manicures, pedicures and more. Salon Tabeya’s number is 519-256-4456.

GREAT PRESENTATIONS

SIMPLE CHOICE CREMATION CENTRE

Providing an alternative to traditional funeral ser vices, Leon and Philip Janisse have established Simple Choice Cremation Centre. Owned by Windsor Chapel Funeral Homes Limited and offering direct cremation and professional ser vices, Simple Choice Cremation Centre is located at 7836 Wyandotte St. E., Windsor with a second location at 3790 Dougall Ave., Windsor. 519-254-2585.

RE/MAX PREFERRED REALTY

RE/MAX Preferred Realty’s salespeople and staff made donations totaling $23,500 to several charities in 2014 Glen Muir, Broker of Record for RE/MAX Preferred Realty, and the team were pleased to suppor t the work of Transition to Betterness; Canadian Mental Health Association; Windsor Youth; Welcome Centre Shelter for Women; Street Help; the Downtown Mission of Windsor; and seven local families. remax-preferred-on.com.

WHATISTEOSYALREDENSITYII®?

Acombinationofhyaluronicacidandablendofvitamins,antioxidantsandamino-acids,TeosyalRedensityII®isapowerfuldermal fillerthatrejuvenatestiredlookingeyescausedbyfinelinesinthe skinanddarkcirclesandhollowsundertheeye.

HOWDOESITWORK?

TeosyalRedensityII®isagelthatDr.Radininjectsintotheunder eyeareatofillinlinesandhollowsandbrightendarkness.Thereis nodowntime.Effectslastforaboutayear.

WHOISACANDIDATEFORTEOSYALREDENSITYII®?

Adultsofanyagemaybenefit.Typically,menandwomenspot emerginglinesaroundtheireyesatage30.

WHATCANXEOMIN®DOFORME?

AsaformofbotulinumtoxintypeA,Xeomin®sharessome similaritieswithBotox®,includingitsabilitytotemporarily improvetheappearanceoffrownlinesbetweentheeyes.However, Xeomin®isfreeofcomplexingproteinsfoundinBotox®,which hasledsometoregardXeomin®asapurerproduct.Dr.Radin believesitimportanttoofferhispatientsallsolutions.

HOWDOESXEOMIN®WORK?

Xeomin®isinjectedstrategicallyintothemusclesthathave causedfaciallinestoformovertime.Xeomin®relaxesthemuscles,

Withthecuttingedge,safe,effective,non-surgicalinnovations nowbeingperformedatRadinSkinCentre,thisisthemostexcitingtimeeverformenandwomenwhowanttolooktheirbest.

AsthefirstDermatologistinSouthwesternOntariotoofferhis patientstheExilisElite,anon-surgicaloptionforliftingfacesand necksandeliminatingunwantedfat,Dr.DanielRadinispleased tointroducethreenewproducts:TeosyalRedensityII®,thefirst dermalfillerofitskindtargetingtheteartroughareatoaddress finelines,darkcirclesanddeephollowsundertheeyes; Xeomin®,consideredbysometobeapurerformofBotox®; andtheColoresciencepremierluxurymineralmakeuplinethat fusesmakeup,suncareandskincareforlastingbeauty.

reducingtheirabilitytocontinuefrowningorpuckering.Atworkin theskinforseveralmonthsandlonger,Xeomin®enablesthepatient topresentasmootherandinsomecases,line-freeexpression.

ISACOSMETICLINETHATDELIVERSBEAUTIFUL COLOURS,SKINCARE,SUNCAREANDAFLAWLESS GLOWALLINONETOOGOODTOBETRUE?

Dr.Radinhassearcheddiligentlyforamakeuplinethatisbothbeneficialandbeautifulforhispatients’skin.Coloresciencesurpasses hishighstandards,offeringhighqualityingredients,puremineral formulations,sunprotection,luxurycoloursandsimplicityofuse.

EvenpeoplewhoarenotpatientsoftheRadinSkinCentreare droppingintopurchasethehighperformancecosmetics.Blending colourandscience,everyproductisfilledwithingredientsthatare goodforthecomplexionincludingpeptides,antioxidants,vitamins, zincoxideandtitaniumdioxide.

Adultscanapplyfaceprimer,foundation,correctandconceal, settingmist,face,eyeandlipcoloursandskintreatmentsdesigned tohelpachieveaflawlesscomplexionwhileprotectingwithSPF30 and50.

WHATELSECANRADINSKINCENTREDOFORME?

Fatreduction,skinrejuvenation,laserhairremovalandmore beginwithyourfreeconsultation.CallRadinSkinCentretodayat 519-979-GLOW(4569).

NAMASTE YOGA CENTRE

A New Year and a New Location

Namaste Yoga Centre is proud to announce their new location at 1614 Lesperance Rd (at E C Row) Nestled in the convenient Tecumseh Towne Centre, Namaste now has all the space it needs to spread its wings and share yoga ’ s many therapeutic benefits with the community

Over the past eight years, Namaste Yoga Centre has established a reputation as a premiere yoga destination through its warm and supportive environment With a priority on high quality instruction, students of all skill levels are assured a rewarding experience

“At Namaste we embrace yoga as progressive and enriching. In our new location we have the space to continue to grow, offering classes for children and bringing new awareness to the therapeutic aspects of yoga, ” explains owner Renee Janisse, a registered massage therapist and certified yoga therapist.

Namaste’s sessions are designed to bring out the therapeutic aspects of yoga Yoga can be adapted to all ages and body types “ The benefits of yoga are so expansive They really transcend your ever yday life,” says Renee, who admits that before yoga she was a whirlwind Type-A personality

Namaste has also recently incorporated a suspension training program that some refer to as TRX It is a core based system that is a perfect compliment to yoga as it is a ver y functional type of training It is great for rehabilitating injuries of all kinds and in preventing them It bridges the gap between asana practice all the other activities’ we like to do on a regular basis.

Children can also benefit greatly from yoga. Renee believes that yoga is a natural way for children to cope with stress in their lives.

According to Renee, “Children actually catch on more easily. They don’t have to overcome the programming that adults do, like the shallow breathing that results from stress over time There is so much potential for our children to engage in the mindful, physical balance that yoga offers I know that there are a lot of parents out there that recognize that,” she obser ves

Our emotional and physical health is intrinsically connected to our ner vous system Smooth movements sooth and calm the mind As you become more familiar, physical tone and mental clarity are heightened.

Whether it is Hatha Flow, Kundalini or a Yin class, you will be welcomed into a serene environment with instructors who are knowledgeable and supportive. More advanced practitioners may enjoy the vigorous physical challenges of Ashtanga classes or intense Pranayama classes Namaste’s sessional offerings embrace yoga practitioners of all levels and disciplines

“Yoga engages physical and mental energy in a gentle way It’s about mindfulness; getting rid of the junk we call fog,” says Renee “ The meditation and breathing techniques you learn in yoga can be incorporated into ever y aspect of your life, helping to achieve balance ”

Begin your new year in a positive direction with Namaste Yoga Centre. Visit www.namasteyogacentre.com or call 519-818-0661 for more information.

SHIBLEY RIGHTON LLP

Meeting All Your Labour and Employment Law Needs

With an active group of seven experienced professionals, Shibley Righton LLP has one of the largest Labour and Employment practice groups in Windsor-Essex. A full-service law firm established in 1964 in Toronto, Shibley Righton opened its Windsor office in 2001 with Brian Nolan, Sheila MacKinnon, and Paul Howard and right from the outset a significant portion of the Windsor office’s practice was devoted to Labour and Employment issues

“With the depth of our lawyers’ experience, we are able to address virtually all of an employer’s needs in the areas of labour relations, collective agreement negotiations, employment contracts, workplace discipline and dismissals, workplace violence and bullying, human rights, discrimination, disability claims, and occupational health and safety,” explains Brian Nolan, leader of the practice group

Partner Peter Hrastovec explains, “the workplace has become a dynamic and ever-evolving entity. With changing technologies, there are newer and better ways to do business. But this may affect the way employees interact with each other and with management. The stress of change often leads to conflict. Competent and informed legal counsel provide valuable assistance to employers and employees by helping to resolve or prevent debilitating issues that may affect productivity Quick and timely consultations on a regular basis help to fine-tune the workplace, aid in bolstering morale and ensure that the focus of the employer’s business remains the business itself – and not some labour or employment crisis ”

“It’s as simple as picking up the phone and talking to your labour and employment advisor At Shibley Righton we are prepared to do that and much more, ” adds Bryce Chandler, a Partner in the group, who joined the firm in 2004

Senior counsel Bob Baksi observes, “employers often do not have employment agreements that specifically limit the employee’s entitlement upon termination of the employment. Alternatively, I’ve found that employers often are using outdated contract provisions that the courts have now ruled insufficient The problem is compounded by the highly technical requirements of obtaining a new or revised agreement from an employee who already has commenced employment Many employers do not realize that an employment agreement that the employee signs after they’ve already started to work will not be valid and enforceable unless several technical requirements are met At Shibley’s we regularly assist employers in updating and implementing new or revised employment agreements. That way we avoid the problem before it becomes a problem.”

Collectively, what the lawyers at Shibley Righton share is a clientcentred, common sense approach to the practice of law. Partner Sheila MacKinnon sums it up, “bottom line, we provide excellence in client service and value for cost Excellence in client service means delivering a superior work product It means the firm’s employment clients are entitled to expect high quality legal services provided by high calibre legal talent ”

At the same time, clients today are legitimately concerned about the cost of their legal services The lawyers at Shibley Righton understand those concerns and demand of themselves that they always provide cost-effective and efficient advice As Paul Howard, the Managing Partner of the firm’s Windsor office likes to say, “ we deliver ‘big-firm’ legal services but with a more personal touch and at more cost-efficient rates. We’re practical, and live in the real world and we understand that our job is to deliver real solutions to our clients. That’s the Shibley Righton difference.”

Paul Howard

Peter Hrastovec

Sheila MacKinnon

Jessica Koper

Bob

Baksi

Brian Nolan

Br yce Chandler

Sam Roberts Band & The Walkervilles Playing Together

at the Colosseum

Story by Karen Paton-Evans

AFTER TRAVELING THOUSANDS OF KILOMETRES TO BRING THEIR MUSIC

to audiences across Canada and beyond, the tours of the Sam Roberts Band and The Walkervilles are converging on February 18th at the Colosseum stage at Caesars Windsor It promises to be quite the night With six Juno and five MuchMusic Video awards to his credit, Montreal rock singer-songwriter Sam Roberts knows how to electrify his fans

Windsor band, The Walker villes (inset) will be the opening act for The Sam Roberts Band (above) at The Colosseum on Februar y 15.

Hometown favourities, The Walkervilles, comprised of Pat Robitaille, Michael Hargreaves and Stefan Cvetkovic, will be bringing their own hybrid of Motown, rock and soul sounds to the mix “Pat opened a lot of shows for Sam Roberts a few years back,” Michael says “We’ve all been with the same agency for years so it was pretty natural that we all crossed paths a lot ”

Sam is looking forward to being in “the banana belt of Canada ” He notes, “This is basically the tail end of our tour It will almost be a year to the day since the release of our latest record, Lo-Fantasy, that we started touring.”

Introducing the very danceable Shapeshifters, the solidarity anthem We’re All In This Together, the electro Chasing The Light and other tracks from the new album has been gratifying for the Sam Roberts Band.

“I think, especially in the studio, you become so wrapped up in the details, in a sort of microscopic version of the music where you ’ re so focused, you ’ ve almost lost sight of the songs themselves,” Sam says “You realize that at some point you have to bring this to life and play it for an audience It’s going to become this real, living, breathing thing That moment, when you do it for the first time, I think is equal parts excitement and trepidation, wondering whether this music is going to translate to a live setting.”

After a year spent touring Canada, the United States and Europe, Sam is glad to be able to say, “Well, it worked.” He reflects, “Whenever we play our music for the audience, they seem to get what it is that we were after ”

The playlist that Colosseum ticketholders can expect will draw heavily on the new record. “At the same time, we dig deep into the catalogue,” Sam promises, “and try to play a fairly representative set every night, going back to our very first record and all the way through our own story of music ” Chart toppers have included Brother Down, Don’t Walk Away Eileen, Detroit 67, Them Kids and Love at The End of the World.

Vibrating with rock and roll accented with funk, house, electronic and African music, Lo-Fantasy is considered more stylistically encompassing than the band’s previous four albums One thing that is different with this tour and album is that Sam Roberts is presenting himself not as a solo artist but as his self-named band with guitarist Dave Nugent, bassist James Hall, keyboardist Eric Fares and drummer Josh Trager

Contact your local Catholic school for details. At the heart of our Catholic school system is a distinctive curriculum that integrates the teachings of Jesus Christ into all aspects of school life

Newcomer Reception Office at Immaculate Conception Catholic School, 465 Victoria Ave. Windsor - 519-256-9156

Children must be 4 years of age by December 31, 2015 to attend Junior Kindergarten

Children must be 5 years of age by December 31, 2015 to attend Senior Kindergarten

Translation available in the following languages:

“It was time to acknowledge the fact that the other people who play music have more of a role to play than a support act on the stage, ” Sam says “They are very much involved in bringing these albums to life We’ve always seen ourselves as a band and function as a band, made up of five members rather than just one person who directs everybody ”

Although the Sam Roberts Band has earned prestige performing with the Rolling Stones and AC/DC and for David Letterman and Conan O’Brien’s shows, Bonnaroo, ACL, Lollapalooza and Bumbershoot, “ we always play every show as though we want it to be the best show we ’ re ever going to play,” Sam says. “It’s always been our MO as a band to play as though we ’ re not really sure we’ll get another chance to do it ”

The Caesars Windsor gig will be an encore of sorts. “We had a really great show at the very same venue a couple of years back That was the impetus for us wanting to get back and doing it again,” says Sam “We have a fairly long history now stretching back over the years with the Windsor area and the people there, so it will be nice to write another chapter ”

This time, the story will include The Walker villes in the cast of characters. “We have a new album out soon so we ’ ve been getting off on all the new sounds” when playing recent shows, Pat says The Windsor audience can anticipate The Walkervilles also “adding lots of tracks from our first album. We’ve been working on this D’Angelo cover - maybe that, too!”

After creating memorable songs like Love Crazy, No Word Of A Lie and Sweet To Me Sexy to bring fans to their feet, The Walkervilles are always working on their next crowd pleasing tunes Being on the road has broadened the band’s musical scope Stefan observes, “We are constantly challenged and pushed by great musicians all around us. On stage, on our record players, on our iPods all of that is shaping our sound every day So much influence out there!” Including the Colosseum headlining Sam Roberts Band. Stefan half-jokes, “ You’ve got to admire that Sam Roberts refuses to age!”

Michael says, “Hometown shows are some of the most memorable for us and the vibe at the Colosseum is so fresh This is gonna be one hell of a party!”

Starting at $20, tickets for the Sunday, February 15th concert are available at the Colosseum at Caesars Windsor and through Ticketmaster

The Windsor Essex Home Builders’ Association is the voice of Windsor-Essex’s residential construction industry. The WEHBA's membership includes new home builders, renovators, developers, trades, manufacturers, suppliers, lenders and other professionals – the companies and people who provide quality housing from across the region Members are guided by a code of ethics and act with integrity and professionalism in all aspects of their company ' s operations

The WEHBA's Standing Committees and Councils oversee the work of the Association

in areas as diverse as technical and economic research, education and training, renovation, the environment, urban issues, warranty and marketing. Through the voluntary efforts of its members, the WEHBA serves both consumers and producers of housing by promoting quality, affordability and choice in housing for all Canadians

T h e Wi n d s o r E s s e x Ho m e Bu i l d e r s ' Association is a voluntary organization that understands it's members needs and supports their success It is a strong and positive representative body for our industry with consumers and government.

The Association is made up of individuals that work in the residential building industry right here in the Windsor area.

It's your Association organized so that you can get involved, be part of the "collective voice" and have a strong impact on the future of the industry here in Windsor

Information, support, business contacts, political representation and a chance to speak out membership provides tangible benefits and real value that will help you succeed in today's challenging business environment

T h e Wi n d s o r E s s e x Ho m e Bu i l d e r s ' Association is an association that serves its members and represents the residential

Actual Project

construction industr y on three levels –locally, provincially and nationally. All levels of the Association work closely together to keep members up-to-date on the latest developments and well prepared to deal with business challenges and opportunities

When you join the Windsor Essex Home Builders' Association, you automatically become a member at the provincial, and national levels, and you partake in the benefit of services and activities from all three levels

The WEHBA, as an affiliate of the CHBA (Canadian Home Builders Association), proudly upholds and enforces the following commitments in the WindsorEssex community.

The core purpose of the CHBA is to assist its members in ser ving the needs and meeting the aspirations of Canadians for housing

There are two fundamental principles guiding the CHBA’s approach to housing policy in Canada:

• The right of all Canadians to decent, safe and appropriate housing; and

• The right of all Canadians to a reasonable opportunity to own their own homes.

The realization of these fundamental principles requires a partnership between government and the housing industr y. While the industr y actually builds housing, the Association endorses the principle of industr y/government partnership.

This partnership is required to achieve the above principles while improving quality, affordability and choice

The CHBA believes that these fundamentals provide a solid foundation for sound national housing policy They identify the legitimate roles of government and industr y and form the basis for the CHBA’s approach to industr y/government consultations The local Association remains firmly committed to these fundamentals, which define the industr y ’ s relationship with government and its approach to housing issues

When homeowners need their homes sold quickly, TKD is the solution. TKD is an established proper ty management company that specializes in buying residential proper ties for cash from homeowners across the Windsor-Essex County area

The first choice for homeowners | custom builders | interior designers Located in Corner of County Rd. 46 and Manning • 519-723-4111

2015 HOME SHOW

Presented by the Windsor Essex Home Builders’ Association

WHY SHOULD I JOIN THE WEHBA?

For more than 50 years, the Windsor Essex Home Builders' Association and the Canadian Home Builders' Association have been the effective and respected "voice for the residential construction industry". We are a voluntary organization, run by members for members. We understand what our members need and work to support their business success

WEHBA, OHBA and CHBA strives to provide members with the resources you need to succeed in the residential construction industry today:

HELPING YOU BUILD YOUR BUSINESS

A Business Network

Connect with other business people who share your commitment to success

The Right Product

The latest market intelligence to help you know what your customers want and how to deliver it

The Right Skills

The business and technical knowledge you need to run your business successfully

Answers

The technical advice and support you need to solve problems

Visibility

Opportunities to get your product and service in front of customers

Credibility

Recognition that your company is good to do business with

A Stable Business Environment

Conditions that let you run your business profitably

Timely information, business contacts, political representation and a chance to speak out – membership provides real benefits and real value that will help you to succeed in today's challenging business environment

HOW DO I JOIN?

Email wehba@primus.ca call 519-948-3247 or go to www windsoressexhomebuilders

ISL AND HOPPING IN

CROATIA, NORWAY AND FINL AND

STORY BY KAREN PATON-EVANS / PHOTOGRAPHY BY PEGGY AND ALLEN SHEARN

AFTER ANOTHER PLEASANT SUMMER of sultr y days spent sailing on Lakes Erie and St. Clair, Allen and Peggy Shearn of Windsor were ready for new adventures on foreign waters. This past autumn, they flew to Europe to explore the Adriatic and Nor wegian Seas by boat and mainland communities by car.

The first leg of the Shearns’ journey revealed the astonishing natural and cultural richness of Croatia The second leg took them to Nor way in search of the Northern Lights, with several bonus days discovering Finland next door

Lee Anne Doyle and Bill Frank of Tecumseh joined the Shearns in Croatia for one week’s sailing and a second week driving around the countr y Noting that Croatia is not typically at the top of most people’s travel lists, Allen says, “It definitely should be ”

Although “Croatia just had a war about 20 years ago, apparently they recovered really well,” Allen obser ves “Croatia is a tremendously interesting countr y It is across the Adriatic from Italy so the culture is ver y much like Italy ” He particularly appreciated the “fantastic wine,” cuisine, gelato and friendly, upbeat people

Top: The Br yggen Hanseatic Wharf has been in business since medieval times, when its colourful warehouses stored food for the Hanseatic League in Bergen, Norway Now they cater to tourists shopping for quality Norwegian goods.

Above: Peggy Shearn, Bill Franks and Lee Anne Doyle pause before tackling the 5 5 km length of the Walls of Ston, Croatia’s version of the Great Wall of China

The countr y wraps itself like a freeform, upside down horseshoe around Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Slovenia and Hungar y bordering Croatia at the north end and Serbia to the east. Croatia’s western perimeter is a lengthy coastline along the Adriatic, just touching Montenegro at the south end. As the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, the Adriatic ensured the autumn days were mild, with temperatures averaging in the 70s Fahrenheit

“Our trip took a long time to arrange because to charter a boat in Europe these days, you have to have recognized credentials Sailing experience itself isn’t enough,” Allen explains

As co-captains, Allen and Bill took courses in Detroit, earned their papers and chartered a sailboat in Croatia through an American company The Shearns and Doyle-Franks also met with a Croatian intern working in Lee Anne’s office who was eager to recommend destinations

On Sept 25, “ we flew to Split and took a taxi to Trogir where we spent a few days before our sailboat charter began,” Allen says “ Trogir is one of the prime destinations of sailors in this region ” The UNESCO World Heritage List names it one of Europe’s best preser ved medieval towns.

Their chartered 41 foot Jeanneau 2014 sailboat was waiting for them. With three cabins and two heads, “it was an absolute dream. It was a gorgeous boat,” says Allen.

“Along the coast of Croatia, there are lots of islands so you can sail for a few hours and then stop ” The shipmates were pleased by the “extremely comfortable sailing conditions “You’re never in the open ocean, ” Allen says “ We were going for fun We weren ’ t looking for high adventure ”

Ever y night, they docked at a different island After a restful sleep in their cabins, the friends breakfasted on board, ate lunch at marinas or wherever they happened to be and enjoyed dinner at restaurants.

“ When it was the former Yugoslavia, people used to say Croatia was a cheap place to visit. It isn’t anymore, ” Allen obser ves. Noting there were no beggars or street people in sight, he found, “Croatia is quite prosperous. They’re doing ver y well and we ’ re ver y glad about that.”

“Our first destination was the town of Milna on the Island of Brac,” Allen says The travelers feasted on seafood, ser ved as the sun set at a waterfront restaurant

Clockwise from top left: Croatia’s Plitivice National Park is lush with forests and countless waterfalls; the Shearns of Windsor and the DoyleFranks of Tecumseh docked their chartered sailboat at pleasant marinas during a week-long sailing tour of Croatia’s Adriatic coast; the Walls of Ston were built to defend the Croatian city and still retain half of their original 40 towers; protected by an ancient wall, Dubrovnik’s red-roofed residences and businesses cluster at the edge of the Adriatic Sea A cable car transports people above the city to take in the infinite view; Finland’s renowned composer Jean Sibelius (1865 - 1957) is commemorated by the Passio Musicae abstract monument in Helsinki

They were surprised to see palm trees and cactus, giving the Croatian islands the feel of Florida “without the ticky tack.”

Palmizana proved to be Peggy’s favourite destination. Docking at a large private marina with Wi-Fi and other modern amenities, the couples took a 20 minute walk over a hill to reach a sandy beach. They swam in the Adriatic. “It was ver y beautiful,” Allen recalls.

Tempting sailors with an abundance of good things, Hvar Island has steep, sunny slopes and fragrant lavender fields, olive trees and vineyards Plavac, considered one of the superior types of grapes for producing Hvar red wine, is grown on the island “ We stayed at a small marina at one of the vineyards,” says Allen

A fitting stop for the adventurers was the old town of Korcula on Korcula Island Explorer Marco Polo was reputed to be born in the medieval walled Dalmatian city, a fair ytale place with its round towers protecting the red-roofed houses

Another renowned traveler, Odysseus, is believed to have survived a shipwreck and lived in a cave that is now open for exploration on modern day Mljet Island. Odysseus is the hero of ▼

Ho m e r ’ s a n c i e n t p o e m , T h e Od y s s e y. W h i l e o n t h e i s l a n d , t h e E s s e x C o u n t y friends visited Polace National Park.

Citrus trees and cypress forests appeal to the senses on the Peljesac Peninsula Mooring the boat at a pretty marina, the DoyleFranks and Shearns took a taxi to Ston, a t ow n b o a s t i n g Eu ro p e ’ s e q u i va l e n t o f t h e Gre a t Wa l l o f C h i n a T h e Wa l l s o f St o n were erected in the 1500s and today stretch 5 5 km There are also many fish farms in the area

“ Vi r t u a l l y e ve r y w h e re t h e y h a ve t h e s e outdoor barbecues, fueled with wood,” says Allen. “Croatia has a tremendous fishing industry so everything we ate was fresh caught t h a t d a y. ” T h e E s s e x C o u n t y c o u p l e s re lished the simple, delicious Mediterranean fare built around shellfish, octopus, squid and fish, as well as pork and beef “ We ate t h re e m e a l s a d a y a n d d i d n ’ t g a i n a n y weight ”

“ We ended our weeklong charter in the walled city of Dubrovnik,” Allen says The couples rode a cable car above the city to see t he p a nor a mi c v i e w Peggy a nd Lee A nne opted to walk back down, got lost on the hilly, narrow streets and eventually hailed a taxi. Meanwhile, Bill and Allen, who had r i d d e n t h e c a b l e c a r b a c k , s p e n t a n h o u r

w a l k i n g t h e w a l l s a ro u n d t h e e n t i re o l d town.

Dr i v i n g t h e i r re n t e d d i e s e l Vo l k s w a g e n s t a t i o n w a g o n i n l a n d , t h e t r a ve le r s f ou n d “ t h e ro a d s a re s p e c t a c u l a r ” A l l e n s a y s , “After the war, they had to rebuild ever ything so the main highways are brand new ” Hi s ow n G P S e q u i p p e d w i t h a Eu ro p e a n chip directed them unfailingly

T h e c i t y o f Za d a r w a s h i g h l y re c o mmended by Lee Anne’s interning colleague The travelers dined at his girlfriend’s uncle’s restaurant The archeological and glass museums fascinated the visitors, yet it was the sea organ on the water front that mesmerized them. The seawall’s concrete steps conceal many pipes that emit sounds when the water rushes in and pushes air through the organ. The music is played spontaneously by the sea ’ s activity “ There’s nothing like it in the world,” Allen enthuses

“One of the trip’s highlights was a visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park,” a UNESCO World Heritage site, he says The Shearns and Doyle-Franks took a bus to the hilltop a n d f o l l owe d t r a i l s d ow n t h ro u g h f o re s tland, spotting dozens of waterfalls en route Thankfully, they did not encounter European brown bears or wolves who reside in the park.

“ We f i n i s h e d o u r ro a d t r i p i n Za g re b, ”

A l l e n s a y s . Cro a t i a ’ s c a p i t o l c i t y h a s

8 0 0 , 0 0 0 re s i d e n t s l i v i n g a l o n g t h e Sa va

R i ve r. A l l e n a n d Pe g g y we re t h r i l l e d t o learn a baroque music festival was underw a y a n d a t t e n d e d a c o n c e r t a t t h e m u s i c hall

Throughout Croatia, “the people spoke English per fectly,” Allen says The friends felt “completely safe” during their stress free va c a t i o n “ We’ve t r a ve l e d q u i t e a b i t a n d seen really great things – but we were blown away by Croatia ”

Bidding the Doyle-Franks goodbye, the Shearns fle w to Bergen, Nor way to cr uise the countr y ’ s west coast for a week. The trip was one of those someday treks promised to be shared with two other couples, friends f ro m t h e Sh e a r n s ’ m a n y ye a r s l i v i n g i n Ba l t i m o re Eve r yo n e w a s d e l i g h t e d t o b e reunited

Pe g g y w a s h o p e f u l t h a t t h e No r t h e r n Lights would dance across the sky while she w a s i n t h e c o u n t r y Sh e h a d e x p e r i e n c e d t h e m i n W h i t e Ho r s e a c o u p l e ye a r s a g o and was eager to see them from a different time zone

But first, Bergen’s delights were waiting t o b e a d m i re d . T h e m o s t e v i d e n t l y d i scernible are the colourful harbour buildings

along the medieval Br yggen Hanseatic Wharf. Originally the food storage warehouses of the Hanseatic League, the cheerily painted structures are now shops that attract tourists The Shearns learned about the historic life of a merchant at the Hanseatic Museum

At the Fish Market, the Shearns and their friends found they could eat lobster and fish freshly plucked from the the sea To get a bird’s eye view of Bergen, they rode the Floibanen Funicular, a cable car, up to the top of the Floien Mountain Spread before them were the narrow cobblestone streets twisting haphazardly between old, wooden houses, and beyond, the mountains and fjords.

The friends then boarded a small ship o p e r a t e d b y Hu r t i g r u t e n C r u i s e l i n e . “ There are lots of islands in Nor way and the only way to get to them is by boat,” says Allen “It amazed me that there may only be one or two houses on many of these islands ”

“As a sailor, I was interested to learn the Gulf Stream comes all the way up the coast of Nor way, so the water never freezes Sailors keep boats in the water all year round.”

Reflecting on Nor way ’ s economy, driven

b y g ov e r n m e n t - ow n e d o i l , A l l e n s a y s , “Nor way has the highest standard of living in the world.” He figures that may correlate to the “incredible sailboats” he saw residents sailing

As the friends’ ship progressed steadily northward and approached the fjords of North Cape, fresh snow fell “ We went way up above the Arctic Circle,” says Allen The geographical line is marked by a globe mounted on a little island

Happily, the riveting green, yellow, red and violet arcs of the Aurora Borealis lit up the sky for about 30 minutes on the first two evenings of the cruise.

One land excursion brought the travelers to an unusual bar in a freezing warehouse. Ever ything was made of ice: the bar, sculptures of dolphins and whales and goblets filled with chilled wine

Returning south, the ship stopped at Kirkenes, near to where Nor way, Russia and Finland meet The Nor wegian journey ended and the Shearns and one of the couples flew to Helsinki, Finland “One of the reasons I wanted to go to Helsinki is I knew there was a real focus on design,” Allen says. Design District Helsinki encompasses t h e D e s i g n Mu s e u m , t h e Mu s e u m o f Finnish Architecture and art galleries, as

well as shops selling home décor, fashion, jeweller y and antiques.

Lovely parks on the water, boats navigating in between the many islands dotting the coast, food stalls in the old market, spectacular restaurants and the quality of life impressed the Shearns Dining out, the couple was surprised to be ser ved dishes they did not order Presented with a prestarter and a pre-dessert, Allen remembers fondly, “ They just made something in the kitchen and they wanted you to enjoy it!”

Before heading home, the Shearns had one more jaunt to experience. “Peggy really loves the Northern Lights, so we decided to tr y to see some more, ” Allen says. They journeyed to Igloo Village in northern Finland and checked into their warm, cozy igloo constructed of glass “ The idea is you lie in bed and see the Northern Lights We didn’t see any because the sky was cloudy ”

Un d a u n t e d , t h e y w e n t d o g s l e d d i n g

With temperatures hovering a few degrees below freezing, northern Finland’s climate provided an invigorating contrast to balmy Croatia

The Shearns arrived home on Oct 29th “It was really fun for us, ” Allen says. “ We got to spend time with friends, go sailing –and we saw the Northern Lights.” WLM

PRIVATE FINANCIAL GROUP

Expanded Ser vices to Maximize Clients’ Business Sale and Succession Plans

Even the most energetic, dedicated business owner dreams of retirement someday “ We looked at business owners who are faced with significant decisions and found out what is on their minds right now. Their big questions are: How are they going to do with their businesses after they retire? What are they planning for the next generation?” says Peter Dobrich, President of Private Financial Group

To provide the best answers, PFG broadened its ser vices “ We added Manulife Capital Markets as a relationship to help us begin the talk with business owners about navigating a merger, sale or succession,” Peter says. “ What Manulife Capital Markets allows us to do for the owner is help introduce the business to the global market and get the premium price We and Manulife only focus on creating shareholder value ”

Once the business owner executes the sale or completes the succession, PFG’s relationship with Fiduciar y Trust allows Peter and his team to manage the funds for the owner and the next generation

“I think one of the major challenges for the person who has built his own business is that most of his wealth is tied up in the company. We see that as a risk now and an even bigger risk going for ward,” says Peter. “In many cases, you don’t have to sell the entire company while you still own it; you can sell a portion or extract some cash and diversify your wealth a little ”

What the founder thinks the business is worth and what it could actually realize in the marketplace are often two different things Just looking to sell it locally may make sense, though with the right guidance, “introducing it geographically in Canada, the United States

and the world will definitely enhance the value of that business,” Peter says.

A price must also be determined when the business is to be entrusted to a family member or other successor “ We need to figure how succession will impact taxation and the estate, ” says Peter.

The worst scenario is when illness, sudden death or an exodus of key management forces the owner into an ill-conceived succession or sale. Peter obser ves, “85% or so of second generation businesses and 95% of third generation businesses fail because of poor planning ”

PRESIDENT

“Many times, we see that the founder has introduced the successor late in the game PFG’s objective is to introduce the critical discussions and help formalize essential plans designed by the accountant, lawyer, investment banker and advisor. This helps maximize the value of the business.”

Peter grew up in a family business and understands the dynamics “ There is much at stake, professionally and personally, for ever yone involved,” he says “I feel ver y comfortable helping families with these ver y emotional decisions.”

His own experience as a family and independent business owner has contributed to Peter’s skill as an advisor Supported by his PFG team, “there is nothing we can ’ t handle,” he says “ We focus only on what we know and are smart enough to know what we don’t We bring the best people to the table to collaborate with our clients and their advisors to achieve the most important thing – what’s on their mind and to finish off with a blueprint for their personal goals. Isn’t it time we talked?”

Peter Dobrich

MCCCU

75 years strong

Motor City Community Credit Union proudly marks 2015 as its 75th anniversary year with a host of celebrations and promotions to honour the past, present and bright future of MCCCU

“We are always going forward, looking at the future,” says CEO Charles Janisse. “As a matter of fact,” he points out, “MCCCU was the first financial institution in this area to offer remote deposit capture, ” which is basically a cell phone application that lets you take a picture of your cheque with your phone and deposit it into your account.

“While we are going forward with positive momentum, we are reflective and respect our heritage,” Charles says

MCCCU’s early history dates back to 1939 as one of the first local credit unions established, at the Windsor Star and known as the Printers Industrial Credit Union In May of 1940, the City of Windsor’s transportation department formed the S W and A Credit Union As the credit union system started to develop in the 1940s the auto sector began establishing their own with Ford, Motorco (Chrysler employees), Champion Spark Plug, Colonial Tool and New York Railroad Employees Credit Union.

As the financial industry changed so did the makeup of the local credit union system Many of these “closed bond” credit unions combined operations and MCCCU evolved, opening its doors to all residents of Windsor and Essex County Some other credit unions dating back to the 1940s that form MCCCU’s rich heritage include Brewer’s ( Windsor) Credit Union, Purity Dair y, Inmond (formerly Rinshed Mason CU), Windsor Dominion Civil Servants, Windsor Municipal Employees and Hospital Employees (Windsor Credit Union).

MCCCU offers all the retail and commercial services a bank offers, but the members are the owners, not absentee shareholders whose interest is in profit

MCCCU’s new year ’ s resolution is to increase awareness about and the advantages of cooperative banking with a credit union The convenience of MCCCU features four branches located throughout the city and the ability to bank anytime, anywhere through ATMs, Mobile and online.

“We are here to improve the lives of our members and the community,” Charles stresses. “We don’t have hidden fees or quotas to reach. We don’t fit you in a box. We look at the whole picture of your financial situation and if a new car loan isn’t in your best interest, our mentality is to help you uncover your needs and come up with a solution ”

MCCCU is proud of its success in helping members reach their financial well-being They are also proud that their success is

directly invested back into the community through a host of meaningful initiatives including W E Care for Kids, In Honour of the Ones We Love, Junior Achievement Financial Literacy Program, Windsor Firefighters Benefit Fund, causes for veterans, and a host of sports teams and event sponsorships that contribute to the well-being of our community.

MCCCU has a balance of technology and people, the healthy relationships that sustain business and membership financial security, adapting to every stage of your life.

“We want you to know more about our holistic approach. Go ahead make our year, ” invites Charles Visit MCCCU com or call a branch to learn more about your community credit union, proudly celebrating 75 years of serving the financial needs of the community You may also call to arrange a consultation in person at one of MCCCU’s convenient branches

EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HEALTH AND FITNESS CAREERS

St. Clair College offers new Health and Fitness Programs

WITH THE GROWING INTEREST IN HEALTH and wellness, St Clair College now offers two exciting programs for students interested in careers within this expanding industry

The Fitness and Health Promotion two-year diploma program was introduced three years ago at the Thames Campus located in Chatham Starting in September 2014, the program is now available at the Windsor campus.

In developing the curriculum, program administrators wanted students to have the opportunity to pursue a diploma that met both the practical and theoretical components of the fitness industry.

“The fitness industry adheres to certain standards. Graduates of the Fitness and Health promotion program will be certified by the National Fitness Leadership Association (NFLA) St Clair College was one of the first colleges to have students write this exam It is a great advantage for our students, giving them national and international connections as they start their career, ” says Deborah Ivey, program coordinator

In addition, students will complete an examination process certifying them as a CSEP-CPT (Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology - Certified Personal Trainer) This certification qualifies professionals in three areas: Health/Fitness Counselor, Fitness Appraiser and a Personal Trainer.

The program provides students with the knowledge, skills and experience for careers as health and fitness professionals. Graduates will be fully equipped to design programs for individuals and groups. In addition to practical courses, individuals will learn program administration, business practices, awareness of community resources and the ability to effectively communicate with managers, boards, committees and funding agencies In addition, students learn about the operation/management of fitness facilities, promotion, fitness testing procedures, planning fitness programs, identification of health and safety issues and leadership Together these skills and knowledge make graduates highly marketable in a growing industry

Students have access to state-of-the-art facilities when enrolled in this program at either campus. In Chatham, the HeatlhPlex is a 54,000 square foot facility. At the Windsor campus, students will complete part of their studies at the newly opened 85,000 square foot SportsPlex.

Graduates have had great success in finding employment following graduation Many individuals work as personal trainers at fitness facilities and others have found success through self-employment Graduates have also found employment with community institutions for special populations, hospitals and municipal recreation departments Whatever path they pursue, graduates are well prepared to meet the demands of the growing fitness and health promotion market

Andrew Fickey will graduate from the program in spring 2015 After personally getting involved in fitness and work-outs, he was interested in exploring career opportunities within the sector

While completing the program Fickey started working part-time as a fitness consultant at the Healthplex in Chatham. He has now been promoted to a Senior Fitness Consultant where he is responsible for overseeing fitness consultations, membership incentives and administration of promotions.

“It’s definitely awesome to have a full-time job secured before graduation,” states Fickey “I would recommend this program to anyone who is interested in health and fitness Not only did I enjoy the practical elements, I also appreciated the knowledge about the workings of the human body ”

In September 2014, the Windsor campus introduced the Sport and Recreation Management program This exciting three-year diploma program is a great addition Similar to the Fitness and Health promotion program, it meets a growing demand for careers in this industry.

The Sports and Recreation Management program prepares students to work in the business of sport management, sport marketing and other recreation related industries. Students will study sport and recreation management, marketing, sports economics, customer services, legal aspects of sport, sport governance, project management and community sport and recreation supervision It is the only three year advanced business diploma of its kind in Ontario

Graduates will be well positioned for exciting, dynamic careers upon graduation Students will have the necessary skills and knowledge for positions within a wide variety of sport management and supervisory activities

There has been ongoing demand for this type of program from students. With the completion of the SportsPlex in 2014, it was the perfect time to introduce this program.

“St. Clair College graduates with the Sport Management diploma will be excellent candidates for a variety of employers. These include sport event planning, sales and marketing, facility management, business administration within professional sports, sport governing bodies, public agencies, community recreation departments, sporting goods companies, sport marketing agencies, sport agent operations and athletic service organizations,” says Kevin Corriveau, program coordinator

Mark Masanovich, General Manager, Roseland Golf and Curling Club, is a member of the Program Advisory Committee for this new program and says that the industries of sport tourism, community sports and recreation programs, sport and event management and sport facility operations are just a few of the potential areas these students will be able to participate in. “I am looking forward to helping them in their chosen vocations. I believe there is tremendous potential for students graduating in this discipline. They will find themselves assisting in any number of sporting and recreation activities not only in this community but nationally.”

The Fitness and Health Promotion program and the Sports Management program include placements which allow students the opportunity to get practical experience prior to graduation Often these practicum placements lead to career and networking opportunities

Ap p l i c a t i o n s f o r t h e s e p r o g r a m s c a n b e m a d e t h r o u g h ontariocolleges ca with course offerings and information about the program on the College website at stclaircollege ca/programs

STORY BY KAREN PATON-EVANS PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIQUIDWILD MEDIA

#YOU beautymoment Connecting With A Sisterhood Of Inspiration

Two local young women truly believe in the power of Windsor-Essex County. Sarah Davidson and Yvonne Pilon talk up the city, pointing out its size as an asset: “There are just two degrees of separation,” says Yvonne, “ so it’s easy to get things done ”

Social media helps shorten the distance between those two degrees, bringing people together in the community in infinite and exciting ways

#YOUbeautymoment is par t of that connection Created by Erika Harnish and Carly Nicodemo to spotlight Windsor-Essex women age 40 years and younger, #YOUbeautymoment is revealing the meaningful ways women are being their own kind of beautiful.

Among their many achievements, Sarah and Yvonne are the creative forces behind YKNOT Windsor-Essex, an 18-month project funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation in partnership with WEtech Alliance that aims to build a community of connected, inspired young people who hold meaningful employment, influence big decisions and make a difference in WindsorEssex

Sarah Davidson

A graduate of the University of Windsor’s International Development and Relations program, Sarah Davidson, 27, is now pursuing a Master of Public Health at the University of Western Ontario

However, the Wiarton native’s connections to Windsor remain vital In 2014, she was recognized for her community work by the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce with its Rising Leader Award, presented during the Business Excellence Awards ceremony.

Employment opportunities in Windsor have enabled Sarah to work according to her social conscience, first with the AIDS Committee of Windsor and then at United Way/Centraide of Windsor Essex County. As United Way’s Manager of Youth Engagement & New Media, Sarah engaged young people in community life through United Way, using social media to increase visibility and support of the organization’s initiatives and programs

Sarah also served on Work Force Windsor Essex’s Board of Directors and co-chaired the Windsor Economic Development Corporation’s Youth Retention Task Force and the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee

For the past two years, Sarah has worked with the Golden Future South Africa Project to help improve the lives of people living in vulnerable communities As the Windsor Chapter President in 2014, Sarah led 30 young Windsor-Essex professionals and students as they fundraised $30,000 in three weeks and then traveled with the team to South Africa to implement an outreach project.

Sarah believes strongly in leadership and community interaction and development. Whenever people are able to come together, there is opportunity for something positive to happen.

Yvonne Pilon

Yvonne Pilon, 30, first met Sarah Davidson in 2010 during a 10 month Leadership Windsor/Essex Program designed to promote and encourage outstanding leadership by developing the capabilities of citizens who care about the community Sharing similar goals and commitment, the two women bonded personally and went on to create YKNOT Windsor-Essex together

The impetus for YKNOT Windsor-Essex emerged from various community events that Yvonne attended, where it was evident she was the youngest person present. She and Sarah decided to make youth participation and presence a priority. They envisioned YKNOT

"Beauty is self-confidence applied directly to the face. Wear it like makeup!"

- Yvonne

Windsor-Essex's Youth Retention and Attraction Task Force and secured a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to fund 18 months of action in partnership with WEtech Alliance.

Now halfway into the YKNOT project, Co-chairs Yvonne and Sarah with Co-ordinator Dan Brown are frequently seen out in the public, hosting networking and community events They initiate conversations about why Windsor-Essex County is a good place to work, live and play and ask young people what they need to stay in the community

“Asking questions is the first step in sustainable change,” Yvonne says To help influence that change, YKNOT Windsor-Essex is working with supportive community leaders

Yvonne, who holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Windsor, is also the President and CEO of WEtech Alliance, an innovation centre focused on driving the growth and success of Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent’s technology centric companies and entrepreneurs

Dedicated to community service, Yvonne was the Promotions & Marketing Services Committee Chair for the 2013 Windsor Essex International Children’s Games and a member of the Games Organizing Team

She is Committee Member of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards and a volunteer member of the Chambers’ Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Task Force.

When Startup Canada’s National Tour visited Windsor in 2012, Yvonne was the lead Co-ordinator for the event that linked entrepreneurs working together to build an environment and culture for entrepreneurial growth and success. She also helped establish Star tup Drinks Windsor, which hosts monthly networking events for entrepreneurs

Now when Yvonne is at a community event, she is not the only representative of her generation “I’m beginning to see a change,” she says

Drawing on her own experiences as a young person getting established professionally and personally, Yvonne advises Windsor youth: “Meet as many people as you can Talk to strangers Network and be a part of things Become a volunteer Join a Committee. Join a Board. Google yourself: You have to see your personal branding and what it is online Talk to strangers Get online and offline Build your communication skills Build your personal reputation Don’t be afraid to fail. When one door closes, another one opens. ” WLM

MESOLIFT MESOGLOW MESOBOTOX MESOBRIGHT MESOACNE MESOCELLULITE MESOLIPOLYSIS MESOHA IR

Set. Beautiful.

A non-invasive treatment Mesotherapy is a non-invasive treatment where mircoscopic quantities of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and medical-grade pharmaceuticals are administered into the upper and middle layers of the skin in order to treat a variety of ailments

Instant results, no “down time” This European approach to anti-aging, s k i n t r e a t m e n t h a i r l o s s a n d c e l l u l i t e reduction has gained special recognition within aesthetic medicine as it is the most effective non-surgical technique for skin rejuvenation and treatment of skin conditions on both the face and body No one topical application of cream can deliver the biological active ingredients into the skin cells and activate skin metabolism as effectively as Mesothereapy

Botox & Fillers by Dr Maytham

Sclerotherapy by Sandra Morley

Esthetics by Joan Diana

Why Choose Mesotherapy?

• It’s progressive and very effective

• It’s safe, with no side effects

• It’s an attractive alternative to plastic surgery

• It requires little or no post-treatment down time; redness may last for a maximum of one day.

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

The non-surgical beauty treatment that’s sweeping Europe. Now available right here.

Slajana Saveska and Karey Menzies

HOME ST YLE ELEGANCE AND PEACE OF MIND

Located on the picturesque waterfront of Lake St. Clair, a proud focal point of the community for generations, St. Clair Beach Retirement Community has established itself as a pillar of the ommunity since opening its doors in u n e , 2 0 1 3 T h e St C l a i r Be a c h Re t i re m e n t re s i d e n c e p rov i d e s a n xciting option for seniors to live in cenic surroundings where they have ffectionate ties It is also an excellent hoice for short term and recovery tays. The gracious suites of St. Clair Beach ove r l o o k L a k e w o o d Pa rk a n d t h e waters of Lake St. Clair. The design of the building is as welcoming as it is dramatic. Sun-filled balconies and a gracious stone, brick and traditional Tudor exterior give way to an interior of soaring vaulted ceilings that are complemented by tall columns, dramatic crown mouldings, coffered ceiling accents and rich wood details

cooking demo’s in our Activity Kitchen open for everyone to enjoy. “Visitors are always pleasantly surprised to learn how affordable St. Clair Beach Retirement is,” Cathy points out. Studio Suites start at $2926 00 per month This includes meals, activities, weekly housekeeping, 24-hour response and registered nursing staff 24/7, all taxes and utilities

Zucchetto EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Manicured strolling paths meander through St Clair Beach Retirement Community’s grounds where patios and benches are perfectly placed to take in the dramatic views of the lake right outside your door

The locale is just one of the strengths of St Clair Beach Retirement Being a people place has meant staff have been carefully handpicked. “We have adopted employees who love this environment,” Executive Director, Cathy Zucchetto notes. “They are eager to please because they have immense respect for our senior residents.”

“This is a different kind of retirement community,” Cathy explains. “It is cozy and full of positive energy because of our Community Members, our staff, our surroundings and the community at large We are happy to be a part of Tecumseh The Town is a growing, vibrant community and to be a part of it all is very gratifying ”

At St Clair Beach Retirement Community, Community Members are seniors who are looking for a renewed sense of vitality along with the confidence of caring services, and inspired cuisine in a beautiful, gracious setting They want independent living, but also want the reassurance of knowing that they can get Personal On-site Care if and when they require it. St. Clair Beach Retirement offers Short Term Vacation and Recover y Stays. Having surgery and need a place to recoup? Let the Team of Registered Nursing Staff attend to your recovery needs while you embrace the Therapeutic Environment.

Visitors and prospective residents are impressed by what they see on the tour, including the salt water pool, innovative workout room with equipment designed for seniors, the movie theatre, adaptable for the hearing impaired and available for residents to book for family movie nights, the pavilion and activity rooms Often during a tour you can witness the Executive Chef doing

With two activity coordinators, residents become a part of the community with ease They have opportunities for stimulating activities and meaningful companionship, learning about diverse backgrounds and similarities in their lives, bonding on commonalities such as change “They are not in isolation Whether it’s euchre or bridge clubs, or a host of other activities, we see residents learning their likes and dislikes, finding their niche and enjoying the lifestyle here because everyone is engaged,” Cathy says.

At St. Clair Beach, the Community Members are offered a broad range of unique experiences with rooms designed to bring people together and create a lively sense of fellowship, while embracing that sense of familiarity The ambiance is of warm elegance and the amenities are stimulating and beautiful

The dining is superb thanks to the talents of Executive Chef Luke Gagnon and his Team Luke was born and raised in Tecumseh a n d h a s re p re s e n t e d C a n a d a i n t h e In t e r n a t i o n a l Ep i c u re Olympiad Luke’s Team is comprised of himself and four additional Red Seal Chefs Luke and his Team create a menu that is bountiful, healthy and delicious Residents can even book a Private Dining Room for a special event with family and friends

The lobby café with fresh coffee and baked goods is the perfect place to meet friends, have a snack, a drink and conversation anytime throughout the day. Surf the net or exchange emails at one of the computer stations in the beautifully appointed Library, or enjoy a good book. Cultivate a hobby or learn to paint in the Manning Activity Centre. Or exercise your green thumb in the Brighton Potting Room

Residents have the convenience of the Lesperance Hair Salon for a new hair style, manicure or pedicure They can also catch a great movie in the Arlington Theatre that doubles as a chapel for religious services At the end of a pleasant day, relax with an evening drink and watch the sun set over Lake St Clair from the Southwind

Pavilion lounge

The home style elegance of St Clair Beach Retirement comes with peace of mind for the Community Members and their loved ones. With a comprehensive program of activities and services, state of the art emergency response and Registered Nursing Staff 24/7, it’s no wonder that people are turning to St. Clair Beach Retirement for its offering of short term stays and recovery care.

If you are contemplating your future housing needs, St. Clair Beach Retirement Community may help you define them, close to the family members, friends, church and community groups that are important in your life

For a visitor’s tour and to learn more about St Clair Beach Retirement Community by Signature Retirement Living, call 519-979-9300 or visit www StClairBeachRetirement com

Cathy

DR. LINDA TIETZE

Devoted And Highly Specialized Facial Cosmetic Surgeon

If this is the year you ’ ve decided to take an important step to enhance your self-image with facial cosmetic surgery or a nonsurgical procedure, this introduction to Dr. Linda Tietze (pronunciation rhymes with pizza!) is meant for you.

Dr Tietze is a full-service ENT (Ear Nose and Throat) surgeon who is also this region’s leading rhinoplasty specialist, meaning surgical cosmetic nasal contouring and reshaping She is an accomplished surgeon whose busy practice spans the continuum from Facial Cosmetic Surgery to Paediatric ENT Surgery to complex Head and Neck Surgery

Dr Tietze has been sharing her skills for the needs of WindsorEssex County since 2001 As Windsor Regional Hospital’s Chief of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Dr. Tietze has a solid foundation for the highest quality of assessment and surgical skill you deserve and expect when it comes to facial cosmetic procedures.

With an outstanding practice that is entirely focused on the head and neck, Dr. Tietze also brings her passion for helping people achieve the look they have always desired. She provides a full range of surgical services leaving you with virtually undetectable scars for rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty (eyelid lifts) and otoplasty (ear tucks) She also performs non-surgical cosmetic facial services such as Botox and filler injections, to eliminate unwanted facial creases and wrinkles in minutes

They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul Blepharoplasty can permanently open those 'windows' by removing unwanted droopy or sagging skin from the upper eyelids which can impair vision and add years to your looks.

The ears are more than just for hearing. They are a distinctive facial feature that can be a problem for many clients. Otoplasty can reshape and transform protruding ears or ' ears that stick out ' to provide symmetry and harmony without having an effect on hearing.

Often, the most striking transformation is ‘ as plain as the nose on your face.’ Dr. Tietze is especially gratified by her work specializing in rhinoplasty She has seen how such surgical nasal refinements transform a face and can profoundly impact self-esteem

“Even a subtle change in the shape of a nose can have a dramatic effect on someone ' s appearance, balancing their facial symmetry and bolstering their self confidence,” explains Dr Tietze

A shapely, well-proportioned nose will complement your natural beauty and give you the image you desire “Nasal reshaping is a very personal procedure, uniquely tailored to each individual,” Dr Tietze says, pointing out that while women traditionally explore the benefits of facial cosmetic surgery, increasingly, men are taking advantage of her skills especially in the area of rhinoplasty. With the alteration of even a single facial feature, facial harmony and balance can be achieved and the positive result better reflects how you feel inside.

Dr Tietze offers free consultations for you to find out what enhancement procedure is suited to your personal lifestyle Dr Tietze takes time with each patient to understand and carefully assess the options that are best suited to the individual for the best possible results You can be assured of quality attention, affordable prices and most importantly, the utmost in confidentiality and professionalism in an atmosphere of comfort and trust

Book your confidential consultation with Dr Linda Tietze today by calling 519-252-9196 extension 2 or visit her website at www.WindsorENT.com. before after

INVESTORS GROUP

Unique Providers of Financial Planning

Guiding local individuals, families and businesses on their financial path, Investors Group is an important ally in growing and securing clients’ wealth

More than 8,700 clients are in the care of 60 dynamic Investors Group financial consultants and their support colleagues working from offices in downtown Windsor, Chatham and Ridgetown. “Our clients include students and young families just starting out, people in between jobs and those enjoying rewarding careers, new Canadians, retirees and very wealthy people,” says Trevor LeDrew, CFP, the Regional Director for Windsor Tri-County at Investors Group Financial Services Inc.

“Being the leading financial planning firm in Canada and responsible for billions of dollars, Investors Group works with all demographics: Rural, small town, suburban and city,” Trevor says. “Our philosophy is that we want to ser ve all Canadians, to be the financial institution that people can count on to have the professional advice, services and products they need ”

Ranked among top insurance providers and mor tgage lenders, Investors Group also researches, recommends, negotiates and manages investment opportunities for its clients “We’re not just selling investment products, we are focused on investor outcomes, ” Trevor explains. After sitting down with the client to ask questions and really listen, Investors Group applies its unique tools to define opportunities appropriate to the client’s income, tax obligations, insurance needs and investment goals

“Then we provide a written financial plan. Because if you don’t have a solid, documented plan, how can you measure its performance in the coming months and years?” Trevor points out the care people take in planning a vacation, knowing where they are going and how much it will cost. “When it comes to personal affairs, many people buy a few products and hope it all works out in the end ”

Investors Group takes a thorough approach, acting as the planner and navigator, building the client’s trust along the way. “I believe that what differentiates us from other firms is that we often meet with clients two or three times before we ask for their business,” Trevor says “At the end of the day, the client makes the final decision ”

“We keep the plan on track, adapting with changes in markets and the client’s life. Even in challenging times, the good news is we have the tools to provide solid information so clients know where they really are financially ” Regular meetings ensure clear communication and accountability.

The Investors Group team also helps businesses and their owners produce strategies to attract and retain outstanding managers and staff by providing pensions, benefits and health

and life insurance. “We work with the company ’ s own HR officers and accountants to create the best corporate plan,” Trevor says.

To ensure all clients receive savvy advice, Investors Group consultants specialize in certain areas including RRSPs, RESPs, mortgages and business specific industries “I feel fortunate that our clients have such confidence in our business model; we have nearly doubled the number of our consultants in 10 years and we anticipate additional growth We’re one of the top performers among Investors Group nationally which is reassuring to our clients,” says Trevor

Another assurance that Investment Group will continue to do its utmost for clients is the firm’s investment in downtown Windsor In 2012, an office was established at 1 Riverside Dr. W., in the heart of the city. Trevor says, “We believe in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent This truly is the land of opportunity, for our clients and for us ”

–Chad

THE MOST EFFECTIVE PLANS for a community’s wellness tend to today’s concerns, while securing the tools for even greater healthcare in the future With that in mind, Windsor Regional Hospital is moving forward with plans for a state-of-the-art singlesite acute care hospital The current task at hand is to choose the best possible location for the new acute care hospital

Overseeing the extensive planning of the new hospital is the Program and Services Steering Committee, comprised of representatives from many organizations in Windsor and Essex County, including the Erie St Clair Local Health Integration Network, Community Care Access Centre, all three regional hospitals, the President of the Essex County Medical Society and representatives of both the City of Windsor and County of Essex.

Robert Renaud, Chair of the Windsor Regional Hospital Board of Directors and the new hospital’s Site Selection Subcommittee, says, “The site selection process for our new state-of-the-art hospital is more extensive and objective than the process used by any other community in Ontario Our process is built on community input, fairness and integrity and we are confident it will result in selecting the best location available to meet the needs of the residents of Windsor and Essex County for generations to come ”

“We have extensively consulted members of our community and they have made it very clear that accessibility as well as the current and future needs of our community must be included as key criteria in our site selection decision,” Robert says “The 10 volunteer members of the Site Selection Subcommittee are committed to following our approved process to ensure that we propose the best location available for everyone in our region.”

The steering committee recognizes the new hospital is part of a much bigger picture. Janice Kaffer, President and CEO of HôtelDieu Grace Healthcare, says, “Over the past year and a half, we have worked collaboratively with our colleagues at Windsor Regional Hospital to create a real ‘ system ’ for hospital care in our region HDGH and WRH are on the same page in addressing the system needs and collectively we are planning for a new acute care hospital and the associated changes needed here at HDGH to continue to serve our community ”

Laying the groundwork for the new system, health services were clearly divided between Windsor Regional Hospital and Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare in October, 2013. Windsor Regional Hospital assumed governance and operations of all acute services at the Metropolitan and Ouellette Campuses and for the new acute care hospital. Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare assumed governance and operations of chronic care, regional rehabilitation, specialized mental health and addictions and children’s mental health at the Tayfour Campus

The benefits of having all acute services and sub acute care services under separate organizations include optimized capacity, better coordination and consistency in service delivery and more A singlesite acute care hospital, built to modern standards, means safer, more efficient healthcare delivery, with improved patient satisfaction

In addition, a new state-of-the art facility will make recruiting and retaining top healthcare graduates and seasoned professionals easier Windsor Regional Hospital’s current, outdated facilities make attracting new recruits a challenge, according to Dr. Gary Ing, Chief of Staff at Windsor Regional Hospital. “Sometimes when you get

turned down, it is disappointing because you know Windsor is a great place to work. We just have to get to the next level so that we will be in the same league as the other more modern and attractive hospitals in the province,” he says

Dr Ing believes that not building a new medical facility would be very risky “In terms of the evolution of healthcare, it will go backward Once we are stagnant, we stand to lose what we have in terms of physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers, because there are other providers that would love to have some of our physicians and staff from here ”

It all comes down to improving the patient experience for those in Windsor-Essex. “Modern hospitals are designed to give patients more control over their experience. That is so important for our patients in times of uncertainty,” says Karen McCullough, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Executive at Windsor Regional Hospital.

She points out that at Windsor Regional Hospital, fewer than 25% of the patient rooms are private The provincial standard calls for 80% single patient or private rooms, each with a sleeping area for family members

“Having family members around can really help in a patient’s recovery, ” Karen says “Right now, we just don’t have the space to make those accommodations in every case Sometimes, patients are asking for private rooms with more room for family members and we just can ’ t do it ”

In addition to providing patients with more privacy and allowing their families 24/7 access, increased private rooms in the new hospital will reduce the spread of infection.

Other healthy improvements being incorporated into the facility’s design is a ventilation system that can split the hospital into two or more distinct air-handling zones and allow for complete isolation should a pandemic or other significant event occur Contaminated air will be prevented from flowing throughout the hospital Negative pressure rooms for isolating vulnerable and contagious patients can be built on every floor

The intelligent design will be matched by modern infrastructure and smart technology to enhance patient care and improve communication between patients, staff and the greater healthcare system Medical professionals will have superb opportunities for education and research in the new acute care facility.

Much work must be done before the new hospital is a reality, however. The steering committee is focused on advancing the Master Plan, which includes examining potential sites, getting architectural plans produced and implementing a schedule. The committee hopes to submit this part of the process to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care later this year If all goes well, the hospital could be open to patients within 10 years

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” says Windsor Regional Hospital President and CEO, David Musyj “Our region should not settle for anything less than the highest standards in healthcare!” David added, “There are a lot of communities in the province that would love to have the chance to have a new state-of-the-art acute care hospital Many communities have built such facilities with all of our financial support. It is now time for Windsor-Essex to have its own state-of-the-art facility. We deserve nothing less. We should accept nothing less.”

KYRTSAKAS L AW OFFICE

Dedicated and Experienced

Real estate, wills, estate work and powers of attorney are some of the reasons you want to turn to the dedicated and experienced Kyrtsakas Law Office, established in 1986 by Chris Kyrtsakas.

Chris grew up in Windsor and is committed to ser ving his hometown. He applies his high standards and work ethic to his general practice law office.

Nobody wants to “need a lawyer” but the reality is that in our ever yday lives there are reasons to require the thorough expertise Chris Kyrtsakas provides in his general practice law office

“My practice emphasizes ser vices in real estate, small business matters, estate work, wills and powers of attorney The subject matter can be intimidating but I am well versed in the process and how different circumstances can be handled in a clear cut manner, ” Chris explains “People actually tell me how simple it was I take that as a compliment,” he adds

Small business owners and prospective entrepreneurs will appreciate Chris’s understanding of corporate law and his ability to break it down in simple terms for good candid discussion with clients. This excellent communication will help you determine whether incorporation is right for you.

It can be unpleasant to think about preparing for the worst, so many people avoid it Chris stresses the importance of following through with these preparations

“It may be uncomfortable to dwell on, but having personal decisions made in advance of any challenges that may come into your life requires that certain matters be documented in such a way that your wishes are upheld in a court of law,” Chris explains

Wills and powers of attorney are designed for this purpose For a variety of situations and reasons, ever yone should ensure they have this peace of mind.

Chris encourages open communication. “It’s important that my clients feel comfortable in discussing their legal needs with me. ”

Purchasing a home is one of the most significant lifetime events you will experience Kyrtsakas Law Office is well versed in the important matters that have to be seen to

The closure of the sale requires a solicitor to oversee the title search and preparation of the necessar y government and mortgage documents – including registering the deed

“You will have a myriad of details to take care of,” Chris notes, “which is why my law office is dedicated to a smooth and efficient real estate transaction for you This is one area you won ’ t have to stress over when you are planning your move ”

Your solicitor plays a crucial role when you are selling your home as well. “ This requires a solicitor to prepare the sale documents and ensure that any outstanding mortgages or other debts are paid and discharged from the sales proceeds,” Chris explains. If you are moving outside of Canada, a clearance from Canada Customs and Revenue Agency must be obtained.

Kyrtsakas Law Office is committed to being responsive to clients in a respectful and collaborative manner

“I have had the privilege of acting as solicitor for thousands of clients since 1986,” Chris says “Chances are, I have acted on behalf of one of your friends or relatives Call me for a complimentar y review of your agreement, ” he invites

ASPRAKIS & DANTI DENTAL

Modern, Gentle Care that Takes the Fear Out of Visiting the Dentist

After brushing their teeth, most people don’t give them much thought until it’s time for the next brushing or a toothache starts demanding attention. However, the mouth is a ver y busy place where teeth are actively grinding, clenching and crunching when the person is awake and asleep

“It’s important to have your teeth professionally checked at least once a year for signs of wear and decay,” says Dr George Asprakis

His dentistr y partner and wife, Dr Adriana Danti, recognizes that “ most people are afraid to be at the dentist’s office We gear our approach so our patients’ anxiety is reduced ” Dr Asprakis explains,” We don’t want to do dentistr y to our patients– we want to do dentistr y in partnership with them ”

The first evidence of that is Asprakis & Danti Dental’s fresh, modern office, an inviting new location opened by the dentists a year ago. Calming earth tones and natural finishes put patients at ease. People know their comfort is the priority once they experience the soft dental recliners, warm blankets and televisions mounted on the ceiling to entertain patients during treatment

Another indication that Asprakis & Danti Dental is a caring place is the time the team gives to each patient while showing digital images of his or her mouth on a screen, explaining what is happening to the teeth and providing options for treatment. “After educating our patients, we want them to make their own decisions about what is best for them,” Dr. Danti says.

Providing comprehensive dental ser vices and restorative dentistr y, Drs. Asprakis and Danti encourage people to get oral concerns treated as soon as possible, before they worsen Damage to the tooth structure is a common problem after years of daily abuse, like grinding and clenching the teeth “Ever yone does it,” Dr Asprakis says “It starts in the teens Slowly, without realizing it, the harm is done Teeth become weaker and shorter ” Fortunately, “if we detect the problem at an early age, we can slow down the damage.”

As parents of two children, Drs. Asprakis and Danti appreciate the challenges that families may have with youngsters ’ dental hygiene. Dr. Danti takes care of kids’ dentistr y, starting at around age three “Our goal is to get children into good oral habits so they may minimize the need for major care in their lifetimes,” she says Young patients respond well to Dr Danti’s kind nature and gentle techniques “My team and I want kids to have positive experiences and memories of seeing the dentist ”

Adults also have reason to smile at the dental practice, especially after receiving

restorative dentistr y to correct and enhance their teeth’s appearance. Veneers, full caps/crowns, bonded white fillings and immediate shine with Zoom! Chairside Whitening make teeth sparkle. The office’s hygienists provide gentle, thorough teeth cleaning and educate patients in healthy maintenance

When the mouth has broken, worn or missing teeth, the dentists perform reconstruction with crowns and bridges They also use implants to secure individual crowns, bridges or dentures Through extensive continuing education, the dentists and their staff keep abreast of the leading methods for rehabilitating smiles

At the front desk, team members assist patients with financial questions and insurance claims “Payment arrangements are available for patients requiring extensive treatment, ” Dr Asprakis assures.

New patients are always welcome at Asprakis & Danti Dental.

A1 Chinese Restaurant - Providing authentic Chinese dishes using the freshest ingredients and traditional Chinese recipes. Take-out, menu & buffet. Essex, LaSalle, Leamington & Wallaceburg. www.a1chinesefood.com

Armando’s Belle River -Pizza made fresh from our family to yours, with all your favourite toppings Other menu items available 10% off pickup orders Fast deliver y Located in Aspen Plaza. 1679 County Rd. 22. 519-727-0660

Billy’s Pub and Grill - 14 craft beer taps, local wines, and food made from scratch Take the short drive to Essex and see why Billy’s was voted one of Ontario’s hidden gems See what's on tap at billyspubandgrill com 305 Talbot St N , Essex 519-776-7094

Capri Pizzeria - Capri’s casual atmosphere and welcoming staff attracts a 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 and crepes served in a casual, completely handicap accessible setting. For 22 years, chef and owner Frank Puccio has been making lunch and dinner fresh to order Gluten free options Closed Sunday 523 Notre Dame St , Belle River 519-728-2224

Cramdon’s Tap and Eater y - South Windsor’s friendly gathering place. Offering great food at affordable prices. Satellite sports and billiards in a pub-like setting. www.cramdons.com 2950 Dougall Ave. 519-966-1228

Fratelli Pasta Grill - Offering flavour drenched “woodfire” grilled steaks, seafood and pasta dishes A fresh and healthy selection of modern and time tested classics Located behind McDonald’s on Manning Rd in Tecumseh Take-out, catering, private parties For reser vations call 519-735-0355. www.fratellipastagrill.com

Jeff ’ s Fresh Meats - We make dining at home easy Choose from one of our many ready made products: stuffed pork chop, stir fr ys, cordon bleu, stuffed peppers, meat loaf 3750 Walker Rd 519-967-0988

Joe Schmoe’s Eats N’ Drinks - Family friendly restaurant offering big and bold, made in-house foods you crave! Pulled pork, big mouth burgers and jumbo wings, we have something for ever yone Patio, lots of parking, spor ts package, 12 beers on tap Kitchen open late 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 Sat & Sun 38 HD screens covering ever y game, 7 pool tables & 13 beers on tap. www.johnnyshotz.com 13037 Tecumseh Rd. E. 519-735-7005.

Lux Diner - Family friendly atmosphere Large variety of items that makes ever yone happy. 1/2LB Burgers, BBQ Ribs, Halibut, Pasta, Breakfast, and our famous Broasted Chicken Open Tuesday thru Sunday E C Row & Manning, Lakeshore,On 33 Amy Croft Dr. 519-735-8001

Mazaar Lebanese Cuisine - An upscale casual restaurant specialized in authentic Lebanese Cuisine in a classy comfor table yet energetic atmosphere Their extensive lunch and dinner menus promote fresh and healthy delicious options Free parking after 5pm Reser vations recommended 372 Ouellette Ave. 519-967-9696.

Neros Gour met 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

Parkside at Rochester Place - Newly renovated with 3000 sq ft patio with large fountain pool, incredible fire features, large outdoor lounge area, dining area, ne w sound system that will amaze you and a New menu that will more than impress! See what they've done!

Cty Rd 2 in Stoney Point at Ruscom River www rochesterplace com 519-728-2361

Sandbar Steak & Seafood Restaurant - Open year round, featuring great steaks and seafood plus live enter tainment Thurs , Fri and Sat nights in a casual atmosphere. Lots of guest boat slips off Puce River 930 Old Tecumseh Rd , Lakeshore 519-979-5624 www sandbarpuce com

Taza Mediterranean Grill - Enjoy a delectable variety of authentic, Lebanese-style dishes rich with flavour and traditional spices Open to all ages, located in the Augustus Hotel lobby at Caesars Windsor, open weekdays 11 am–11 pm and 7 am on weekends caesarswindsor com

Tony’s Chargrill - Ser ving authentic Portuguese Cuisine on a real charcoal grill. House specialty is chargrilled chicken Offering several meat and seafood dishes grilled to perfection Tr y our buffet and salad bar Thursday to Sunday Ser ving lunch and dinner 6 days a week

Closed Mondays. Open noon to midnight. 226-674-1200 3347 Tecumseh Rd E (west of Central Ave )

For

tising in the Bon Appetit! section please call Leslie Campbell at 519-979-3419

T R A G I C A L LY O ’ H I P

LOCAL DOCS ROCK THEIR HUMAN SIDE

STORY BY DICK HILDEBRAND / PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE KOVALIV, SNAPD WINDSOR

IT WAS THE 60s AND THE ERA of the Beatles. Leonardo (Len) Cortese had developed an interest in music and since he came from an Italian family with a dad who was a barber with a love of music, it was suggested that the young lad study the accordion But Len would have nothing to do with it he wanted to be John Lennon and play the guitar!

A native of Italy, Len was only 2 years old in 1958 when his family moved to Canada and settled in Windsor After attending elementary and high school in Windsor, he moved to London to continue his education at the University of Western Ontario with full intentions of returning to Windsor after graduation. But, life happened.....he met a girl, Mary Lou, got married and stayed in London for the next 25 years where he practiced Psychiatry and taught medicine. He says, “ we adopted a little Guatamalen boy, my practice was going well....and we were very comfortable.” About 10 years ago, after receiving an urgent call from a colleague in Windsor, Len returned home where he used his expertise in the treatment of schizophrenic patients to help organize a program at the Western campus of Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital on Prince Road At the same time, the University of Windsor Medical School was opening, giving the home-town boy added incentive to return Besides that, he says, “all my family was still here and who in the world can resist Mama’s lasagna and gnocchi?”

Jim Gall was born in Edmonton. His family moved to Windsor in 1959 and he attended both elementary and high school in Riverside. Like Len, he also graduated from the University of Western Ontario and practiced rural family medicine in Perth County for roughly 30 years before returning to Windsor in 1996. He worked at the Sandwich Community Health Centre for a dozen years before he was invited to be a consulting physician at Hospice in 2008 He and his wife Cynthia are the parents of two boys and two girls, each of whom has an interesting career One daughter is a genetic counsellor in Calgary, while the other is a marine biologist in Exeter His eldest son is a computer programmer in Chester Nova Scotia, while the youngest just finished his family medicine

Tragically O’Hip are (l-r): Dr Ken Schneider, Mar ylou Cortese, Mar y Ann Roy, Dr Amit Bagga, Dr Jim Gall, Dr Olu Omoseni, Dr Len Cortese, Dr Andrew Rajan, Dr Rick Ward

residency practices in Barrie. It was way back in grade 5 that Len Cortese got his guitar and every Wednesday for the next four years he took piano lessons at the former Luciano Music Store on University Avenue By the time grade 7 had rolled around, young Len was finally a member of his first band As he recalls, “ we were actually pretty bad, but thought we were real cool ” In the ensuing years, he played in a number of groups until it was time for medical school and “the music essentially faded away Oh I played a little at Christmas time and when I was serenading a girl, but that was it.”

On the other hand, Dr. Gall, also an ardent Beatles’ fan, didn’t pick up a guitar until 1990 at the age of 42 when he and a friend in Mitchell made a New Year’s resolution to learn how to play. Jim’s instrument of choice was the bass because “it only had 4 strings.” His first public performing experience was three years later when he played with his medical school band at a reunion

So, how exactly did these two doctors cross paths?

Len says a magazine article on the association between people involved in medicine and music re-sparked his desire to be in a group and since there were plenty of doctors that did play instruments, why not put together a band for fundraisers About a year and a half ago he ran the idea past fellow doctor Ken Schneider, also a guitarist, who quickly embraced it Other local musician doctors including Jim Gall, were E-mailed and nearly 15 showed up for a meeting and jam session. Len admits they sounded ‘horrible’ but everyone agreed the sound could be improved with some work. “We chose a bunch of songs and started practicing at least twice a week for about 3 months and finally decided we might be good enough to assemble a live show.” So, on the 25th of October, 2013, Tragically O’Hip (the name suggested by Doctor John Villella, touted as an amazing surgeon with a fabulous, dry sense of humor) played for the first time at the Caboto Club Not only did the appreciative audience get to experience the musical prowess of their favourite doctors but was also treated to the extraordinary vocals of Nicole McCarty, a young version of Aretha Franklin who sang

‘My Guy’, ‘Respect’ and ‘Natural Woman’. Pro c e e d s we n t t o Wi n d s o r Re g i o n a l Hospital’s Paediatric Services for the purchase of special 3-D, high-tech goggles which are used by kids to watch whatever t h e y w a n t i n s i d e M R I o r C a t - S c a n machines

In June of last year Tragically O’Hip played their second gig, a Passion for Healthcare event at the downtown Capitol Theatre Money raised was passed on to Tr a u m a Se r v i c e s a t Wi n d s o r Re g i o n a l Hospital and Mental Health Services at Hotel-Dieu Grace. Again, the audience loved it.

And this past October, the 9 medics m a d e t h e i r s e c o n d a p p e a r a n c e a t t h e Caboto Club and their final show of the year for the 35th Hospice Anniversary celebration, again to ear-splitting applause

Doctors Cortese and Gall both admit they belong to “kind of an old guys band”, so they prefer familiar classic rock tunes like ‘Johnny B Goode’, ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’, ‘Proud Mar y ’ along with a number of Beatles’ hits like ‘ Twist and Shout’, and ‘Here Comes the Sun’, which is the O’Hip’s signature song. They’re particularly appreciative to the Hospice of Windsor-Essex County and the Western Campus of HotelDieu Grace for use of their facilities for practice, to the Hospice Wellness Band which has, on occasion, lent their equipm e n t f o r g i g g i n g a n d t o L o n g a n d McQuade Music for its assistance in the stage presentation

In terms of sound, the modest doctors don’t want to boast, but agree the group is at least a 7.25 out of 10...not bad, really. “People like us, ” they say, “they come to see doctors being something ver y different, having fun at it and they in turn are entertained As a band we function as a unit You can have great individuals, but if they don’t come together, you ’ ve got problems. We’re l u c k y a m a z i n g l y we b l e n d e d t o g e t h e r right from the start ” The band’s next appearance is tentatively scheduled for April of this year on behalf of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare’s Mental Health Services, but plans haven’t been firmed up at this time

Tragically O’Hip is a large group: two singers, two background vocalists, three guitarists, a drummer, and an organist and while the members are dedicated to the medical profession, they also enjoy exposing their human side on stage with their music and are committed to giving back to the

in which they live. Not to men-

sound pretty good to boot!

BABY BOOMERS, DIABETICS AND

OTHER people struggling to achieve and maintain healthy weight and fitness levels can receive specialized education and support in nutrition and exercise at Train Station Fitness & Express Weight Loss

Par tners Richard Milne, Dennis MacDonald and Jamie Bertrand are committed to improving the quality of people’s lives at their new club at 10700 Tecumseh Rd. E., Windsor.

Master trainer Jamie conducts boot camps and personal, group and team training. He also oversees the club’s five other trainers, all certified Medical Exercise Specialists. “That puts them in the top 2 % of trainers in Canada,” Richard says They can help clients with physical rehabilitation, working with their doctors, chiropractors and physiotherapists. Medical Exercise Specialists can address and repair 70 different diseases and conditions, including hypertension, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and hip replacement. Jamie says, “What we ’ re actually doing is bridging the gap between health care and fitness ”

Clients aged 16 to 90 years old can improve their mobility and strength at Train Station Fitness. “Our special focus is baby boomers,” Jamie says “After a lifetime of wear and tear, a certain approach is required to get them moving properly again ”

With 40 years in the wellness field, Dennis is responsible for the club’s Express Weight Loss services Four years ago, CRA granted Dennis funding to have data gathered by the University of Windsor in order to advance his program addressing Type 2 diabetes

“I’ve taken 188 people off their diabetic medications with diet and exercise,” Dennis says. “I can take 30 to 50 pounds off

anybody in 90 days and 100 pounds in six months, helping people avoid gastric bypass surgery ” Believing that “obesity is the new cancer, ” Dennis urges people to take safe action.

The first step is a free one hour consultation with Dennis. If a person chooses to become a weight loss client, a custom plan is created. He or she attends Dennis’ course, learns how to eat beneficially and receives ongoing guidance and emotional support “I see people at least once a week I’m also available by cell phone to answer their questions immediately,” Dennis says. He can be contacted directly at 519-980-1456 for consultation appointments.

Dennis is certain “people don’t get overweight because they want to. People get overweight because no one has taught them how not to. ” He recommends, “If you are 30 or more pounds overweight, you should lose it before starting to work out It’s then much easier on the body and joints. You cannot out-train a bad diet.”

Train Station Fitness & Express Weight Loss was created and is managed by Richard “This is the 14th club that I’ve opened and I know what I’m doing,” he says. Richard bought the building and invested significantly in programming, upper tier equipment preferred by professional athletes, change rooms with steam rooms and “The Chill Lounge” with Wi-Fi, comfortable furniture and beverages “We’re here to stay ”

Beginning early February, the club will open 5 am daily and close 10 pm, Mon. through Thurs., 8 pm Fri. and 8-6 pm, Sat and Sun Club tours and price reduced memberships are preselling now Further information is available at 519-979-6622 or trainstationfitness.ca.

New Year, New

Clair College SportsPlex

IF YOUR GOAL IS TO GET FIT IN 2015 the programs and services offered at the St Clair College SportsPlex can ensure you reach your targets In September 2014, the 85,000 square foot state-ofthe-art athletic facility, located on the South campus at 2000 Talbot Road West in Windsor, officially opened its doors

The $25 million facility houses a 10,000 square foot fitness centre, twelve team rooms, a triple gymnasium, elevated walking track, two workout studios, a classroom and the Saints Suite, a large private viewing area with kitchen overlooking the feature court. Additionally, the fully equipped Athletic Therapy Clinic offers a wide range of services for both students and the community. The advanced modalities and equipment include shockwave therapy, laser, and Gameready Cold Compression units that are sure to get people feeling their best! The multidisciplinary clinic offers many services to benefit people of all ages and activity levels – Athletic Therapy, Massage Therapy and Acupuncture to name a few Each can be incorporated into a wellness plan to optimize health and fitness

For individuals looking to get in shape in 2015 the SportsPlex can deliver Whether you are looking for individual or group training, this facility has something to offer everyone for every budget

Both students and the general public have access to personal trainers for individual training, small group training and team strength and conditioning.

“The SportsPlex is an awesome facility. Our services are primed to meet the demands of both students and the community and we take great pride in offering team-based strength and training programs. ” says Rob Maggio, Fitness Manager and Strength and Conditioning Coach

Although fitness centre memberships are only available to St Clair

students, individuals are able to access personal training sessions along with fitness classes that include boot camps, spinning, yoga and Zumba Classes start at just five dollars per session and run approximately 12 weeks The other strength and training programs are specially designed by fitness experts to accommodate teams and groups of 18-20 people

“Our trainers and coaches have extensive knowledge, education and experience We are extremely pleased with our offerings to date and look forward to expanding in the future with increased demand,” states Maggio.

Since opening last fall, the personal training programs have become increasingly popular. Personal training clients work with trainers to achieve their goals. During their initial meeting, clients receive a personal evaluation to determine goals that fit their specific situation The trainer is always available for help and guidance as the client works through their program

“We have found this assessment tool to be extremely helpful for our clients as each program is customized for their specific needs” says Maggio

From a community perspective, the facility has seen a number of group rentals come through its doors since opening in 2014 The College has already hosted many events including the Provincial Gymnastics Championships, the Ontario Summer Games, Border City Wrestling, Rose City Feis Irish dance, the College’s student produced fashion show and many others. Many rental options are available, from a single classroom up to the entire facility and viewing capacity is available for up to 2,500 spectators for major events.

The SportsPlex has already paid dividends in terms of recruiting varsity athletes to the College It has quickly become known for its impressive amenities and has helped the College compete to host prominent varsity athletics championships including the upcoming OCAA Men’s Volleyball Provincial Championships in February 2015 and the 2016 CCAA Women’s Basketball National Championships

President Dr John Strasser is thrilled with the opportunity to compete at this level “We welcome the chance to showcase the talents of athletes from across Canada for these prominent events and look forward to hosting them in our new, state-of-the-art athletic facility.”

For more information about programs, events or facility rentals at the St. Clair College SportsPlex call (519) 966-1656 x4180 or visit www.stclaircollege.ca/sportsplex.

Defending Clients Charged with Criminal Offences

When charged with a criminal offence, “the justice system can be intimidating and people can feel overwhelmed,” says Elizabeth D. Craig, a lawyer since 1996. “It is important to get a lawyer who specializes in defending these offences ”

Born and raised in Windsor, Elizabeth studied criminology and sociology before completing her law degree at the University of Windsor “It has always been my passion to fight for the underdog,” she says Elizabeth defends criminal and highway traffic cases exclusively, representing clients in Windsor, Leamington, Chatham and surrounding areas She has extensive experience in defending domestic and sexual assault charges

“I take care of my clients personally and do not pass them off to an assistant,” Elizabeth says. Although the Law Office of Elizabeth D Craig is open 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, she makes herself available to her clients 24/7, whenever they need legal advice. She assures them: “If something is worr ying you about your case after office hours, rather than feeling stressed, call me ”

Being released on bail is critical when charged with a criminal offence Elizabeth spent seven years working in the bail system and appreciates its significance. “If someone charged with an offence is dealing with addiction, mental health, financial, employment or relationship issues, it is important

to put a bail plan in place to allow the client to access community resources

“It is imperative that people are guided through the legal process from beginning to end, not thrown into the mix,” Elizabeth says Sound legal guidance can prevent further grief for an accused person

“Clients need advice about how a criminal record can affect their present and future

employment, and traveling outside of Canada ” Appreciating that “people do not often have rainy day funds for criminal legal advice,” Elizabeth offers custom payment plans for her ser vices “ When facing a criminal charge the most important thing is to call a lawyer as soon as possible Expert advice can prevent incarceration and a criminal conviction.”

COMPLETE FOOT CARE & ORTHOTIC CENTRE

Treating Foot Pain, Disorders and Injuries

Walking an average of 10,000 steps every day, your feet are susceptible to wear and tear. “When foot pain or discomfort slows you down, you should always seek treatment, ” advises Carla Di Gioia, DPM, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, Chiropodist of Complete Foot Care & Orthotic Centre

Patients from newborns to the elderly are treated at the centre for foot conditions including heel and arch pain, ingrown nails, wounds, skin and nail disorders, flat feet, high arches, pediatric foot conditions and sports related injuries Patients with diabetes and related foot concerns receive education and ongoing care Services may be covered through a patient’s private extended health care plan

Complete Foot Care & Orthotic Centre also provides patients with custom orthotics and bracing, shoes, sandals, diabetic shoes and compression stockings.

People experiencing foot-related problems who thought their only option for treatment was through their family doctor or a doctorreferred specialist can directly access services at Complete Foot Care & Orthotic Centre.

“A s a Do c t o r o f Po d i a t r i c Me d i c i n e , Registered Chiropodist, I provide very specialized treatment for each patient’s individual needs,” says Di Gioia, a Foot Specialist.

After receiving a Bachelors of Science Degree from the University of Windsor, she a t t en d e d t h e Oh i o C o l l e ge o f Po d i a t r i c Medicine at Kent State University for four years and earned her Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine. She then completed a three year residency program in Southeast Michigan, specializing in all aspects of primary foot care, biomechanics and surgery

Since establishing Complete Foot Care & Orthotic Centre five years ago, Di Gioia has introduced innovative solutions to resolve patients’ issues GenesisPlus laser treatment has proven effective for remedying toenail fungus, plantar warts and scars The GenesisPlus laser is approved by Health Canada and the FDA. Only a few operate in Ontario; Complete Foot Care & Orthotic Centre has the only one in Windsor, Essex County, Chatham and Kent County

People afflicted with toenail fungus are often embarrassed by their nails’ unsightly appearance. “It’s a common problem that should be addressed immediately,” says the Foot Specialist Oftentimes, topical or oral medications are ineffective Removing the involved nail itself is not curative, either. The GenesisPlus laser has the highest success rates, with no pain or downtime ’’

Foot issues usually do not heal unassisted They often worsen, causing increased pain and even deformity “Some parents erroneously believe their children will outgrow flat feet or in and out toeing. Children typically don’t Once the child’s structural arch

achieves its shape, it is difficult to make permanent structural changes without surgery or custom foot orthotics,” Di Gioia says “If not treated early and aggressively, flat feet can lead to hammer toes, bunions, heel pain and other conditions Simple corrections now will prevent lifelong problems later. All kids should be assessed.”

When arch supports are needed to correct foot issues and alleviate pain, custom orthotics are made by a qualified Foot Specialist at Complete Foot Care & Orthotic Centre, authorized by insurance companies to prescribe and dispense custom orthotics “Rather than relying on foot indentations made on a pressure point mat or foam box, the preferred way to make orthotics is to have a plaster model made of patient’s foot or to use a 3D laser scanner, a new tool at our centre, ” Di Gioia explains “Both achieve higher success in treating the issue and minimizing recurrence ”

For treatment of foot-related concerns, make an appointment with Complete Foot Care & Orthotic Centre. Referrals are not required.

Beautiful Differences You Can Really See with Medical Cosmetic Treatments for the Eyes and Face

WHEN MEETING SOMEONE FACE TO FACE, “the feature you usually look at first is the person ’ s eyes, ” notes Dr J C Maytham, Medical Director of Laser Looks “It’s very important to have your eyes looking great ”

The skin around the eyes is one of the first areas to show signs of fatigue, stress and aging Crow’s feet, drooping eyebrows and bulges, dark circles and hollows under the eyes all detract from the eyes ’ natural sparkle and beautiful colour.

Laser Looks has several different solutions to lift, firm and lighten the skin that frames the eyes.

Starting at the top, Dr. Maytham assesses where the brows sit on his patient’s face. “When the brows sag they give the eyes a heavy look. The easy way to deal with that is to use BOTOX® to give the brow a lift That may seem a little unusual to people, as BOTOX® is often used to relax muscles But when one examines the anatomy around the eyes most of the surrounding muscles pull down on the brow So when we BOTOX® the pull-down muscles, the pull-up muscles in the forehead will work unopposed which creates a lift of the whole brow area ”

BOTOX® has the added benefit of smoothing lines engraved in the skin, making the person look instantly more refreshed and youthful The temporary injectable treatment also helps delay wrinkles from forming or deepening.

Dr. Maytham finds “people often lose tissue mass above the eyebrows and get a bit of a hollow there. That creates a laxity which allows the brow to drop. By injecting fillers such as *JUVÉDERM above the eyebrow we can fill in the hollow and lift portions of the drooping brow ”

The next area to address is at the outer corners of the eyes where a lifetime of laughing, squinting and other natural expressions has formed crow ’ s feet in the skin BOTOX® is very beneficial in softening and erasing the lines “We also have specific laser treatments for tightening the skin through that area, ” Dr Maytham says

In the under eye area, dark circles, hollowed, thin skin and puffy bulges are common concerns caused by different factors Sometimes volume loss in the skin creates dark circles Genetics may cause darker pigmentation Fat pads may create a bulge that casts unwanted dark shadows. Or, those fat pads might have dropped to the extent that the muscle layers can be seen through the skin revealing darkness under the eyes.

“When people lose tissue mass in the under eye area we can resolve this by injecting a filler, usually JUVÉDERM, which is manufactured by Allergan Inc. The fillers are put in at different levels to correct tear trough issues or loss of fat pads under the eye and give an overall lift to the area, ” the doctor says

Another tool that works well under the eye is a fractional carbon diode laser, which Laser Looks uses to activate tightening and thickening in the skin so that is appears firmer and less hollow The laser treatment can also even out the skin tone

Remedying dark under eye circles may be as simple as applying a medical chemical peel to gently remove darker pigmentation while effectively lighten the skin.

“Sometimes the right strategy will be to use a combination of fillers, the laser and peels to achieve the desired results,” Dr Maytham says

These options also serve another purpose: To help a person ’ s eyes appear more symmetrical “No two eyes are the same, even on the same person, ” Dr Maytham points out A little more BOTOX® or JUVÉDERM judiciously injected could reveal more of the lid to balance the eyes

With the eyes taken care of patients are curious to know what Laser Looks can do for the rest of the face. Facial features that droop from dramatic weight loss, illness or aging can get an impressive, natural looking boost with the Soft Lift by Allergan. “It combines BOTOX® and fillers to create volume to lift and tighten sagging features,” Dr. Maytham explains.

“We also use fillers in the superficial layers of the skin to diminish wrinkles,” says Dr Maytham Lines are smoothed away when lost fullness is restored with deep level injectable fillers including Voluma, Volulift and Radiesse

“Volbella is very effective,” Dr Maytham says Part of the *JUVÉDERM family, Volbella treats and reshapes lips and the surrounding peri-oral area and fills creases, smoker’s grooves, puckers, marionette lines and the line wrapping under the chin and creeping up both cheeks With a smoother, more firmly sculpted face, the patient appears younger, more rested and less stressed.

Skin remodelling happens before the patient’s eyes during an EndyMed 3DEEP heat energy treatment. Directing controlled radio frequency energy into the skin, Laser Looks can tighten and contour facial skin as well as fade acne scars and soften wrinkles

With its state of the art lasers, Laser Looks also deals with unwanted visible veins, marks, scars and tattoos

Every service and solution provided by Laser Looks begins with a consultation, free of charge and obligation Reserve yours by calling 519-324-0078

* JUVÉDERM is a registered trademark of Allergan Holdings France SAS

The Laser Looks staff (l-r): Brenda, Sandra, Dr Maytham, Donna, Marcie

Dr. J.C. Maytham

Dr. James C. Maytham is an established Leader in Cosmetic and Laser Medicine. He has pioneered the use of Botox and various Facial Enhancement Filler as well as perfor med more Contour ThreadLift procedures than any other Physician in Ontario.

Dr. Maytham began practicing medicine in 1980. In 1996 his interest veered to the study of Cosmetic Medicine He has successfully completed the requirements in Laser Skin Resurfacing and Rejuvenation, Laser and Med ical Esthetics, Laser and Light Source Hair Removal, Micro-Implant for Soft-Tissue Augmentation, Botox Injections and Vein Treatment.

Dr. Maytham is an active Fellow of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, a member of Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, Canadian Association of Emergency Medicine and Chief of Family Practice at Leamington Hospital

STORY/PHOTOGRAPHY

BY KEVIN MCCABE

I GUESS IT ’S NO SECRET THAT WHEN IT COMES TO CARS, I’m a techy kind of guy. I’m not just interested in how a car looks or how fast it can go, I want to know ‘how’ it goes. What’s the technology behind it? What’s it made of? How does a particular manufacturer go about designing and building their cars? What did the men and women who designed it have in mind when they drew it up? This year at Cobo Hall, the 2015 North American International Auto Show provided me with tons of answers, but left a few questions too

Let’s start with FCA (the company formerly known as Chrysler) The talk of the Mopar buffs has all been about one thing Seven Zero Seven As in horsepower As in 6 2 litres of HEMI supercharged horsepower, marketed under the trade name of Hellcat It is undisputedly “THE” most powerful mass produced engine ever built (spare me the mail about the Bugatti Veyron please) Initially introduced in the two door Dodge Challenger SRT, it’s now also available in the four door Dodge Charger SRT If there were any remaining excuses for getting Dad to drive the kids anywhere, this erases them completely.

I could go on at length about all of the high tech features of this engine, but I’ll be good and limit myself to just one, the supercharger. In the simplest of terms there are two rotary vanes (think the beaters on a mixer) that are fit tightly together (tolerances in tiny fractions of a millimetre) and enclosed tightly in a housing, also with those tiny tolerances. Turn on the mixer and you ’ re gonna create quite the commotion, and that in effect is what the supercharger does, sucks in copious amounts of air, compresses it and it gets directed to all of the cylinders Interestingly, the crankshaft pulley that drives the supercharger is considerably larger than the pulley that drives the air-conditioning compressor, alternator and power steering pump allowing the supercharger to not only spin really quickly, but also get up to speed quickly as well With the amount of horsepower and torque an engine produces dependent on the amount of air that can be jammed into the cylinders, it’s easy to understand how the Hellcat can do what it does

But massive horsepower isn’t the only thing this techy guy is interested in. Over at Ram trucks (formerly known as Dodge), the 1500 series of trucks welcomed its tenth iteration, the Ram Rebel. This crew-cab short box pickup is intended for the Off-Road crowd, with an impressive 10” of ground clearance, 33” tall all terrain tires and most

Left: What 707 horses look like tucked into the engine bay of the 6 2L Dodge Hellcat Hemi™

Top: The Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

impressively of all, an air-ride suspension system. No coil or leaf springs for this bad boy. So whether you prefer pavement or potholes, you’ll definitely be cradled.

Lots of things were going on at Ford too, but three, well, maybe four, really stuck out for me First was the new/old news of the all aluminum bodied F150 pickup We’ve all heard that the truck is all of seven hundred pounds lighter than the outgoing 2014 version, but that weight reduction has all been put back into the capability of the truck Towing with a 2014, you were `limited’ to 11,500 pounds, but that 700 pound diet the 2015 went on has gone among other places, back to the towing ability, now up to 12,250 pounds. That’s over six tons folks, impressive as all get-out for a `half-ton’ pickup. Ford launched these trucks at The Rouge in Dearborn Michigan More on that in a minute Ford collaborated closely not only with the aluminum supplier, but thanks to Alan Mulally’s close ties to Boeing (his old gig), a lot of aircraft construction techniques have been employed in the building of the cab and box Things like laser welding, high-tech adhesives and rivets What I was really surprised to learn was the story of the transformation of the Rouge. The plant’s body shop needed to be completely gutted to install the new equipment required to work with aluminum. Gutting the plant took 72 hours – 3 days. It takes me three days to organize my garage! When the building was bare to the walls, 1100 semi tr ucks (ELEVEN HUNDRED!) were organized to transport the modular components of the new line

Above: The Ford Family of Eco-Boost engines now boasts seven siblings from a 1 0L 3cyl producing 123hp to a 3 5L V6 producing 365hp

Left: Amazing that this little tiny 1 0L cylinder block can turn into 123 horsepower

The automotive world was agape when Chevrolet was able to produce 1hp per cubic inch in the small block V8 of the 1950s This engine by Ford produces 2hp per cubic inch

Below: The new dazzling 2016 Ford GT.

It was about as close as plug ‘ n play gets in the auto industry.

Next up at Ford was the newly introduced 2015 Shelby GT350R. Ever since the Mustang was introduced 51 years ago, guys have tweaked and tuned on these cars to go racing, both in a straight line and on closed circuit road courses The GT350R is a production built road course ready streetable car The emphasis is on road course Not available: Air conditioning, sound system, back seats, spare tire or automatic transmission. In addition to the completely new independent front and rear suspensions with electronic adaptive Magneride, the power from the 5 2L V8 is passed through a six speed manual transmission and on to a Torsen limited slip differential While everyone ’ s talking about the weight savings brought to the F150, the GT350R went on a diet of its own, utilizing huge 19” carbon-fibre wheels,

which in addition to being stronger than any aluminum wheel are thirteen pounds, each, lighter They’re wrapped in unique Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 super sticky tires And speaking of the 5 2L V8, it utilizes a flatplane crankshaft. I spoke with Raj Nair, vice president of product development for Ford who told me that the advantages of this crank are decreased weight and inertia along with faster response from the engine This car absolutely has the Camaro Z28 in its sights.

In talking further with Raj, I asked him what he considered to be the most significant high-tech advances we’d see on the 2015 and upcoming Ford vehicles “Far and away, is our lineup of Eco-Boost engines, the combination of direct injection and turbocharging make for a great combination of power and torque as well as improved fuel economy in small engine packages We’ve also made great strides in terms of connectivity with the introduction of SYNC III, it’s faster, more intuitive and welcomes a host of apps based on our open source programming, plus it’s easily updatable. In terms of autonomous driving, we ’ re getting much closer with adaptive cruise control and lane keeping ” I asked if he thought that fully autonomous vehicles would appear any time soon “Fully autonomous vehicles require enormous computing power, vastly improved reliability to cope with the demands of the automotive environment as well as highly accurate 3D mapping of the area where the vehicle will operated.”

The absolute piece de resistance for Ford this year, though was the news that a new Ford GT would be produced and available as a 2016 model Nair told me that the car body would be entirely of carbon-fibre, including the seating. Aluminum is the material of choice for the front and rear sub frames The mid-ship mounted 3 5L EcoBoost V6 is specially tweaked to produce 600hp It’s interesting to note that the first gen GT introduced in 2005 utilized a 5.4L V8 that produced 550hp. Show goers who visited the Ford stand not only got to see the 2016 Ford GT, but also the very first 2005 Ford GT (owned by CEO Bill Ford) as well as a 1965 Ford GT40. The new Ford GT also proves that being aerodynamically slippery doesn’t mean you’ll be driving a blob Not only is it drop dead gorgeous, it’s Cd (coefficient of drag) is so low, Raj Nair wouldn’t divulge it.

General Motors not to be outdone in the performance arena, introduced it’s new Cadillac CTS-V. This car is a serious ▼

Toronto Construction Association Greener Projects Development Niagara Falls, Ontario

Windsor Commons

Actual Projects

Windsor Downton Missions

Pro Hockey Life

contender for all of the European high performance sedans. Cadillac reached into the Chevrolet par ts bin and snatched the Corvette Z06 6.2L Supercharged V8 which offers up 640 horsepower In keeping with its luxury theme, the Cadillac is available only with an automatic transmission, although there is a manual shift mode A considerably stiffer chassis combined with Magnetic Ride Control and an adjustable traction control system allow the driver to set the car up for street, sport, snow or track use All of the luxury amenities have been retained as well. The Cue infotainment system is present as well as a full suite of safety and parking features.

All this talk of performance is great for those of us who dream of a pedal to the metal daily commute, but General Motors also aims to please the sustainability crowd as well. In this vein, two new vehicles were introduced. First was the redesigned Chevrolet Volt Not only has the styling been upgraded, so has the undercarriage to further reduce aerodynamic drag Improved battery technology now allows the Volt to travel up to 50 miles on pure electric power (12 miles more than the 2015 car) with a battery pack that is 20 pounds lighter and has 96 fewer cells The two electric motors that power the car are now 12% more efficient and weigh 100 pounds less than the original units With a fully charged battery and a full tank of fuel for the range extender 1 5L engine, the car is rated to travel 420 miles rather than the 350 miles of the current car. Any car that can travel farther than my bladder earns my respect

Despite the recent fall of gasoline prices, all manufacturers are still faced with a looming 54.5mpg fuel economy average mandated by the U.S. EPA. Going further in this realm is the newly introduced Chevrolet Bolt (who comes up with these names?), a pure electric vehicle Roughly the size of a Chevrolet Sonic, the car runs solely on battery power and has a maximum range of 200 miles Range anxiety has been one of the biggest drawbacks to pure electric vehicles and General Motors worked hard with this car to dispel that concern. As an urban commuter/errand running vehicle, this car provides the answer to a question more and more people will be asking

The automobile industry embraces nearly every branch of science imaginable, from mechanical to electrical to fluid dynamics. The 2015 North American International Auto Show provided great examples of all of these

Lal Fernando MD, FRCP (C)

Dr Fernando obtained his MD from the Peradeniya Medical School, University of Srilanka and later had training at University of Leeds, U.K. receiving his psychiatry specialist qualifications and his FRCP (C) following training at the Dalhousie University, Halifax. He is the director of the Windsor Adult ADD clinic and the director of the Windsor Memory (Alzheimer) Clinic He is an adjunct professor with the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.

WINDSOR ADULT ADD CLINIC

Adult ADD is a neuro-chemical brain imbalance affecting the transmitter’s dopamine and norepinephrine ADD affects thousands of adult Canadians and the core features can include poor concentration, distractibility, procrastination and the inability to sit still on a lifelong basis resulting in difficulties at school or workplace.

Dr Fernando founded his clinic in 2006 and has successfully treated more than 1,500 patients with medications Patients include students studying Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Engineering, Computer Science, Psychology, Business, Law and others at Windsor, Detroit, London, Maine, California, Poland and elsewhere These students were talented enough to enter the schools but now find the studies intimidating with the ADD impairments. Dr. Fernando’s patients also include older adults, such as teachers, autoworkers, engineers, lawyers, business owners and other professionals who are very successful in life but get frustrated with procrastination and underachievement. Although these people are highly motivated individuals, employers can perceive them as inconsistent and underperforming. Albeit ADD affects mostly the areas of concentration, in about half the people it can also affect the moods, manifesting by way of mood swings and anger, affecting relationships at home and elsewhere

Dr Fernando’s patients mostly have good lifestyles and quite a number of them play hockey, football and other sports Despite these activities and interventions such as counseling and meditation their ADD impairments haven’t resolved Although lifestyle adjustments, relaxation techniques and better planning can help the individual, moderate to severe ADD cannot be controlled without medications

ADD medications are some of the safest in the world since they are used extensively in children and are well tolerated They are never addictive and remain effective on a long-term basis. Ritalin is a short acting older medication, superseded by modern medications such as Adderall, Biphentin, Concerta, Intuniv, Strattera and Vyvanse.

Typically the medications are taken once daily and results may be seen in as early as 10 days and certainly within one month. If there is partial response the dose is then increased.

Dr. Fernando finds the ADD practice most rewarding since these patients are well motivated, fully compliant individuals responding quickly to medications.

ADD symptoms can vary In one person, poor concentration such as having the need to read a paragraph repeatedly to understand can be the predominant problem while in another, procrastination, by postponing tasks can be the main issue In others it could be the inability to follow conversations in office or social settings

In a person who gives a clear uncomplicated history, a diagnosis of ADD can be made within one hour at the very first appointment and medications commenced Interventions such as meditation, yoga, exercise, diet, vitamins, herbs and omega 3 have all made claims to be effective but moderate degrees of ADD do not respond to these

Dr. Fernando has also treated retired patients who have struggled lifelong with untreated ADD, assuming it to be a maladaptive trait or a stress reaction. They are now showing a good response to medications.

WINDSOR MEMORY (ALZHEIMER) CLINIC

The Windsor Memory (Alzheimer) Clinic was founded by Dr Fernando in 2002 to detect and manage early Alzheimer’s disease Patients, mostly in the 60-70 years range, present with memory impairments such as recollecting events 40 years ago but not the previous evening. At times they have difficulties finding a common word as a “ cup ” or “brush” or recollecting names of long-term associates They also can be repetitive to the annoyance of others or they often misplace household items These are the most common presentations in Dr Fernando’s clinic where patients present with early Alzheimer states Moderate and late Alzheimer states where patients also present with mood and behaviour changes with depression, paranoia and confusion cannot be accommodated in this clinic.

Patients can present with Alzheimer’s (brain degeneration) or vascular dementia (poor brain blood flow) or combination of both and the presentation in these groups can be similar except that vascular dementia is associated with a history of high blood pressure, strokes or ministroke (TIA’s) Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is also diagnosed in some patients MCI may lead to dementia and this group is best monitored closely Rarely, deficiencies of thyroid hormone, B12, folate and brain tumors can also lead to dementia As such when indicated lab tests and CT scans of the head will be ordered. Other conditions such as Parkinson’s, anxiety states, depression and others can mimic Alzheimer’s disease and need to be excluded. Medications such as Aricept, Reminyl or Exelon, which can stabilize Alzheimer’s disease are started in relevant patients No medication can reverse the disease but may help to stabilize the memory and moods Some patients may also need sleep agents and mood stabilizers The main objective of treatment is to maintain the quality of life, prolong independence, pursue with memory exercises, avoid falls and be more vigilant with driving

At the initial appointment, which takes one hour or less, patients and caregivers appreciate the workup done with a specific diagnosis given, together with a management plan to help the patient and to relieve caregiver stress.

Dr.

Welcome to Kindergarten!

WHAT IS KINDERGARTEN? A teacher might define it as an introduction to formal education. A parent may say, “It’s a transition from home to school.” Ask the average 4 or 5 year old and they may describe a typical day, walking in the woods, building imaginary cities from blocks, making movies on an iPad or sharing a book with their reading buddies from Grade 5 Regardless of the perspective or interpretation, Kindergarten is important and being ready for it is essential

The high school graduating class of 2029 will be signing up at schools this winter and though 14 years is a considerable chunk of time, none is wasted preparing the youngsters, and their families to be ready to go for that first, first day of school next September

Registration is being held this year February 9 – 20 Visit your designated public school during regular office hours to receive the complete registration package. There are a number of official forms and some documentation is required, but the staff will guide you through it all. They will do their best to make the whole process as smooth and understandable as possible. To find the public school your child should attend, the best approach is to call the Greater Essex County District School Board office at 519-255-3200 If French Immersion is being considered, it’s always a good idea to check because the GECDSB offers that program at nine elementary schools, 4 in Windsor and 5 throughout Essex County

Taking your child, especially the first in the family to reach school age, and launching him or her into a world of new experiences, new people, new friends and new ideas can be dramatic and daunting for some, for others it’s child’s play A lot of the apprehension can be removed by getting acquainted with the school and the people who will soon be friendly and familiar faces.

The Greater Essex County District School Board offers two

scheduled opportunities to visit schools and meet the staff. On Wednesday, February 11th, all 56 elementary schools will be hosting an Open House to provide an introduction to not just the surroundings but the play-based curriculum that will steer their learning for the next year or two and establish their educational foundation You’ll find out that’s possible with building blocks!

GECDSB schools view their annual Open House as a chance to show off Each school provides the same curriculum and resources and has professional, caring staff, but they all have unique ways of expressing their own personalities This will be well reflected at each Open House For months, staff members have been planning to make sure every visitor, parents as well as future students, get a really good first impression of their school There will be lots of necessary information to share, but there will be lots of activities and adventures. Some children – hesitant entering a school for the first time – will be reluctant by having to leave the Open House once all the adult business has been taken care of and it’s time to go home.

But every family registering at a GECDSB school gets a big bag of resources which helps maintain a link to school and remove any lingering anxiety the child or the parents may have about the coming September Each new student gets a copy of the Board’s awardwinning DVD, “Welcome to Kindergarten” which previews what everyone can expect at school For the first time the package will include a copy of the Board’s new song, “Discover Me” Featuring Massey high school student Olivia Ridpath and a host of talented students and staff, the song and the accompanying video aptly depicts the goal of having each child learn and grow and discover their own particular interests and pathway. As well, there’s a CD of age appropriate songs to sing, dance or play along with and a copy of the GECDSB’s own book, “What Did You Do at School Today?”. The book was written and illustrated by GECDSB teachers. It’s a fun and educational story that encourages children to express themselves about their experiences at school.

The Board also has an opportunity for families to get an even better feel for what to expect by sitting in on a Kindergarten class Tuesday, March 31st everyone is invited to “A Day in the Life” at all GECDSB elementary schools from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Join the teachers, support staff and students for part of or the entire day to see what they do

What is Kindergarten? It’s a big step for children and their families The Greater Essex County District School Board does have big plans for your little one. The best thing you can do is be as prepared as possible to take it.

HOROSCOPE

ARIES

MAR 21 - APR 20:

You may find yourself being more cautious than usual Once bit, twice shy could be your new motto A lot going on behind the scenes may cause you to stop and debate whether or not you want to proceed on the path you now tread

TAURUS

APR 21 - MAY 21:

Back up computer files and documents ASAP and make sure your virus detection is up to date. As a Taurus, you probably do that anyway. However, both in your home life and in business there will be distractions that throw you off course. Be patient, focus, and prioritize.

GEMINI

MAY 22 - JUN 21:

There is an old saying from times of war, “Loose lips sink ships!” It means be careful what you say and who you say it to You never really know who might be listening or you may accidentally say the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time Keep your thoughts to yourself

CANCER

JUN 22 - JUL 23:

Set a limit on what you spend and tr y to save some money for a rainy day You are reluctant to ask for help even when you really need it This can create a dilemma when others are afraid to offend you by offering help. You have to meet life in the middle to solve your current situation.

LEO

JUL 24 - AUG 23:

Tr y to remember You cannot please all the people all the time Having respect for others and from them is essential for you Your ability to maintain good relationships is part of who you are You need co-operation from others to carr y on

VIRGO

AUG 24 - SEP 23:

Your mind is in over-drive even more so than usual There is a clash between reality and expectation Probably about 70 percent of things you are worried about will never happen and you will not be able to change some things in your life. Focus on what you can do, not on what you can ’ t.

LIBRA

SEP 24 - OCT 23:

You need to build a solid foundation for a place to rest and renew your sense of security and responsibility Be careful with what you say and do Easier said than done Someone may be tr ying to steal your ideas by using social media to find out where you are and how you got there

SCORPIO

OCT 24 - NOV 22:

Don’t get caught up in other people’s quarrels They will join hands and then turn on you A little bit of practicality goes a long way Ever y day you may feel like you are learning something new, contributing to your store of knowledge That can be good, keeping your mind active

SAGITTARIUS

NOV 23 - DEC 21:

One of your many ventures could turn into an actual reality leading you further down the road to success Make a plan and follow it through, taking it one step at a time Of course, the first step is the hardest part. But, once you have mastered that, the rest comes easy.

CAPRICORN

DEC 22 - JAN 20:

Just when you thought you had seen it all and you could relax, a new experience brings you to attention and back on board The world is a-changing and you are one of the few who can help others live and work with the changes. You make a huge difference in the lives of others.

AQUARIUS

JAN 21 - FEB 19:

A new way, a new day helps you enjoy time spent being more active in pursuing your dreams This is the time to create the lifestyle best suited to meeting your own hopes and expectations Music can play a big role in your life now

PISCES

FEB 20 - MAR 20

A n e w o p p o r t u n i t y c o u l d p a y m a j o r rewards. By living in the here and now, you are likely to be quite successful with a new chapter in your life. Do your research! You may be pleasantly surprised at how much further you get ahead by helping those close to you in mind, spirit and ambition.

BY DAN S NAUTICAL SHOP

DiPietro OWNER

RIDING FOR FITNESS AND THE PURE JOY OF IT

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZISHAN ALI

GET TING FIT AND TONED IS AS EASY as riding a bike Indoors at the new PURECYCLE Spin Studio in Windsor, you can hop on a high-tech stationar y bike and ride for your heart’s health – without dealing with traffic, road construction, air pollution or harsh weather.

"Young people and adults of all ages and fitness levels who stand at least 4’-11” are welcome to ride,” says Renée DiPietro, PURECYCLE owner and instructor.

Seven days a week, spinners are personally greeted when they enter the studio and provided with towels, moist facecloths and bottles of water “Customer ser vice and an extraordinary bike are of paramount importance to us Our Spinner Blade ION™ spin cycles are the best on the market and the most current in development,” Renée says The ION features an innovative power meter that has proven effective in maximizing training efficiency and enhancing fitness and performance for cyclists of all levels

Anita DiMambro, studio coordinator, explains, "As a non-weight bearing exercise, spinning allows ever ybody to enjoy riding Spinning is unique in that it takes place in a group fitness environment, yet you alone are responsible for determining your own path and outcome, based on your personal goals As individuals, we break through our own boundaries and then celebrate together as a community.”

The spin bikes are arranged on a three tiered floor, giving riders a clear view of the instr uctor, a breathtaking wall mural of a mountainside and an 80” screen TV. “Depending on which of the many classes is being led, the screen may reveal music videos or host community charity events that we are dedicated to, ” Renée says. In addition, serious riders can pedal hard in the Tour de France and other races shown

There are also much gentler classes In the It All Starts Here ride, instructors set up rookies’ bikes and introduce them to spinning The Breathe and Ride class is inspired by yoga and designed to release tension

The studio may be lit softly with eco-friendly candles and dimmed lighting for a tranquil experience or glitter under a disco ball during a fun party ride pumping with dance music

Renée, who has been weight training for over 10 years with Dave Orton, owner of Synergy Wellness and Performance, personally took up spinning as a cardio activity to balance her strength and conditioning. Wondering what the top spin studios had to offer, she attended SoulCycle classes in New York and California and was shocked by the overall energy and sense of community that indoor cycling can bring “I knew instantly that I wanted to create that at home in Windsor,” she says

Renée believes she has accomplished that with PURECYCLE Spin Studio “ The community is so supportive People are really intrigued An hour of cardio therapy on the bike two or three times a week enables the spinner to get healthy results safely while having a good time.”

“It's a privilege and an honour to influence and lead our PURECYCLE clients," Anita says. “ With inspiring instructors, great music and a beautiful space, we want our riders to let loose, clear their heads and be inspired to be the ver y best version of themselves "

To ride, people just drop in and pay as they go Current schedules and information about the various rides can be found at purecyclespinstudio com

300 Cabana Rd. E. New Plaza behind Armandos purecyclespinstudio.com info@purecyclespinstudio.com

Renée

FEBRUARY

Monday, 2

EXTREME OUTDOOR PAINTING/SKETCHING

Windsor & Essex County Plein Air Society meets year round to paint outside at locations announced to members via email and Facebook Ne w members are welcome to join the 10 am gathering on Feb. 2nd. PaintPleinAir@gmail.com.

Saturday, 7

HIPS FOR HEARTS, AN EVENING OF DANCE

Sisters in Dance is hosting an evening of dance to celebrate Valentine’s Day and suppor t the Hear t and Stroke Foundation Doors open at 7 pm The show is at 8 pm, followed by open dancing at the Knights of Columbus South Windsor, 2401 Columbus Dr , Windsor A single ticket is $10; a pair is $15 A portion of the proceeds will support the foundation’s Hear t Month campaign 519-560-1613

Friday, 13 EMERALD BALL

Irish eyes will be smiling at the second annual Emerald Ball, held to raise funds to send 10 local Irish dancers to compete in the World Irish Dance Competition in Montreal Star ting at 6:30 pm at the Caboto Club, 2175 Parent Ave , Windsor, the ball’s festivities include dinner, silent auction, deejay and an Emerald Isle Dance Society performance Tickets are $35 each farrahrene@hotmail.com.

Saturday, 14

BE MINE VALENTINE DINNER & DANCE FOR THE HOSPICE

Love is in the air at the Be Mine Valentine Dinner & Dance in benefit of the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County Doors open at 6 p m at St Angela Merici Hall, 750 Erie St. E., Windsor. Live entertainment will be per formed by Gino’s Market Band, Los Mambo’s and Primo & Secondo Tickets are $40 each 519-251-2576

Friday, 20

2015 POWER OF POTENTIAL YOUTH CONFERENCE

Hosted by the University of Windsor - Faculty of Education’s LEAD program, the 2015 Power of Potential Youth Conference provides workshops, information booths and speakers to educate local high schools students about pathways to successful futures. The keynote speaker is former Windsor Lancer’s decathlete Jamie Adjetey-Nelson

WINDSOR REGIONAL HOSPITAL CANCER PROGRAM

Life After Cancer with RENEW Education and Exercise Program

After fighting cancer with everything she had, Lori Mayrand felt off balance when her medical team gave her the happy news that she had won the battle Her euphoria over the end of chemo and protein treatments was overshadowed by worry that cancer might return “It’s always there and your biggest concern is keeping it away There is a fear there,” she says

Fortunately, the Windsor Regional Hospital’s Cancer Program launched RENEW in October 2013. It provides information, education and fitness to survivors of all types of cancer Intrigued, Lori registered

In the free RENEW Education Program spread over four evenings, she and other cancer survivors learned valuable information from program facilitators and from one another. Experts explained next steps in the cancer journey, including screening, prevention and potential long term side effects A Genetic Counselor instr ucted patients in drawing their family tree and discovering what cancer means for their families. A Social Worker discussed relationships, back-to-work planning and sexuality A Registered Dietitian talked about healthy eating, nutrition and common myths about food and cancer. A Registered Physiotherapist taught the benefits of physical activity

The program also offered opportunity for Lori to talk with people who had experiences similar to her own. The Windsorite discovered RENEW is “like a form of therapy. It gives you something to hold onto ”

Next came the 10 week RENEW Exercise Program, led by certified professionals from Windsor Squash & Fitness in collaboration with the Windsor Regional Hospital Cancer Program and the University of Windsor Faculty of Human Kinetics

Physical trainers and yoga instructors directed the group in exercises, encouraging the cancer survivors to start off easy and work their way up as strength returned. “A cancer diagnosis shakes the foundations,” Lori says The disease, surgery and treatments take their toll on the body, eroding normal capabilities and often leaving in their place lymphedema, tingling in the feet and fingertips and other issues. There are also emotional effects to deal with The RENEW Exercise Program helps counteract them all as participants oxygenate their bodies, build endurance and become empowered.

“It makes you feel good,” Lori says simply. “The program gives you a focus You can deal with everything better than being out there on your own ” The retired teacher believes RENEW “brings back confidence and a normal way of living.” Lori now volunteers in the program “I really feel I can add to it because I’ve had experience ”

Another RENEW participant, Diane Marley, finished her last radiation treatment in August, 2013 and wondered what to do next “I was in a really bad way, ” the Kingsville homemaker says She joined RENEW, despite her nervousness. To her delight, other participants cheered her on and exchanged practical advice. The shared commonality “gives you a sense of relief ”

The RENEW Exercise Program “made all the difference in the world to me, ” says Diane She is now enrolled in her third RENEW program and is part of the RENEW committee, helping influence the program as it responds to participants’ needs.

“Beating cancer is a true success story, but adding the merits of a healthy lifestyle will take your success to an even higher level,” says Dr Ken Schneider, Chief of Oncology at Windsor Regional Hospital

For more information about RENEW or to register, please call 519-254-5577, ext. 52800 or email renew@wrh.on.ca

Exercise Program

Cost: $40. Classes take place at Windsor Squash & Fitness Club. Space is limited. Registration is required.

Life Af ter Cancer Educational S eries

Classes are Thursdays 6-7:30PM at Windsor Regional Hospital, Met Campus. All are FREE to attend and family members are welcome. Registration is required.

Par t I: Sur viving, Now What?

Winter Series: Jan. 29, 2015 / Spring Series: April 9, 2015

• Moving to life after treatment

• Dealing with effects of treatment

• Returning to emotional and sexual health

• Preventing recurrence or new cancers

Par t III: Be Ac tive, Be Healthy

Winter Series: Feb. 19, 2015 / Spring Series: April 23, 2015

• Getting back to active life

• Feel good from fitness

• Activity and exercise for people after cancer

Par t II: Eating for a Healthy Life

Winter Series: Feb. 12, 2015 / Spring Series: April 16, 2015

• Dealing with effects of treatment on your eating

• Myths about food & cancer

• Benefits of nutrition and healthy eating

• Foods that make a difference

Par t IV: Cancer & Your Family Tree

Winter Series: Feb. 26, 2015 / Spring Series: April 30, 2015

• Cancer and my family

• Benefits of Genetic Counselling

• Your family tree and what it says about cancer

To register, please c all 519-254-5577 x 52800 or renew@wrh.on.c a

Recently Nick Bibic of Rotar y Club of Windsor (1918) chaired and co-ordinated a dedicated group of Rotarians to put on a fundraiser to raise money to help eradicate the highly infectious disease Polio Mike Brkovich of Walker ville Brewer y along with Rotarians Mike Drake, Karen Ming y, Sue Byron and Maureen Lucas all made significant impact and contribution to help raise $4,262 60 which when matched 2:1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grows to $12,787 80 saving 21,313 children from this debilitating Polio disease

The conference starts at 9 am at the Faculty of Education, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor. sos@uwindsor ca

Saturday, 21

CHINESE NEW YEAR GALA

Sponsored by St Clair College, the Chinese Association of Greater Windsor is hosting its annual Chinese Ne w Year Gala at the St Clair College Centre for The Ar ts A 10 course Chinese banquet dinner will be ser ved at 5 pm Chinese costumes, music, song, dancing, games, art displays and more will help usher in the Year of the Goat. Tickets for the family event can be purchased at cagw ca

ESSEX TRAIN SHOW

Till 22 The 18th annual Essex Train Show delivers interactive fun and exhibits for families and hobbyists Southwestern Ontario’s largest train show is hosted by the Essex Train Station/Heritage Essex Inc. from 9 am to 3 pm at Essex District High School, 244 Talbot St N Admission is $4 and up Kids under 3 enter free. 519-776-9800.

“We live in community

people shine on day to day bases by stepping up and showing in various ways that they care,” said Bibic He was recentl y recognized b y Ontario Honors and Awards Secretariat and given the milled stone of Ontario Volunteer Ser vice Award

Monday, 23

CUPCAKE DAY FOR WINDSOR/ESSEX COUNT Y HUMANE SOCIET Y

Bakers and animal lovers are asked to bake a difference for animals in need during the third annual National Cupcake Day Anyone can share cupcakes and collect donations in suppor t of the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society by registering for free at nationalcupcakeday ca A Cupcake Day host kit will arrive by post MARCH

Saturday, 7

PUSH-UPS FOR POVERT Y Push-Up Heroes will be pushing away hunger for people who depend on the Windsor Essex Unemployed Help Centre and Food Bank Participants are encouraged to get their own sponsors who will pay $1 per push-up to a maximum of 50 push-ups completed by an adult or 25 push-ups by a kid within one hour Money raised stays within Windsor-Essex County The help centre can provide sponsor forms for the event that starts at 1 pm at the WFCU Centre, 8787 McHugh St., Windsor. Details are on Facebook

SUGAR SHACK WINTER CARNIVAL

The sap is running which means sweet fun for the whole family during the Sugar Shack Winter Carnival S’mores, hot chocolate and make your own toffee can be burned off with floor hockey. Face painting, live music and more star t at 10 am, Rochester Place Golf Club & Resor t, 981 County Rd 2, Belle River. 519-728-2361, ext. 8.

Author Dr Michael Akpata

LIFE BEHIND THE MASK

The Legacy of Doctor Michael Akpata

STORY/PHOTOGRAPHY BY DICK HILDEBRAND

FROM THE EARLY DAYS growing up in his native Nigeria, Michael Akpata knew he wanted to be a doctor

The native of Benin City grew up in an affluent home In fact before he left home to come to Canada, his father insisted that his 18 year-old son travel in a “three-piece suit because, as a university student, I was to be a model for both my family and my country. In those days, this was common attire and a hallmark of a university student in Nigeria.” The country only had one university called the University College of Ibadan and was patterned after London University in England so as Doctor Akpata states “it was a privilege and an honor to be admitted for training there ” However, he had other ideas and wanted to study abroad – either in England or more preferably in

North America In the end, he chose the University of Alberta in Edmonton even though most of his classmates and relatives went to Britain for postgraduate or university training But why Alberta: as he candidly says, “ a province in Canada with unusual names like Crow’s Nest Pass, Kicking Horse Pass and Medicine Hat aroused my spirit of adventure.”

Described by his peers as a ‘ true gentleman and an excellent surgeon ’ , Doctor Akpata has retired from full-time practice but has left behind his legacy which is contained in an autobiography aptly titled “Life Behind The Mask a Surgeon’s Memoir” At 136 pages, the book takes the reader on a very detailed personal and professional journey of a humble man who was at the forefront of a number of

major medical breakthroughs including the development of laser surger y, surgical stap l i n g , m i n i m a l l y i n v a s i v e s u r g e r y a n d advanced laparoscopic surger y in Windsor and other centres

Doctor Akpata methodically chronicles his years of residency in Alberta and relates a number of humorous incidents one involving a unique operation performed on a young man after a night of drinking with a female companion Without going into too much detail, as the man was undergoing repairs a police officer ran into the e m e r g e n c y d e p a r t m e n t a n d a s Do c t o r Akpata writes; “He said to the nurse in charge....when we went to investigate this incident, we found these two round objects on the floor and we placed them in a plastic bag.” Want to know more? Get a copy of the book and read the rest of the stor y

After spending 13 years in the Canadian West, Doctor Akpata decided it was time to apply to hospitals in other parts of the c o u n t r y i n c l u d i n g Gr a c e i n To r o n t o , O a k v i l l e a n d O t t a w a How e v e r, t h e re weren ’ t enough beds available to new members of the surgical staff, so one of the surgeons in the nation’s capital, suggested that “ my best option was to go to Windsor because he had heard that additional surgeons were required there and also that there were three other hospitals to choose from. I thanked him and decided to take h i s a d v i c e t o e x p l o re t h e f a c i l i t i e s i n Windsor As we drove along Riverside Drive,” he recalls, “I loved it it was beautiful and I said oh yeah, this is nice – I’m going to stay here ”

Over the last 36 years, in spite of having privileges in all four hospitals, most of his w o r k w a s d o n e a t Wi n d s o r We s t e r n Hospital and to some extent at Hôtel Dieu. After amalgamation of the hospitals, he worked strictly at the Hôtel Dieu – Grace site. And over the years, adding to his hectic schedule, he attended intensive care courses but mostly endoscopy and surgical updates especially regarding advances in laparoscopy in Canada, the United States and Europe

‘Life Behind the Mask’ is one of those rare books that will appeal to both doctors and nurses and the average reader among us It could provide those in the medical profession with a different perspective on their careers and shows the rest of us how tough things can be in medicine and the sacrifices that are made by doctors. We’re able to see the positive aspects of successful surger y and the heartbreak when things go

wrong. Doctor Akpata tells it all. He writes a b o u t a c o n ve r s a t i o n h e h a d w i t h a n American surgeon who suggested that his Canadian counterpart must be ver y rich, given his extensive credentials to which Doctor Akpata replied: “for ever y dollar that I make, 39 cents goes to running my office and the remaining 61 cents is taxed at the rate of 50% by our government The balance is mine to spend to take care of my household and car expenses, life insurance and retirement savings We shook hands and parted company while he walked away shaking his head.”

Today Doctor Akpata is out of the fulltime practice of medicine, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be growing old in his rocking chair. He intends to continue helping people and has considered teaching at the University of Windsor’s medical facility something he’ll be checking into in the near future In the meantime, he’s making up lost time with his children and grandchildren and continues to spend time at his home in Barbados where he has enjoyed hospital privileges over the years Again, the full stor y is contained in his book

Reasonably priced at $25, ‘Life Behind the Mask’ can be bought at Biblioasis, From the Heart, Chapters in the Devonshire Mall, Coles in the Tecumseh Mall, the University of Windsor bookstore, Juniper Books and on-line at blackmosspress.com a n d a t a m a z o n c a In c i d e n t a l l y, t h e Windsor based Black Moss Press published the book

Over the years Doctor Akpata has gained a great deal of respect for the city of Windsor which he at one time considered to be a blue collar town which made cars Today, he’s a fan of the city’s cultural side having become a fan of the symphony orchestra and of the offerings of local community theatre....not to mention long, leisurely walks along Riverside Drive.

A devout Christian, he has become much more involved with his church and c re d i t s a c l o s e m e d i c a l c o l l e a g u e f o r encouraging him to attend ser vices as a way of helping to relieve stress in his life His passions are simple – work, family, religion, classical music and politics His philosophy on medicine was something he practiced ever y minute of ever y day during his working life “I worked morning, noon and night,” he says, adding ” my profession was not designed for financial reward but rather to look after the sick. The talents we have as doctors or surgeons should not prioritize money over helping to save lives.”

Why is saving for retirement and Sun Life Financial's "Money for Life" concept so relevant in 2015?

Retirement planning has always been relevant using sound savings, tax minimization and investment principles However, it is dramatically more relevant now than ever With more than one thousand Canadian baby boomers per day crossing the age of 65, significantly increasing life expectancy and company and government pensions being strained, the burden for Canadians to plan for their own retirement is more important than ever Canadians have significant personal retirement goals which may include travel, a time share, a cottage or endless other possibilities. Canadians will need guaranteed income streams to cover their basic needs throughout retirement. In addition, they will need additional flexibility to ensure they can cover their lifestyle needs early in retirement..... and their long term health care needs as they age. Often, estate and legacy planning are also important considerations

What is the most common way to save for retirement?

RRSP's (Registered Retirement Savings Plans) have long been utilized to build wealth for retirement For 2014, the government allows 18% of annual income to a maximum of $24,270 If investors have unused contribution room, that carr y for ward amount can also be utilized RRSP's allow the investor to save for retirement, while tax deducting their contributions The deadline for 2014

contributions is March 2, 2015. RRSP contributions will grow tax sheltered until withdrawal RRSP's can be invested in various options including Mutual Funds, Segregated Funds, GIC's, Annuities and individual securities In retirement, Canadians typically convert RRSP's into RRIF's (Registered Retirement Income Funds) The government requires this conversion to a minimum income stream prior to December 31st after the investor's 71st birthday RRSP and RRIF redemptions will be treated as income for tax purposes

What are some other considerations for retirement planning?

Tax-free savings accounts ( TFSA's) allow Canadians to save up to $5,500 per year and withdraw these savings in the future, tax-free. Non-registered investments will typically have significant tax consequences including interest, dividends and capital gains. Commonly, corporate class funds and T-Class allow tax sheltered growth and taxefficient income streams. Payout annuities can provide guaranteed income for life. Critical Illness and Long Term Care planning can ensure health issues don't evaporate retirement assets A Corporate Retirement Strategy may allow business owners a tax-free retirement income Estate planning will ensure money transfers in an efficient manner to loved ones Legacy planning will also provide tax efficient strategies to leave money to important charitable causes Talk to a Sun Life Financial advisor to see how these strategies may be relevant for you

P R E S S P A S S

FROM THE VAULT

DAN WELLS IS A CHATHAM NATIVE who had intended merely to “ pass through Windsor” after completing his studies at the University of Windsor That was back in 1991 After earning his masters degree at the University of Western Ontario in London he returned here and 10 years ago, he organized Biblioasis a publishing and book-selling company that grew from a relatively small operation in Emeryville to its current location at Wyandotte and Gladstone in Windsor It’s already placed 130 books on the market and claimed numerous literary awards Needless to say, Dan, his wife and three children still live in the area – with no intentions of moving.

Over the years, Dan had collected a series of images from the city’s past, with the intention of one day assembling a book..... “ a small oblong publication of about 200 pages. ” In early 2013,after receiving permission from the Star’s Editor-in-Chief Marty Beneteau, he kept returning to the paper

which had a regular on-line feature titled ‘From the Vault’ and began digging through its photo archives located above the newsroom. As Dan continued sifting through those photographs, he realized “the richness of it and all of a sudden you have 10,000 or 12,000 photographs” He began working on a new book, quickly realizing that he had undertaken a Herculean task, so he invited Star staff writer Craig Pearson to supply the words – the end collaboration being a magnificent volume portraying the city’s history up to the year 1950

Pearson, who is the Star’s city hall reporter, is from Montreal and like Dan had also intended to be in the city for a few years. He completed his Masters degree at the University of Windsor and joined the e Star in 1990, a job he thought would last a few years However, as he became more settled, he married a Windsor girl, bought a house and became a father His mother even moved here from Montreal and the family has become part of the local fabric

With Dan assembling the pictures and writing the cutlines and Craig researching and writing introductions for the chapters, ‘From The Vault’ is a 456 page, hard-cover coffee table book containing at least 1100 pictures, more than 80,000 words, and historical ads and maps telling Windsor`s story from about 1860 to 1950.

Volume 2, incidentally, is in the works for a probable release in 2016 and given the advancements in photo journalism, expect the visuals to be dramatically different from the first edition

At $39.95, ‘From The Vault’ is a bargain with the authors hoping it’ll be in everybody’s house It’s available at Biblioasis on Wyandotte Street, Juniper Books and From the Heart on Ottawa Street, Indigo, Coles, the University of Windsor bookstore, Cindy’s in Kingsville and at the Windsor Star.

Appropriately, the book was launched before a capacity crowd in the Windsor Star’s state-of-the-ar t ne wsroom on Ouellette Avenue downtown In addition to the refreshments, guests were treated to the superlative vocal stylings of Crissi Cochrane.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words ‘From The Vault’ is a perfect example of the adage...and should be considered a must read for anyone seeking the facts about Windsor Well-written, reasonably priced and visually exciting, the book is a worthwhile addition to any library and as Craig Pearson so succinctly put it “Windsor has a great story to tell!”

WLM

Your Exper t Team

When You’re Ready to Take Control of Your Finances

AT THE START OF EVERY NEW YEAR, many people declare they are finally going to get serious about their personal money matters However, “financial planning is often the first broken promise, just behind losing weight,” finds Paul Thompson, Personal Financial Planner and the Branch Manager of Libro Credit Union in Kingsville

Assisting members with wealth management, Paul sees the sense of satisfaction and relief that people gain after they sit down with him and adopt a fresh outlook on their financial situation

“The first thing we help people realize is that to our credit union, every dollar is important. We treat our clients’ money as though it is their last dollar,” Paul says.

Eliminating debt, funding a new home, a child’s education, retirement or the trip of a lifetime: Every goal requires cash. “I deal in $5 to $500,000 increments and everything in between. Even putting a few dollars away each week can help you realize your dreams much sooner ”

A common misconception among people in significant debt or with no savings is that they don’t have enough resources to earn the attention of a qualified financial planner “What has happened has happened It’s in the past We can help you break free of the financial rut Let’s move forward together,” Paul assures

As a credit union, Libro offers all the products and services that major banks do – including access to insurance products through trusted partners. “Conservative saving investments, term deposits, GICs, mutual funds, RRSPs, tax free savings accounts and other products are all available at Libro Credit Union, the second largest credit union in Ontario,” Paul says.

Unlike banks, the people who entrust their money to the credit union are not clients, they are members. At Libro, members are known as Owners Every person has a say in who directs Libro Credit Union and shares in its profits, which stay local To join the credit union, Libro traditionally required a $50 membership fee per new member over the age of 25 “Right now, Libro will cover the new Owner fee plus, through our “$50 2 Give” program, we will make a $50 contribution to any charity of the Owner’s choice,” Paul says “It is in keeping with Libro’s stance on prosperity and social responsibility in southwestern Ontario, where we live and work ”

To help Owners enjoy a little more of their own prosperity in 2015, Libro Credit Union is continuing its pre-authorized savings contribution plan offer. “You commit to contributing every month to your RRSP and/or TFSA account for the next 11 months and

Libro will contribute up to $50 per Owner on the twelfth month,” says Paul Coupled with Libro’s no service fee policy on these types of accounts, “it’s an excellent way of building one ’ s retirement or tax free savings account ”

Recognizing that people are busy, Paul makes himself available during and after Libro branch hours, including Saturday, to discuss financial planning Paul and other Libro branch managers are part of a strong, experienced team, collaborating with Anne Lecours of Credential Financial Strategies/Credential Securities Inc

Credential is cooperatively owned by many credit unions nationally. “We are a full service brokerage with 1,300 advisors working across Canada for the benefit of credit union members,” Anne explains. Credential operates as Libro’s wealth management department, providing members with many investment solutions. It is also duly licensed to offer disability; critical illness; and term, whole life and universal insurance.

Anne meets one on one with the Owner to understand his or her goals and aspirations and build a relationship over subsequent meetings “No account is too small or too large We don’t charge a fee to meet with the Owner or to create or reinvigorate a plan,” she says

The custom plan will be as unique as the Owner, perhaps including a mortgage, loans, investments and insurance, provided through Credential and Libro Credit Union

“Many people are concerned about having enough to retire on and wondering if their retirement income will last,” Anne finds. Longer life spans, adult children residing at home for extended periods, volatility in the money markets, personal debt loads and other realities also contribute to people’s uncertainty about their financial present and future.

Providing exceptional, transparent client care, Anne makes certain the Owner understands the financial plan and feels comfortable with it “In order to grow the Owner’s wealth and preserve it, we have to start somewhere,” Anne says “We build a roadmap to guide Owners on their financial path Then we keep meeting regularly with Owners, when markets are good and when they are difficult, to ensure the plan is on track ”

“Though it is never too late to improve your money matters, this is the best time of year to look at your financial state and take control,” Paul says. “We’re ready when you are!”

Bottom line, Owners who work with Credential and Libro Credit Union advising and investing their money, gain peace of mind and help achieve financial goals and well-being.