Windsor Life Magazine Holiday 2023

DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTIAL MAILBOXES IN WINDSOR/ESSEX CHATHAM/KENT

SAHARA ADVENTURE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME

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COMMUNITY STRENGTH THE BENEFITS OF SHOPPING LOCAL

Language

of Music

CHRISTINE VANDERKOOY HAS A PASSION FOR PIANO

TURN FOR OUR FEATURED AGENT

ALEX MEREBY

A TSUNAMI IS COMING! A Tsunami is coming—to the Canadian real estate market. Real estate broker, Alex Mereby wants to guide people on how to ride the wave.

“The Canadian government has instituted various measures to ‘help’ the Canadian housing market,” Alex explains. “They have raised interest rates and banned foreign investors for two years, starting January 1st, 2023 to January 1st 2025. The result has been scandal, resignations, and walking back certain policies. In the end, they have not helped the average Canadian home buyer.”

Far from being pessimistic, Alex sees great opportunities in the real estate market. Part of his advice for home buyers might be a struggle now with timing; however, they must act now.

“There are people in my profession who are saying we’re having a real estate crash just because the market has corrected itself,” Alex continues. “We’re not having a crash. Sometimes it’s a ‘sellers’ market’ and other times it’s a ‘buyers’ market.’ Right now, we find ourselves in a buyers’ market. It’s the same as the stock market with it’s ‘bull market’ and ‘bear market.’”

He continues: “If you bought a house for $200,000 in 2019 and saw its value rise to $500,000 in 2021, but it’s now worth $400,000 that’s not a loss. You’re still ahead in equity value and still ahead of the game!”

Alex’s advice is to buy now because on January 1, 2025, when the ban is lifted, we will see great activity in the Canadian real estate market from foreign resources given the unfortunate global events.

“Builders are building less,” Alex says. “The cost of building exceeds retail prices. I predict that in 2024 we see the government reduce interest rates.

So, what should Canadian home buyers do right now? Get into the market!”

People say to Alex, however: “Alex, I can’t qualify for a mortgage! Nobody will consider my application!”

“Get a co-signer,” Alex says.

“Co-own with friends, with family members, or even an acquaintance. Your name goes on the title and on the mortgage as a fifty percent owner. Once the value of your property increases, then you can cash out your equity and use the proceeds of these funds towards a home of your own. By the time that money comes in from foreign sources this opportunity will be long gone.”

It is a radical idea, but it’s rooted in long experience with the market, particularly in the Greater Windsor/Essex housing market and its future anticipated growth through government funded projects.

“I’d rather be more of an advisor than an agent,” Alex says. “I advise my clients, I educate them. I see opportunities everywhere and I’d love to see my clients succeed.”

One thing Alex makes clear: he doesn’t want to help people.

“I don’t want to help you,” he says, “I want to build you—build your wealth, build your knowledge through real estate investment.”

Buy a property, once you capitalize on that equity, take that out and buy another property. Yes, that means multiple commitments, but when the market takes another swing, your gains will be multiplied across the number of properties you own.”

Sometimes it takes the hard-to-swallow idea to get over the hump. Alex has been there. He has seen the market’s ups and downs. He watches the headlines and the trend lines.

Interested in talking to Alex? Find him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/alexmereby/ where it lists his business hours as “Always open.”

“ I want to build

you—build your wealth, your real estate portfolio.

”

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leave the little light on

HOLIDAY 2023 VOLUME 31, ISSUE 1

1 1 1 Karen Tinsley

PUBLISHER/EDITOR Robert E. Robinson CONTRIBUTING Matthew St. Amand WRITERS

1 Michael Seguin 1 Alley L. Biniarz 1 Ryan Percy

1 ART DIRECTOR1 Michael Pietrangelo PRODUCTION 1 George Sharpe PHOTOGRAPHERS1 John Liviero,

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Carol Garant

by Sonia Palleck

1 Sooter’s Photography 1 Michael Pietrangelo 1 Frank Michael Photography 1 Bohuang.ca 1 Donald Lee 1 Suede Productions 1 Cealy Tetley Photography 1

ADVERTISING SALES 519-979-5433 VICE PRESIDENT ADVERTISING SALES

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Sonia Palleck was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario and has been an orthodontist for the past 25 years. During the pandemic, her life took an unexpected turn early one morning: “A man’s voice from outside my consciousness said to me: ‘It’s time to write.’”

Leave the Little Light On follows the character of Athena from childhood to her 50s through a life full of trials and tribulations but ultimately unveils a true love story for humanity.

The first three books of the series are currently available for purchase on Amazon.ca They are also available in these Windsor and surrounding area bookstores: Biblioasis Indigo Devonshire Mall River Bookshop in Amherstburg

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Windsor Life Magazine is published by Campbell McGregor Garant Publishing Incorporated. Articles and art may not be reprinted without written per­mission from the publishers.

The publishers assume no responsibility to return unsolicited editorial or graphic material. Windsor Life Magazine is a registered trademark of Campbell McGregor Garant Publishing Incorporated, Suite 318-5060 Tecumseh Road East, Windsor, Ontario N8T 1C1. Telephone (519) 979-5433, Fax (519) 979-9237. All rights reserved. ISSN 11955694.

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

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Season’s Greetings During this Holiday Season and throughout the year, we extend our thanks to our community and wish you all the best.

Sincerely, Alok Tomar

Don Harris

Cameron Sinclair

Julie Charrette

Jayson Bastien

John Atkinson

Matthew Sears

Chris Horovenko

Diane Santing

Dean Doster

LaSalle 519 969 3825

Riverside East 519 944 9080

LaSalle Centre 519 969 3825

Windsor St. Rose 519 945 6165

LaSalle 519 969 3825

Tecumseh Rd. at Norman 519 944 2971

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Colin Duggan Belle River 519 727 1041

Jennifer Johnson South Windsor 519 969 1419

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South Windsor 519 972 6389

Dennis McDonald Kingsville 519 733 6186

Member - Canadian Investor Protection Fund

MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY DINING EXPERIENCE A NIGHT TO REMEMBER Indulge in an unforgettable evening. Feast on our wide array of delectable menu selections at Neros Steakhouse, paired with our award-winning wine list overseen by our in-house sommelier, and desserts crafted by our dedicated pastry chef. Then, complete your night with headline entertainment at The Colosseum. From legendary artists to headline comedians, we have everything you need to make your holiday party experience, one to remember.

BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY AND PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS AT CAESARSWINDSOR.COM PlaySmart. 1-866-531-2600 ConnexOntario Problem Gambling Services. Must be 19 years of age or older to enter the casino and all other outlets or to attend performance. Caesars Windsor reserves the right to cancel or alter/change a performance without prior notice. Those who have been trespassed from Caesars Windsor and/or self-excluded from any OLG or Caesars property are not eligible to attend Caesars Windsor or related outlets, participate in promotions or redeem offers. The Caesars brand and related trademarks are owned by Caesars License Company, LLC and its affiliated companies. Used with permission.

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ON THE COVER Pianist Christine Vanderkooy discusses her latest album, what it takes to be a musician, and the journey that led her here.

Photography by bohuang.ca See page 20

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DEPARTMENTS 40

BON APPETIT!

FEATURES 20

A PASSION FOR PIANO

36

The Inner Workings Behind Being a Professional Performer 26

SAHARA DESERT ADVENTURE

A CHRISTMAS CHALET

Making Your Dream Home a Winter Wonderland

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43

SHAPING THE FUTURE

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Contemporary, Inspiring, Proactive 46

DYNAMIC NEW SPACES

The Unveiling of the Re-imagined Ron W. Ianni Law Building

BENEFITS OF SUPPORTING LOCAL

A Meaningful Way to Strengthen the Community

Suede Productions Delivers Big-Budget Movie Produced in the City

Windsor Couple Travels Halfway Around the World 30

DEPRAVED MIND

ATHLETES ON THE WORLD STAGE

Going for the Gold at the Pan American Games 57

INSPIRATIONAL STORIES

Documenting the Extraordinary Lives of Those We’ve Lost

IN HONOUR OF THE ONES WE LOVE ALONG WITH PRESENTING SPONSOR

PRESENTS....

IN CELEBRATION OF

y a D r e c an C World

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2024 at Ciociaro Club 6 pm Hors d’oeuvres | 7 pm Dinner MASTERS OF CEREMONY

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The Holidays! A magical time of the year.

A time when many in our community celebrate with family and friends. And our community has much to celebrate.

The growth that we are experiencing is unlike anywhere else. This growth didn’t come through luck…it came through the dedication and skills shown by so many. I can’t think of another region that has developed a workforce with such ethics that the world pays attention to and develops industry around.

Yes, being geographically aligned in the hub of the continent has undoubtedly helped. Our proximity to the busiest international border crossings has helped. Having community and government leaders who have ensured significant infrastructure and manufacturing investment has helped. But it is the people who have grown to be known for their dedication to their chosen craft that has put our community in the uppermost sights of decision makers. When it comes to changing the complexion of the industrial world, starting with a proven workforce must be high on the list of requirements.

So, this Holiday Season, celebrate those of us and those before us who made this region the best of the best in the industrial world.

If you haven’t explored our community recently, do so. The changes are amazing and constant.

Our area has one of the most diverse workforces in the world. Windsor, Essex County and Chatham/Kent are blessed with many people from many walks of life, countries, religions and customs which, blended together, makes this area so special. This may also be why our area is so generous. We look out for each other. Our charitable giving is some of the highest in the country.

In supporting each other, let’s celebrate those who work every day to support the community. The retail workers, hospitality workers and those in the medical sector and all other walks of life who dedicate their lives to making our lives well worth living. Support them. It is easy to do. Thank a frontline worker today. Simply walk into their place of business or employment. It is an amazing feeling. That of getting out in the world again.

Happy Holidays.

Bob Robinson

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Christine Vanderkooy A Pianist’s Tale on How to Truly Listen To the Intentions Behind Music STORY BY ALLEY L. BINIARZ / PHOTOGRAPHY BY BOHUANG.CA

Photo by Donald Lee Opposite: Pianist Christine Vanderkooy. Top: During the recording session for Christine’s first album Schubert and Schumann, playing “Yolande”, the 9-foot Hamburg Steinway piano in Rolston Recital Hall, Banff Centre for the Arts. Photo by Donald Lee. Above: Cover art of Christine’s latest album. Photo by bohuang.ca.

Christine feels privileged to be in her current position with the University of Windsor. “I increasingly feel the importance of carrying on the great traditions of pedagogy I have been privileged to be a part of and to honour my teachers’ profound legacies of shaping musicians and shaping lives.” She is also grateful for the autonomy that this career offers her; Christine is able to work at her own pace, allowing her the flexibility to be with her children while also maintaining a life at the piano. Through her career,

s

TO SPEAK WITH PIANIST Christine Vanderkooy is to immediately feel her love of music radiating from her being. The artist has recently released her second recorded album, Schubert: Late Piano Works distributed by Leaf Music Distribution, and shares with us the process of what it took to record music over the last few years, what it takes to be a musician, and the journey that led her here.

Christine began taking piano lessons at a young age. “My parents recall the story and apparently I expected to play all over the keyboard after my first lesson,” she laughs. “With my two thumbs stuck on middle C, they figured they should give it a couple of years before we tried again.”

She started back up at age eight, which in hindsight is late for kids to begin an instrument.

“Now I wasn’t always keen to sit at the piano,” she recounts. “My mom tells the story that she had to get out the egg timer during practice.” Like most children, Christine needed a little nudge to keep at it, but eventually the piano became part of the fabric of her being.

“I feel in a way like my vocation chose me,” Christine shares about her decision to study music. Christine’s musical journey took her to complete her undergraduate degree at Wilfrid Laurier University and a doctorate in Piano Performance at McGill University, where she took a look at the careers around her and what would be possible with a degree in music. As much as she loved performing, she wanted more stability than performing could offer. Looking at her devoted professors, it quickly became clear to her that she also wanted to teach music.

“I have always been passionate about teaching as a natural extension of the wonderful teaching I have received. I’ve been so fortunate in my life to have teachers whose love of music and ability to share profound insights into its inner workings have shaped my relationship with the piano,” she says.

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Christine has also performed as a soloist with the Windsor Symphony as well as across Canada, the US and Europe.

Her first recorded album took place in 2014 with this second coming to fruition in 2020 when concerts were canceled. Christine’s recording took place at the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto where she had the absolute honour of playing on “Bertha”, a nine-foot New York Steinway. “It was dead quiet. The streets were empty, which was an extraordinarily eerie and magical time. I was alone in the big hall, where it was just me and the music,” she shares more about the process.

Christine met her producer Mark Willsher when they were students at the BANFF Centre for the Arts. She knew when she was looking to record music that her art would be safe in Mark’s capable hands. Christine describes Mark as focused, relaxed, knows what needs to be covered and is easy to play for and play with. “With every take, he wants you to reach as deeply as you can and bring forth the best music you can reach for,” she says.

They had worked on her first album together, and even after his move to London, England, and his impressive career as the music editor for Lord of the Rings and Downton Abbey, he agreed to be a part of this second album. “It was amazing because they could have him there listening to the music in real time from his studio in London. The laptop was on the stage over my shoulder, and he was closer than he could have been if he had been in the production booth. It was like having him in the room with me; it was extraordinary!”

Christine began recording Schubert’s late works, which she says were some of his most sophisticated, poetic and deeply felt works for the piano. She has always loved Schubert but was drawn to these late works in particular, as if he knew that he was dying and couldn’t hold anything back. She explains that this album came from these final moments of his life when he was getting ill and just wrote prolifically. “There’s something about that, where the artist has one foot in the afterlife. In a way it’s like they’re communicating from that place.”

She adds that what made these works especially exciting to play is that everything is there within the works - all the experiences that can be felt in a single lifespan. “The joys and tribulations. Thrills and angst.

The meditation, all of it. It’s all there—the full palette of our emotional world for the taking.”

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That’s the beauty of the piano, Christine emphasizes, that it’s so capable of expressing these intricate colours, changes in voices and that it can take you from this moment of great joy to a moment of profound sadness (or vice versa) on a dime. Just a change of one chord can take your breath away.

This is one of the main elements that drew Christine to piano performance in the first place: this ability to communicate more effectively through the instrument.

She loves how she’s able to explore all of the parts of herself through the piano’s sounds and feels like this form of communication has become a natural extension of who she is.

There’s a kind of thrill to capture this feeling for an audience, Christine shares.

“To feel like you are sharing in this moment together, and that you, the pianist, get to lead that moment.” As terrifying and nerve-wracking as performing can be, it’s something that has always been that perfect fit for Christine. “It’s addictive, this communication with an audience. That’s what takes it all away.”

The best moments are the ones she gets lost in, Christine adds, where she’s lost in the moment and all her self-consciousness drops away. “When it’s over, you realize you’ve been in another world. And if one is lucky enough to have it happen, where it all comes together: the preparation, the mindset, the audience, the instrument and the venue for that very moment to happen, well that’s the magic. That’s why people put in the work. You just hope that you can get out of your own way and let the music speak for itself.”

That’s what Christine hopes for when people listen to this album: for all of the daily distractions and activities to melt away and for listeners to be left alone with the music. Every listener has their own experience with the music; Christine says the music will find you exactly in the moment that you’re in.

“Music is a gift. We get so distracted and life can keep us on the surface and busy in it. Take this opportunity to sit with your inner world for a bit. Take a few moments to sit and listen and see what comes to you.

See what the intention of sitting and listening will offer you.”

Christine’s music can be found anywhere you like to listen to your music: iTunes Store, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, Spotify or you can pick up a CD locally from Biblioasis, Dr. Disc or Galaxy ReWLM cords.

Back to Contents

The Art of Taking Risks WHEN MOST PEOPLE see the word “brave” in Brave Controls, they think of “courage” and “risk taking.” Although Brave Controls dives fearlessly into every new project, founder and owner, Brent McPhail, explains the true origin of his company’s name: “It’s named after my kids: Bryson and Avery.” He then adds: “I never know if it’s because I named my company Brave that we’ve gone on to take a bunch of risks, or I was destined to take a bunch of risks so Brave seemed like the appropriate name.”

This year, Brave Control Solutions marks fifteen years of risk taking, living by their ethos to “think brave” And the future has never appeared brighter.

“Our old motto used to be: ‘We seek out tight timelines and tough challenges.’ But who does that? We did that intentionally,” Brent explains.

So, what types of projects does Brave Controls take on?

“Every NASCAR tire on the racetrack today goes through one of our machines,” Brent says. “When Ford Motor Company wanted to make the aluminum F150 they trusted their biggest brand and some of their key processes to us.”

He continues: “I remember an early project—it was just me and a contract employee—bidding on a project to retrofit a machine for Goodyear. When we landed that first contract, I couldn’t help asking myself: ‘Don’t they have a Risk department?’ When Ford asked us to retool their presses, that single project was five times our annual revenue from the previous year.

We have this attitude: ‘We’re not afraid.’”

In more recent times, Brave ventured, yet again, into uncharted territory: the construction industry.

“In my elevator pitch,” Brent says, “I point out that construction is the only industry that is less productive today, by man hour, than it was fifty years ago. We joke that their major technological innovations are a skill saw and nail gun.”

Brave’s greatest challenge emerged a few years ago Brent McPhail when they were asked to create a machine to build founder and owner hotel rooms in factories.

“We said: ‘We can do that,’” Brent says. “As we quickly learned, however, solutions that work in automotive do not necessarily work in construction. What we needed had not been invented yet. That was then and this is now. We have since become a global leader in Automation for Construction. From our start in robotic systems building modular hotels out of steel we now have solutions for wooden houses and even little houses that fold up and go on the backs of trucks. The last five years have been quite eventful.”

From their first hotel project Brave realized the major difference from automotive to construction is that every building is different. Enter CAD2FAB™, their award-winning software that reads the architectural drawings, builds the factory, then builds the house in the factory. It gives Brave the flexibility required for the Offsite Construction Industry.

“The coolest part,” Brent goes on, “is that it’s happening right here in Windsor! We are leading the construction technology revolution, building robotic systems to build houses in factories. We are going to change the world. We reside in the automation capital of earth. This little company, named after my kids, is right in there, innovating, leading.”

To learn more about what Brave Controls does, or to see videos of their innovations at work, visit them online at thinkbrave.com.

World Headquarters 1758 Walker Rd. Windsor | 519-974-9955

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SEPTEMBER IN THE SAHARA Young Travelers Enjoy Adventure Halfway Around the World STORY BY MATTHEW ST. AMAND THERE ARE CERTAIN PLACES in the world whose very names evoke images of romance and adventure.

Two such places are Morocco and the Sahara Desert.

These locations have been the backdrops for countless movies and innumerable personal adventures.

A pair of Windsor adventurers recently visited both locales in a thrilling whirlwind tour that left them feeling like they would go back in a minute if the opportunity arose.

“We arrived in Morocco on September seventh and stayed there until September thirteenth,” one of the adventurers says. “We landed in Marrakesh, stayed there one night and then went off on a five-day prebooked tour through Desert Luxury Camp Morocco.”

What inspired them to travel to such an exotic destination?

“We love to travel and we’ve always wanted to go to the Sahara Desert,” the adventurers say. “It’s at the top of our bucket list to spend time with camels in the desert! Going to Morocco made that easier. The Sahara Desert is accessible from other destinations, but all the rest of them were too far for us. We had always heard great things about Morocco, and we wanted to enjoy it while it still feels authentic.”

When the travelers landed in Marrakesh, they didn’t find a sleepy, quaint old-world city.

“It is such a hustle and bustle!” they say. “It’s a very different culture. The traffic is crazy! As our driver took us into Old Town, we passed through intersections that had no traffic lights. There were so many people on scooters weaving through traffic, and people in cars putting their arms out their windows, indicating where they wanted to go!”

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Clockwise from above: Camel ride throughout the Sahara Desert; lookout over the city of Tinghir; lobby and poolside of the tranquil Riad Rafaele & Spa in Marrakesh; treasures and keepsakes for sale in the souks of the medina in Marrakesh; market in the Todra Gorge; luxury Canvas Tents in the Sahara Desert; travelling through the Atlas Mountains through the Tizi n‘Tichka pass; lobby and poolside inside the Riad Paradis Blanc in Marrakesh.

s

Old Town is surrounded by a wall. The roads within those walls are little more than lane ways. Its marketplaces and bazaars are known as souks: the souks of the Marrakesh Medina. The adventurers had booked a room at a Riad, a little hotel. Their driver could only get them so close to it—automobiles cannot fit through the narrow laneways.

So, the travelers were dropped off. They were met by the manager of their Riad, who walked them through the winding lanes to their accommodation.

Day One of their tour involved a six-hour drive through the Atlas Mountains and the Tizi n‘Tichka pass, which is the direct route to Ouarzazate, which is known as “the door of the desert.” The road snakes through majestic scenery offering views of snowtopped peaks and many Berber villages. The travelers arrived at the cultural heritage site of Morocco: the Ksour of Ait BenHaddou. The itinerary stated: “It was once

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an important stop along the caravan routes that carried salt from the Sahara and on return, gold and ivory.”

Not only is it a historical site, but a place where many famous movies, such as Lawrence of Arabia, Jewel of the Nile, and more recently Gladiator, were filmed.

Then the travelers passed through the town of Ouarzazate—thirty kilometres from Ait BenHaddou—which is called the Hollywood of Morocco. Many movies have been filmed there. A castle used in the popular show Game of Thrones was built there.

During their night in the Atlas Mountains, the travelers experienced something not mentioned on their itinerary: at 11:11 p.m., September eighth, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Marrakesh, devastating the area. Marrakesh and the Atlas Mountains were its epicenter.

“We felt it, but there was no damage where we were,” the adventurers say.

“On Day Two of our tour, we walked through Todra Gorge,” they continue.

“There were large rock faces on either side with people climbing them. A stream cuts through the area and there is lush greenery, palm trees, as well as small towns.”

From there they continued driving toward the Sahara Desert, ending up in Merzouga, a town just outside of the desert. At that point, the travelers went off-roading until they came to the apricot-coloured Erg Chebbi sand dunes.

“The dunes are extremely vibrant,” they recall. “We off-roaded to Desert Luxury Camp. Everywhere we traveled, we were greeted by people offering tea and nuts. We stayed the night in glamping tents, complete with a queen-sized bed plus a double bed, en suite and even air-conditioning that switched on after dark each night and ran until morning.”

The entire front of the glamping tent was glass affording the travelers a spectacular view of the sand dunes.

“Throughout our trip, the meals were magnificent,” the travelers say. “They were usually three course meals, so much food, the variety! There was one, Tajine, a dish that has chicken and beef—it’s like a stew in a skillet with olives and vegetables in it.

There were all kinds of healthy options.

And the homemade bread!”

Following dinner, we gathered with other travelers in the fire pit area where we enjoyed entertainment provided by members of the staff playing different instruments and singing songs.

On their third day, the travelers had

breakfast and then went off with a separate tour guide who owned the camels, which they rode into the Sahara Desert.

“Riding the camels was amazing,” the adventurers recall. “They are very gentle creatures. They are very tall!”

Into the vastness of the dunes, they traveled on the camels, led by Berber guides, and there the travelers finally beheld the awesome spectacle of the desert in all its silent solitude.

Conditions in the desert, however, are about as harsh as one might guess.

“It’s always windy in the desert,” the travelers say. “It’s very hot. We wore light clothes, linen, covering up as much as possible, wearing sunglasses and sunscreen.

We wore scarves over our heads and mouths because sand is constantly being thrown in your face.”

For as unrelenting as the conditions can be, the experience is beyond words.

“It was amazing,” the adventurers say.

When they returned to camp in the afternoon, they enjoyed sand surfing on the dunes, and then hanging out by the pool, which—like everything else in the camp— was enclosed in a tent. Once more, the adventurers enjoyed a superb meal and entertainment provided by staff.

“The next day we started our trek out of the area, heading back to Marrakesh,” they say. “We traveled through different landscapes and gorges. There was more driving than stopping on the return trip. We came to the city Nakob, which was very lush in terms of palm trees, fruit orchards, rose farms, vegetable farms. We ended up that night at Draa Valley, in a hotel there with a nice infinity pool looking over a forest.”

As they neared Marrakesh, the adventurers encountered terrain and landmarks they recognized from their first day on the tour and arrived back in the city in the afternoon. Once again, they were met by the manager of the Riad where they were staying.

“We spent the afternoon there in the souk and markets and had dinner at the Riad,” they say.

Regarding the overall experience, the travelers say: “Everything went smoothly.

Everything was what we wanted. The people are incredibly resilient as well as welcoming, even in the face of a devastating earthquake! Everything continued. Everyone was so hospitable to us. The trip was not super expensive. It was comparable to going to Europe. This year they broke records for tourism. We would go again!”

WLM Back to Contents

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A Windsor Home Renovation Into a Winter Wonderland STORY BY RYAN PERCY PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL PIETRANGELO

a

Christmas chalet

s

OWNING YOUR DREAM HOME is something to aspire to.

However, while some are able to build it from scratch there are others that take a house and turn it into something approximating their own perfect vision.

But there is always something that ignites the passion to build, to renovate. For one Windsor homeowner that flame was lit by a tiny, cramped entryway.

The house, which the owners lovingly refer to as The Chalet, already started out as a unique design in Windsor.

The house in question is an A-frame. Unlike the boxier shape that is common with more modern residential neighbourhood homes, the A-frame evokes images of mountain ski lodges and European forest retreats.

There are few remaining A-frame houses in Windsor-Essex, the design was popular during the 60s and 70s where increased income allowed for more extravagant houses to be constructed.

However, over time the A-frame was viewed as a fad and petered out for a return to more manageable construction that focused on an ever-expanding suburbia.

The Chalet is a 1977 A-frame with strong cedar construction and those steep recognizable slopes that makes it stand out from the more standard design houses around it.

The decision to make changes came with an annoyance of the porches. Two symmetrical places that jutted out from either side of the lovely, sloped roof that clashed with the overall design of the home.

They further stuck out as rather wasteful spaces, not acting as proper porches or decks with seemingly only some latticed privacy fencing put up as a rather poor windbreak and pseudo-window.

Putting those both along with the cramped entryway and

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Clockwise from left: Entrance expansions allowed the already open home to flourish even more; the right decor can draw out the festive mood of a chalet; a brightened living room pulls the space together; a quartz and light wood interior lead to a much more open feeling kitchen; with space made for it the new dining room offers a cozy feeling; hardwood furnishing accentuates the alpine chalet aesthetic.

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door that nearly stabbed its doorknob into the wall each time it was flung open, there was only one choice.

Changes had to be made.

“I always thought it would be cool to enclose these porches,” the owner of The Chalet says of where it began. “I was not thinking this was going to become a full-on house renovation.”

But it takes many hands to do the level of renovations in mind.

Thankfully for the owner, her family was there to pitch in.

“It was just me and my parents throwing ideas back and forth at each other,” she says of the initial design concept. “It was my mom’s idea that if we were going to make a mess of one porch we might as well do the other one.”

From there the plan started to get put into action, they reached out to an architect to get the plans together for the renovation.

Though with a family of DIY-minded individuals and some construction experience they decided it would be easier to do most of the heavy lifting themselves and leave primarily only specialist work to actual contractors.

“My dad had some construction experience when he built his own house,” she says of having her father lead the renovation effort. “My grandfather was a bricklayer and built houses for a living. My uncle was the one who convinced us, after a lot of meetings with contractors, that we could probably do most of the work ourselves.”

Not many people have the complete knowledge and expertise to build and renovate an entire home. But thankfully they had the ability to call on others to help when they needed some expert knowledge on a specific subject.

The work took around a year to complete but it was not without the ups and downs that come with any project a group of people put their minds to.

Especially weather delays.

“We had a huge rainstorm the day before all of our foundation blocks were being delivered,” she says of one of the standout problematic moments they had to overcome as a family and team. “The ground was so wet the forklift couldn’t get to the back where they needed to drop the skids.

So we called in help from my uncle, and a few strong cousins to move five skids of heavy cement blocks to the back by hand.”

The cement foundation was an integral part of the ever-expanding housing renovation and improvement. What had

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started as merely a porch, evolved into two porches, a two-car garage and even a major interior makeover.

The front porches had been fully enclosed, one giving a much brighter and welcoming entrance and the other allowing an expansion of the kitchen and dining area.

Those porches also lead to one of the more interesting design choices of the home’s expansions. With one porch, the decision was made to turn the A-frame home into an almost M-shape by raising the porch’s roof up into a secondary point. The home now being given an almost mountain range look to it, compared to the sole peak it had before.

To further match the aesthetics of the existing exterior of the home the choice was made to incorporate slanted windows instead of going with solid diamond shaped panes of glass.

While the interior of the home was already an open concept, the kitchen was the place with the most expansion. Formerly dark granite cooking surfaces and a grey-blue paint job the room was elevated and refined with white walls, Calacatta Gold quartz counters and light wood that matched the beams of the rest of the home, giving it a modern look with still callbacks to more rustic designs.

“The inside was a mixture of some things that were updated by previous owners and some things that had never been updated since the house was built,” she says of the work that needed to be done. “It had these brown 70’s tiles that were laid in a brick pattern and other things. So to enhance and modernize the interior we ripped out all of the existing floors and replaced them with the same wood throughout.”

After a year of toil, the house was finished. A retro A-frame turned into a modern yet rustic feeling chalet that would look right at home up on the mountains. A destination for skiers and snowboarders to sit down after a long day.

A place of relaxation and warmth. A place to call Home.

WLM 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 info@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.

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CREATIVE MINDS BEHIND WINDSOR SPINE-CHILLER

A Thriller Filmed in Windsor Keeps Audiences on the Edge of Their Seats STORY BY MATTHEW ST. AMAND PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF SUEDE PRODUCTIONS

FOR A MOVIE SO LUSH with striking dialogue, Suede Productions’ new feature length thriller, Depraved Mind, reveals some of its most startling secrets without words.

The movie tells the story of Thomas, a man suffering from amnesia who wakes in a prison hospital.

He is informed by psychiatrist, Audrey, that he is a prolific serial killer.

“Feel free to ask me any questions,” Audrey says to a groaning, bleary Thomas. “I’m here to perform a court ordered psychological evaluation.”

By the end of the movie, the audience has many questions, and plenty of answers, all as compelling as they are uncomfortable to contemplate.

Written by Suede Productions veterans, Nick Shields and Chris Pickle—with Nick in the director’s chair—Depraved Mind takes hold of the audience in its first frames and does not relinquish its grip until the closing credits.

For film lovers rankled by the paint-by-numbers approach in so many contemporary thrillers, Depraved Mind is a welcome shock to the system. The film’s greatest virtue is that it demands something of the audience. Passively absorbing the story is not an option. Information is parsed in an array of fascinating forms: Audrey’s tape recorder as she listens to a session with Ned, another man believed to be a killer; dream-like flashbacks occurring in black and white; through characters’ facial expressions.

The greatest purveyor of information is the camera. At one crucial juncture—in a film abounding with startling turns and disorienting revelations— the camera pulls back, revealing a little more of the

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environment the audience has already grown used to. This subtle change in perspective unbalances the audience’s understanding of what’s happening.

“Prior to having a single thought about the film,” Nick explains, “we were approached for a number of years to shoot more features in the region. Many of the offers came with scripts, but they weren’t our stories, so we turned them down. Finally, someone said: ‘If not this, then what?’”

He continues: “Within minutes of the offer coming in, Chris Pickle said: ‘Well, what if a guy wakes up in a prison hospital and finds out he’s a serial killer?’ For as much work as we’ve put into other projects we might have considered doing, we all said: ‘Yeah, that’s what we should do!’”

The idea was greenlit by the backers before the script was written. And that’s when the welloiled machine of Suede Productions kicked into high gear.

“We assembled a team,” Nick says. “A project of this scale needed a producer familiar with that genre, so we brought in Mike Stasko. Ted Bezaire came aboard as production manager.”

The team at Suede delivered a script within four weeks and began shooting Depraved Mind within four months of the pitch. The budget was approximately $500,000.

The film is a minefield of potential spoilers, but it can be safely revealed that its original title was “The Lion Behind Him.” It is no easy thing making a movie like this. In screenwriting, turns in the story are known as “beats” and pacing beats throughout a script, ensuring each has the desired effect, is like landing a space probe safely on a distant planet. It’s all in a day’s work for the guys at Suede Productions.

“Nick and I locked ourselves away and worked on the script,” says co-writer Chris Pickle.

“We laid our three-by-five index cards on a huge table so we could see where the beats were, fill in any gaps, and get the pacing right. We didn’t start a draft until we had a robust outline.”

The story is wonderfully engrossing and impossible to guess.

Suede’s meticulous approach maximized time management—the most precious commodity on set. Each day of the twenty-day shoot began at eight o’clock in the morning and wrapped by four or five in the afternoon.

A terrific concept and a talented crew are vital to a successful production, but a great script can be a liability in the hands of actors unable to handle its rigors. The three principal actors chosen by Suede bring the heady story to life in a way that is nothing short of mesmerizing.

Toronto actor Kristen MacCulloch plays psychiatrist Audrey Brandt.

“Kristen is a feat to watch,” Chris says. “We knew right away when we saw her. One of the key things for an actor is to make choices, even if you’re not completely sure of what the writer/director wants. Kristen came with choices. Seeing an actor do that was remarkable.”

Vancouver actor Eddie Canelea plays Thomas.

“Eddie is such a great guy, he’s so naturally likable!” Chris continues. “That was very important for us. We needed that likability because when you hear what the doctor says his character did, you can’t root for him, but Eddie makes it so you can.”

And then there is Windsor-based actor, Craig Gloster. It was a marvel watching the arc

Opposite top to bottom: Toronto actor Kristen MacCulloch as “Audry”; the Depraved Mind movie poster.

This page clockwise from top: Depraved Mind gained attention at top film festivals; Windsor actor Craig Gloster as “Ned”; Vancouver actor Eddie Canelea hands raised as “Thomas”; Nick Shields, co-writer and director of the film; the crew behind Depraved Mind; member of the film crew ensures “Thomas” is in frame.

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of Craig’s performance. The audience first finds him as a gnarled, nearly blind shell of a human being in a wheelchair, who replies to questions in a laboured monotone. As the film takes the audience along its whipturns, we glimpse other, surprising sides of Ned. Craig delivers the goods every time.

The precision of Suede Productions’ approach on Depraved Mind carries through to the finished product. The locations, the lighting and sound design add subtle yet indispensable layers to the experience, combining to create a fully realized world— one the audience is compelled to explore, but cannot wait to escape.

“We needed large spaces for the movie,” Nick says. “That’s not easy in a real estate bubble! Then we realized that we have the single coolest person in the world right here in Windsor: Mike Brkovich, who owns Walkerville Brewery. We approached him with our problem, and he let us use space in his twin towers at the Hiram Walker building. That served as the hospital.”

Once they had the space, there were still more challenges to solve.

Sound.

“Snap your fingers in the space and it echoes for thirty seconds,” Nick says. “We brought a hundred mattresses up four flights of stairs to deaden the sound of the space.”

Depraved Mind is a definitive answer to the question posed to the team at the outset: “If not this, then what?”

Not only is the experience unforgettable for movie audiences, but it left a positive, lasting impression on all involved.

“Suede is such a great team,” says Kristen. “A role like Audry is a gift.”

“They are such great dudes,” says Eddie. “Nick is so knowledgeable about film.

They’re people who love cinema making cinema.”

Depraved Mind won “Best Feature” at Barebones International Film & Music Festival and Motor City International Film Festival, and “Best in Fest” at the Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival, As Nick says: “We don’t swim in praise or wallow in self-pity.” Suede Productions is already on to its next project.

Where can movie lovers see Depraved Mind?

“That’s still being nailed down,” Nick says, “but if you subscribe to any of the popular streaming services, you’ll find it!”

Learn more about Suede Productions at suedeproductions.ca and facebook.com/ suedeproductions.

WLM Back to Contents

Love Your Ears IT OFTEN HAPPENS GRADUALLY. You start turning up the volume higher and higher on the television. Loved ones often have to repeat themselves around you. You complain that people are mumbling or whispering around you, which they then deny.

Slowly, you realize the truth: you’re losing your hearing.

Fortunately, this is where HearingLife Canada comes in.

“We offer complete hearing assessments,” Craig Evans, the Clinic Manager at HearingLife Canada, states. “From there, we move onto recommendations and fittings. Every hearing loss is different. Fortunately, we have a range of products and services available that can help.”

And hearing aids have come a long way since Craig first entered the industry 15 years ago. What used to be premium features are now widely available.

“Most hearing aids are wireless and Bluetooth compatible,” Craig explains. “People used to come in and complain: ‘I can hear the refrigerator running in the kitchen, but I can’t hear people talking in the living room! The television is still unclear!’ But thank God those days are over! Speech is so, so much clearer. People now say: ‘I hear what I want to hear—people’s voices. I’m not picking up all these other sounds.’”

At HearingLife Canada, clarity is always the final goal.

No matter the kind of life you lead, hearing is of tantamount importance.

And for Craig, the most rewarding part of the job is just that—helping people move through life with clearer senses.

“We’re augmenting one of the senses,” Craig states. “You should never take your hearing for granted. People will say: ‘I can hear everything! I could hear my granddaughter’s vows at her wedding. I could hear my great-grandchildren laughing at Christmas. I can laugh at my husband’s jokes again.’”

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However, after 15 years in the business, Craig has noticed one particular recurring complaint from his clients: “The thing I hear most is: ‘I put this off way too long! I should have come in 10 years ago,’” Craig explains. “A lot of times people are reluctant to come in to have their hearing checked because they’re the last to realize that there’s an issue. In fact, it’s often other people—children, spouses, friends—that point it out for them. People will come in and try to downplay their hearing loss.”

Craig encourages interested clients to bring any loved ones with them for their initial consultation.

“Hearing loss can be very gradual,” Craig states. “It’s often friends or relatives that have to point out how bad the hearing loss has truly gotten.

They can properly advocate for you.”

HearingLife Canada offers a free consultation to all clients interested in better hearing.

“Oftentimes, people will come in for an in-office demo,” Craig explains.

“They put the hearing aids on, and right away they’ll say, ‘Wow! Is this what I’m missing?’”

Interested in better hearing? Call 1-888-514-9515 or visit hearinglife.ca today!

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Happy Holidays Don’t miss out.

Order your Honey Bee Ham today!

Johnny Shotz - Tecumseh’s #1 roadhouse and home of the Chicken Deluxe. Serving Halibut every Friday. Everything cooked from scratch.

37 HD TVs, 15 beers on tap. Follow us on facebook. 13037 Tecumseh Rd. E. 519-735-7005 johnnyshotz.com Original Guys Pizza Pies - The “Windsor style” thin crust pizza skillfully rolled and hand tossed is cooked to perfection in a stone baked oven.

With vegetarian and vegan options, pizzas are tailored to each customer’s individual taste. Also offering wings, salads and subs.

3335 Banwell Rd., Windsor. 519-979-8808 ogpizza.ca Mamo Burger Bar - Burgers made with local beef are piled high with creative topping combinations at this casual spot. Recently voted 9th best burger in the world. Kids menu also available! mamoburgerbar.com 1515 Ottawa Street, Windsor. 519-973-1234

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Neros 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. OpenTable.ca 1-800-991-7777 ext. 22481.

River’s Edge Tap & Table - Discover what is so delicious in the Harbour District of Riverside.

Relaxing patio on the water, wine bar lounge, dining with private room available. Enjoy seafood, steaks, chops, pastas, burgers and more!

494 Riverdale Ave. 519-915-0200 riversedgewindsor.com SONA Ristorante & Taverna - An upscale casual dining experience inspired by cliffside restaurants of the Mediterranean. Spend an evening in our ristorante, featuring seasonal cuisine and international wines for your enjoyment.

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519-974-7664. sonacanada.com Thirteen At The Inn - Casual/finer dining with a comfortable, modern ambiance. Carrying on traditions of Thirteen Russell Steakhouse, enjoy old favourites or something new. Prime Rib, fresh Lake Erie fish, steak and seafood. Cocktail lounge. Waterfront patio. Private parties. 40 minutes from Windsor/Detroit. Reservations recommended: 519-324-9266 Ext 215.

388 Erie St. S., Leamington. 13attheinn.com Twigg’s Bar + Grill - Family oriented local establishment offering freshly prepared pubfare. We take pride in providing prompt service in a unique atmosphere with craft beer, specialty cocktails, daily specials, live entertainment, catering and more. www.twiggsbarandgrill.com 1207 County Rd 22, Emeryville 519-727-8704

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MONUMENTAL MOMENTS

The University of Windsor Unveils the Newly Transformed Ron W. Ianni Faculty of Law Building STORY BY KAREN TINSLEY PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR

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ON THE WEEKEND of October 27, Windsor Law, at the corner of University West and Sunset Avenue, reopened its doors for the first time since 2020.

The extensive reimagination within the walls of the Ron W. Ianni Faculty of Law building was finally complete; it was now time to welcome the world.

The reopening was a resounding success with hundreds of alumni, supporters and distinguished special guests on site to see and experience the final result for themselves.

Grand inauguration festivities featured numerous honourable guests, including the Right Honourable Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Canada and Windsor-Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk.

In his November 1 address to the House of Commons, Kusmierczyk showed his “Windsor Law pride”: “Speaker, this weekend I attended the grand reopening of the Ron W. Ianni Faculty of Law building at the University of Windsor after transformative renovations. I met generations of alumni, like Frank and Peter, who made the drive to Windsor to reconnect over the two-day celebration. On hand were the chief justices of Canada and Ontario. The $38-million renovation is truly spectacular.

The architects pulled off the impossible: inserting light into a stone. The moot court is a showpiece, with gorgeous views of the campus, the Ambassador Bridge and Assumption Church. A generous gift provided by the Rodzik family, the court is fully accessible, and is set up to host smudge ceremonies.

“Seeing all the alumni and donors highlighted the real sense of family and pride that are the hallmark of University of Windsor Law. I know my predecessor and founding Dean, the late Honourable Mark MacGuigan, was smiling proudly on this day too.”

Justice Chris Uwagboe and Law Society of Ontario Treasurer Jacqueline Horvat were Masters of Ceremonies.

‘Sky Woman’, an Indigenous work of art commissioned to Six Nations artist

Clockwise from top: left to right are Chancellor Mary Jo Haddad, Dean Reem Bahdi, Chief Justice Wagner, Dr. Beverly Jacobs, President Robert Gordon; Indigenous Legal Studies Coordinator, Michelle Nahdee and Dr. Beverly Jacobs, Senior Advisor to the President on Indigenous Relations and Outreach; Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations Canada/Officeholder Gary Anandasangaree.

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Arnold Jacobs, was unveiled in the magnificent Don Rodzik Moot Court by Dr. Beverly Jacobs, Windsor Law professor and Senior Advisor to the President’s Office. A plaque honouring the attendance of Chief Justice of Canada Wagner was also unveiled.

Architects Diamond Schmidt gave a fulsome presentation on the star of the show: the state-of-the-art 275-seat Don Rodzik Moot Court.

Led by distinguished Windsor Law faculty, interactive discussions in various fields of law engaged and stimulated participants.

Alumni filled the building, taking in the remarkable transformation of the place they once called home during some of the most formative years of their lives. Any alumni who graduated this past summer would only have experienced remote learning during their time at Windsor Law; the reopening celebrations marked the first time any of them had ever set foot in the Ron W. Ianni Law building!

Enthusiastic energy was everywhere as faculty and students showcased their innovative research and potent programming.

Classmates from all graduation years gathered in club and decade reunions to remember and reminisce about the time they spent at Windsor Law, while making new memories in the re-imagined space.

The reopening marked a monumental moment for Windsor Law, as the past and present met the future.

Reem Bhadi, Dean of Windsor Law, couldn’t be prouder.

“From the first day of their studies, Windsor Law students are surrounded by intelligent, hard-working, creative and social-justice oriented people. For the next three years, they will be immersed in a learning journey that comprises rich academic programs and experiential learning opportunities that will empower them to pursue their interests and access the skills and resources to achieve their goals--all in one of the most beautiful, contemporary and inspiring law campuses in Canada and beyond.”

“I am thrilled to help lead Windsor Law into a new era.”

Dr. Rob Gordon, President and Vice Chancellor said, “We want to be a law school that is not only responsive to the changing needs of the legal profession, but also proactive in shaping its future.”

By all accounts, the Ron W. Ianni Faculty of Law Building is proof positive of that.

Welcome to the next generation of Windsor Law! WLM Back to Contents

Congratulations to the University of Windsor Law School From the lawyers of Hogarth Hermiston Severs llp

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Top to bottom: Students collaborating in the WeirFoulds Zone; students sharing ideas and enjoying the Jamie Johnson Student Lounge; Don Rodzik Moot Court.

THE REVITALIZED RON W. IANNI BUILDING

New Spaces for a New Kind of Law Education STORY BY KAREN TINSLEY PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR THE ROOTS OF WINDSOR LAW stretch back to the founding of Assumption College in 1857. In 1919, the institution began a close affiliation with the University of Western Ontario, eventually becoming an independent university in 1953.

Ten years later, Assumption had become the parent institution of the nondenominational University of Windsor.

The Faculty of Law was founded four years later, welcoming its first class in 1968.

Windsor Law has grown dramatically since those early years. Today, there are 36 full-time professors; 265 new students enroll each year for a total of 700. 10,000 Windsor Law alumni have risen to tremendous heights in their professional careers, becoming managers and partners of national and international law firms, social justice advocates, legal aid and human rights lawyers and government advisors.

Over the past five decades, Windsor Law has earned a reputation of distinction. It is one of Canada’s most sought-after legal education institutions.

In University of Windsor history, ties to Indigenous communities have always played a pivotal role. Windsor Law is building on a long-standing commitment the seeks fairness, equity and dignity, with a particular focus on relationships with Indigenous peoples.

When the Ron W. Ianni building was originally conceived by architects Gordon S. Adamson and Associates, a new kind of law school was imagined.

The building had bold lines, featuring materials and common spaces specifically designed to reflect “law as a social process.”

The building served Windsor Law well for five decades. In 2018, its 50th anniversary presented an opportunity to rethink space needs in a renewed building on a renewed University campus: a transformational building with innovative spaces for teaching and learning; a place that would meet the accessibility needs of a diverse population in warm and welcoming ways.

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The new design has put a fresh face on the well-loved-but-tired Faculty of Law. Now filled with natural light and visually pleasing, comfortable surroundings, it’s a place of modern beauty. Engineered with accessibility and inclusion top of mind, three rooms (including the state-of-the-art Don Rodzik Moot Court) are equipped for smudging ceremonies—the sacred Indigenous practice of spiritual cleansing and purification.

Indigenous students, staff and visitors now have safe and culturally affirming spaces to conduct these meaningful ceremonies.

Windsor Law’s connection with Indigenous communities is also woven into the curriculum. The Indigenous Legal Orders Institute and the support of an Elder in Residence bring invaluable wisdom and cultural insights to academic community, as well as the vibrant, growing community of Indigenous and Metis students, faculty and staff.

The University made the decision to renovate and revitalize the Windsor Law building instead of opting for new construction.

Not only was it the more sustainable choice, but it also inspired the infusion of new life into existing amenities, such as the stunning original steel staircases at the Don & Gail Rodzik Library.

The project was made possible through a collaboration of Diamond Schmitt Architectural Firm, EllisDon Corporation, Fortis Construction Group and the Windsor Law community. Fundraising generated nearly $6 million (including a $3-million gift from the Don Rodzik Foundation and significant contributions from Windsor Law alumni).

The University partnered with Diversified to supply, install, and support technology solutions, such as AV technology in the prestigious Don Rodzik Moot Court, eight classrooms/lecture halls, a Conference Room, several lounges, cafes and smaller study rooms.

The Don Rodzik Moot Court features one of the lightest and brightest projectors, digitally steerable line array loudspeaker systems, multiple networked cameras and an integrated audio system to provide an enriched and realistic learning environment. The system includes an easy-to-use touch panel for controlling the technology and room lighting. The Moot Court, Conference Room and classrooms are also equipped with video conferencing capabilities to foster interactive learning experiences, connect students with the outside world and provide flexibility for professors to offer lectures virtually, in person, or both.

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An open concept design features skylights that let in abundant natural light everywhere.

Diamond Schmitt’s architectural approach to revitalizing the 50-year-old edifice was to align the existing form with the philosophy of the modern law school (which features flexible, multi-purpose, adaptable spaces).

Renovating the existing building made it possible to conserve significant amounts of concrete, steel and wood, which means reduced environmental impact.

The addition of expansive windows offers views of the busiest border crossing in the world.

Upgraded insulation, windows and HVAC systems mean reduced energy consumption. Reusing existing materials and structures means reduced environmental impact.

A ventilation system that formerly dominated the heart of the building has now been moved to the roof. In its place is a spacious collaborative space, featuring hightech meeting rooms.

Accessibility has been significantly enhanced by thoughtful changes in interior design, resulting in clear colour contrasts between walls, floors and stairs. Tactile walking systems have been seamlessly integrated throughout the building to provide guidance, support and unhindered, safe navigation for everyone, including the visually challenged.

Classrooms and common areas have been meticulously designed to meet accessibility requirements, ensuring that all can actively participate in academic and social activities. The inviting and inclusive environment also features gender-neutral bathrooms to respect the diverse identities and needs of students, faculty, staff and visitors. The architecture plays a significant role in enabling students to visually connect with each other and their surroundings.

Adaptable spaces cater to different learning environments. One striking example is the transformation of a former mechanical room into a flexible learning space, which now connects to outdoor gardens and common areas.

Dean of Windsor Law Bahdi concludes, “In an era where imagination and innovation are critical to Canada’s economic, social, cultural and business vitality, Windsor Law teaches and cultivates both. Its rich academic history, research capacity and expertise in industry/academic relationships perfectly positions us to develop the next generation of legal thought leaders.”

WLM Back to Contents

Congratulations to Windsor Law on successful completion of the Transforming Windsor Law Project and Reopening of the Ron W. Ianni Building.

Windsor Law Recognizes Willis Business Law with Alumni Awards at the Reopening Celebrations Extraordinary Contribution to Windsor Law Award in memory of John Mountain awarded to Dina Mejalli-Willis (’04) The Award for Extraordinary Contribution to Windsor Law in Memory of John Mountain ‘86 recognizes outstanding contributions to Windsor Law in honour of John who was a dedicated mentor, teacher, benefactor and community leader.

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We’re All in this Together The Simple Act of Shopping Locally is a Meaningful Way to Strengthen the Community

STORY BY MATTHEW ST. AMAND / PHOTOGRAPHY BY GPOINTSTUDIO ON FREEPIK AMONG THE MANY POSITIVE qualities that Windsor possesses, topping the list is the intense loyalty its citizens feel to the city and to each other. It does not always feel like that—when we are stuck in traffic after work, or standing in line at a sporting event, concert, or school gathering—but we are all neighbours. If there is one thing the residents of Windsor are passionate about, it is shopping local and supporting local businesses.

Long before the advent of the Internet, “cross-border shopping” was a sensitive issue in border cities, such as Windsor, back when consumers perceived it to be cheaper to travel to the United States to shop. Local entrepreneurs, however, are fierce and touted the benefits of supporting locally owned businesses—strengthening the community; superior, more easily accessed after-purchase service. Aided by rising toll costs at the border, a strong Canadian dollar, and seeing the benefits and simple logic of keeping their money in their communities, the tide turned.

There are numerous benefits to shopping local, but sometimes being reminded about things that should be a “no brainer” is a good thing.

Local businesses are an important part of our community. They provide employment, generate tax revenue, and help to boost the local economy. When people shop at a local

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business, they are not only supporting that specific business, but they are also helping to improve the overall health of the community.

Small businesses are major contributors to the Canadian economy. In 2022, according to Industry Canada, businesses with one to 99 employees comprised 98 percent of all employer businesses in Canada. They employ 10.7 million people, which is almost two-thirds—63 percent—of all employees in the country. That is a large sector of the economy.

When we buy from local farmers, grocers, restaurants, or stores, we kickstart the cycle of a healthy local economy and steady employment. According to LocateLocal.ca, for every $100 spent in locally own businesses, $68 is reinvested in the community.

One big reason for this is businesses set up supply chains on their own turf rather than seeking national or international imports.

This means local money stays local, helps other neighbourhood businesses grow, and supports our tax base.

More directly, the money spent at the locally owned coffee shop, barbershop, restaurant, or music store helps that business owner pay their mortgage, their vehicle, and groceries. It also pays for their kids’ after school activities, which may involve sports, music, or some other creative endeavor, which enriches their lives and provides employment for other people.

The role that money plays in our lives is sometimes a cold, hard fact, but it is what makes things run in our society. It only makes sense to do all we can to keep that flow as strong and renewed as possible.

And for as much as people like to knock “big box” retailers, the fact is, these businesses employ local people, as well. Those pay cheques are spent in the local economy.

People working in those stores have kids in extracurricular activities, too, and the money they earn pays for piano lessons, karate classes, haircuts, books for school, all kinds of things.

Beyond the simple “dollars and cents” logic of supporting local businesses, there are intangibles that enhance our lives far beyond the reach of money. There are social benefits to becoming a regular at a local spot. It is pleasant being greeted by friendly faces and it deepens our own experience when we learn the story behind their business.

Also, frequenting small businesses, we may learn things can help us with our hobbies. A tip from a bicycle repair tech might

help keep one’s bike on the road longer, or advice from a restaurateur or coffee shop owner might up our game in the kitchen at home.

There is also a vast array of entertainment options that exist at the local level—particularly in Windsor, which has a well-deserved reputation for its numerous fine venues that feature live music of all kinds.

Local theatre, too, flourishes in all directions, from children’s productions to “light opera,” to grittier, more challenging work occurring on stages around the city.

Windsor is rife with creative talent. One of the most frequent questions one hears in our local bookshops is: “Do you carry books by local authors?” The answer is always “Yes.” The city is teeming with writers with works ranging from kids’ books, local history, fiction, poetry, self-help, science fiction, horror, as well as vintage and contemporary photos of the area. Throughout the city’s plethora of cafés, poetry readings and spoken word events occur on many weekends of the year. Often, local authors place their books at bookshops on a consignment basis, which costs the bookseller nothing upfront. When a book is sold, the book shop receives a portion of the sale, and the rest goes to the author. It is the very definition of win-win.

Aside from the economic and social benefits of supporting local businesses, it also makes environmental sense. In many corners of the city, businesses exist in convenient clusters, which makes it easier to roll several errands into one outing. With less driving in general and more travel by foot, or bike, shopping local decreases the amount of congestion and pollution. Every little bit helps.

More than that, small businesses use local resources sustainably and reduce the processing of goods, packaging, and waste.

Many local companies are dedicated to being waste-free and set up partner networks that allow them to source their products ethically, with the least amount of environmental impact.

Finally, local businesses have a long and well-earned reputation for supporting local charities. Almost every sports team in the county is sponsored by a small, local business.

As the Christmas season approaches and holiday shopping takes flight, nothing would be more in keeping with the season than supporting local businesses with our dollars. We are all in this together. It only makes sense to use our resources to strengthen our community.

WLM Back to Contents

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ARIDO Makes the Difference: Hire a Registered Interior Designer

ARIDO protects Ontarians to ensure every person using the title ‘Interior Designer’ is qualified. In accordance with the Ontario Titles Act, an individual cannot use the title ‘Interior Designer’ unless they are a Registered member with ARIDO.

Why should I hire a Registered Interior Designer?

Code, accessibility, sustainability, building and mechanical systems, inclusivity, etc.

Registered Interior Designers have completed the necessary technical education and passed the required exams to meet ARIDO’s rigorous standards for membership.

How do Registered Interior Designers become qualified?

Once qualified, Registered Interior Designers must keep their knowledge updated through professional development on topics including the Ontario Building

They must graduate from an accredited 4-year Bachelor of Interior Design program and complete an extensive supervised work experience program under a qualified practitioner. Finally, they pass a rigorous 3-part practical exam which includes building code knowledge.

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Meet a local Registered Interior Designer, Helena Ventrella, ARIDO Q: Why is your ARIDO credential important to your business?

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A: Being a Registered member of ARIDO sets me apart, not only have I completed an Interior Design degree at a university level, but I keep my knowledge up to date through professional development. It underscores my assurance to staying current on new technology, and materials, as well as health and safety standards.

ARIDO requires all Registered Interior Designers in Ontario to maintain professional liability insurance which protects the public, and our Code of Ethics and Practice Standards are rigorous standards to which all members are held.

Q: What is the local impact you’ve made as a Registered Interior Designer?

A: One of my greatest local contributions has been mentoring students who have moved on to different locales and specialties of practice. I have taught design at St. Clair College and have mentored many interns and co-op students in my studio.

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health, and safety concerns are always our top focus throughout our design process.

I’ve been practicing the business and art of interior design since 1989 and the technical part of design became paramount when I became a Registered member of ARIDO in 2005.

Q: How has your extensive training and the rigor of the process to become Registered helped you better serve clients?

A: Great question. Preparing for the rigorous 3-part exam was a transformative experience. It instilled in me a heightened attention to detail and an obligation to uphold the integrity of our construction specifications. As a Registered Interior Designer, I am skilled in problem solving and devising innovative solutions when confronted with site-specific issues.

The ethics portion of the training is paramount in clearly defining proper billing procedures, how to best collaborate with other consultants, and boundaries with suppliers and procurement, always keeping the client’s best interest in focus.

Finally, the business segment of the exam clarifies the respective responsibilities of trades, consultants, clients, and professionals within a project, so the burden doesn’t fall on one person.

This heightened awareness has empowered me to be a more effective advocate for my clients, ensuring that every aspect of their project is executed to the highest standards.

Everyone benefits from good design . . .

Hire a Registered Interior Designer.

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The Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO) is your connection to qualified, experienced, and innovative Registered Interior Designers.

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WINDSOR ATHLETES ON THE WORLD STAGE

Two Windsor Athletes Did the City Proud in the Pan American Games STORY BY MATTHEW ST. AMAND / PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN LIVIERO

Photo by Dave Fischer

MADDY GATRALL They arrive at competitions in teams, but each swimmer in the pool is an island unto herself. They’re not even racing against the swimmers in the lanes on either side, but against themselves, against the clock. The preparation that gets a swimmer to competition is enormous. The margins separating the results are razor thin.

Madelyn (Maddy) Gatrall grew up in Tecumseh. Her journey to the Pan American Games began when she was nine years old.

“I always played in our backyard pool, racing my friends,” Maddy remembers. “When we had to close the pool for the winter, I wanted to keep swimming.”

Her parents, Cory and Ginny, enrolled Maddy with Windsor Essex Swim Team and later with the Windsor Aquatic Club, where she quickly distinguished herself in competitions.

“I’ve always been competitive,” Maddy explains. “I really liked racing in a competition pool.”

“She won some local seal meets early on,” her father Cory says. “Then there were regional meets and she dominated in those. Then to provincials—Maddy was provincial champion for a few years with her backstroke. Then national competitions and now international with Maddy competing for Team Canada in the Pan American Games.”

It makes all those early morning practices worth the blearyeyed dedication. Following high school Maddy landed a full scholarship to Akron University in Akron, Ohio.

“They have a very successful swim team there,” Cory says. “They are the eleventh fastest in the USA. They won the Mid-American Conference championship the last two years. Maddy holds the MAC record for the hundred-meter backstroke.”

In Santiago, she competed in fifty-meter, hundred meter and two-hundred-meter backstroke.

“Her specialty is the hundred meters,” Cory adds.

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Photo by Cealy Tetley Photography

On October 22, Maddy entered the A Final with the fifth fastest time from the morning’s prelims for the two-hundred-meter backstroke. She improved her time in the final by more than a second, finishing in fifth place.

In the hundred-meter backstroke prelims on the following day, she had the third fastest time.

In the finals that evening, Maddy missed the bronze medal by one hundredth of a second behind teammate Danielle Hanus.

The Medley Relay happened on October 25. Maddy swam the first leg of the 4 x 100 meter finishing her backstroke at 1:02.11.

Gozips.com reported: “Her efforts helped Team Canada to qualify first into the event finals with a time of 4:05.19 beating the Americans by over a second heading into the finals. Team Canada earned the gold medal with a time of 3:58.76 beating the United States by .63 seconds.”

“This was my first time competing with Team Canada,” Maddy says. “I was really nervous because I’ve been training in the States and didn’t have that many familiar faces when I headed there. But everybody on Team Canada was very welcoming.”

From here, Maddy looks forward to her season in the MAC conference and then trying out for Team Canada with a hope of competing in the 2024 Olympic Summer Games in Paris, France.

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LINDSAY TRAISNEL Windsor equestrian athlete, Lindsay Traisnel, brought home team gold and an individual bronze from the Pan Am Games.

It is the culmination of a lifelong love of the sport. Lindsay began riding at age nine. Her parents signed her up for weekly horse lessons, and no one could have guessed the passion that developed.

“I loved it! It was all I wanted to do!” Lindsay recalls. “Everything was centered around the horses. I remember, we’d just got my first pony and my parents were going to England. I informed them that I could not go and was able to remain home and look after my pony when my grandparents agreed I could stay with them. I was ten years old at the time.”

Opposite left to right: Maddy competing in last year’s MAC Conference Championships; Maddy proudly displays her gold medal won at the 2023 Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile. This page left to right: Equestrian, Lindsay Traisnel competing at the Pan Am Games; Lindsay presents her team gold and individual bronze medals.

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When asked what early success in the equestrian sport built her confidence, Lindsay laughs and says: “Well… there are different levels of competition. I started locally when I was ten and did not have a successful start. I fell off my pony a lot. It didn’t get to me, though. I’d hit the dirt and run after my pony and continue.”

The sport is truly a partnership between rider and horse Lindsay says: “Horses are incredible animals. They’re so generous. My horse— “Dreamy” is his barn name and his competition name is “Bacyrouge”—gives me everything he has.”

More than that, riders enjoy great camaraderie amongst themselves, even in competition. It’s not unusual for rival riders to cheer for one another.

“They’ll tell you if there is a fence that’s difficult,” Lindsay continues, “or if there is anything on the course that you need to be aware of that wasn’t obvious when walking it beforehand. We want to win, but we want everyone to have a great ride with their partners.”

Lindsay was one of four riders representing Canada at the Can Am Games, and it was also her first time on Team Canada. Making the cut is a process of gaining qualifications from other competitions throughout the riding season.

She says that Chile, the host country “did an amazing job preparing the field—which was formerly a military base—making it ready for competition at that level.”

Lindsay competed in “eventing,” which is the triathlon of horse sports.

Competition day begins with a horse inspection by veterinarians and the judges to ensure the horses are healthy. The competition, itself, consists of “dressage,” which is where horse and rider go into a twenty-by-sixty-meter venue and perform certain movements at certain points, demonstrating their partnership. Then there is “cross country,” which is where horse and rider jump solid objects such as logs, picnic tables, go through water, jump into water as well as jump narrow fences which tests the accuracy of the partnership. And finally, “show jumping,” where horse and rider jump fences comprised of coloured poles.

Team Canada edged out Team USA, the reigning champions, to bring home the gold. The gold medal win qualifies Team Canada to compete in the 2024 Olympic Summer Games.

“We still need to each be selected for that team,” Lindsay says, “but I’m very hopeful for Paris in the summer.”

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BECOMING STORIES Author and Celebrant Kelly Meloche Documents The Extraordinary Lives of Those We’ve Loved And Lost STORY BY ALLEY L. BINIARZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK MICHAEL PHOTOGRAPHY

WE’RE ALL BORN with stories. These may include the ones our parents tell us or the ones that shape who we are; then we add them to our own histories. These are the stories we leave behind when we pass, and if we’re lucky we have someone like Kelly Meloche who can relay these stories to our loved ones when we’re gone.

Kelly is a born storyteller, a quality which was quickly noticed by a funeral home director. She was told that she was a born celebrant, someone who meets with families when their loved one has passed and helps to tell their story at their funeral. Kelly shares honestly that she can’t say that she followed her celebrant training to a T; she made it her own by prioritizing telling the raw and true stories of those we’ve lost.

“Funerals are normally horrific to attend,” Kelly says. “They have nothing to do with the person we’ve lost. We’re gathered for them, but we’re not really addressing them or telling the stories of how they made us laugh or even how they frustrated us.”

To make the experience more authentic, before the celebration of life Kelly meets with the friends and family of the person who passed and asks them organic questions about the person’s life. This allows the funeral to truly represent the person in playing their favourite music, having that chocolate bar they loved, or doing a shot of Crown Royal as the hearse drives away.

“When people get to hear someone else’s story it gives us permission to look at our own stories.” Kelly explains that whether that person was a globetrotter, a wild child, battled their own demons

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while trying to be a good parent, struggled with abandonment and trauma, took some wrong turns during their life, or perhaps led a blissfully charmed life, those are parts worth hearing about.

“We get to hear all of the layers, the sacrifices, the hardships. We’re all a mosaic and it helps us forgive ourselves and one another.”

Listening to hundreds of stories like these is what inspired Kelly to document them into a published book. “The book showcases more of Windsor-Essex’s altruistic heroes with a hidden cape,” Kelly says, explaining that her book offers the reader a chance to say, “I knew them, but I didn’t know that about them.” She wanted to share the stories that moved her, the ones about these everyday “regular people” who in fact helped her to realize that no one is “regular”, we all have a story and those stories make each of us amazing.

The title Leaving Your Light On: Inspirational Stories of Unforgettable Lives was born of the idea of wanting to keep the person’s energy alive and to leave their story for others to learn from or be inspired by when they’re gone.

The entirety of the book took Kelly 141 days to write. She already had a foundation of stories for the lives she had celebrated and interviewed, but she still had to change the language and wording. She didn’t want the letters to read as “dearly beloved”; she had to take out the funeral and bring the life back in. There were ups and downs to writing the book and she questioned whether people would want to read something she’d written, but one thing she didn’t expect when starting this project was how many people would want to be included in the collection. “It got hard saying no; I never wanted anyone to feel like their life H o l i d a y

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wasn’t worth writing about.” Kelly wanted to pick a variety of stories that intersected all walks of life so every reader could find something relatable within.

The day her book hit the market was actually done by accident, Kelly shares.

She was self publishing and once she had confirmed that everything looked good as a digital copy, she wanted to see a physical one. However, rather than hitting “order copy” she accidentally hit “publish”, so her book went live before she’d ever seen or touched it.

Kelly immediately ordered herself a copy as she watched other people’s orders begin to trickle in as well. There was nothing she could do at that point but hope that the copy was reader ready. As she was pulling up to her home one evening, she saw the Amazon package on her porch, picked it up, and almost immediately saw (actual) fireworks going off in her neighbourhood.

Even before she ripped the package, she took this as a sign that it would all work out as planned. This “work of the heart”, as she calls it, was everything she was hoping for and more. The world responded positively to Leaving Your Light On, ranking Kelly’s book as Amazon’s Top Hit of New Releases in the “Inspirational” genre within three weeks.

Since then, she’s had more people expressing that they wanted their story told in this way, that they would want their grandkids to know who they really were, and to document it for them. “It’s part of our nature. We want to be seen and understood.”

Kelly says that not everyone can articulate their feelings, so it’s her job to become a full-bodied listener. “If they’re stopping in their sentence, it might mean the topic is sensitive to someone else, or there could be friction within the family.” Kelly explains that it’s crucial for her to remain a safe space for everyone, where they can talk from their perspective and that no one’s voices are quashed or silenced.

“You don’t have to be famous to have your story matter,” Kelly expresses. Every life deserves to be told: the ones where they spent all of their time knitting; the epic love story where they were married over 60 years and never stopped holding hands; the immigration stories that transcend through generations. After eight years of doing this work, Kelly has heard an assortment of stories. She says it’s her great fortune to be part of these lives, to facilitate these ceremonies, and that she gets to live out her passion of helping people share their stories.

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