Windsor Life Magazine May/June 2021

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

NEW ADDITIONS

A NEW WAY OF THINKING

DYING TO BE A GOOD MOTHER

BACKYARD PUTTING GREENS

LEAVE A LEGACY

SPECIAL FEATURE SEE PAGE 44

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AERIALIST DEANNA

UNPARALLELED SELF-EXPRESSION

Backyard

Design

PERSONAL TOUCHES TURN A LAKESHORE BACKYARD INTO A PRIVATE RETREAT

Are you noticing more difficulty hearing lately?

MAY/JUNE 2021 VOLUME 28, ISSUE 4

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

Karen Tinsley Kim Willis Leslie Nadon CREATIVE DIRECTOR Carol Garant ART DIRECTOR Michael Pietrangelo PRODUCTION George Sharpe PHOTOGRAPHERS John Liviero,

Sooters Photography Michael Pietrangelo Glenn Gervais Dan Boshart Zishan Ali Vicki Bartel Mile 90 Photography Travis Latam

ADVERTISING SALES 519-979-5433 VICE PRESIDENT ADVERTISING SALES

Masks are essential.

Charles Thompson 519-818-7352

However, they also reduce the clarity of speech and eliminate the use of visual cues.

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3Speak clearly to those wearing a mask 3Rephrase and restate words that are missed

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SOUND HEARING CARE

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Nearing retirement? What questions should you ask?

The recent market volatility has affected just about everybody’s financial and investment situations – so, if you were planning to retire soon, will it still be possible?

Here are a few areas to consider, and some questions to ask yourself: Retirement goal – Now is a good time to review your retirement goals and assess your progress toward achieving them. You may want to work with a financial professional to determine if the current environment has materially affected your goals or if you need to make modest adjustments to stay on track.

Retirement lifestyle – You probably created your investment strategy with a particular type of retirement lifestyle in mind. Perhaps you had planned to become a world traveler when your working days were over. Of course, in the near term, extensive travel may not be possible, anyway, but once we move past the pandemic, your freedom to roam will likely return. But if your investment portfolio is not where you thought it might be, can you (or do you want to) adapt your lifestyle plans? And can you accept the same flexibility with your other lifestyle goals, such as purchasing a vacation home, pursuing hobbies, and so on?

Tradeoffs – Based on your retirement goals and your willingness to adjust your retirement lifestyle, you’ll want to consider your options and tradeoffs. For example, would you be willing to work more years than you had originally planned in exchange for greater confidence in your ability to enjoy a comfortable retirement lifestyle? By working longer, you can continue adding to your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) or similar retirement plan, and you may be able to push back the date you start receiving CPP/QPP and/or OAS to receive bigger monthly benefits. You might also review your budget for opportunities to reduce spending today and potentially save more toward your retirement goals.

CPP/QPP and OAS – You can file for CPP/QPP benefits as early as 60, but the amount you receive will be higher the longer you wait.

The standard age to take CPP benefits is age 65 but can be deferred until age 70, with each month of deferral resulting in an increased benefit. Similarly, OAS claims can be deferred beyond age 65 to benefit from higher payments. As you created your retirement plans, you likely also calculated when you would take CPP/QPP and OAS, but you may need to review those choices. If you postpone retirement a few years, what effect will that have on when you choose to make your claims and, consequently, the size of your benefits? You won’t want to make a hasty decision, because once you start taking CPP/QPP and/or OAS, you can’t undo your choice.

This is certainly a challenging time to be entering retirement, and you’ll have some questions to answer. But even in the midst of uncertainty, you still have many choices. Consider them carefully and make the decisions that work for you.

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

Don Harris

LaSalle Centre 519 969 3825

Chris Horovenko Tecumseh Rd. at Norman 519 944 2971

Julie Charrette

LaSalle 519 966 5046

John Atkinson

Riverside East 519 944 9080

www.edwardjones.com

Steven Kidd

LaSalle 519 734 8599

John Wood

Tecumseh Rd. at Forest Glade 519 739 9583

Colin Duggan South Windsor 519 967 0084

Diane Santing

Tecumseh Centre 519 979 7334

Matthew Sears Windsor St. Rose 519 945 6165

Dean Doster

St. Clair Beach 519 979 5555

Theresa King

Belle River 519 727 1041

Dave Freeman Cabana Near Howard 519 967 0084

Mark Szarek

Leamington 519 324 0144

Jennifer Johnson

Windsor on Howard Ave. 519 969 1419

Mitchell Shields

Leamington 519 324 0144

Sean Hunt

South Windsor 519 972 6389

Dennis McDonald Kingsville 519 733 6186

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Publisher’s Note The warm weather seems to have had a hard time getting started this year. Now that it is finally here, let us enjoy it as much as we can. It is my hope that the sunshine and warmer days will lift our spirits as we negotiate life in the face of a second year of restrictions. I hope that you are enjoying the outdoors again. Whether that is walking through your neighbourhood, riding your bike, outdoor sports or enjoying one of our many area parks, the sun on our skin is the best medicine for positivity.

It appears that many of us are planning staycations and doing everything we can to stay safe and healthy. Planning events, when allowed, with a small group of friends will most likely be the way of the near future.

With that said it is time to do some sprucing up around our homes. With all of us spending so much more time in our abodes, the priority for many of us is to make our palaces more personal, liveable and usable.

Maybe it is a bit of landscaping, or a complete home addition. Now is the time for many of us to prepare for a summer of home enjoyment and entertaining.

With all the restrictions that our area has seen over the past year, it is imperative that we remember our neighbours who own businesses. Whether that is the corner store, your local pub, your favourite family-owned restaurant, furniture store or manufacturer and installer, it is important that we support each other to ensure that our entire community thrives. Buy something. Order something. Support local business and keep our money local. That helps to keep food on everyone’s table. Then, your neighbour has the money to support their favourite local charity so that those in need can also get a helping hand.

It has never been more important for us to stick together as a community. To support our local businesses and charitable organizations. By supporting each other, our area will continue to thrive and prosper.

There is a reason why our area is known for its generous residents and its sense of community.

As always, remember the three W’s. Wear Your Mask, Wash Your Hands and Watch Your Distance.

Sincerely,

Bob Robinson

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68 ON THE COVER An inviting outdoor kitchen, clad in hewn limestone accentuates the custom design of this Lakeshore backyard.

DEPARTMENTS

Photography by Michael Pietrangelo See page 14

65

F E AT U R E S 14

MULTI-PURPOSE DESIGN

36

THE TEST OF DISTANCE AND TIME

42

ULTRAMARATHON

François Brûlé Runs 100 Miles For Charity

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BON APPETIT!

64

HOROSCOPE

52

A GRAND DISCOVERY

44

LEAVE A LEGACY

Creating a Lasting Legacy In Your Community

PEACE IN NATURE

Glenn Gervais Shares Beauty Through Photography 61

HEATHER CHAUVIN

Dying To Be A Good Mother 65

Builders Find WWI Artillery Canon

Madeline Doornaert’s Muddy Water 28

NEW & NOTICED

58

The Chatham Aeronauts Flying Club

A Place for Everyone Under the Sun 22

SCRAPING THE CLOUDS

32

PURE CREATIVITY

Hair Suspension Artist Deanna Papineau 68

OCCASIONAL MIRACLES

Windsorites Install Backyard Putting Greens

In This Issue

Solutions Moving forward without moving out Accessing your home equity can help boost your retirement income, ease pressure on your pensions and investments, and help you stay put.

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

If that sounds like your situation, you may want to consider accessing the equity in your home to help boost your retirement income. One of the most common ways to do this is through a secured line of credit (also called a home equity line of credit).

A secured line of credit lets you borrow what you need, when you need it, at a very favourable interest rate because your loan is secured, or guaranteed, by your home.

In addition to helping you stay in your home longer, there are other potential advantages. When you access your home equity: n Your withdrawals are tax-free, unlike withdrawals from registered accounts such as Registered Retirement Savings Plans and Registered Retirement Income Funds n You may be able to avoid cashing out other investments and locking in losses when markets are volatile n You can ensure ready availability of funds to meet unexpected home or health care expenses n You can reduce the cost of other debts by transferring those balances to the secured line of credit (if the interest rate is lower than your other loans) Keep in mind that you may need to have enough cash flow from other sources to cover the monthly interest payments on the secured line of credit. To protect yourself and keep interest costs from becoming a burden, it’s a good idea to put a cap on the amount you borrow – for example, 20 per cent of the value of your home.

Your home is an important asset that should figure in your overall retirement planning. Schedule a no-cost appointment with me to find out how well this approach fits your personal situation. And plan to enjoy your retirement knowing that reaching this milestone with less saved than you hoped for doesn’t necessarily mean you need to sell the home you love. n 12016 Manulife Bank Homeowner Debt Survey, www.manulifebank.ca/debtresearch. The Manulife Bank of Canada poll surveyed 2,373 Canadian homeowners in all provinces between the ages of 20 and 59 with household income of more than $50,000. The survey was conducted online by Research House between February 3 and February 20, 2016. National results were weighted by province, income and age.

INTERESTEd IN lEARNINg MoRE, PlEASE CAll oR EMAIl Barbara Allen, HBA, CFP Senior Financial Advisor Manulife Securities Incorporated Life Insurance Advisor Manulife Securities Insurance Inc. Direct Line 519-250-0515 519-250-5190, ext. 409 Barbara.Allen@manulifesecurities.ca 2255 Cadillac Street, Windsor Manulife, Manulife & Stylized M Design, Stylized M Design and Manulife Securities are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it, and by its affiliates under license.

A symphony of lawnmowers serenades every neighbourhood. Birds are returning. The trees are going to give it another try with their leaves. And Windsor Life Magazine brings stories of people finding ways to live their lives while navigating around the restrictions of lockdowns, social distancing, and the “new normal”.

Following a 32-year career in policing, local photographer, Glenn Gervais, finds peace in nature and shares its beauty through his photography.

Three Windsorites show us how it’s done, installing their very own mini golf courses.

Three golf aficionados talk about making that dream a reality.

The skies are a-buzz with flying scale and sport aircrafts, sailplanes, helicopters and drones as members of the Chatham Aeronauts Flying Club take to the sky.

Don’t try this at home: Aerialist Deanna talks about life as a professional, internationally acclaimed multi-discipline aerial performer, hair suspension artist, artistic director, choreographer, aerial coach and registered yoga teacher.

Heather Chauvin, host of the wildly popular “Mom Is In Control” podcast talks about her debut book about motherhood: Dying To Be A Good Mother. Heather’s personal development journey accelerated seven years ago, with an unfortunate call to action: a cancer diagnosis.

Local musician, Madeline Doornaert, releases her debut album, Muddy Water. Critics agree, the power of her voice eclipses most singers twice her age and her lyrics astonish with their dizzying poetic beauty.

François Brûlé talks about the two days he will spend running a 100 mile lap around Windsor and Essex County to raise money for the Canadian Fallen Firefighter Foundation.

On December 14th, construction workers digging up the former baseball diamond in Amherstburg’s Centennial Park discovered something decidedly peculiar: a century-old German 77 Field Gun, from WWI. East meets west in a Lakeshore backyard, where a large family shares where they unwind together with yoga in the Zen garden, kick back on Muskoka chairs and roast sausages over the firepit.

LEAVE A LEGACY™ is a national public awareness program that runs throughout May and encourages Canadians to make gifts through a will, life insurance, or other gift-planning instruments to the charitable organizations of their choice.

Happy reading.

Stocks, bonds and mutual funds are offered through Manulife Securities Incorporated. Insurance products and services are offered through Manulife Securities Insurance Inc. Banking products and services are offered through referral.

FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR ALL LIFE EVENTS SINCE 1995

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Clockwise from top left: A Lakeshore backyard designed to please a big blended family features an extra-large swimming pool; two majestic lion figures stand guard, protecting the family and their home; on a circular flagstone patio at the foot of the yard, stories are swapped around the firepit at night, when the dad breaks out his homemade sausages for roasting.

The firepit is able to burn real wood logs or natural gas.

BARBECUES AND BUDDHA

Playing and Meditating in a Lakeshore Backyard STORY BY KAREN PATON-EVANS / PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL PIETRANGELO

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begin with a good design,” says Heidi. The couple engaged Flood’s Nursery Farm to bring together all the items on the family’s wish list through intentional planning.

The landscaping team began with the major existing feature in the backyard: the substantial exterior of the red brick and ivory stucco contemporary classic house. It was incorporated as the backdrop to the outdoor décor theme. Two tall storeys are punctuated by long Palladian windows, with curved tops arches echoed in the arched accesses to the big covered patio attached to one end of the home.

“We graded the yard at many different elevations, starting with the covered patio attached to the house – the highest level,” Heidi says. The structure offers cooling shade and protection from the elements. “The second tier catches more sun, ideal for relaxing and exercising. Lower down at the pool level is the fun-filled, busy area.

Our yard finally tapers down to a grassy spot, where our firepit is.”

Natural stone, stamped concrete that mimics stone and other hardscaping help define the zones. Chunky elephant rocks form borders to contain plantings. Stone also clads the pool house ▼

EAST MEETS WEST IN A LAKESHORE BACKYARD, where the large family can unwind together with yoga in the Zen garden or kick back on Muskoka chairs and roast sausages over the firepit.

Savvy landscape design enables them to spend more time on yard play than yard work.

Installed after the custom house was built 16 years ago, the harmonious layout of the spacious property reflects the homeowners’ attention to detail and their willingness to receive great advice from two very important sources: their kids and landscape professionals.

Sharing two sons and three daughters, ages six through 12 back in 2004, Heidi and Joe dreamed of a yard that would keep pace with their growing family.

“We wanted to create our own personal oasis that was multifunctional and divided into different areas where we could have fun with our family and entertain our friends,” the mom says. “For our kids, it was all about the swimming pool.”

The 4,800 square foot house, containing five bedrooms, five bathrooms and a finished basement, took up a good section of the half-acre lot. To maximize the remaining outdoor space, “we had to

and outdoor kitchen. When concrete was poured to create the island countertop, fossil and seashell images were pressed into it.

“Although everything is 16 years old, all the hard surfaces are great,” Heidi notes. An upgrade done several years ago looks seamless: “we added a halfheight brick wall around the covered patio to enclose it a bit more.”

Substantial slabs of limestone and elephant rock appear as though water has been over their ledges forever. The rock was arranged so two separate waterfalls can cascade into the deep end of the saltwater swimming pool. When the pumps aren’t on, the rocks serve as twin diving platforms.

Relax Pools built the pool. “At the time, they said it was double the size of a normal pool,” Heidi recalls. “We chose a saltwater system because we find it is gentler on your skin and hair and easier to maintain than chlorine.”

The brilliant blue of the swimming pool pops against the home’s red brick. Stamped concrete provides durable decking around the pool, helping to prevent slips and falls. Black wrought iron chaises are situated for sunbathing. Complemented by deep red Sunbrella fabric cushions, the wrought iron collection from Patio Palace is repeated throughout the yard.

Two individual sound systems were installed in the backyard. One is by the pool house “so our kids can listen to their own music when swimming,” the mom says. “The second system plays our music on the covered patio.”

Nature’s own harmony is welcome whenever mother and daughters retreat to a quiet spot near the waterfalls and framed by barberry bushes. Tranquil

This page clockwise from right: The covered patio’s collection of filigreed black wrought iron furniture and deep red seat cushions are repeated in other outdoor rooms; double waterfalls gush into the swimming pool. When the water is turned off, the rocky ledges serve as diving platforms; accentuating the house is a band of green boxwood, clipped for a formal note. Round pale green heads of hydrangeas bob above the border; a figure of Buddha sits serenely in the yard, inspiring the mom and her daughters to meditate and do yoga.

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looking statuary reflect Heidi’s desire for Zen. “One of my favourites is the big head of Buddha, an icon of awareness and knowledge surrounded by grasses and below a starburst tree. We placed it facing the house to attract positive energy.” A tall black pagoda lamp made of sturdy concrete adds practical illumination.

“When the weather is nice, my girls and I like to do stretches, yoga and reading out in the yard.”

An upbeat mix of figures populate the property. A reclining statue of a barefooted person sprawled across the outdoor kitchen’s eating bar is a great conversation starter – and a lighthearted reminder to relax.

Clever placement of greenery helps the family achieve their desire for privacy, “so we can’t see what the neighbours are doing and passersby can’t see us,” says the mom.

To this end, “every tree, plant and shrub was thought out before planting. It was necessary to incorporate natural elements that are true to our area.”

Firs, spruce, cedars and dwarf and Australian pines provide year-round cover and protection. Sunburst locust trees on either side of the pool house are valued for their pretty, delicate foliage. Purple beech by the waterfall and Japanese red maple inject further colour and visual interest into the yard. “Around the house, clipped boxwood hedges add formal flare, with white hydrangeas popping above them,” Heide points out. She also loves sees papaya waving against the red brick walls.

Selecting a range of hardy perennials that would thrive in Essex County’s extreme seasons has resulted in an annual show of attractive leaves and short-lived but lovely flowers. Varieties of shade-tolerant hostas and sun-happy grasses; Annabelle hydrangeas that produce big white lacy blooms; and rich burgundy and yellow day lilies each take their turns as the stars of the garden beds. Between the waterfall rocks, dainty yellow tickseed and succulent chicks and hens can handle the summer heat.

“There is always something in bloom in the beds, from early spring through to late fall,” says Heidi.

Enjoying their yard for three seasons, the family looks forward to every meal that is grilled on the barbecue near the covered patio.

A favourite treat is dad’s homemade sausages, roasted over the firepit, “away from the rest of the yard’s features,” Heidi says. “Our firepit can burn real wood

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logs or we can flick a switch for convenient natural gas.”

“Some of my best memories are around the bonfire with our kids. We tell lots of stories and have loads of fun out there,” the mom says. “Our backyard has also become the popular place for extended family and friends to gather. We have hosted Canada Day events, birthday celebrations and my oldest daughter’s engagement party.”

It is also a wonderful place to staycation.

Rather than crawling through congested traffic to reach a cottage in the woods, the family steps through their backdoor and escapes into their private retreat. “Our aim was to build a spot of our own with the feel of northern Ontario, mixed with a bit of Zen,” Heidi says. “I think we achieved that.”

The front of the yard received equal thought and care. Wishing to greet arriving guests with a pleasant approach to the front door, Heidi and Joe gave a green thumbs up to entrance gardens. The splashing of a water fountain is a calming touch that refreshes wild birds flying about the neighbourhood. The family also appreciates the beautiful view from the large windows overlooking the front gardens.

Guarding the property are two regal lion statues. “Those two little guys are the keepers of our yard,” Heidi chuckles. Coco the family cat may have something to say about that.

When envisioning and establishing a successful property design, Heidi believes, “Patience is key.”

Sixteen summers have given the trees plenty of opportunity to put down deep roots, soar upwards and spread their branches wide. Shrubs are prevented from taking over with periodic trimming. “The upkeep is mostly thinning out, which lets us share overgrown perennials with friends who want to beautify their own yards,” the mom observes. “Here, everything keeps getting better with time.”

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 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.

Back to Contents

ANGIE GOULET & ASSOCIATES

RANKED #18

OF THE TOP RE/MAX TEAMS IN THE WORLD* *BASED ON MEDIUM RESIDENTIAL TEAM 2020 STATS BY RE/MAX INTERNATIONAL

INTRODUCING OUR NEWEST TEAM MEMBER!

KATIA AUGUSTIN Sales Representative

Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Katia is bilingual in French and English. As the owner of a number of properties, she has first-hand experience with real estate processes. It is that experience along with a fascination with architecture and design that made her choose real estate as a career.

Prior to that, Katia worked as a journalist for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, a career which provided her with great research skills, communication skills and the ability to work under pressure.

A self-proclaimed lifelong student, she completed a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the Université de Montréal and two master’s degrees: one in Gender & Development from the University of Sussex in Brighton, England--thanks to a scholarship from the Rotary Club in Belle River--and the other in Political Science from the University of Windsor.

Windsor is one of Canada’s best kept secret, according to Katia who has travelled the world. She loves the city for its rich history, “small town-city” vibe and its proximity to Detroit.

What is certainly not a secret is Katia’s focus as a REALTOR®: She strives to find the best solution for all her clients and fulfill their real estate needs whether it is selling or buying a home or an income property no matter the price range.

ANGIE GOULET BROKER TEAM LEADER

Experience the Difference 519-944-5955 angiegouletandassociates.com imovewindsor@gmail.com

Buy Local and Let The Sun Shine In! SINCE 1974, Seaton Sunrooms has been providing Windsor-Essex with premium quality sunrooms and custom-made products—all locally manufactured with care, pride and distinguished by the “Ontario Made” logo.

Founded by Vern and Linda Seaton, their daughter Brooke and her husband Jason Watorek purchased the business in 2014. Now that Vern and Linda are retired, Brooke and Jason continue to lovingly operate the business the Seaton family built.

Brooke says, “Living in Windsor-Essex means warm, balmy springs, humid summers, gorgeous autumns and relatively mild winters (compared to the rest of Ontario). Even so, we have our share of unpredictable weather that can put a damper on enjoying the outdoors.”

As the pandemic wears on, we continue to spend more time at home. For those who normally travel, staying home may mean significant savings, increased restlessness and cabin fever!

If ever there was a time to think about a custom sunroom, a fixed screen sunroom or motorized retractable screens, that time is now.

“A well-designed, solidly constructed sunroom, patio cover or retractable screens can help your family make the best of the pandemic, while also enhancing the beauty and value of your home,” Brooke notes. Glass walls are easy to clean and disinfect, creating a lovely space to safely entertain the people in your trusted circle.

The popular Three Season Sunroom can be used nearly all year long, except when winter weather becomes extreme. The Four Seasons Sunroom is designed for even more enjoyment of natural light, landscapes and fresh air.

“The installation went as planned and on time. The quality of work was exceptional.” – Brian & Joyce

Motorized screens are also very popular and practical. When the sun gets too hot in the late afternoon or when the mosquitoes start biting at dusk, the touch of a button brings instant protection, comfort and relief.

It’s also possible to secure a retractable screen to your garage door, porch, pool house or gazebo. Purpose-made mesh repels insects and filters strong sunlight, cooling temperatures by as much as 80%.

“Our Seaton products are made with our own proprietary aluminum extrusions that won’t rot or rust,” says Jason. “All glass and roof panels are cut to order by our team. This allows us to create a unique design that complements your home, instead of attempting to retrofit a prefabricated sunroom kit.”

Jason adds, “I measure your home to make sure your custom sunroom is built right. For your health and peace of mind, I can work from outside. We also take great care when installing your sunroom to keep you—and our team—safe.”

The Seaton Sunrooms collection of seasonal and year-round sunrooms, retractable screens, shutters and design ideas can be seen at the beautiful, newly renovated Rhodes Drive showroom.

“With 3,000 square feet of display space, it’s certainly large enough for physical distancing”, Brooke notes. Mask-wearing is mandatory and the showroom is cleaned immediately after visitors leave.

Brooke, Jason and the Seaton Sunrooms team look forward to showing you how to make the most of every season!

SEATON SUNROOMS 4600 Rhodes Dr. Unit 2, Windsor ON EC Row Exit on Central South

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MUDDY WATER Local Musician Madeline Doornaert Releases Debut Album STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN / PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRAVIS LATAM

MADELINE DOORNAERT describes her current sound with one word: Nostalgic.

“My style is unique in that it blends classic pop, folk and the work of contemporary singer-songwriters,” Madeline explains.

“My sound reflects a real love for that retro pop and soul.”

At 22, Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. The power of her voice eclipses most singers twice her age and her lyrics astonish with their dizzying poetic beauty.

“Music is a constant for me,” Madeline recalls. “When I was young, I remember sitting at the piano at my parent’s house, trying to come up with the lyrics. Music has always been a big part of my life. I can’t remember a specific start date. I don’t remember hearing something and saying, ‘Wow! I want to do that!’ It’s just always been there for me.”

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Madeline’s first performance was in the seventh grade, as part of a pop-folk duo she formed with her friend, Addie Burrows, called GeorgiaRose.

“Our first performance was at a place called the Blind Dog,” Madeline states. “Unfortunately, the venue no longer exists! We were pretty nervous! It was a half-hour set of our original songs and arrangements. It was amazing to get out there and perform at such a young age.”

Before long, Madeline was performing at venues across Windsor and Essex County.

“We started doing festivals all over town,” Madeline explains.

“Art in the Park. The Strawberry Festival. Around the same time, we started recording our own original music. We got ahold of this audio interface and recorded our songs on GarageBand.”

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Madeline has performed at countless local events. However, when it comes to her favourite show, she points to the time she embarked on a local tour with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.

“It was amazing!” Madeline exclaims. “I performed three songs with the Windsor Symphony String Orchestra. It just brought the songs that I was singing to a whole different level. The only way I can describe it is as cinematic.”

When it comes to her musical influences, Madeline has diverse palette. She points to a number of 70s singer-songwriters, such as Carole King, Janis Ian, Buffy Sainte-Marie, James Taylor and George Harrison. And when it comes to her contemporary tastes, she is a fan of Madison Cunningham and John Mayer.

And now, after years of developing her musical repertoire, Madeline has released her debut album: Muddy Water.

“When creating the album, I look to identify connections that could withstand the test of distance and time,” Madeline recalls. “I started writing it a while back.

But, when the pandemic hit, the message of long and enduring friendship became all the more important in these times of loneliness and isolation. Those messages really resonated with me.”

The album was named after the title track, “Muddy Water.” The song, Madeline explains, best represents the themes she was looking to convey.

“The song is all about those lifelong connections and those lasting friendships that survive despite hardship and adversity,” Madeline states. “I used nature imagery to depict that. So, if you’re standing in muddy water—and that muddy water represents the hardship that you encounter in life— having someone there with you can sometimes make it less hard.”

As with her GeorgiaRose endeavors, Madeline did not embark on this venture alone. Her longtime partner, Dane Roberts, underscores her wise and insightful songs with smooth leads, energetic acoustic guitars and analog percussion.

“Dane records everything for me,” Madeline explains. “He’s my producer. And he not only produced all the music on my album, but he also played almost all the instruments on it too.”

Muddy Water covers a lot of autobiographical ground – childhood memories in “Sunscreen,” abuse unmasked in “Harvey High School,” frustration at being gaslighted in “Running Back” and self-advocacy in “Lost It In The Laundry.”

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And beyond expressing her own firsthand experience, the album includes powerful storytelling, particularly in “Baby Calf,” a bright and uptempo song that narrates the harsh reality of life for calves born in the dairy industry.

“I was inspired to write a ‘Baby Calf ’ when Charlotte’s Freedom Farm posted a picture of a baby calf called Norman,” Madeline states. “It’s a local sanctuary that saves animals from the local animal agriculture industry. And I thought Norman was so beautiful. His eyes were so soulful. I was happy that he was saved from the dairy industry. But I was inspired to write a song for all the calves that weren’t saved.”

Madeline cites Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” as a direct inspiration.

“I admired how she shared a really serious message,” Madeline explains. “But conveyed it in a way that people could connect with. She was able to draw them in with her incredible songwriting and I wanted to emulate that.”

Another song on the album that Madeline is particularly proud of is “Sing Up, Sing Softly.”

“The song is about that introverted kind of love,” Madeline states. “It’s all about not needing those words of affirmation or those actions of affirmation to know that somebody is there for you and that somebody loves you.”

Muddy Water was produced with grant funding from the City of Windsor's Arts, Culture, and Heritage Fund, and presented in partnership with Soul City Music Co-op.

“The grant was really helpful in getting the album off the ground,” Madeline explains. “I was able to pay some of the musicians that were brought in to help record instrumentals. I was able to pay Dane for his production. And I was also able to hire local musician Mike Hargreaves to help with mixing and mastering.”

While the pandemic has impacted Madeline's plans to promote the album and celebrate it with in-person performances, she intends to forge ahead with companion pieces.

“I plan to eventually create some visualizer videos for a few tracks on the album, like ‘Lost It in the Laundry,’ ‘Sing Up, Sing Softly’ and ‘This Kind of Love’'” Madeline states. “I will also be working to create a series of live play-through videos for some of the tracks as well.”

Muddy Water is available now on all streaming platforms and at Madeline’s website: madelinedoornaert.com.

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Main: 519-969-9844 Toll Free: 1-866-422-7988 Web: www.shibleyrighton.com 2510 Ouellette Avenue, Suite 301, Windsor, Ontario N8X 1L4 M a y / J u n e

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QUINN ROOFING SOLUTIONS HAVE YOU EVER considered how important a high-quality roof is to your home?

Ask Quinn Roofing Solutions co-owners Ken and Sue Quinn!

• Like the foundation, the roof is fundamental to the structural integrity of your home

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• Weather can present principal challenges.

Our climate has become increasingly intense: high winds, heavy rain, hail, ice and snow all take their toll on your roof. You’ll want to make sure yours can withstand the rigors of Windsor-Essex weather • It’s essential that your roof repels all water and moisture. You may not know if your roof is leaking – and that’s a real problem. Any amount of moisture can result in damage to decking and structural support. Moisture can also damage to other areas of your property (such as mold) • Energy-efficiency is another important consideration. Did you know you can lose as much as 50% of your home’s energy due to a poorly performing roof? This can mean loss of cool air in our hot humid, summers or heat loss during winter. That’s money out the window!

• What about beauty? Your roof is the crowning glory on your home. Beauty means greater curb appeal, which translates into higher property value.

“Whether you need roof repairs for a sudden leak or it’s time to replace your roof entirely, we can meet you, determine your needs and guarantee

Ken and Sue Quinn of Quinn Roofing Solutions

your satisfaction,” Ken promises. “With regular inspections and maintenance, you can avoid unpleasant, unsafe surprises”.

When you choose Quinn Roofing Solutions, you benefit from superior experience and knowledge of cutting-edge roofing products and techniques, plus a wealth of manufacturer training programs and professional certifications.

On the job site, a Health and Safety Coordinator and Quality Control Manager visit regularly to ensure all work is completed safely, on time and on budget. A dedicated Project Manager also leads each project through from start to finish.

“We’ve secured and maintained longstanding, exclusive memberships and certifications with Canada’s top roofing manufacturers, which means a superior level of service. We’re committed to advising every client and help them make smart, sustainable choices,” Sue says.

Ken adds, “We know and understand that obstacles can arise during any project, but we have the knowledge, staff and know-how to overcome any challenge.”

This family owned, family operated company has made major investments in employee health, safety and wellbeing.

“We are always in total compliance with workplace safety regulations. We place high importance on an inclusive, enjoyable workplace with opportunities for our employees to learn, develop and grow.

An exceptional Health and Safety Management Program promotes and ensures a safe, secure working environment.

As proud, passionate Windsorites, Ken and Sue also believe in sharing their success.

“Windsor can rely on us—whether it’s supporting Farrow Miracle Park, In Honour of the Ones We Love, the Windsor Essex Community Foundation “Inspiration 100”, donating food or donating a roof, we’re here for our community. Just like our clients, employees and families, we live and work here, too.”

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FOR THE FALLEN François Brûlé Runs 100 Miles for Charity STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN / PHOTOGRAPHY BY MILE 90 PHOTOGRAPHY FROM 5 AM ON MAY 29TH to 9 pm on May 30th, you might catch a glimpse of him. At first glance, he might not draw too much attention to himself. Just a 56-year-old man in running shoes, with a pair of water bottles strapped to his vest.

‘Just another person trying to stay in shape throughout the pandemic,’ you might say to yourself. Or maybe: ‘Just another man enjoying a leisurely jog during the nice weather.’

However, depending on where and when you catch sight of him, Assistant Deputy Fire Chief François Brûlé might have been enjoying a leisurely jog for 40 hours.

An ultramarathon (also called ultra distance or ultra running) is, well, exactly what it sounds like. Defined as any foot race longer than 42.195 kilometers, a typical ultramarathon can last anywhere from 6 hours to 10 days. Some can even encompass distances of 1000 miles.

Why anyone would willingly subject their body to such torment is beyond most reasonable people. But François has found a good reason. He will be spending almost 2 days running a 100-mile lap around Windsor and Essex County to raise money for the Canadian Fallen Firefighter Foundation.

François Brûlé, a lifelong Lakeshore resident, has been a volunteer firefighter for 23 years.

“It sounds cliché, but I’ve always loved helping people,” François states. “I was in the Naval Reserves as a Medic. So, I’ve always had the inkling to help out medically, and to serve. I did that for eight years. And then, through school, I got into sports medicine. I was an Athletic Therapist back in the day, helping out athletes.”

After leaving his career as an Athletic Therapist, François found himself searching for something to fill the void. Fortunately, he saw an ad for the Lakeshore Fire Department in the local paper.

François recalls. “It was the first municipal amalgamation of the municipality of Lakeshore. So, I took on the challenge. I applied!”

Twenty-three years later, François concedes that things worked out. In 2019, he was promoted to Assistant Deputy Fire Chief of the Lakeshore Fire Department.

And after years of serving with his fellow firefighters, François is intimately familiar with the dangers of the profession.

“Firefighting is inherently dangerous,” François admits. “We’re trained to follow our training and our operating guidelines. We do the best we can. But it’s still dangerous—either directly, due to events at an incident or because of things like occupational illness and disease resulting from exposure.”

Cancer is one of the better-known occupational hazards of the profession.

“These are things we’re seeing more and more of,” François states. “Everything in your house is synthetic. Your furniture. Your clothing. Pretty much everything you own. When those combust and burn, there are toxic materials being created and released. And although we’re wearing protective equipment and breathing apparatus, it can still get in our pores and our lungs in some shape or form. There’s also the whole mental health and wellness aspect that firefighters and all first responders have to deal with.”

As a result of these dangers, several organizations have risen to support firefighters.

One of these charities is the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation (CFFF), an organization created to honour and remember firefighters who have fallen in the line of duty and support their families. They were responsible for creating the National Firefighters Memorial in Ottawa.

Inspired by the CFFF, and an avid ultramarathon runner, François has decided to run 100 miles around Windsor and Essex County to raise money for the charity.

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Francois Brule at the Hennepin 100 on October 5, 2019. This race ran from Sterling, Illinois to Colona, Illinois.

When asked to describe the sensation of running such great distances, François has only one word: “PAIN.” François replies. “You are going to experience pain. It might start towards the end.

It might start as early as midway. You’re not injured, but it is pain. And pain plays games with the mind. It tells you, ‘Hey, it’s time to rest. You should stop. You should do this. You should do that.’ The pain is going to stay. It’s not going to go away. It might be easy to pack it in. It might be easy to put your feet up. But, as soon as you do that, within the hour, you’re going to be kicking yourself. You’ll wonder why you let yourself quit.”

Most ultramarathons feature aid stations every 5 to 7 miles. Thanks to the pandemic, François will be undertaking this event alone.

“Most races have aid stations at regular intervals, so you know you can have fuel and drinks,”

François explains. “In some cases, you have the opportunity to see your crew or even change some of your clothes. And you know it’s all preset and predetermined. You can plan your race strategy accordingly.

With COVID everything that’s going on, we can’t have aid stations every five miles.

I’ll be relying on what’s open out there and family and friends.”

François estimates that the trek should take him just under two days.

“It’s not a race,” François states. “The objective is just to get through the journey.

I’m not competing against anyone. I’m just going to enjoy it and get through it.”

François’s route will take him through areas serviced by eight different municipal fire departments, including the Lakeshore Fire Department, the Leamington Fire Department, the Kingsville Fire Department, the Essex Fire Department, the Amherstburg Fire Department, the LaSalle Fire Department, the Windsor Fire Department, and the Tecumseh Fire Department.

“We hope we get the message out to all those areas and beyond,” François explains.

“If someone wants to come out and walk a mile with me, or meet up somehow for a show of support, then that’s something positive.”

And positivity, François stresses, is something the world could use a lot more of in these difficult times.

“We are all going through hard times,” François states. “We’ve been at this pandemic for over a year now. It’s less than ideal. This ultramarathon is a way for me to get out, stay fit and engage with the community. And if I can raise some money for this great cause, then it’s all worthwhile.

That’s the greater good.”

Any and all donations in support of this initiative can be made directly to the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation at the following www.cfff.ca. From there, you can directly support François by selecting Donate Now, Online Donation Form, Fund and then 6-100 Miles for the CFFF. Alternatively, you can mail in a cheque.

“All donations come with a taxable receipt,” François states.

François encourages anyone interested ultramarathon running to dust off a pair of shoes, get outside, be patient, go slow and easy and start pounding the pavement.

“Running 100 miles is not an unreachable goal,” François stresses. “It might not happen overnight, but it can be done.

When we put our minds to it, we can do just about anything.”

WLM Back to Contents

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Canadian Condominium Ins琀tute Windsor Essex Chapter Looking Out For Members’ Mental Health THERE IS A LOT TO LIKE about condominium living: no yard work in the summertime, no shoveling snow in the winter, no worries about replacing a roof, deck, fence, windows.

The machinations required behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly are complex and numerous. To aid residents, owners and property managers, the Canadian Condominium Institute (CCI) was formed in 1982 to serve as a clearing house and research centre on condominium issues and activities across Canada. It is an independent, non-profit organization.

Not only does CCI have experts who can guide managers on maintaining properties, it provides resources and education to make condo living as pleasant an experience as possible.

Case in point: at noon on May 27, CCI is offering an online seminar, via Zoom, about mental health and condominium living amid the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The idea came to volunteer CCI board member, Bruce Rand, who attended the CCI national leadership conference in London, Ontario a few years ago.

“The theme was ‘Mental Health in the Condo Community Living’,” Bruce recalls. “Speakers from across Canada gave talks on the subject. One was a professor from the University of Windsor who lived in a condo, herself, so her personal experiences were particularly insightful.”

In early 2020, Bruce thought it would be beneficial to have the professor give a presentation to Windsor-Essex County CCI members. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“We were organizing the seminar for May 2020,” Bruce says, “but that was shut down because of the pandemic. As the pandemic dragged on, the whole theme of the seminar changed.

A broader approach was needed so we turned to Canadian Mental Health Association.”

In the best of times, large numbers of people living in close proximity, with shared common areas, living different lives, keeping different hours, can be fraught with challenges and issues.

“Every condominium corporation has a ‘Declaration’,” Bruce continues, “which sets out rules and regulations on how things operate. Can residents have pets? If so, what size and how many? There are noise rules.”

In times of a global pandemic, the nuances of condo living have grown more complex.

Whereas residents might check on an elderly neighbour they haven’t seen in a while, the nature of COVID-19’s spread has made it necessary that people interact less and less with each other.

The isolation of repeated lockdowns has frayed the nerves of people, regardless where they live.

“The pandemic has exacerbated the issues and challenges we saw in pre-pandemic times,” says Kim Willis Director, Communications & Mental Health Promotion, Canadian Mental Health Association, Windsor Essex County Branch. “By virtue of how the virus is spread, those living in congregate settings, more closely together, have a heightened risk, which adds stress and anxiety. You can’t control everyone’s behaviour. You might be very stringent about the safety measures you take, but you may have a neighbour who is not. How does that impact you?”

Who can view this mental health seminar?

“Anyone connected to condominium living,” Bruce says, “that includes owners, residents, property manager professionals, even contractors who perform work at properties. The seminar will include a question and answer period.”

At 12 noon on May 27, the seminar will occur via a link found in the “Events” page of CCI’s website, www.cci-windsor.ca, and CCI’s Facebook page.

519-978-3237 | CCIWINDSORESSEX@GMAIL.COM P.O. BOX 22015-11500 TECUMSEH ROAD EAST, WINDSOR, ON N8N 2L0

CCI MEMBERS

519-999-6453

519-977-7117 226-674-1000 *Practising in association with Shibley Righton LLP and not as a partner, associate or employee of Shibley Righton LLP

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Mental Health in the Condo Community Living Seminar – May 27th

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NEWANDNOTICED

WHAT’S POPPIN POPCORN FACTORY

PROPER PICNICS Proper Picnics is Windsor's first luxury picnic company here to help you celebrate all your special occasions in life. You choose the date for this unique experience and Proper Picnics will collaborate with you to find an ideal location. Proper Picnics will take care of the set up and clean up, leaving you free to enjoy moments you will cherish forever! Pictured is Ceana Ussoletti, Creative Director and Founder of Proper Picnics. Visit their website at properpicnics.ca

What’s Poppin’ Popcorn Factory, a local popcorn factory and ice cream parlor, is embarking on the next stage of their business.

After all their events closed down due to COVID, the company decided to reinvent themselves by opening a new retail location at 1395 Tecumseh Road East. What’s Poppin’ Popcorn offers 24 flavours, 7 gourmet chocolate covered and now ice cream! The store also provides fundraising and event options and online orders. Pictured is Christa and Jeff Gamble and their son, Christopher. greatpopcorn.ca. 226-674-1415.

BUDZ BEANZ CANDY BOUQUETS AND MORE SHARING A PURPOSE On May 3rd, Sharing A Purpose officially launched their workshops that will take place throughout the year. Sharing A Purpose was created to fill in the gaps of services within the exceptional community. With starting workshops “Cooking & Baking” and “Exercise & Wellness”, Sharing A Purpose’s motivation is to share our passion to enhance the exceptional population to grow in their individualized goals and to for them to have purpose in the community. Pictured are President, Jody Lowrie and Chief Executive Officer, Gabrielle Saroli, both Co-Founders. www.sharingapurpose.com. 519-257-8163.

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At a time where so many people are feeling down because of the pandemic, a custommade candy or chocolate bouquet from Budz Beanz Candy Bouquets and More is a nice alternative to flower bouquets and a great gift for any occasion! Send them as an alternative to flowers or a sympathy gift! Pictured is owner Jill St. Louis. 519-984-2310. facebook.com/budzbeanzcandy.

LIFETIME WELLNESS CENTRE Lifetime Wellness Centre is moving to a new location at 880 North Service Road Unit#301. Lifetime Wellness Centre has been delivering quality chiropractic care to Windsor and Essex County since 1998.

They strive to provide the highest quality care, based on the best possible science in a supportive, family-friendly environment.

In addition to chiropractic care, massage and naturopathic care, Lifetime Wellness Centre also offers shockwave therapy, neuropathy care, IV therapy and custom orthotics. Pictured is Owner Dr. Jonathan Bekic. 519-250-6288. chiropactorwindsor.com.

THE HOSPICE OF WINDSOR AND ESSEX COUNTY Nancy Brockenshire is set to replace Colleen Reaume as the new Executive Director of The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County. Brockenshire will begin on site at Hospice during the last week of April. Reaume has been the Executive Director for the last three years, and will be supporting the transition throughout the month of May. thehopsice.ca.

519-974-7100.

JULIEN’S HOUSE Julien’s House is a registered charity that offers free bereavement services to Windsor Essex and surrounding communities. Even though services are currently being offered virtually, as of April 23rd, Julien’s House officially has a place to call home. The Gaudet family have donated their home and a one acre parcel of land at 3635 Baseline Road in memory of their 18 year old son Julien, who died from a traumatic brain injury suffered in an automobile related accident. The date marks what would be Julien’s 28th Birthday. Pictured is Christine and Germain Gaudet. julienshouse.ca. 519-945-CARE (2273).

QUINN ROOFING Quinn Roofing is a family owned and operated roofing business that stepped up and helped Family Respite Services by donating the cost for a full roofing system for the new accessible respite home being built at 4400 Howard Ave. Family Respite Services has many programs that operate out of the current home that are in dire need of being replaced. Such programs include an afterschool crisis program, weekend support program and specialized summer day camp program. “The sky is the limit if you have a roof over your head,” a spokesperson from FRS said. “We have zero government funding to build this respite home, so we have relied on the community to respond to this urgent need. We are so grateful for this partnership with Quinn Roofing.” Pictured is Ken and Sue Quinn. familyrespite.org.

THE WINDSOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The Windsor Symphony Orchestra (WSO) has produced a learn-at-home music education package to help children and parents during this challenging school year. The WSO’s digital education programs range from Kindergarten to Grade 6, with 10 digital modules and Grades 7 to 12 with 12 hours of content, plus an additional 4 educational videos released a few weeks ago.

All programs include a virtual classroom visit from Maestro Wiley or Maestro Franz.

Pictured is Music Director Robert Franz. windsorsymphony.com.

Back to Contents 519-973-1238 ext. 2.

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The Smile You’ve Always Dreamed of.

The Comfort and Confidence You Deserve.

CREATING DENTURES that are indistinguishable from natural teeth is an art.

After practicing in Windsor for more than two decades, Parisien Denture Clinic proprietor and denturist Barry Parisien is highly skilled, experienced and passionate about his craft.

“Each patient presents me with a unique opportunity to customize and perfect one of their most valuable assets: their smile!” he says.

“You can count on professional, courteous, compassionate care.

We’re knowledgeable about every aspect of new denture fabrication, fitting, repair, treatments and procedures. We specialize in custom dentures affixed on implants--a process that takes dentures to a whole new level of fit, comfort and quality of life. These are truly permanent teeth that can take as little as one day to complete. And you’ll still look like you…only better!” Barry promises.

“Because we fully understand that feeling good is every bit as important as looking good, we place a strong focus on comfort and function,” Barry adds. “Needless to say, if you can’t talk, eat, drink and laugh with confidence, you’re not going to feel much like doing any of those things. We listen to your challenges, hopes and concerns, then we offer informed solutions. We also have various payment options—including 12-month financing.”

Your new dentures are crafted on-site by highly trained, skilled denturists—from start to finish.

Parisien Denture Clinic stringently complies with all regulations and ethical standards of the Denturist Association of Ontario and the College of Denturists.

“And we are legally permitted to remain open during lockdown

and stay-at-home orders. We have plenty of hand sanitizer, two hospital-grade air purifiers that consistently sterilize the air and plexiglass shielding in our front desk/waiting room area. We take everyone's temperature as soon as they walk in our doors. We insist that everyone wears a mask; I personally wear eye protection and a face shield while treating patients,” Barry emphasizes.

Every chair, doorknob, light switch, counter top and electronic payment machine is sanitized after each use. Only 1 patient at a time is allowed into the office, helping to reduce any contact with others.

Many of these precautions were in place well before the pandemic, but Barry is proud to offer his patients the utmost in safety and peace of mind.

“That means you don’t have to live with loose, uncomfortable, poorly performing, painful teeth during lockdown; we’re open to help you feel better. It’s also the perfect time to have new dentures made!” Barry emphasizes.

If you’ve been losing sleep due to snoring (yours or someone else’s), Barry invites you to call for an appointment. “We may be able to offer helpful options.”

All first consultations are free, so why not find out?

Barry also invites you to visit his YouTube channel (Barry Parisien DD), where you’ll find instructional videos about denture care, maintenance, mouthguards and more. Or watch “How Dentures Are Made” for a behind-the-scenes look at what happens in the denture lab.

It’s been said that the most important thing you wear is your smile. A visit to Parisien Denture Clinic can help ensure yours is the best it can be!

Your Smile is Our Passion!

Get the smile you've always wanted!

Permanent Teeth On Implants • Removable Dentures On Implants Conventional Dentures • Repairs Taken Immediately

BEFORE Previously made traditional dentures

AFTER Dentures created by Parisien Denture Clinic

BEFORE

AFTER

Previously made traditional dentures

Dentures created by Parisien Denture Clinic

BEFORE Previously made traditional dentures

AFTER Dentures created by Parisien Denture Clinic

Your smile is our passion.

At the Parisien Denture Clinic we strive to create your perfect smile.

Whether you've been wearing dentures for a long time or are needing to get them for the first time,we have the treatment that's right for you.

Giving you even more to smile about, we offer convenient financing.

Give us a call today at 519-997-7799 to book your FREE consultation Barry Parisien DD OWNER

375 CABANA RD. E. • 519-997-7799 WWW.PARISIENDENTURES.COM

THE SKY IS THE LIMIT

The Chatham Aeronauts Flying Club

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ON CLEAR, sunny days, just outside of Chatham, you might hear them.

The razor hum of wings slicing through the air with the precision of finely tuned blades. The reverberating, bone-rattling buzz of compact, powerful engines. The whooping laughter of the pilots as their RC planes dance through the white clouds above them.

They are a tightknit, passionate group.

And, according to President Kurt Brown, they are always open to new members.

Kurt Brown first discovered The Chatham Aeronauts Flying Club early last year thanks to everyone’s favourite bottomless time sink: YouTube.

“I was watching YouTube videos with my son,” Kurt recalls. “I was unemployed at the time. But I have a bit of the background of mechanics. My son Sterling and I had come across these videos on a channel called Flight Tests. They make these RC planes out of paper foam you can get at the dollar store. So, I said to my son, ‘Hey, Sterling! I can make one of those! Do you want to make one with me?’”

After making his first plane, Kurt discovered the Chatham Aeronauts Flying Club—an organization that provides a safe environment for the enjoyment and

STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY CHATHAM AERONAUTS FLYING CLUB

Opposite Clockwise from left: The Edge 540; the skeleton of a 4-Star 40; P51 Mustang.

This page clockwise from above: The Piper Cub, Edge 540 and SU-26; P51 Mustang; Extra 300; Morane Saulnier; Yak 56; Fly Baby.

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advancement of radio-controlled model aircrafts.

“I was pretty good at it right away,” Kurt admits. “Before long, I had a collection of gas and nitro powered planes. Large ones.

Small ones. I have some pretty cool stunt planes, too.”

Founded in 1955, the Chatham Aeronauts Flying Club flies several different types of planes, including flying scale and sport aircrafts, sailplanes, helicopters and drones.

“We have all different types of planes,” Kurt states. “Some that look quite realistic.

And we have all different sizes. We have some pretty large stuff, including some with 160 CC engines. Most of our stunt planes are 8 to 10 feet wide and weigh 30 to 40 pounds. It doesn’t sound like a whole lot, but when you see these planes in person, you can’t help but be impressed by them.”

The Chatham Aeronauts Flying Club race their planes at speeds reaching 140 miles per hour.

And aside from model planes, the Chatham Aeronauts Flying Club is currently developing an exciting new project.

“One of our Flight Instructors, Art Reaume, is restoring an old Spitfire that was given to the club years ago,” Kurt reports. “He ended up finding a really nice engine for it. It’s a 150 CC 2-cylinder engine. The wing was 115 inches wide.

He’s been doing a lot of custom work on it.

The way we fly, we need to make sure we can handle whatever we throw at it. He’s been working on it for about two years. It might be ready to fly this summer. And when it does, it’s going to be amazing.”

Kurt describes the sensation of flying one of these planes as unlike anything he’s ever experienced.

“For me, it is something completely different,” Kurt explains. “I’ve had RC cars and nitro trucks in the past. But this is something else. One mistake and you can crash your plane and be out thousands of dollars. That said, once you get the hang of it, you’re in for a lot of fun! Once you conquer it, the sky’s the limit!”

And one of the best parts about learning this new skill, Kurt stresses, is figuring out how to do tricks with these stunt planes.

“There’s a move called a knife edge spin,” Kurt states. “What you do is you go straight up, really high and start rolling the plane. Then, I kick the tail and elevator to get the plane up on its side—as its spinning! And it’s doing all this as its coming

down towards the ground! After that, it comes out inverted and flies away!”

Kurt’s enthusiasm and talents has not gone unnoticed. After only a couple months, right before the pandemic started, Kurt had, as the expression goes, greatness thrust upon him.

“When COVID happened, we decided to temporarily shut down the club,” Kurt explains. “So, I got in touch with the municipality about whether or not we were allowed to be open; if we were allowed to have a couple people outside, in the middle of the field, with social distancing. And it turns out we were allowed to stay open.

After that, the previous President didn’t have as much time for the duties of the role, so they said, ‘Why don’t you be President?’”

Kurt’s response was characteristically deliberate.

“I said, ‘Alright, then,’” Kurt recalls.

The Chatham Aeronauts Flying Club is an inclusive, welcoming community. The club has several qualified instructors for both fixed wing and rotary wing aircrafts.

Aside from the annual membership fee, free instruction is available for all student pilots.

“If anyone wants to learn fly, we do provide lessons for free,” Kurt states. “We even have an aircraft to teach people on. And we’re always happy to teach people. We support people that want to get into this hobby. We want to help out as much as we can.”

And communities, Kurt discovered, have a way of giving back. The winter Chatham Aeronauts Flying Club meetings are held at RM Auto Restorations in Chatham. A couple of the members even work there.

And after spending some time with the group, Kurt was offered a job.

“I was unemployed when I joined the group,” Kurt explains. “Now, I get to work on all these pretty sweet cars! All from learning how to fly planes! Messing around with these RC planes turns out to have been the best decision I’ve ever made!”

More information about the Chatham Aeronauts Flying Club is available at chathamaeronauts.com.

“If the weather is nice, we are always out there,” Kurt states. “You don’t need to fly solo. If you’re looking to learn to fly, I recommend doing it with the group. Don’t just try and fly at a park somewhere. Learn from my mistake—it doesn’t always end well!”

Kurt concludes our interview with one last piece of advice: “As we always say: ‘Taking off is optional. Landing is mandatory!’’”

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WINDSOR CHRYSLER SUPERSTORE Windsor Chrysler Navigates Uncharted Waters and Stays True to Its Course There is a reason why Windsor Chrysler Superstore is the largest sales volume dealer in southwestern Ontario, why it has the largest parts and service departments, and employs 100 full- and part-time people.

Windsor Chrysler changes with the times.

“We’re approaching twenty-five years in business,” says General Manager Ken Tape.

“Car dealerships are a people business.”

So, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, decisions had to be made.

“In the early days, we remained open, but under severe restrictions,” Ken recalls.

“People needed cars serviced. Front-line workers had to get to work.”

The slowdown in sales meant lay-offs, and some felt the dealership should close, entirely, until the pandemic blew over.

“The best way I knew to get the laid-off people working, again, was to keep this machine running,” Ken says. “We had people to take care of.”

People still needed their mobility, to work, to buy groceries. Pandemic or not, they needed cars. As the world comes to uneasy acceptance of lockdown restrictions, life goes on.

“We put a tool on our website that allows customers to start their purchase online,” Ken explains. “It’s like a shopping cart. It allows people to adjust their purchase. If you’re buying a truck and realize, later, you want running boards, you can add them.

You can apply for financing online.”

Appointments to see the vehicle can be made via the online tool (or by phone).

When customers visit Windsor Chrysler, they find all health and safety protocols are followed.

“We don’t go with customers on test drives, anymore,” Ken says. “The cars are thoroughly cleaned each time.”

He continues: “Cars are an emotional purchase. No one has lost that love of seeing the car, smelling the new-car smell. We were among the first to offer discounts to frontline workers, whether they were nurses or supermarket employees.”

Like everyone else, Ken marvels at the tumultuous year we have endured.

“It’s all about making people feel comfortable,” he says. “It’s about respect. I am so proud of my staff and how they looked after people, how they looked after one another.”

To learn more visit windsorchrysler.com.

MEN IN KILTS The Power of the Kilt!

A new chapter in the lives of Ben and Lisa Snow began in 2017 when after 8 years in Alberta, they came back home to Ontario.

After long careers in other business sectors, this passionate duo was thrilled to join Men In Kilts as Windsor-Essex County franchise owners.

Born and raised in Tecumseh, Ben always knew he wanted to live, work and raise his family here. Originally from Toronto, Lisa fell in love with the Windsor lifestyle and the fact that visiting family would now only involve car trips—not airport lineups, expensive flights and jet lag.

“The core values of Men In Kilts aligns directly with our personal and professional ones; this is what drew us to this company from the get-go,” Lisa says. “We knew our combined experience perfectly positioned us to provide exceptional customer service, create local employment opportunities, succeed and grow.”

The “power of the kilt” intrigued Ben, who has some Scottish blood in his DNA. “We love this unique and unforgettable brand, featuring the distinctive Wallace Hunting Tartan plaid kilts and trucks,” Lisa adds.

They are also grateful that even during COVID, Men In Kilts continues to thrive.

“We’re as busy as ever, thanks to our Contactless Cleaning promise. We follow all Windsor Essex County Health Unit/Canada Public Health Agency best practices. Right now, we’re focusing on outside jobs, but if you need inside residential or commercial service, we’ll do our best to find a way to get it done safely for you.”

“No personal contact is necessary to engage us; we can provide

Ben and Lisa Snow

estimates by phone or onsite (even if you’re not home). We can also send estimates and book service requests online. Same goes for payments—we’re equipped to process them online or by phone.”

“Your health and wellbeing— and that of our men in kilts--is of the utmost importance. It guides all of our decisions,” Lisa emphasizes.

From gutter and window cleaning to house washing, pressure washing to moss removal and more—now that the warm weather is here to stay for a while, why not let Men In Kilts give your home or business a beautiful tartan shine?

The power of the kilt also promises 100% satisfaction. Men In Kilts technicians are professionally trained and insured. Primary products used are 100% biodegradable and environmentally friendly. And our services are backed by the “Kilt Clean Guarantee”: if you are ever dissatisfied, simply advise the company within 48 hours and they’ll make it right at no extra cost to you.

“Yes, we show up in kilts, no matter what the weather, time of year or service,” Lisa laughs. “Our consistently high customer service ratings tell us we’re realizing our mission: to bring smiles to the world…one kilt at a time!”

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Recovered Artifact Amherstburg Uncovers WWI German Field Gun STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY MAYOR DICARLO

Mayor Aldo DiCarlo with the recently excavated German 77 Field Gun.

THEY SAY THAT THOSE who forget their history are doomed to repeat it. A quaint sentiment. But, as always, the truth is often much more mundane: Those who forget their history are doomed to find it.

On December 14th, construction workers were digging up the former baseball diamond in Amherstburg’s Centennial Park while building the new high school. However, once their shovels pierced the pitcher’s mound, they discovered something decidedly peculiar.

They uncovered a century-old German 77 Field Gun, a relic from the First World War. And what is most startling about this treasure, Amherstburg Mayor Aldo DiCarlo states, is not that they found an ancient piece of German artillery under the baseball field, but how few residents were surprised.

“There were people who were well aware that it was there,” Aldo laughs. “It seems that during all this discussion about where to build the new high school and the digging, no one bothered to mention that they might come across a forgotten old war trophy underground.”

That disturbed World War I German artillery cannon has been on an incredible adventure. The gun was originally captured by Canadian troops during World War I. It was, along with a little over 1,100 similar trophies— such as Howitzers and trench mortars— shipped over to Canada in 1922.

The Town of Amherstburg reached out to the Militia Department, requesting that the Field Gun artillery cannon be displayed outside the Town's original high school as part of a cenotaph.

“It was delivered by the Dominion War Trophies Commission of Ottawa,” Aldo explains. “We actually found the original Amherstburg Echo article about it from April 28th, 1922.”

The German Field Gun did not make the trip alone. The Town

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of Amherstburg also received a massive Trench Gun, along with an entire armory of weapons, including machine guns, helmets, enemy rifles, pistols, periscope rifles, shell cases and even a piece of a Zeppelin!

For many years, the German Field Gun and Trench Gun stood vigilant outside the Town of Amherstburg high school.

However, several of the Field Guns’ war buddies were called back into active duty for World War II. “We lost the Trench Gun to World War II,” Aldo states. “When the Canadian government started needing more metal during their fight with the Nazis, they took back a lot of our trophies. Especially the big ones, obviously. They melted a lot of them down to make more artillery. But, for some reason, they didn’t want the Field Gun. That’s what makes it so rare!”

Unperturbed at being passed over, the canon maintained its post, on Sandwich Street, for another 30 years. Eventually, it was determined that the Field Gun—and the cenotaph itself—needed to be moved to make room for expansions onto the original high school.

“The cenotaph was moved to Centennial Park,” Aldo explains.

“It stood in the southeast corner, on Simcoe Street.”

Although, Aldo admits, the Field Gun’s reassignment was shortlived. “At some point in the 80s, it was decided that the appropriate place for the cenotaph was the King’s Navy Yard Park,” Aldo states.

“But, at that point, the Field Gun was declared nonrepairable. They thought it was too far gone.”

The Field Gun—stationed atop a four-foot-high plinth of local quarried stone—was buried where it stood. The mound formed the base for the new cenotaph at the King’s Navy Yard Park.

And then, in 1988, the cenotaph was moved once more. The Field Gun remained submerged, forgotten by more and more as the decades passed.

At least, forgotten until 32 years later, when an Equipment Operator for Sterling Ridge Infrastructure disturbed its slumber.

“Coincidentally, they only dug it up because they were building a new high school,” Aldo laughs. “So, the Field Gun started at the current high school’s original location and was only found because they’re building the new high school.”

Reaction to this rediscovery has ranged from complete bewilderment to recognizing a familiar face.

“There’s a lot of excitement!” Aldo explains. “There are people of my generation—and beyond!—who have no idea about its history.

But again, what was interesting was how some of our more distinguished residents, who remember it, weren’t surprised at all. It was, overall, quite a find!”

Aldo has done interviews with several different military organizations curious about the Field Gun, some located as far as the United Kingdom.

“There’s a lot of historians out there,” Aldo states. “And you don’t find relics like this every day. We’re not talking World War II anymore—this goes all the way back to World War I! That makes this thing over 100 years old. Finding something like this is big news.”

The Field Gun has special significance for the Town of Amherstburg, as the municipality was home to several veterans of major skirmishes from the First World War, such as the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

“The Town of Amherstburg has a lot of war history,” Aldo explains. “The Town was actually founded during the War of 1812.

Amherstburg actually started with Fort Malden. It was a British military camp protecting our border. The Town was essentially built around that military establishment. I guess we were nothing more

than Fort Amherstburg, at some point. We have a long history with wars.”

For now, no future plans for the uncovered German Field Gun have been decided on.

“The artillery gun may be over 100 years old,” Aldo states. “But for the Town, as of right now, it’s really only a few months old! We’ve rediscovered it, and so far, the only formal thing that Council has done with it is decided to look into it. My expectation is that it will find a prominent place alongside the cannons we have from the 1800s. Really, the only question is: in what condition?”

The Field Gun is currently being stored in Public Works, where it is protected from the elements.

“We have a military historian who works in our clerk’s office, Mr. Fox,” Aldo reports. “He’s been an absolute cornucopia of information. And he says that, all things considered, our friend is actually in quite good condition! Some of the metal may have corroded away, but despite what it’s been through throughout its lifetime, the bulk of it is still there.”

In short, the 100-year-old German Field Gun is, in fact, quite restorable. “All the military organizations who have reached out to us are interested in restoring it,” Aldo explains. “Now, back then, the wheels were made out of wood. So, they’re long gone. But the hubs they connected to are still there! We can’t exactly go out and buy new wheels. But we can always manufacture new ones.”

That said, restoring the German Field Gun brings up several points. Some believe that it should remain in its original condition, without any modern additions.

“Once you’ve restored it, you can’t get around the fact that it’s not 100% original anymore,” Aldo admits. “So, that’s the big debate! It all depends on what the Town decides is best.”

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Volunteer Members of the Windsor-Essex CAGP Chapter

Patricia Valleau

Gisele Seguin

Kim Willis

Michael Flannagan

Martin L. Sobocan

President Chapter, Principal, Valleau Fundraising Consulting

Director, Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation

Director, Communications and Mental Health Promotion, CMHA Windsor-Essex County

Relationship Manager, United Way/Centraide WIndsor-Essex County

CFP, CLU, CH.F.C., CHS, Financial Advisorl, Sobocan Insurance and Financial Services

Shae Harasym

Kelly Gosselin

Gemma Grey-Hall

Sandra Presland

Peggy Winch

Major Gifts Officer, University of Windsor

Major Gifts Officer, University of Windsor

Major Gifts Officer, University of Windsor

Marketing and Fundraising Manager, Transition to Betterness (T2B)

Manager of Fund Development and Community Engagement, Alzheimer Society of Windsor & Essex County

WINDSOR-ESSEXCOUNTY CHAPTER

Tim A. Jones

Lisa Kolody

Katie Mazzuca

CHS, EPC, Financial Advisor, Rock Harbour Wealth Management

Executive Director, Windsor-Essex Community Foundation

Major Gifts Officer, University of Windsor

Create a Lasting Legacy in Your Community With over 85,000 non-profits and donations totalling over $15 billion, philanthropy is a big business in Canada. According to Imagine Canada, the charitable and non-profit sector represents 8.1% of Canada's GDP and 10.5% of the labour force.

By an early age, most Canadians have participated in some form of philanthropy. Whether it is a bake sale, car wash or bowl-a-thon, we have a desire to improve the community in which we live.

The Canadian tax system is grounded in an unspoken social policy that we all must contribute to society. It is a concept that highly values the social contribution of charities.

While many are familiar with the more traditional forms of philanthropy, legacy giving allows donors to realize tax savings and make a gift that will greatly impact an organization. Legacy giving is something that many people do not consider when creating a will.

In fact, a large number of Canadian individuals do not even have a will.

The month of May provides an opportunity to bring awareness about the possibilities of making a legacy gift to charity. LEAVE A LEGACY™ is a national public awareness program that runs throughout May. This program encourages Canadians from all walks of life to make gifts through a will, life insurance, or other gift-planning instruments to the charitable organizations of their choice.

The LEAVE A LEGACY™ program is one of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP-ACPDP) collaborative efforts to join donors, charities, not-for-profits and professional advisors.

The program has 19 local Canadian organizations that operate under the CAGP-ACPDP.

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"LEAVE A LEGACY™ month provides an opportunity to bring awareness to the importance of making a will. It also allows provides educations regarding leaving a gift for charity as part of your estate plans," says Patricia Valleau, Chair of the Windsor-Essex CAGP Chapter.

Leaving a gift in a will to charity turns the ordinary Canadian into an extraordinary philanthropist. Yet only 5% of Canadians do this. In light of the COVID19 pandemic, it may seem like an inopportune time to think about legacy giving. In fact, the opposite is true. One outcome of the virus is that an increased number of Canadians have written, or re-written, their wills.

LEAVE A LEGACY™ month provides an opportunity to educate individuals and families on how they can make a lasting impact on their communities. The WindsorEssex Community Foundation (WECF) has a strong history of giving. Many local charities have started their legacy giving programs by establishing endowments at WECF. An endowment fund allows charities to plan for the future by generating interest off of their investments. This can be particularly lucrative during times of uncertainty, such as the COVID19 pandemic.

In March 2020, a survey conducted by WECF noted that only 18% of charities remained open, with the other 16% closed and 64 % are working remotely with limited or remote only access to their clients. The survey also reported that the need for services increased 74%, at a time when the community was struggling the most. Charities have adapted and are continuing to find new and innovative solutions for supporting their vulnerable populations.

The community has responded by donating food, time and money; these donations are essential today as much as ever. As donors look for opportunities to assist, a legacy gift to their favourite charities is another long-term opportunity to support the mission of the organizations important to them as they respond, recover and rebuild in these challenging times.

Through the LEAVE A LEGACY™ campaign, the WECF and other organizations in Windsor-Essex are actively involved in planned giving as part of their sustainability strategy.

There are many reasons to consider a legacy gift. It's a great way to ensure your memory lives on, acknowledge an organization that has impacted your life or the lives of those important to you. Additionally, there are financial benefits associated with charitable contributions.

We provide opportunities for people with disabilities in Windsor and Essex County to receive physical, emotional and cognitive therapy at the farm. We rely on the generosity of our community members and volunteers to build sustainable equine programs for nearly 200 people each week. Participants gain strength, self confidence and renew their optimism for life through the eyes of a horse!

Leaving a Legacy Gift to WETRA will ensure life long, equine interaction, friendship and bonding for people with disabilities.

3323 North Malden Rd., Essex ON | 519-726-7682 | wetra.ca

For information about volunteering Please call 519-972-0083 / 519-791-8633 or email info@inhonour.ca

www.inhonour.ca

“Inspiring philanthropy to benefit our community

today and forever.”

IN SUMMARY: There are many reasons to consider a legacy gift. It is a great way to ensure your memory lives on. It is also a way of acknowledging an organization that has impacted your life or the lives of those important to you while helping the charity. Also, there are the financial benefits associated with charitable contributions. For some, including a charity in your will can increase the amount of money your spouse or children inherit because it helps offset taxes.

Here are some tips to consider as you plan your legacy: • Talk to your family about your wishes.

End-of-life conversations can be challenging but discussing your wishes ahead of time makes decisions much easier for your loved ones after you pass away.

• Get professional advice. A financial advisor can help you explore various legacy options to find the best fit for

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One Focus, One Purpose, Our Community

A will is an effective way of gifting assets and transferring wealth to future generations. A key consideration is how debts, liabilities and taxes will affect the amount that will be left in your legacy to your family and future generations. Liabilities associated with your death, such as taxes, are unavoidable but can be mitigated. Working with your professional advisors can help you determine the best methods to give.

A charitable donation tax credit can be claimed when gifts are made in your will to qualified charities. Notably, relatively new tax rules implemented provide increased flexibility to executors to apply these credits to income in the year prior to death, the year of your death or future years if your estate meets specific criteria. Although the concept of giving to a charitable organization seems straightforward, issues can arise. These may include: the organization is not recognized as a qualified charitable organization by Canada Revenue Agency; the gift does not satisfy strict requirements to constitute a gift by will; and disputes may arise amongst your family regarding their entitlement to the amount gifted to a charity from your estate. It is essential to create an estate plan with your professional advisors that encompass charitable giving and fulfills your wishes to maximize the benefit of both your community and loved ones.

It is always recommended that you speak with a financial advisor to find the best legacy giving option for you and your family.

“Thanks to legacy donors of the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation, I was able to receive my cancer treatments close to home. This made a stressful diagnosis easier for my family and I.” – Lindsay K.

For more information about leaving a legacy gift through the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation, please contact:

Houida Kassem hkassem@windsorcancerfoundation.org

www.WindsorCancerFoundation.org

Feeding over 300 homeless and hungry each day.

Providing sleeping bags, backpacks, hygiene products, take-out meals, snacks and coffee all day. Daily food bank for the homeless and poor families.

Support Our Vision 519-977-9200

www.street-help.com 964 Wyandotte Street E., Windsor

519-254-5577 ext. 58506

you and your family. Once you have made your decisions, a lawyer can put together the nuts and bolts of a will.

Show your UWindsor pride.

For more information about LEAVE A LEGACY™ and the Windsor-Essex County Chapter of the Canadian Association of Planned Giving, contact Patricia Valleau, Chair at valleauconsulting@gmail.com

Leave a legacy gift!

WHY LEAVE A LEGACY? • You have the use of your assets during your lifetime.

• You can ensure that your gift is meaningful to you.

• Your estate will receive a beneficial tax receipt.

• Your gift can provide a meaningful investment to a passion you support.

For more information on legacy giving to the University of Windsor, contact the Campaign Office at legacy@uwindsor.ca or 519-253-3000 ext. 3229

WINDSOR-ESSEX CAGP MEMBERS Patricia Valleau: Chair Principal Valleau Fundraising Consulting Lisa Kolody: Vice-Chair Executive Director WindsorEssex Community Foundation Kelly Gosselin: Major Gift Officer University of Windsor

www.uwindsor.ca/supportuwindsor

Katie Mazzuca: Major Gift Officer University of Windsor Kim Willis: Past-Chair Director Communications & Mental Health CMHA Windsor-Essex County Sandra Presland: Marketing & Communications Transition to Betterness Peggy Winch: Manager of Fund Development Alzheimer Society Windsor & Essex County Gemma Grey-Hall: Acting Director of Advancement University of Windsor

GENERATIONS OF SUPPORT Learn more about the Leave a Legacy Program to ensure compassionate healthcare close to home for many generations to come.

Shae Harasym: Major Gift Officer University of Windsor Tim Jones: Financial Advisor Rock Harbour Wealth Management Inc. Mike Flannagan: Major Gifts Officer United Way Centraide Windsor-Essex County

WWW.ESHFOUNDATION.CA

Martin Sobocan: Financial Advisor Sobocan Insurance and Financial

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Gisele Seguin: Director of Philanthrophy Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation

WHERE THERE’S A WILL THERE’S A WAY

BY TOM PORTER B.A., LL.B.

Imagine your gift helping children with disabilities for years to come...

Your commitment to children in our community will ensure that Family Respite Services can provide direct support for families who have children with disabilities and valued community connections for children.

Family Respite works with 1200 families caring for children with a Developmental Disability, Physical Disability, Medical Health Challenge and Mental Health Disorder across Windsor/Essex County.

Connect with us today to learn more:

info@familyrespite.org Canada Helps online:

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There is a certain satisfying sense of immortality in hoping that you will be affectionately remembered after your death in the hearts and minds of your family and friends.

With effective estate planning through the use of a Will, you can also ensure that your priorities and sense of purpose in life will continue to benefit your loved ones and your community after you are gone. You are in control and your Will can specify your exact wishes including the naming of an estate trustee, funeral arrangements, beneficiary entitlements and gifts to your favourite charitable/community organizations. If you do not have a Will at the time of your death (an intestacy), you will have no control over the distribution of your assets and someone (usually your spouse or one or more of your children) will need to initiate a Court action to get appointed as the estate trustee to manage and settle the estate.

Without a Will, the intestate provisions of the Succession Law Reform Act will decide the distribution of your estate assets between your spouse and children or grandchildren. If there are no surviving spouse, children or grandchildren, the Act provides that your surviving parents, siblings or their children, or other blood relatives can become the heirs of your estate. If you have no blood relatives and die without a Will, your entire estate is inherited by the Ontario Government through the Office of The Public Trustee and Guardian. Where there is no Will, there is no provision in the Act for donations to any charities or community organizations or any other beneficiaries even though you may have been connected with or supported these entities/individuals during your lifetime. KEEP CONTROL. MAKE A WILL!

Top 10 Things You Can Do Today To Leave A Legacy 1.

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Prepare a will Leave a gift Be Specific Consider assets Name an alternate beneficiary Existing life insurance New life insurance Memorial gifts Encourage others Ask your advisor Back to Contents

Let over 30 years of legal experience help your family.

Estate Planning & Estate Administration We assist clients in estate planning, estate administration and taxation matters. Our services include the drafting of Wills, Powers of Attorney, trust agreements, succession and tax planning and the administration of estates including probate and other Court applications.

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LIFE AT SHUTTER SPEED Local Photographer Finds Peace in Nature Story by Matthew St. aMaNd PhotograPhy by gLeNN gervaiS BOB DYLAN was probably right when he sang: “The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind…”

When the screw turns, when the world encroaches, stress levels rise, and we start to lose the thread of it all, there is something about going back to nature that hits the Reset button in the human heart.

It is that way for Essex County photographer, Glenn Gervais.

Viewing his work—images of wildlife captured around the world over the course of three decades—the truth of “A picture is worth a thousand words,” has new meaning. In photography, whether shooting wildlife, sports, portraiture, landscapes, there is a moment where every element of the composition comes together like a chorus of voices. Most of us miss that moment. Glenn captures the chorus.

It would be natural to wonder how long Glenn has worked for National Geographic or Getty Images, but he is quick to set the record straight: “I’m a retired police detective. I do this as a hobby.”

Well, the image of moose in Algonquin Park that Glenn captured, which was featured in a local news story, says otherwise. This is a calling. The image shows a moose in the morning mist at “golden hour”—that fleeting hour that graces twice a day: just after sunrise and just before sunset.

Flooded with gauzy, ethereal light filtered through fog, the scene is so iconically Canadian it could be the cover of a greatest hits album for The Tragically Hip. During his 32-year career with the Windsor Police Service, Glenn took up birding for stress relief. As a police detective, he served in several units, among them the Special Victims Unit, which saw him investigating sexual assaults and child pornography. This meant wading through thousands of horrific images and dealing with predators. It was enough to wear down the soul of even the greatest believers in the milk of human kindness.

“That stuff stays with you forever,” Glenn said in a recent interview with CTV News.

Above: Photographer Glenn Gervais. Clockwise from right: Northern Cardinal, Tecumseh; Great Blue Heron, Point Pelee National Park; Bull Moose, Algonquin Park; Great Horned Owl, Tecumseh; Palm Warbler, Tecumseh; American Bald Eagle photographed locally.

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He found the antidote to these horrors in nature. “It’s my church when I go into the woods,” he continued in the TV interview.

Glenn not only found a healing balm in nature, but he also found within himself the skill to share it with others. His passion for photography evolved over time.

“I’d always been a birder,” he explains, “and it naturally led to taking pictures of the birds and wildlife. I’ve been involved in photography since the days of film in the mid-nineties. Then went into digital.”

After all these years of wildlife photography, Glenn graduated to professional arrangements, taking pictures for the NHL, PGA, Michigan football, to name a few.

He points out that he did not achieve his level of craftsmanship on his own.

“People are always willing to share their knowledge,” Glenn says. “They see that passion in you and help you along. I was lucky enough to find some good mentors.”

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Approximately five years ago, Glenn began sharing his knowledge and experience with others, teaching a wildlife photography course through the Essex Regional Conservation Authority at its Hawk Festival and the Hillman Marsh Shorebird Festival. Private groups have engaged him for guidance in Algonquin Park and Merritt Island, Florida. Even in conversation, he shares valuable insights: “Photography isn’t always about the best equipment,” Glenn says. “I’ve seen people with great equipment take terrible photos, and people with the cheapest equipment take some phenomenal photos.”

He speaks of the “Rule of Thirds”, a compositional concept where the photographer splits a scene into nine equal squares. The segments, and the lines they create, aid in creating interesting pictures.

“You don’t want to put your subject right in the center of the viewfinder,” Glenn explains. “One third has to jump out at the viewer. You don’t always want the animal in the center. You want the audience’s eye drawn to the subject.”

Moreover, Glenn says it’s important that photographers understand their camera and its settings.

“It’s difficult to take a poor photograph and make it good,” he says. “You want to have confidence that your exposure is set correctly, you’re at the right shutter speed, have the right white balance… It sounds complicated, but it’s really not.”

Glenn will often have students take 10 photographs at 10 different settings. They are often startled by the differences in results.

“If you take a good image into post processing,” Glenn says, “you have the ability to make it an award-winning picture.”

He continues: “I love seeing kids with cameras. They often have a different perspective than adults. I saw one boy taking a picture of lady bugs. While everyone was doing macro, this boy was busy finding lady bugs and lining them up. After he snapped his picture, I asked what he was doing. The boy said, ‘The lady bugs are racing.’”

There are a few simple things beginners can learn to enhance their pictures.

“A lot of people don’t understand when to use their camera flash,” Glenn continues.

“I use it a lot during the daytime, and people will ask me, ‘Why are you doing that? There’s enough light.’ Yes, but the flash may take away shadows beneath a person’s eyes, or off the face of an animal,

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or the bird I’m shooting is backlit by the sun. It’s important to think about the light.”

Glenn believes many new photographers also take pictures at the wrong time of day.

“The best two times of day for photography are the ‘golden hours’: first hour after sunrise, and the hour just before sunset.

Many people think super sunny days are great, but the sun tends to wash things out.

I prefer photographing in softer light. Gray rainy days are great for photographing animals. Some of the best wedding pictures are taken on cloudy days.”

When asked about his favourite places to take photographs, Glenn says close to home: “There are lots of places in Essex County to photograph birds and wildlife. For someone new, I’d recommend Ojibway Park, Holiday Beach, Pointe Pelee, and depending on the time of year, even your local park.”

Having traveled the world taking pictures, Glenn is able to make comparisons.

Among his favourite locales, he mentions going to Japan in the early 1990s, various locations in Europe, such as France and Holland that he visited in 2012.

“I go to Northern Canada every year,” he says. “And throughout the United States: Florida, Texas, California, Nevada, Utah— always in winter. Colorado, Wyoming, Alaska.”

Of these, his favourite destination is the Pacific northwest. “Because of the whole mountain environment,” he says. “The sheer beauty and diversity of species. It’s like an untouched wilderness.”

Australia and New Zealand remain on his bucket list.

In most TV shows or movies depicting birders, the birders always have a rare, “Holy Grail” bird they spend their lives seeking.

This is not the case with Glenn.

“Often when I go to places, I’ll see something out of the ordinary,” he says. “Or, I’ll get a better look at something I have seen before—taking a picture of a certain bird that I hadn’t yet seen with its full plumage, or photographed, before, while it was hopping around, or getting it when it’s eating a berry. Recently, I took a picture of a Canada goose nesting in a tree.”

Glenn is generous about sharing his work.

He posts almost daily on his Facebook page.

His parting advice to people interested in taking up photography is: “Everyone can be creative in their own way. The biggest thing is, get outdoors, get yourself a camera and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.”

Glenn’s photography can be viewed on Instagram: @eaglecoach_canada.

WLM Back to Contents

TAMING THE TIDES WATER IS VITAL FOR ALL LIFE ON EARTH. Depending on the circumstances, it can save a person’s life, or wash away his home. Since 1986, Dave and his crew at Breakwall Specialists have gone up against this worthy adversary, designing and installing wave deflectors, steel framed paver patios, and repairing docks and breakwalls.

“We also install Golden Boat Lifts, kayak launches, and Sure-Step Decking and dock solutions,” Dave says. “Our work adds value to customers’ properties, is environmentally friendly, and aesthetically pleasing.”

Dave started at age 15. While other people his age body surfed in Lake St. Clair, Dave built his first wave deflector for his family’s waterfront home.

Neighbours saw it and asked him to do the same for them.

“The designs have evolved over the years,” he explains. “A friend once did a lot of design work on the Thames River in London, England. He’s been a great resource.”

The designs are created in CAD and rendered in Solid Modeling 3D software.

“We have a standard design for many products, but each is customized to the needs and lifestyle of the customer,” Dave says. “For instance, our patios come with notches for beach umbrellas, so they no longer need the weighted boxes umbrellas usually stand in.”

Design ideas and quality installations are what customers pay for, but the true value-add of Breakwall Specialists is their ability to “future proof ” customers’ properties.

“On many jobs, we see properties that are missing infrastructure,” Dave says. ‘Do it.’ It all maximizes the enjoyment of “Whether it’s power at the dock, or black their property.” poly piping going out to the dock so they CAD drawings and Solid Modeling are can wash their boat. Eventually, these are effective, but nothing compares to seeing things waterfront homeowners want. We results in person. While showing his own can install this infrastructure while working seawall to a customer, one day, the customer on our project and save them ripping up took great interest in Dave’s paver patio as their property a year or two later.” well. Next thing, Dave and the crew were He continues: “I’ve seen people running installing a new wave deflector and paver a few hundred feet of extension cord or hose patio at the customer’s property. out to their dock. We make our suggestions “The paver patio is the coolest thing we’ve and ten-out-of-ten times the customer says, ever done,” Dave says. “I’ve had mine for

twelve years and it’s as flat as the day it was installed. Not one paver has moved.”

Dave has upped his game with the paver stone decks, doing stainless steel trim on them. “Nobody else does this,” he says. “It leaves you with nice, clean appliance-style trim. It’s not cheap, but it’s beautiful.”

One of Breakwall Specialists’ latest jobs was installing a 1400 foot seawall extension at Port Franks Marina in Lambton Shores.

“Not only will that seawall do its job,” Dave says, “it looks like it belongs in that environment. We bring the same attention to detail to municipal jobs as we do on home projects. There is only one quality standard: as perfect as we can make it.”

Breakwall Specialists works with trusted partners, installing new docks and breakwalls, providing a full range of services.

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3020 Dougall Ave. 519-969-6851 Cramdon’s Tap and Eatery - South Windsor’s friendly gathering place. Offering great food at affordable prices. Satellite sports and billiards in a pub-like setting. www.cramdons.com 2950 Dougall Ave. 519-966-1228 Eddy’s Tabouli – Discover Windsor’s newest source for authentic, homemade Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. Fully-stocked wine menu. 1614 Lesperance Road. 519-979-9600. taboulibyeddys.ca.

Frank Brewing Company - FRANK is pure, straight-to-the-point, old-fashioned beer crafted with dedication and pride. Beer-loving folk enjoy FRANK's small-batch brews made with only four natural and simple ingredients: water, hops, grain and yeast; and foodies enjoy the small plates, pizzas and sandwiches for pairing, and all the peanuts you can shell.

12000 Tecumseh Rd. E., Tecumseh, ON 519-956-9822 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 reservations call 519-735-0355. fratellipastagrill.com The Hungry Wolf - The Hungry Wolf serves up Windsor’s best Greek, Canadian, Mexican and Lebanese food. Home of the best gyros in Windsor! hungrywolfrestaurant.com.

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craft and commercial beers on tap. HDTVs. Fast, cheerful service. 5881 Malden Rd. (behind Rexall). 519-250-5522. www.eatatjoes.ca Johnny Shotz - Tecumseh’s #1 roadhouse and home of the Chicken Deluxe. Serving Halibut every Friday. Breakfast served Sunday. 37 HD TVs, 15 beers on tap. Follow us on facebook.

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Vito’s Pizzeria - Rustic Italian restaurant serving woodfired pizza, fresh pasta, veal, chicken, grilled steaks and seafood. Wonderful wine selection. Private party spaces. Food truck and portable pizza oven for offsite catering.

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

Back to Contents

Reclaiming the Pen Heather Chauvin Releases Debut Book About Motherhood STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY VICKI BARTEL

▼

EVERY YEAR, a month before verdant spring bleaches into another scorching summer, we gather together to celebrate Mother’s Day. It does not usually amount to much of a spectacle. A warmly worded card. An inexpensive bouquet of flowers. A nice meal that you will (successfully or unsuccessfully) insist on paying for. A box of chocolates from the drugstore. A post on social media, with an accompanying glamour shot. Sometimes even just a phone call. And that is if you remember it all.

Yes, mothers are the real heroes. At least, that is what we’re fond of saying. But all too often, when it comes down to it, mothers unfortunately often fall into the unsung variety.

Yet suppose we did sing of their exploits. Their struggles.

Their hardships. The hurdles they must all overcome. What then?

This is a question Heather Chauvin has spent the last several years seeking an answer to.

Heather Chauvin is an author and the host of the wildly popular Mom Is In Control podcast. She inspires women to conquer their fears and to see and understand themselves and their children on a deeper level.

Her personal development journey was accelerated seven years ago, with an unfortunate call to action: a cancer diagnosis.

“In 2013, a year after my youngest son was born, I was diagnosed with stage IV Burkitt Lymphoma,” Heather recalls.

“Six months earlier, I had left my corporate job as a social worker. I was already on this exciting new journey. I had this desire to get a message out into the world. The message was about conscious parenting. It was about another way to help parents that felt good.”

As both a former social worker and a mother of three boys, Heather is exhaustively familiar with the obscene pressure and guilt that parents are constantly under.

“Rather than putting Band-Aids on these problems, I wanted to get to the root cause of why parents are feeling M a y / J u n e

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such a disconnect with their children,” Heather explains. “Women—and parents in general—always seem to feel like they’re failing. That they couldn’t figure out their children.”

Inspired to take action, Heather launched the Mom Is In Control podcast.

“I wanted to start coaching parents,” Heather states. “I wanted to help them understand their kids on a deeper level. I realized that I had to educate women on why it’s so important for them to consider their needs as well. When I was working with women, they would often say, ‘I’m so overwhelmed! I can’t implement these tools or strategies!’ I often had to start with Mom before we could deal with the child.”

As of the time of this writing, the Mom Is In Control podcast boasts of 832 episodes and over 5 million downloads.

“You don’t need to feel like crap to be successful,” Heather explains. “Now more than ever, we’re being shown what areas of our lives are not sustainable. And there’s always something we can do about it.”

Heather describes her mission as one of rewriting cultural expectations of motherhood. And her message, she admits, is a simple one: allow yourself to feel good and to have more than enough.

“No one really wants to hear that,” Heather admits. “It’s not the silver bullet.

It’s not a quick fix-- everyone is looking for a quick fix! But the second you step out of your home, the second you start scrolling on Instagram, the pressure is there. More.

Better. Faster! This is who you need to be!

You are NOT ENOUGH!! It is literally reflected back to us. But what we don’t understand is we are all walking around not feeling good enough and projecting that onto everyone else.”

This toxic mentality leads to a whole generation of parents running ragged and feeling terrible. It leads to mothers never feeling like they are enough, believing that story and then overcompensating.

“When you give birth, you give birth to guilt,” Heather stresses. “What’s interesting is that in the last year, with everything that is going on in the world, I have spent more time with my children than ever before. But I still have the same amount of guilt. But those thoughts are just thoughts. They are not facts. It’s when we give them power that we become powerless. That’s when we allow guilt to take over.”

But the great (and often forgotten) thing about stories, Heather maintains, is that we are the sole authors of them. And once we

reclaim that pen, that’s when we can rewrite them.

“You can sit with your guilt and interrogate it,” Heather explains. “‘Is it true that you’re a bad Mom because you choose not to play with your child every single time they ask?’ How is that benefiting them? Do you feel angry and resentful? It’s all about understanding the stories we tell ourselves and understanding how we give our power away to guilt. But we can still live with it.

We can learn that it doesn’t need to run the show.”

And now, Heather has scribed her wisdom into her first book, entitled: Dying to Be A Good Mother: How I Dropped the Guilt and Took Control of My Life & Parenting.

“I had always had the thought that I want to write a book someday,” Heather states.

“But I also had a lot of limiting beliefs and resistance towards writing. I love to talk. I love to podcast. But I do not identify as a writer. The thought of sitting down and writing of my story seemed horrible to me.”

However, Heather unintentionally sowed the seeds of what would eventually sprout into her novel when she gave a talk at TEDxWindsor in 2018.

“After my talk, people started asking for it,” Heather explains. “But I didn’t make the decision to start writing the book until November 2019, when my grandmother passed away. She had also been diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma at 30—close to the same age I was diagnosed at. Like me, she was raising three boys. And she wasn’t supposed to survive. But she lived to be 86!”

Inspired by her grandmother’s courage and their parallel stories, Heather finally embraced her own authorship.

“I remember the last time I went to see her,” Heather states. “She said to me, ‘I’ve always wanted to write my story. I could just never get it out of me. I never created the time for it.’ That was a little kick in the pants I needed. I realized that if I really wanted women to have a voice, I had to use mine.”

Heather released her book this March, on International Women’s Day. Dying To Be A Good Mother is available from Amazon, Indigo and other Canadian vendors. Additionally, if you travel to dyingtobeagoodmother.com you can access a free workbook and video training series to follow along with the book.

“Say yes to whatever lights you up,” Heather advises. “Say no to what doesn’t.

The opposite of dying is feeling alive.” WLM Back to Contents

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Reality says there could be more than one solution regarding many different situations. One size does not fit all. It never will.

So, tread lightly and trust your intuition.

VIRGO AUG 24 - SEP 23: Locations to serve you in • windsor • tecumseh • • LasaLLe • amherstburg •

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Constant activity appears to be taking over your life. You may need to take a step back and detach yourself for now. It can be confusing when you do not have all the facts you need in order to make a decision. One word can make or break you. Be careful.

SCORPIO OCT 24 - NOV 22: The last part of any journey can often be the most difficult. Memories keep coming back night and day which can interfere with your current lifestyle. You may need to make some fresh memories to help take you into the future. You are a unique individual who has many talents yet to be discovered.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 23 - DEC 21: Are you ready to take on a serious project?

This is not the time to just skim the surface.

Persistence and determination are what are needed to meet your goals. First comes the work. Then comes the recognition for what you have done and then comes the reward that you fully deserve.

CAPRICORN DEC 22 - JAN 20: You are in command, so what is holding you back? You may be placing too many limits on yourself. Life is what is happening now. It is still the same game. However, new rules could be replacing old ones that no longer apply. That may be the only way to safely move forward.

AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 19: Changes will be sudden. It is time to get creative. You may be at odds with someone around you over a new idea. Focus on who and what really matters. This is not the time to say my way or the highway. What you can do to help others will also help yourself.

PISCES FEB 20 - MAR 20 Someone seems to be trying to stifle your creativity. You know more than you let on.

The path to success could be right in front of you. Keep your eyes on the prize and perhaps employ a different way or method to get you where you want to go.

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TO FLOAT Hair Suspension Artist Deanna Papineau STORY BY MICHAEL SEAGUIN

▼

Freedom

ACCORDING TO Deanna Papineau, it’s easy to reach for the stars when your feet barely touch the ground.

Deanna, better known as Aerialist Deanna, a professional, internationally acclaimed multi-discipline aerial performer, hair suspension artist, artistic director, choreographer, aerial coach and registered yoga teacher. She has been performing most of her entire life, beginning as a competitive figure skater at the age of 5.

“I trained six times a week,” Deanna recalls. “Before school and after school.

And then, I competed on weekends.”

After years of competing, Deanna decided to leave the ice behind right before high school. After graduating, she spent some time studying nutrition before obtaining a four-year Nursing degree from the University of Windsor.

However, it was around this time that she rediscovered the limelight.

“My Uncle Romano Formiccucia owns a Yoga studio here in Windsor,”

Above: Deanna Papineau, Aerialist and Hair Suspension Artist. Photo by Zishan Ali. Left: Aerialist Deanna, suspended by her hair, performs acrobatic poses and contortions.

Photo by Dan Boshart.

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Deanna explains. “Ten years ago, he had aerial coaches come by with their aerial apparatuses and do a demonstration. It was love at first sight. It looked like so much fun. Something about it reminded me of figure skating. It felt like my childhood all over again.”

Deanna started travelling to the Toronto School of Circus Arts to train with her first coaches.

“This was all before Windsor even had a circus school,” Deanna recalls. “There was no one teaching in this area.”

Deanna began performing in the region, while managing a health food store.

“I decided I want to pursue something in the arts. I tried studying makeup. All the while, aerial performing was more of a hobby for me. I was just doing it for fun. I never thought I could build a career out of it. But, before COVID I was performing at a lot of different places. Galas. Weddings.

Banquet halls. Festivals. Music videos.

Art exhibits. Anywhere from Windsor to Toronto. Wherever they needed an aerial performer. I even did a bit of international work before the pandemic.”

In addition, Deanna spent some time at the Norwegian Creative Studio in Tampa Bay to learn how to coach different disciplines, including aerial bungee and Spanish Web. Since then, she has taught at various different circus schools, including the Windsor Circus School and the Toronto School of Circus Arts.

And now, Deanna has added a new type of performance to her resume: Hair Suspension—an aerial circus act where performers are suspended by their hair while performing acrobatic poses and contortions.

“I came across hair suspension online early in my circus career and I fell in love with it,” Deanna states. “I said to myself, ‘What is this? How are they hanging by their hair? It’s so beautiful!’ There was such a wow factor in such a beauty about it. I knew I wanted to learn how to do it.”

Unfortunately, Deanna discovered that the secrets of hair suspension were well kept ones.

“There’s not many people who do it in the world,” Deanna admits. “Hair suspension is an old, traditional circus art that was handed down generation to generation. If you were born into a family that practiced hair suspension, then you were taught the secrets. There weren’t many people willing to teach me. There might only be five Hair Suspension Artists in Canada.”

Deanna eventually found someone in Europe willing to take her on.

“I picked it up pretty fast,” Deanna states. “The whole art of it. How to prepare my body. And it’s a whole process! It takes me an hour just to bind my hair into the right knot. After that I have to prep my spine and my head just to make sure I’m fully warmed up before I hang there. You can easily get injured if you’re not doing it correctly.”

But for Deanna, the risks are well worth it. Hair suspension, she explains, allows her an unparalleled sense of self-expression.

“My arms and my legs are completely free,” Deanna explains. “With all the other disciplines, I’m holding onto something.

With this, only my head is suspended. So, I’m free to float. I’m up there, I’m in the zone. It’s a very meditative experience. I can get into a state of pure creativity. My performances can be elegant, edgier or more Broadway. My style is always evolving.”

And thus far, reactions to Deanna’s work have been enthusiastic ones.

“I have a lot of people saying to me, ‘Is that real? Are you really hanging by your hair?’” Deanna laughs. “And I really am! I also get a lot of people cringing while I’m performing—because their head is hurting in sympathy. Mostly though I’m able to generate an intense, visceral reaction from the crowd.”

Aside from performing, Deanna has also started taking students.

“I love sharing what I know,” Deanna explains. “It’s great sharing what I do with others. And I love choreographing students that want to perform. It’s a great way for me to keep busy during the lockdown.”

And aerial arts, Deanna stresses, are truly an all-inclusive sport.

“Anyone can do it,” Deanna states. “You don’t have to be flexible. You don’t have to be strong. You can get strong doing it. It’s an amazing workout. Before getting into aerial, I was very bottom-strong. My legs are very muscular from my years of figure skating. But my upper body has really developed because of doing poses and twists. And it’s great fun! If you’re looking to get into the more creative side and start performing, I also teach that as well.”

More information about Aerialist Deanna is available at aerialistdeanna.com.

“I love entertaining,” Deanna states. “I love entertaining people. Giving them something they’ve never seen before is truly incredible.”

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AN ANONYMOUS AUTHOR once wrote that: “Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle.”

It goes without saying that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world. Some of the things we once enjoyed—as of the time of this writing—remain unfortunately out of our reach. Social gatherings. Leaving your bubble. And, to the ire of many, many local enthusiasts: golf.

However, three Windsor families are determined to get their strokes in.

The Watorek’s, the Aldous’s and the Mailloux’s have each installed their own three-par putting greens in their own backyards.

So now, despite these endless series of tragedies, please enjoy these three miracles:

Fast Greens Three Windsorites Install Their Own Mini Courses STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN LIVIERO

Jason Watorek “The great thing about golf is that when you’re out there, you’re only thinking about golf,” Jason Watorek, the Owner of Seaton Sunrooms, explains. “You’re not thinking about work. It’s kind of relaxing. Golfing can certainly be stressful! But it’s a different kind of stress. And once you’re done, you can leave that stress on the course instead of taking it with you.”

An avid golfer, Jason’s wife surprised him on his birthday with the blueprints to his own backyard putting greens.

“She had contacted Paul St. Pierre at Landscape Effects,” Jason states.

“They worked out a bunch of designs. Then, Paul came out and made it into one third of our entire yard. All the chipping and putting and sand traps. It was more than I imagined!”

Jason’s course contains an elevated tee box, six yards away from the putting green. It also contains a large 12x12 foot sand trap, right in the middle of the installation. The opposite end features an eight-yard decline, complete with artificial turf. The backend also features another chipping spot—from 26 yards away!

“It’s a little hilly, and it’s a fast green,” Jason explains. “You really have to get your shots dialed in. It’s perfect for your flop shots. It’s great for practicing your out-of-the-sands shots as well. The whole course is probably about 160x40 feet.”

Dave Aldous Dave Aldous, the Owner of Seminole Home Hardware, installed a backyard putting green after a round of tense negotiations with a 12-year-old.

“I live with my fiancé, Jody, and her two children,” Dave states.

“And the story behind the putting green is that my fiancé’s daughter had a swing set in the backyard that I wanted to get rid of. I hated cutting the grass around it. I wanted something more low-maintenance.”

Unfortunately, Dave’s plans encountered some resistance. Jody’s daughter was fiercely attached to the swing set and refused to part with it.

So, like many men before him, Dave made a compromise.

“I said to her, ‘Tell you what, I’ll buy you a cell phone; you let

▼

Jason and his family could not be happier with their backyard putting greens.

“Having your own course is nothing short of amazing!” Jason states. “There is nothing better than coming home to it after a long day. I have the one tee box that’s shaded in the corner there. Usually when I come home from work at five o’clock, I can grab a beverage and be out there and just chip off! Smack 100 balls around just for fun! It’s like having your own par-three course at home!”

And while Jason has not yet been able to invite friends over to try his new par-three course, he has not spent much time alone out there.

“My little guy, Declan, is six years old,” Jason explains. “He absolutely loves the going out on green. He and I are constantly out there playing golf together.”

Clockwise from left: Dave Aldous's backyard putting green; Jason Watorek lines up a shot on his custom green; Jason enjoys time on his green with son, Delcan; Kirk Mailloux’s hole #3 complete with custom Augusta style Masters sign; Kirk proudly displays his custom backyard putting green.

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me take care of that swing set,’” Dave reports. “She agreed. Right away.”

Once the swing set was removed, Dave was free to begin renovations.

“I got some ideas from some friends who had some,” Dave explains. “My Dad also has one in his backyard. So, he gave me a hand with the whole process. We did a lot of research online. I rented a small excavator and we dug it all out.”

After hauling out the soil, Dave brought in some three-quarter stone and installed packed screening on top of them. After installing drainage for the cups to prevent flooding, he tamped everything down and brought in the turf.

“It was a long process,” Dave admits.

“The hardest part was digging it up. If I had to guess, we probably removed 12 yards of soil. And then you have to bring all that material back in to fill it all up with gravel!”

Thus far, Dave’s three-hole backyard putting green has attracted a number of enthusiastic players.

“The kids have had some of their friends over, when it was safe,” Dave states. “And the dog likes to use it! It’s pretty hard to go out there and shoot the balls without the dog grabbing them and bringing them back to you.”

Kirk Mailloux When Kirk Mailloux and his wife Kelly purchased a home in Tecumseh three years ago, they realized something was missing.

“The house had been built in the early 90s,” Kirk explains. “It needed some updating. That’s why I decided to start working on the backyard. We have a growing family, and I wanted them to be able to enjoy the outdoors. I wanted to create our own little oasis. A paradise at home.”

And no paradise, Kirk decided, was complete without a three-hole golf green.

“We went with a 26x14 foot putting green,” Kirk states. “All different variations of shapes and slopes. I also do woodworking as a side hobby, so I created a Master’sthemed sign that I put in the garden that goes beyond the putting green. It gives the course that Master’s golf type of feel.”

Kirk, his wife and their daughter, Thalia, are all currently enjoying their home’s new addition.

And speaking of new additions, Kirk will soon have a new league of players to compete against.

“My wife and I are expecting triplets in August,” Kirk reports. “So, for many years to come, we’re going to have many good memories on that putting green.”

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