Windsor Life Magazine Summer 2021

TITAN in our COMMUNITY Award

Shining a spotlight on Windsor-Essex County nurses who inspire others with their selflessness, strength, positivity, determination, and continuous pursuit of knowledge, TCI TITAN GROUP invited nominations for the TITAN in our Community Award.

Katherine Groenewegen was the 2021 recipient that was presented the award and a gift of $2000 on June 9th by Celina and Art Ussoletti. Katherine, who received multiple nominations, works as a Nurse Practitioner for Erie Shores Health Care; she has been recognized by her peers for her dedication and commitment to nursing. Katherine is known for her “do what’s best for the patient and the community” attitude. She is an individual who motivates and advocates for her patients while caring for them as if they are family. Always a leader, Katherine’s involvement in the roll out for the new charting system assisted many of her colleagues with learning the program. Receiving many qualified applicants for this award, Katherine stood out as an example of a TRUE TITAN in our community!

“This award is in honour of our loving family member, Registered Nurse Priscilla E. Chaykoski, who passed away from ALS in 2017. Priscilla was a respected leader who stood up for what she believed in and advocated for those who could not advocate for themselves,” says Celina Ussoletti. “We were very impressed by the many nominated individuals and the wonderful service they provide.” We would like to thank everyone who nominated other great nurses in our community!

Estate plans can help you answer questions about the future

The word “estate” conjures images of great wealth, which may be one of the reasons so many people don’t develop estate plans – after all, they’re not rich, so why make the effort? In reality, though, if you have a family, you can probably benefit from estate planning, irrespective of your asset level. You may well find that a comprehensive estate strategy can help you answer some questions. Here are a few of these questions:

What will happen to my children? With luck, you (and your co-parent, if you have one) will be alive and well at least until your children reach the age of majority (either 18 or 19, depending on where you live). Nonetheless, you don’t want to take any chances, so, as part of your estate strategy, you may want to name a guardian to take care of your children if you are not around. You also might want to name a Trustee – sometimes called a “guardian of the estate” – to manage any assets your minor children might inherit.

Will there be a fight over my assets? Without a solid estate strategy in place, your assets could be subject to the time-consuming, expensive – and very public – probate process. During probate, your relatives and creditors can gain access to your records, and possibly even challenge your will. But with proper planning, you can maintain your privacy. As one possible element of an estate plan, a living trust generally allows your property to avoid probate and pass quickly to the beneficiaries you’ve named.

Who will oversee my finances and my living situation if I become incapacitated? You can build various forms of protection into your estate planning, such as an enduring power of attorney, which allows you to designate someone to manage your financial affairs if you become physically or mentally incapacitated. You could also create a power of attorney for personal care, which allows someone to handle health care decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so yourself.

Will I shortchange my family if I leave significant assets to charities? Unless you have unlimited resources, you’ll have to make some choices about charitable gifts and money for your family. But as part of your estate strategy, you do have some appealing options. For example, you could establish a trust, which provides financial support to your chosen charities for a period of time, with the remaining assets eventually going to your family members. A charitable remainder trust, by contrast, can provide a stream of income for your family members for the term of the trust, before the remaining assets are transferred to one or more charitable organizations. As you can see, careful estate planning can help you answer many of the questions that may be worrying you. Be aware, though, that certain aspects of estate planning, especially those related to living trusts and charitable trusts, can be complex, so you should consult your estate-planning lawyer or qualified tax professional about your situation.

Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors are not estate planners and cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your estate-planning attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.

Chris Horovenko Tecumseh Rd.

John Atkinson

Mark Szarek

PUBLISHER/EDITOR Robert E. Robinson

CONTRIBUTING Matthew St. Amand

WRITERS Michael Seguin

Karen Tinsley

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Carol Garant

ART DIRECTOR Michael Pietrangelo

PRODUCTION George Sharpe

PHOTOGRAPHERS John Liviero, Sooters Photography

Brian Harris

Darren Jones

Milos Savic

Jason Kryk

Todd Shearon

Getty Images

Global TV

Amanda Campbell Visuals

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

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PLEASE

D onna E llis

coordinator

Tyrone Crawford earned the Dallas Cowboy’s 2014 Ed Block Courage Award, which was voted

Photography courtesy

Tyrone Crawford

Plan to Stay in

Windsor Essex this Summer

Stay local this summer and explore the great things to see & do in your own backyard – plan a staycation!

Click visitwindsoressex.com/staycation to start planning your summer fun:

1.Check out our easily downloadable suggested Summer of the Staycation day-trip itineraries.

2.Plan your own staycation itinerary using our MyTrip Digital Itinerary Builder.

3. Enter your itinerary to WIN your own Staycation Experience valued at $500!

PECHE ISLAND | WINDSOR

BeautifulBathrooms

Publisher’s Note

As I write this our province has finally gone to phase one opening and there seems to be a lot of excitement in the community. Traffic is way up on every artery. Patios are jammed everywhere as friends get together for the first time in what seems like forever. Even in the heat of the day everyone seems to be in a great mood.

All the people I’ve talked to have been vaccinated, with those who are eligible having already received their second dose. Life is good or at the very least, better. For those not yet vaccinated, time to get it done. Although you may be hesitant, the reward far outweighs the risk. People of my age grew up knowing people with polio. Vaccines work.

Hopefully by the time you read this we are fully open. Most of us really need a haircut.

This issue of Windsor Life Magazine features local athlete Tyrone Crawford, who after many years as a Dallas Cowboy has retired and looking toward a future spending more time with family.

We also tell you about Tera GillenPetrozzi who went to the finals as a contestant on Big Brother Canada and Heather Petrie who is a Detroit Red Wings fan and has been named their biggest fan.

Keeping with a multi-sport issue we feature Canadian Champion, Olympic runner Melissa Bishop-Nriagu who is training for the upcoming games.

Getting away from sports we feature local artist Darren Jones who has gone big in a big way. The world renowned painter was featured in New York’s Time Square.

To those of you who are fans of Leslie Nadon’s Horoscope, I am unhappy to report that it doesn’t appear in this issue for the first time since 1992. Leslie will be taking some time off and it is well deserved.

Hope you enjoy this edition of Windsor Life Magazine as much as we enjoyed preparing it for you and although we are now vaccinated keep in mind the three W’s. Wear your mask, Wash your hands and Watch your distance.

Enjoy your summer.

Bob Robinson

ANGIE GOULET & ASSOCIATES

HUNTER TIVERON

Sales Representative LEXI PISTAGNESI

Hunter’s passion for investment properties, sales, entrepreneurship, and people led him to choosing a career in Real Estate. As a successful entrepreneur, Hunter gained his zeal for business and sales from being surrounded by successful business owners and REALTORS, his family included. Hunter’s tenacious nature and goal-oriented mindset combined with his spirit for helping people is what makes him such an asset to our team.

CARRIE ANDREWS

Sales Representative

Sales Representative

Lexi started with our team in 2017 in the office while she was working on an Advertising & Marketing Diploma from St. Clair College. Throughout that time, she fell in love with Real Estate. She received her real estate license while also completing a business degree at the University of Windsor. Lexi has now shifted to a full-time real estate agent. She is passionate about helping clients achieve their real estate goals and loves being a part of each person’s real estate journey.

Born in Windsor, Carrie spent much of her life moving around. She’s lived in Alberta, Houston, California and India. She & her husband settled back in Windsor to raise their 3 children. Carrie learned negotiation skills through working for Fortune 500 companies as a buyer/product developer. Carrie is passionate about real estate. Having moved often, she understands housing needs of different life stages. Carrie loves working with her clients - they often become part of her life as friends. She is honest, straightforward and hard working.

TYRONE CRAWFORD

LIFE BEYOND THE FOOTBALL FIELD

STORY BY MATTHEW ST. AMAND

EVERY KID WHO PLAYS A SPORT dreams about becoming a professional athlete. Windsor native, Tyrone Crawford, made the leap across that almost impossible threshold, playing nine years in the NFL for the legendary Dallas Cowboys. With ESPN and Sports Illustrated running stories about his recent retirement, with offers rolling in from various directions, what is the first thing Tyrone says in his interview with Windsor Life Magazine?

“I know this article is probably all about me, but I want to make sure we honour my mom.”

When it came to her sons, Tyrone and Tarrence, Mrs. Tara Crawford always put them first.

“She is the reason we became the people we are,” Tyrone continues. “My mom worked factory jobs so we could have things and play sports. I never saw her cry and never heard her make an excuse. She led by example.”

It was from his mother that Tyrone learned the work ethic that would see him shine as a star high school athlete at Catholic Central. He was one of only a handful of Windsor athletes in the past 60 years to win the coveted Royal Arcanum Award twice. Although he was a standout on the football field, Tyrone also won three provincial gold medals in shot put and one in basketball.

“I was a single mom and thought that sports would keep my sons out of trouble,” Mrs. Crawford explains. “I worked 12-hour shifts, worked midnights for 14 years so I could be at their games and be at the school meetings.”

Tyrone began in T-ball when he was four years old. By the time he was 12, he stood 5’9” and people on opposing teams thought he was the coach. He was the pitcher. Opposing batters cowered at home plate as Tyrone lobbed in his pitches. He felt

Clockwise from above: Tyrone psyching up for a game; Tyrone in action against Washington Football Team. Photo courtesy Getty Images; Tyrone and Kelsey Crawford, Blair and Tarrence Crawford, and Mrs. Tara Crawford, at Tarrence and Blair’s wedding July 11, 2020. Photo by Amanda Campbell Visuals.

bad the kids were scared of him. “His coach would be calling: ‘Come on, Tyrone, whip ’em in there!” Mrs. Crawford remembers.

“I had the boys in baseball, basketball, soccer,” she continues. “I tried putting Tyrone in hockey, but they didn’t make skates big enough for his feet.”

Mrs. Crawford told the boys’ coaches: “Don’t baby my kids. If they’re going to be a good person in life, they need to be told what to do.”

Achieving success in multiple high school sports, how did Tyrone know football was his game?

“I didn’t,” Tyrone says. “Playing different sports benefited me in different ways. Football kept me in shape so I’d be ready for basketball. Track and field kept up my conditioning afterward. My high school coaches played a huge role in the athlete and the man I’ve become.”

In 2008, Tyrone enrolled at Bakersfield College in Bakersfield, California. Playing defensive end on their football team, Tyrone was named first-team all-conference as a freshman. The following year, he was named a junior college first-team All-America, as well as first-team all-state and conference. In 2010, he transferred to Boise State University in Boise, Idaho.

Then, in 2012, he received The Call. The Dallas Cowboys.

“Getting the call was honestly surreal,” Tyrone recalls, visibly lost in memory. “As pro teams go, they’re like royalty. Being a kid from Windsor, with Jerry Jones and Jason Jerret and all my coaches… I can’t really explain the feeling. I didn’t think I would be an NFL player…”

When the initial shock wore off, he remembers thinking: “I just got drafted by

the Dallas Cowboys. This could be a huge change for me and my family… and my future family.”

He was not wrong.

In his first professional season, Tyrone filled the left defensive end position, finishing the season with 33 tackles and 5 quarterback pressures. Subsequent seasons found him filling roles up and down the defensive line. On the first day of training camp, 2013, he suffered a torn Achilles and was placed on the injured reserve list. There were more injuries to come.

All the while, Tyrone performed on the field. In Week 3 of the 2014 season, Tyrone played defensive tackle against the New Orleans Saints, and went on to earn the starter job. That season, he came away with three sacks and 29 quarterback pressures.

In 2015, the Dallas Cowboys demonstrated how pleased they were with Tyrone’s performance by signing him to a five-year contract extension, worth $45 million.

Life off the field was coming together, as well. On March 26, 2016, Tyrone married his fiancé, Kelsey Marie Mills. They have two daughters: Mia, who will be three in June, and Kali, 18 months old.

So, how does an athlete at top of his game stay motivated?

“It’s not easy,” Tyrone admits. “After you sign a contract, and play in the NFL, part of you wonders: ‘How do I keep this thing going?’ I just focused on the love of the players beside me, helping them get to where we all want to be: the Super Bowl, becoming a Pro Bowler.”

He continues: “Also, I have my wife and my girls, my brother, my mom, everyone who was watching me. Those were motivators, too.”

Although Tyrone dwells in the rarified air of a multi-million dollar elite athlete, he has never forgotten where he came from.

“I love Windsor,” he says. “There’s no love greater than the love a person has for the city where they grew up. I can’t get back as much as I would like, especially now, when things are crazy.”

In 2013, Tyrone founded Windsor’s Finest Football Academy, with the help of his brother, Tarrence, and cousin Darry Townshend, a defensive back for the Montreal Alouettes. It is a day-long camp for kids, aged seven to 19. Tyrone enlisted friends and teammates from the NFL to coach at the camp. These have included: Dallas teammates, DeMarcus Lawrence, Tyron Smith and Maliek Collins, and LaSalle native, Luke Willson, among others.

“My teammates loved Windsor,” Tyrone says. “The kids who came out were on it. They took care of business. The pro players were impressed.”

Earning a pro athlete salary, Tyrone was adamant about doing something for his mom. She was just as adamant: “He doesn’t owe me anything, except his love,” she says. Finally, however, she relented and allowed Tyrone to buy her a few things she’d had her eye on. For her own part, Mrs. Crawford continued working.

“I always said to Tyrone, ‘By the time you retire, it won’t be long before I retire,’” Mrs. Crawford recalls. “I have worked for my current employer for 28 years. My friends think I’m the Bionic Woman!”

After nine years in the NFL, appearing in 117 pro games, Tyrone announced his retirement from the Dallas Cowboys. How did he come to this decision?

“Just the way my body was taking punishment in the daily grind of the NFL,” he explains. “I felt like I was too far from getting back to how I wanted to feel, going into a season.”

So, what’s next?

“I have a couple different directions I’m being pulled,” Tyrone says. “Aside from focusing on my family, being a good husband, father, trying to stay healthy, I’m looking at going into real estate development as an investor.”

With the support of his family, friends, former teammates, and coaches throughout his athletic career, Tyrone faces life off the field with both eyes open and both feet on the ground.

Your Backyard OASIS Awaits

Behind every great home there’s a living space that celebrates sunshine, the open air and dusk in the company of family and friends. That’s what “Living Beyond Walls” is all about, and it’s the passion that drives the people at Creative Homescapes.

Backyard renovations have never been more popular, as people are recognizing the value in creating comfortable and unique outdoor living spaces. It’s a trend that continues to capture the imagination of homeowners and builders alike, and it shows no sign of slowing down. And with people spending more time at home as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for backyard projects has never been higher.

“We still build more decks and fences than anyone in the region, and our retail business continues to grow nicely,” said Shawn Kelly, owner of Creative Homescapes. “But complete backyard renovations are really the core of our business. It’s what we do best.”

The results reflect the experience behind them. Creative Homescapes has been building beautiful

outdoor spaces for over 30 years. Their expert teams bring unmatched knowledge and insight to every aspect of a client’s project, be it a simple privacy fence or the creation of a stunning backyard paradise. Inspired by their clients’ ideas and vision, they help create amazing outdoor spaces

“Complete backyard renovations are what we do best”

that provide their customers years of pleasure and enhance their property value. Because an investment in quality is an investment that lasts.

“We believe there’s a right way and a wrong way to do things. Cutting corners and cutting costs may get the job done quicker and cheaper, but it won’t result in the kind of work that our customers can be proud of,” added Kelly. “We take the time to do the job right, using only top-quality materials

that will stand the test of time and with old-world craftsmanship that delivers unmatched attention to every detail. And for the DIY-er, we only sell quality materials from the most reputable vendors – the kind that we use ourselves every day.”

But building fabulous backyard living spaces is only part of the story. Completing the picture with quality outdoor products - beautiful patio furniture, a hot tub and BBQ, or perhaps a pizza oven – is why the company opened their retail and design centre on County Road 42, across from Windsor Airport.

“Think

of it as an idea factory”

Kelly says that customers can think of the showroom as an idea factory. “It’s a place where you can explore a full range of products and materials that can transform your backyard into a beautiful retreat,” he says. Their new showroom features the most sought-after brands in outdoor furnishings, grillcraft, pools and spas, ambience setting and much more. And once a client

has settled on their unique design direction, Creative Homescapes can be their one-stop shop for everything they need to complete their outdoor oasis.

A grand opening for the new and expanded Retail and Design Centre is scheduled for later this summer, and everyone is welcome to attend. Watch for details as they become available at www.creativehomescapes.ca

Creative Homescapes

2619 County Road 42, Windsor, ON N8V 0A4

What will you create ?

How about some backyard magic?

This year, create an amazing new oasis in your own backyard. From decks and fences to pools and spas; landscaping and lighting to cooking and entertaining – the pros at Creative Homescapes have everything you need to do it right. Sound good? Let’s get creative!

LET YOURSELF SHINE

Big Brother Canada Contestant

Tera Gillen-Petrozzi

STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF GLOBAL TV

TERA GILLEN-PETROZZI’S Big Brother Canada audition tape sums it all up: “My name is Tera. I’m 37. I’m from LaSalle, Ontario. I’m a Mom of two and a Spin Instructor. My personality is a lot of extra! I am loud! I am energetic! And I am tiny! I am 5’0. I think I might have a thing called Little Woman Syndrome. I have the determination of the bull—a tiny, fierce bull.”

Tera was first introduced to Big Brother Canada in 2013, while expecting her second child.

“My brother-in-law first showed it to me,” Tera recalls. “I was pregnant, barefoot, feet up. Just watching a lot of TV. But as soon as I saw the show, I loved it! The concept of the game was so intriguing to me. I loved watching all the different competitions. I always wondered if I would be good at. I remember saying to myself, ‘I wish this show had come around when I was younger. I would have loved to apply!’”

Eventually, after consuming season after season, Tera came to a startling conclusion: “I thought, ‘Wait. Why can’t I apply?’” Tera states.

One evening last October, Tera set up her smartphone in her kitchen and recorded her audition tape.

Five months later, Tera was accepted to Big Brother Canada.

“When I found that I got accepted onto the show’s ninth season, I cried!” Tera explains. “Ugly cried! I couldn’t believe it! I’m just an average Mom

Top: The final three Big Brother Canada housemates: Breydon White, Tera Gillen-Petrozzi and Tychon Carter. Above: Tera’s children, Levin and Farrah, showing support for their mother.

from LaSalle. And now, all of a sudden, I’m about to be on the show I’ve been a fan of for years.”

Tera describes the experience of first entering the Big Brother Canada house as a deeply surreal one.

“Walking through those doors in early March was one of the strangest moments of my life,” Tera states. “I’ve never been so nervous! Arisa Cox, the host, was standing right there. And here I was, shuffling into this house with 13 other huge personalities! It was unbelievable. On that first day, we all met each other, put on costumes, were shuffled outside and had our first round of competitions,” Tera reports. “I remember just looking around and thinking, ‘Oh my God. I’m on Big Brother Canada.’”

One of the oddest parts of the whole experience, Tera confides, is the sheer amount of isolation that she and the other contestants were forced to endure.

“We had to hand over our phones,” Tera explains. “We had no contact with the outside world. It was so beautiful and rewarding being on the show, but it was also a lot harder than I thought it would be. You really appreciate the little things in life when you’re locked away for so long. Some days felt like they flew by. Other days I felt like I’d been there for four years.”

Adding to the weirdness, Tera and the other 12 houseguests were filmed 24 hours a day.

“In addition to the three episodes that air every week, Big Brother Canada has a live feed running constantly,” Tera states. “At any time, people could log onto the website and watch you. It was intimidating, at first. But what was really strange was how quickly you forgot about the cameras. Stepping into the Big Brother Canada house was like stepping into a different world. You really got caught up in the game and in the other houseguests.”

And Tera’s age gave her a unique perspective amongst the much younger contestants.

“My dynamic with the other houseguests was different,” Tera admits. “I am one of the older houseguests and a parent. I am at a different stage of life than some of the other participants. That said, it was surprising to me how quickly we forged real bonds. Meeting everyone and hearing all their stories was such a beautiful experience. And it was such a diverse cast.”

In total, Tera spent 69 days in the Big Brother Canada house. During that time, she competed in several of competitions. s

QUALITY

Danielle Carriere senior move manager

“The cool thing about the competitions was that you never knew who would be good at what,” Tera explains. “They were so random and all over the place! And when you find a competition that you were really good at, it was the most incredible feeling!”

For her part, Tera excelled at the Power of Veto Competition—an event where she had to navigate a dark room to find the correct pieces to a puzzle board.

“For the second part of the competition, there is all this simulated rain pouring down,” Tera states. “We had to fight through this brick wall to solve a puzzle, match a number code and stop a laser beam. And when you win, I can’t even explain how good it feels. The adrenaline is rushing through your body. You feel like a superhero! It was so awesome!”

Tera ended up winning the third place on the ninth season of Big Brother Canada.

“It was a huge accomplishment!” Tera states. “Obviously, I wanted to go on and win. But I am so proud of the final two! Even though I didn’t win, I was thrilled to see them move forward.”

And, in many ways, leaving the Big Brother Canada house after over two months, was just as surreal as entering it.

“One of the hardest things about the show was that, when you’re in the house, you don’t know what’s going on in the outside world,” Tera admits. “When I left, I had no idea that we were still in lockdown. And it was overwhelming seeing all the love and support I was getting from everyone on social media. There was a lot to catch up on!”

Big Brother Canada has concluded their current run of episodes. As of this moment, the show has not been renewed for a tenth season. However, Tera and others remain optimistic about the show’s future.

And for any aspiring future contestant, Tera has one piece of advice:

“Honestly, just be yourself!” Tera exclaims. “I am a stay-at-home Mom. I am as average as it gets. One of the things that I think is really cool about Big Brother Canada is how it shows all walks of life. It features so many different types of personalities. So don’t doubt yourself! If you want to try out, go for it! Be yourself, show them who you are and let yourself shine! And I’m obviously sending you good vibes.”

More information about Tera’s time on Big Brother Canada can be found on her Instagram page: @teragillen. WLM

Jenny, Dr. Ed MacMurdo, Courtney, Dr. Justin DiCocco, Jade, Sarah

THE LONG-AWAITED 2021 PAN AMERICA™ 1250 SPECIAL HAS ARRIVED!

“EVERYONE AT THUNDER ROAD HARLEY-DAVIDSON® is passionate about powersports. We want everyone to discover all the fun and adventure that a quality Harley-Davidson® can bring into their lives!” says General Manager Rob Reeb.

“And everyone’s pretty pumped about the Pan America, which is not only propelling Harley-Davidson to new levels—it’s on our showroom floor now. If you’re seeking power, technology and capability in a uniquely Harley-Davidson adventure touring design package, this is the bike for you!” Rob exclaims.

The Ultimate in Versatility and Rider Comfort

A category first, Adaptive Ride Height is a factory-installed option that lowers seat height when stopped and continuously senses weight inputs. The Pan America is designed to maintain high-speed ride and handling performance even when at the limit of luggage and weight capacity.

There’s a long list of cutting-edge technology and exclusive features, including:

• Six-axis IMU, customizable ride modes, Bluetooth connectivity and moving map navigation features with 6.8” touchscreen display

• Tire pressure monitoring system, multi-position rear brake pedal, heated handgrips and the Daymaker Signature Adaptive Headlamp (which includes three LED elements per side, located just above the main headlamp). The adaptive lamps illuminate in sequence, based on motorcycle lean angle. Rather than just switching on and off, the lamp elements ramp up progressively and seamlessly

• Programmed to maintain control over rougher roads and terrain; dynamic performance during aggressive off-road riding

• The All-New Revolution® Max 1250 Engine–this liquid-cooled V-twin can produce more than 145 horsepower and 90 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is integrated into the same case as the engine

• Tubeless Laced Wheels–available as a factory-installed option, spokes can be serviced or replaced without removing the wheel

Other features include a centrestand, brush guards, aluminum skid plate, hand guards, heated grips, a multi-position brake pedal, radial-mount brakes and an adjustable windscreen.

Harley-Davidson partnered with Brembo brakes to create a new, purpose-designed radial Monoblock four-piston caliper. Michelin worked closely with Harley-Davidson design co-branded Scorcher Adventure tires.

Rob adds, “There are a lot of different adventure-touring products out there but certainly this style and approach is true Harley-Davidson.”

Thunder Road offers a wide selection of the very best new and pre-owned motorcycles and trikes. The award-winning, friendly and knowledgeable sales, financing, service and parts teams are committed to creating an outstanding customer experience—from selecting the right vehicle to customization to ongoing service and maintenance—for every rider.

For more than 12 consecutive years, Thunder Road HarleyDavidson has consistently won Silver, Gold and Platinum Dealership awards.

Looking for an adventure? Stop in, or call 519 966 1520 to book a test ride on the bike of your dreams! For more product info visit harley-davidson.com.

NEW AND NOTICED

THE ATHENA LEADERSHIP AWARD

The ATHENA Leadership Award® recognizes exceptional individuals who have achieved professional excellence and assisted others—particularly women—in realizing their full leadership potential. Many local leaders, media personalities and charities submitted letters of support for Marlene Corey, a producer/director at Cogeco Your TV. Through more than 30 years in broadcasting and volunteering, her impact in the community has been nothing short of astonishing. Pictured here, Marlene is the 25th recipient of this prestigious honour. Congratulations to Marlene, husband Brett and daughters Blair and Erika.

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS & SUITES WINDSOR EAST-LAKESHORE

This newly built IHG™ hotel is officially open to welcome visitors. Ideally situated off the 401 at E.C. Row Expressway and Manning Road, the gateway to all major Windsor-Essex business sectors. Offering 105 spacious, modern rooms equipped with mini-fridge, microwave, in-room safe, a 55” HDTV and Keurig coffee maker. It also offers free Express Hot Breakfast, parking and Wi-Fi, 24-hour fitness centre, indoor heated pool, business centre, meeting rooms and guest laundry. 14 Amy Croft Drive, 519-739-6930 or email info@hielakeshore.com

MIKE BRAIN

Mike Brain of WE Advantage Mortgages won the Canadian Mortgage Awards for Excellence in Philanthropy & Community Service. He is Chairman for We Care For Kids, which has raised over $500,000 for kids health and well-being in the last two years, organizing and running the fund-raisers himself to incredible results. He also started a grass roots basketball league that quickly took off and now has a long waiting list. Mike is fearless and tireless in his efforts to make this a better world for those who matter the most: our children. weadvantagemortgages.ca. 519-974-9393.

VICTORY LINCOLN

After joining Victory Lincoln straight out of university, LaSalle resident Sa’id Hammoud celebrated 10 years of service in March. His recent promotion to General Manager is a dream come true for someone with a lifelong passion for classy, well-built cars. Representing one of Canada’s strongest automotive brands in a state-of-the-art facility, this dealership is the proud recipient of Ford’s prestigious President’s and Diamond Club Awards for customer satisfaction. Visit www.victorylincoln.com or stop in at 301 Richmond Street, Chatham. 519-397-3403.

ROSE CITY FORD

Celebrating 40 years of service in June 2021, Rose City Ford offers quality new Ford vehicles, used cars, original Ford auto parts, reliable Ford car repair and auto-financing. Pictured here are General Manager Scott Ohler and Commercial Specialist Brad Ball (Windsor’s foremost commercial vehicle authority and part of the Rose City team since day one). Brad began his career at our 6333 Tecumseh Road East location in 1971. Drop in at the dealership, visit rosecityford.com or call 519-948-7800.

R.N.A.O. 2021 LOIS FAIRLEY NURSES AWARD

For the 2nd consecutive year, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (R.N.A.O.) Windsor Essex Chapter announced that “all nurses throughout Windsor and Essex County are the deserving recipients of the 14th Annual R.N.A.O. Lois Fairley Nursing Award. As our community continues to fight and respond to the pandemic, our nurses’ role as frontline healthcare heroes has been reinforced over and over again.” A dedicated bench in Leamington’s Seacliff Park will recognize their priceless contribution.

BOB PROBERT RIDE RESCHEDULED

CHEESECAKE ON A STICK

Now with two locations (Kingsville, Tecumseh), this family-run takeout dessert offers cheesecake on a stick. First dipped in milk or white chocolate, then piled with a wide array of positively decadent gourmet toppings. 14 flavours to choose from, plus a featured Cheesecake of the Month. Special Occasion platters are available and there’s always something new on the menu. Skip/Jubzi/Curbside pickup. In-store shopping when it’s safe again. Picture here is owner Sandra Ferber. 13300 Tecumseh Road East (in Green Valley Plaza). Visit cheesecakeonastick.ca or follow them on Facebook. 519-999-9116.

Since 2011, this beloved 100 km motorcycle fundraiser has raised beyond $1.2 million to support Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Cardiac Wellness initiatives. Because of COVID-19, this year’s Ride has been rescheduled to resume in 2022. To keep the fundraising going strong, UNIFOR Local 444 has donated a 2021 HarleyDavidson Road Glide for a Draw Prize ($25/ticket). Draw happens September 6 at UNIFOR Local 444 headquarters, 1855 Turner Road. Pictured here are UNIFOR Local 444 President Dave Cassidy and Dani Probert. Draw proceeds to support mental health programs at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare. To purchase tickets please visit Thunder Road HarleyDavidson, UNIFOR Local 444 or call 519-257-5234.

ANGIE GOULET & ASSOCIATES

Angie Goulet & Associates would like to take this opportunity to thank their realtors, staff and especially their loyal clients for helping them achieve the #1 Canadian RE/MAX Team Standing for 2020 (based on 2020 Medium Residential Team Stats by RE/MAX International). To find out how they can help you with all of your real estate needs, call or email them day or night! imovewindsor@gmail.com 519-944-5955.

RIVERSIDE ROOFING

Integrity, Innovation and Reliability

“ROOFS TALK TO YOU,” Riverside Roofing Owner Steve Zold explains. “They tell you where to go and look. They tell you where the source of the problem is.”

Since its inception in 1948, Riverside Roofing has become synonymous with integrity, innovation and reliability. Over 72 years ago, founders Steve Zold Sr. and Alf Prince started the company to serve the needs of the expanding Windsor-Essex community.

Built on the rock-solid foundation of integrity and hard work, Riverside Roofing quickly became a trusted and reliable name in the region. In the years that followed, Steve and Alf passed down the reins into the capable hands of their sons, Steve Zold Jr. and Bill Prince.

“This industry is in my blood,” Steve explains. “I was born in ’46, and Dad started the business in ’48. Our shop was in our front yard at one point. And we just kept growing from there. I started helping out around roofing sites when I was 10 years old. I became a full-time roofer when I was 17.”

For years, Steve and Bill took the business to new heights,

expanding into multiple sectors and becoming the first to bring innovative new roofing technologies to Windsor and Essex County.

“We worked with seven plants in town—the two GM plants and all the Ford Motor Company plants. And we did quite a few of the municipal buildings, schools and arenas,” Steve admits.

However, despite his legacy, Steve remains a lifelong student— fully dedicated to learning all the permutations about his craft.

That said, some values are indeed timeless. And one of Riverside Roofing’s is impeccable customer service.

“When you call Riverside Roofing we will respond to your call within 24hrs,” Steve states. “If you require emergency service we will respond immediately.”

At Riverside Roofing, you are much more than just a number.

“We will give you an honest, competitive price,” Steve promises. “At Riverside Roofing, you are important to us. I always want to work for and with great people.”

Steve stresses that, when it comes to roofing, nothing can rival the quality of an amazing crew.

“I can go to you as a customer and tell you about all the great things we’re going to do,” Steve states. “But it means nothing if I send over a crew that doesn’t know what they’re doing. The men we have are the best there is in the business. We’re in an industry that isn’t looked at as favorably as others. Roofing isn’t considered a skilled trade, like an electrician or plumber. But, it absolutely is a

Thank you Pastor Cory, New Beginnings Community Church, 1731 Lesperance Road, Tecumseh.

skilled trade. You have to know what you’re doing in order to do it properly. The men we send to do our jobs are good, credible people.”

Part of ensuring that his men can do the best possible work is allowing them the opportunity to do the job correctly the first time.

“My men are paid by the hour,” Steve explains. “We’re not on piecework. That way, no one is encouraged to cut corners. No one is rushing the job. And the reality of it is, there is always unexpected challenges. Sometimes we end up having to go around the difficult corner. By giving our crew the time they need to do the job correctly the first time, we avoid unexpected complica tions in the future and the consumer does not suffer.”

And with sights set on the future and a team of the industry’s most experi enced professionals, Riverside Roofing will continue to do what they do best: providing the best in roofing technol ogies with integrity, innovation and reliability.

More information is available at riversideroofinginc.com or by calling 519-945-4263.

Steve Zold Jr. owner

Thank you Colin Wigle, Wigle Gourmet Meats & Deli, 30 Renaud Street, Amherstburg.

Thank you Randy and Barry Saunders, Q-Development, 1370 Matthew Brady, Windsor.

DARREN JONES

Local Artist Has Work Featured In New York City Art Fair

STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN / PHOTOGRAPHY BY DARREN JONES

WINDSORITE DARREN JONES first moved to Chicago at the age of 30 to pursue a corporate career. What he did not anticipate, however, was the career that was about to start pursuing him.

One night, in 2004, Darren decided to go and catch a movie. To this day, he does not remember what the film was about, who was in it or how many bags of popcorn he guzzled. But he does remember what he locked eyes with on his way into that dark theatre.

“Right next door to the cinema was an art store,” Darren recalls. “Sitting in the window was a really cool starter oil painting kit. I was immediately smitten.”

Darren sat through the movie, numb to the lights flickering above him. His mind was awash with colours.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about that painting kit,” Darren states.

“I kept saying to myself, ‘If the store is still open after the movie, I’m going to go in and buy it.’”

Sure enough, when Darren stumbled out of the theatre, the painting kit was still there. Waiting for him.

“I grabbed a few small canvases while I was in there,” Darren reports. “I got home, I locked the doors and I just started experimenting.”

That first night was an electric one. Darren stayed up until three in the morning, slashing at the canvas until the colours leaked down his elbows.

“Painting really illuminated something inside of me,” Darren explains. “I couldn’t stop giggling inside. There I was, not knowing what I was doing, just charging in trying everything. There was just the spark that I couldn’t explain. But I knew, at that moment, that I was doing what I was meant to do. I haven’t stopped since.”

And as an entirely self-taught artist, that first night of wild improvisation set the tone for the rest of Darren’s career.

“What I did that first night, I’m still currently doing,” Darren explains. “In the sense that I don’t let rules or restrictions hinder what I think or what I want to do. That first night was exactly that. I literally was just putting paint on the canvas. I was just trying things, seeing if they worked. And I still do that today!”

As a contemporary abstract artist, Darren’s process is defined by bottomless passion and a love of evocative patterns.

“I might see something while I’m travelling,” Darren states. “And I’ll say to myself, ‘Wow! I want to create that texture! How can I replicate that?’ For me, the paint is always the predominant element. Then, I can add in different elements.”

For a time, Darren continued working full-time at Forbes, a travel publication, all the while painting on evenings and weekends in his sunroom. After connecting with some local artists through gallery openings, he ended up sharing a studio space with a fellow painter.

“That really helped me grow as an artist,” Darren explains. “Suddenly I didn’t have to worry about getting paint on the walls and whatnot. And that’s around the same time that I had my first show. That gave me something to work towards.”

Life then took another unexpected turn for Darren. In March 2009, he was laid off from his executive position. Which left him with a difficult choice to make.

Opposite: Darren with “Inner Courage” at Times Square, New York. This page clockwise from left: “Determined Courage”; “One Can Dream #100”; Darren’s work displayed at The Cube Art Fair in Brussels, Belgium; Darren and the “One Can Dream” series in the Commercial Boardroom Installation. Photo by Jason Kryk.

“I remember sitting on the curb in downtown Chicago,” Darren recalls. “I looked around at the skyscrapers. I had a choice to make. I could easily find another job in my industry. Or I could just take the leap and become a full-time artist.”

Darren leapt.

The next several years were a blur for Darren. He hosted countless art shows and his work was featured in a wide selection of galleries. During this time, he ended up relocating into his own studio space.

“I think that renting my own studio was the biggest catalyst for me,” Darren explains. “In the sense that now, I was 100% responsible for what I do. There wasn’t anyone to share expenses with. This was all on me. As well, having that kind of space allowed me to jump into larger scale work.”

As Darren’s talent ballooned, so too did his canvases. He has worked on a variety of large-scale projects, including his latest collection, the Inner Courage series.

“I started this series of paintings right before the pandemic,” Darren explains. “And I have been fine-tuning these works while we’ve been in lockdown. They were inspired by the jujitsu lessons I had just started. It was really interesting to see how learning a martial art—especially at my age!— changed the way my brain thinks. I took the movements I was learning on the mats and applied them to the canvas.”

Darren spent a few months evolving the Inner Courage series. And while he was quietly working away, life was preparing another one of its characteristic curveballs.

the world’s largest a la cart public art fair,” Darren explains. “It features 100 pieces of art on the 12,000 square-foot billboard in Times Square, as well as a hundred billboard kiosks throughout the city. There are kiosks down in Wall Street, in Union Square, on the Upper West Side and on the Upper East Side.”

As he was fully vaccinated, Darren was able to fly to New York to witness his work Inner Courage featured on what can only be described as the world’s largest canvas.

“I was able to attend the opening release reception,” Darren states. “I was able to go to Times Square and see my work—five stories tall! And I was pretty emotional! It was a pretty amazing experience.”

Seeing his work broadcasted on such a monumental scale represents the culmination of Darren’s 14 plus years of hard work.

“I’m an artist, but I still maintain a corporate style work ethic,” Darren explains. “I’m always in the studio. I’m always trying new things. I’m always working towards the next show. I’m always working towards the next collection. Seeing my work up on that billboard was the pinnacle of my career.”

And Darren’s ascent has not gone unnoticed.

“I am affiliated with a gallery in Brussels, Belgium,” Darren states. “Gregoire Vogelsang is the curator. He created a show called the Cube Art Fair. The concept of the show is bringing contemporary North American artists to Europe. They are currently on their fifth iteration of the show, but I’ve participated since the beginning. It was my first overseas international show. One year we even did a smaller version of the Cube Art Fair in New York.”

During the pandemic, Gregoire was searching for a way to showcase the explosion of creativity that happened during these unprecedented times. So, last October, Gregoire launched the Digital Billboard Art Fair—an event that displayed the work of a hundred artists on billboards across Brussels.

Due to the incredible success of the Digital Billboard Art Fair, Gregoire later brought it to New York.

“Gregoire created what was essentially

“I recorded my reaction to the billboard,” Darren states. “Then I posted it, live, to my social media. It just blew up. I had people from Windsor, Toronto, Europe, New Zealand and Asia all commenting on it. And partly that’s the brilliance of the campaign! No matter where you are in the world, everyone knows Times Square. They know how important and how big this really is! Everyone is just genuinely amazed and excited. I’m getting emotional just talking about it!”

Darren encourages every young artist who dreams of turning their passion into their career to stride forward with confidence.

“I’ve got a really solid group of artist friends around the country and here in Chicago,” Darren explains. “I’ve been able to sort of mentor some of the younger ones. A lot of them are in the same situation that I was in. They’re working full time. I think you just have to really believe in yourself. I have a quote that I write on the back of every painting that I sell. It’s: ‘Let Your Heart Guide You To Your True Passion.’ If you believe in yourself, and you know you can do this, then you can. But it’s a lot of hard work.”

More information on Darren’s art is available at darrencjones.com.

THREE LAMBS REGISTRY & BABY BOUTIQUE is your exclusive one-stop shop for everything baby!

“All of our staff members are highly trained in product knowledge,” Owner Jeanine Jodoin explains. “It’s a very non-judgmental and non-opinionated environment. We’re not saying, ‘I have this. You have to have this!’ We know the right questions to ask to help you navigate the process and find the perfect product for you.”

TAKING RISK

In terms of products, Jeanine has only expanded her catalogue.

“Highly recommended, staff is amazing friendly and knowledgeable. I haven’t made a purchase I regret!” – Laura K.

“COVID has shifted our selection,” Jeanine states. “There was a lot of pivoting and adapting. We thought about decisions we could make that would be best for our customers and streamlined our collection. We brought in more products from Canadian distributors leading us to have the largest selection of Canadian-made nursery furniture in the area as well as Canadian-made mattress options.”

As part of their customer focused mandate, Three Lambs has also curated their selection of clothing.

“In the wake of the pandemic, so many larger department stores have been unable to provide in-person shopping,” Jeanine reflects. “As a result we decided to stock our s tore with things that were essential to our customers. Our clothing selection has ballooned over the last year with sizes ranging from preemie to 6 years.”

For Jeanine, it’s all about making sure that everyone is ca tered to, regardless of their concerns or needs.

BEING THERE FOR THE CUSTOMER

“We’ve had customers who were in a car accident three days before their due date and their car seat is damaged,” Jeanine explains. “We have a large variety of in-stock options for them to pick-up same day, when no other store did, helping alleviate their stress levels”.

This exceptional service and impressive inventory have made Three Lambs Baby Boutique beloved by their clients. Many have even flocked online to share their appreciation.

“Janine and her staff are the BEST! They are all knowledgeable about not only the products... but babies too. They carry the best stuff. If you are looking for concierge service by people in the know, then Three Lambs is the place for you. Can’t recommend them enough,” Susan M. writes.

“Three Lambs Baby Boutique is our go to place for anything baby related, including things for Mama during pregnancy and postpartum and all the way through the toddler and early childhood years. The experience that I had with Jeanine and her staff while making our baby registry was personal and very informative!” Ashleigh E. writes.

At Three Lambs it is not just about what’s the “best,” it’s about what’s the best for YOU.

Expecting? Feeling overwhelmed? Book a complimentary consultation and let us help you create the registry of your dreams. Want to start now? Visit threelambs.ca and begin building your registry today.

“My favourite place to shop for all things baby! Not only do they carry some of the best brands out there, the staff is super knowledgeable and is always willing to help you make the best decision for what you’re looking for!” – Chantelle M.

FOR TWO-TIME OLYMPIAN 800-metre runner Melissa Bishop-Nriagu, the finish line is never at the end of the track. It lingers just beyond your reach, right past your body’s limits.

“It’s really about how comfortable you can be being uncomfortable,” Melissa explains. “It’s all about pushing your body out of its limits to achieve these amazing results. To achieve these goals. And part of that is giving yourself permission to comfortably ease out of your comfort zone every single day. That way, when you line up on the track at the Olympics, you are primed and ready to race at your fastest. There is a feeling of, ‘I have nothing left to do but show off all of the hard work that I’ve done.’”

That said, Melissa admits that level of performance always comes with a price.

“Every event hurts,” Melissa stresses. “During the last hundred meters of any race, you feel like you can’t move anymore. That you’re dragging bricks behind you. We have a lot of different terms for it. The monkey jumped on your back. You hit a wall. All this lactic acid just overcomes you and you need to grit your

AROUND SHARP CORNERS

STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY MILOS SAVIC

teeth and fight through it. You can only train your system, your body, so far before it says, ‘Stop! Stop! Stop!’ You just have to keep running through it.”

Melissa describes herself as being a sporty kid from a sporty family.

“I first started running in the fourth grade,” Melissa recalls. “I tried out for the track team during lunch hour. I ran a couple laps on the schoolyard and qualified. I just loved it right from the get-go! I joined my first track club four or five years later.”

However, Melissa admits that her first love was not an entirely monogamous one.

“I was a multisport athlete,” Melissa states. “I didn’t decide to focus on running until university. Prior to that, I played competitive hockey, volleyball and basketball. I was very, very busy. My family was on the road a lot.”

Eventually, running popped the proverbial question.

“I think deciding to focus in on running was the result of two things,” Melissa explains. “I had a lot of success with running

early on. And that always goes hand-inhand with loving something. But I also loved team sports. I loved hockey right up until the very end. I played it as long as I could. However, towards the end of high school, I decided to commit to running. I thought I would have a better chance of getting a full scholarship with it. So, by my second semester grade 12, I was only running track and field.”

Melissa went on to obtain her Bachelor of Human Kinetics and Education at the University of Windsor, where she also met her husband, Osi. She then went on to make her first Olympic team shortly after graduating in 2011.

Melissa’s career has been characterized by an intense drive and an unflappable will to succeed. She has competed in two Olympic Games and even set several national records.

“I broke my first Canadian record of 2015 at the World Athletics Championships in China,” Melissa states. “1:57.01. It’s currently still standing.”

However, as Melissa admits, sometimes even victory can sting.

“I finished fourth in Rio at the 2016 Summer Olympics,” Melissa explains. “At the time, it was a very emotional experience. At the time, I was expecting—and preparing—for the podium. But I just missed it. I came in fourth—and not by a lot. In the moment, that was hard. And in the years after that, I struggled with that. But now that we’re five years away from that, I can say that that’s one of my biggest achievements.”

And Melissa, like any athlete, has worked incredibly hard for her achievements. She has overcome a great deal of challenges in order to reach her peak, including a number of injuries.

“Injuries have been big ones to overcome,” Melissa admits. “Because they never arrive at the right time. Thankfully, I have been very fortunate to be injury free for most of my career. My biggest one was in 2015 when I suffered two major stress fractures back-to-back. Prior to that, I had never been injured. I had to change my training regimen to accommodate for those challenges.”

Melissa ended up recovering and coming back strong, winning a gold medal at the Pan American Games and a silver medal at the World Athletics Championships that same year.

“It was a significant year for me,” Melissa explains. “It solidified to me that you s

Say Hello to the New Generation Pedicure

can do this through injury. You can stay fit on bike, in a pool and on elliptical! Because essentially being injured means I can’t do my job. I can’t run every day. And running is my job. So, you have to find ways to get the same amount of work done. I compensated by crosstraining. It still always hard, because again, it’s never at the right time. It’s your body telling you it needs a break. But there are ways of working around those sharp corners.”

And now, Melissa is currently gearing up for what she hopes will be her third Olympic Games.

On May 2nd, at the Chula Vista high performance meet in California, Melissa ran 1:59.40 at the Women’s 800 meters race—surpassing the Olympic qualifying standard.

“For track and field events at the Olympics, there is a certain time you have to run in order to be considered,” Melissa explains. “The 800-meter standard is 1:59.50. That brings me one step closer to making the Canadian Olympic team this year. But I still have to place well at our National Championships, which may or may not happen because of COVID. So, I’m in limbo until then.”

Although the competition is fierce and the pandemic has added a new layer of uncertainty into what would already have been a tense year, Melissa remains optimistic about hopping on the plane to Tokyo this July.

“I have two more races coming up,” Melissa states. “If I keep performing well, that will give me a better chance of making the team. And honestly, I feel very relaxed about everything. This is not a new process for us runners. Things are always up in the air. That’s just how our sport works. The best thing we can do is keep our head down and keep training. We have to stay strong, stay healthy and perform when it matters.” And performing when it matters is something Melissa is exceptionally skilled at.

“I’m 32,” Melissa reports. “And I’m just reaching the peak of my career. Between now and the next few years, I’ll be running at my best. To anyone looking to get into this sport, I would encourage them to enjoy every moment. This journey goes by so fast. Because once a race finishes, you can’t run it again. It’s done. It’s gone. It will always be in the past. So, don’t be afraid to get outside your comfort zone. You might find out that you’re really, really good at it.”

Melissa currently resides in Windsor with her husband Osi and her three-yearold daughter,

BIGGEST CHEERLEADER

Detroit Red Wings Superfan Heather Petrie

STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN / PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF HEATHER PETRIE

WHAT COMES TO MIND when you think back to your first hockey game? The blades scraping against the ice? The thump of players getting tossed against the boards? The deafening roar of the crowds?

Heather Petrie remembers octopuses.

Lots of octopuses.

“When I was 14, I saw my first Detroit Red Wings game in Florida,” Heather recalls. “We had gone down to Tampa Bay to visit my grandparents. This would’ve been March 1999. We saw the Red Wings play the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Ice Palace. There were so many octopi getting hurled against the ice!”

Heather has been hooked ever since.

“It was a great game,” Heather states. “It was March Break. Everyone from up north was there. It blew my mind that the entire stadium was dressed in red and white. It was like a home game—but at someone else’s arena!”

Heather works as an Operations Administrative Clerk for the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation. Although she was born in Windsor, Heather spent most of her early years in Thunder Bay, Ontario where hockey goes beyond a pastime—becoming a coping mechanism.

“In Thunder Bay it’s -40 in the winters,” Heather explains. “The year we moved there we got the hockey package on satellite TV. With how cold it was outside, there wasn’t much else to do except watch hockey!”

Heather has been a dedicated Red Wings fan for many years. But it was not until she moved back to Windsor in 2010 that she became one of the team’s most ardent supporters.

“December 6th, 2010 was my first game at the Joe Louis Arena,” Heather states. “I was super excited to go! My mom is disabled, so we arrived two hours early. This was back when they only opened the doors an hour before the game. But because it was freezing outside, they let us come in. They even sat my mom at this table where all these people were signing in, getting assigned jobs and heading upstairs. My mom struck up a conversation with them. That’s how we found out about the Red Wings Volunteer For ‘Em Club.”

The Red Wing For ‘Em Club is the official fan club of the Detroit Red Wings. Since 1949, the organization has endeavored to stimulate and promote a greater interest in the sport of hockey.

“It cost $25 a season to be part of the club,” Heather reports. “About a week before every game, they send out an email asking for volunteers, whether that’s for the programs, giveaways or the pizza toss. You can either respond to the email and offer your services or you can just move on with your day.”

Over the last several years, Heather replied to many, many emails.

“I volunteered at a lot of games,” Heather explains. “It was fun! You get this behind-the-scenes access. You get into the arena early. There’s a lot of fun events. Through volunteering, some of us actually got a whole tour of Little Caesars Arena as it was being built.”

Yes, Heather might be Detroit Red Wings’ biggest fan.

And thanks to the Team MVP contest, it is official.

Earlier this year, the Upper Deck Company, a worldwide sports and entertainment company, began a search for the most passionate and dedicated fans of several National Hockey League (NHL) teams to be crowned the Most Valuable Person. Specifically, the contest was looking for NHL fans that have made a positive impact on their fan community and culture.

“I saw the contest shared on Brad Galli from WXYZ’s Facebook page,” Heather recalls. “They were looking for each candidate to submit 150 words on why they thought they were their team’s MVP. I found it pretty easy to find 150 words on why I love the Red Wings so much!”

A week later, Heather received an email informing her that she was part of the final five.

“Everything really took off from there,” Heather states. “I went on Twitter to compete with the four other finalists.”

However, Heather quickly discovered that the life of a would-be influencer was more difficult than she imagined.

“I never really used Twitter much over the years,” Heather explains. “I didn’t have much of a following. I did everything I could over those three weeks to follow the right people, retweet and figure out the algorithm. I would share a bunch of different photos at different times of the day to keep getting the views. It was a lot of hard work!”

“Everyone on Twitter was very kind,” Heather states. “I ended up meeting a lot of other women who are interested in hockey. Since moving back to Windsor in 2010, most of my friends have moved on. I have some work friends, but in truth, the people that I’m hanging out with 50 nights a year are other Red Wings fans. So, it’s been hard, with the border closed. So, it was nice being able to connect with more Windsorites through this contest.”

Although the competition was fierce, Heather ended up winning the Team MVP round of the com-petition: earning her very own mock hockey card!

“It was really rewarding to win the Team MVP round,” Heather states. “Just being able to represent the Red Wings was a tremendous honour. And seeing my face on a hockey card was never my end goal, but it’s pretty cool!”

After winning the first round, Heather went to head-to-head against several other Team MVPs for the title of Ultimate MVP Winner.

“I competed against the winners from the seven other teams,” Heather explains. “The Ultimate MVP Winner comes with a $3000 reward.”

For the second round, Heather redoubled her social media efforts. And, in the process, she ended up expanding the borders of her own community.

However, despite a spirited campaign, Heather unfortunately did not take home the ultimate prize.

“Even though I didn’t win, I feel like a winner,” Heather stresses. “I won the Team MVP for the Detroit Red Wings. Before the pandemic, I was out there every day serving as their biggest cheer-leader. Hockey is my main passion.”

Once the new hockey season starts and the border opens, keep an eye out for Heather.

She is hard to miss!

BON APP ETIT!

dining & nightlife guide

Antonino’s Original Pizza - South Windsor, Tecumseh, LaSalle. Multiple-award winning pizza with the money back guarantee! Fresh salads & authentic Sicilian Cannoli that even your Nonna will love! Google our menu. originalpizza.ca

Capri Pizzeria - Check out our take-out menu and be tempted by our famous pizzas, great pastas, fresh salads and much more! Penny more, penny less, Capri Pizza is still the best!

3020 Dougall Ave. 519-969-6851

Carrots N’ Dates - A health-forward restaurant & bake shoppe that offers delicious meals made with whole foods. Full-service bar, coffee, juices, baked goods, breakfast-dinner menu items and more. Famous for our Pad Thai Sauce! Open Mon-Sat 9am-9pm. 519-735-0447

1125 Lesperance Rd., Tecumseh

Casa Mia Ristorante - Experience authentic Italian food, local wines and homemade desserts served in a casual, completely handicap accessible setting. For many years, chef and owner Frank Puccio has been making lunch and dinner fresh to order. Gluten free options. Takeout available. Closed Sunday and Holidays. Follow us on Facebook. 519-728-2224 523 Notre Dame St., Belle River. casamiabelleriver.com

Cheesecake On A Stick - Dessert shop offering gourmet cheesecake dipped in chocolate and various toppings. Take out or delivery offered with Jubzi.com. Open Thurs-Sun 12-9 pm. Kingsville location open Sat-Sun 12-9 pm. 13300 Tecumseh Rd. E., Tecumseh 519-999-9116. cheesecakeonastick.ca 460 Main St. E, Kingsville 519-999-6024

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

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 s

THE RARE BUTCHER

NEXT LEVEL BUTCHER SHOP

BEHOLD THE RARE BUTCHER, an old-school butcher shop where chefs, grill masters and food connoisseurs of Essex County can find the highest quality cuts of meat, bringing the steakhouse experience home.

Located at 35 Amy Croft Drive Unit 4 in Tecumseh, the Rare Butcher is tantalizing customers with A5 Japanese Wagyu, Snake River Wagyu, Canadian Prime, AAA and USDA Prime, Creek Stone, Black Angus, aged beef, Little Joe’s grass fed beef, hand-pressed hamburger patties, handmade kabobs, high quality seafood, a galaxy of seasoning options, and much more.

The Rare Butcher is the passion project of foodie and former finance professional, Grant Molyneux, and Rob Pursel who has 30 years experience as a butcher.

Last year, looking to relieve the boredom of the pandemic lockdown, Grant thought: “Time for a passion project.”

He explains: “Not being able to go to restaurants, I thought: ‘Wouldn’t this be a great time help people bring the fine dining home?’”

He joined forces with Rob, who agreed.

“People thought we were crazy,” Grant says, “but if you can survive in difficult times, you can survive anything.”

So far, the Rare Butcher’s many customers

agree, too. One look at the shop’s Facebook page, the comments are uniformly positive. “Amazing and knowledgeable staff. The absolute best steak I have ever tasted. And a special thanks to Rob for the bbqing tips!!” says one grateful patron.

Another wrote: “… really friendly staff and great selection of meats you can’t find at the grocery store. The owner was really friendly and approachable. He spent a lot of time explaining the types of cuts and offered suggestions on how to cook. Picked up some 50 day aged sirloins for the grill this weekend.”

Rob brings a lifetime of experience working with meat. Starting in the industry as a kid in the 1970s. Trained as an old school butcher, Rob has long experience working with rail beef and eventually managed meat departments in various local supermarkets.

“I know what all the grocery stores carry,” Rob says, “so we’re trying to carry a more specialized product. If you want finer cuts, we have them.”

He explains that the Rare Butcher brought in a specific maturation cabinet from California, in which they dry age their meat.

“We also make our own sausage,” he continues. “We make all our own marmalades in a variety of flavours. And we’re bringing in crab legs, lobster tails, shrimp, octopus, tuna steaks and salmon steaks.”

Both Rob and Grant say the vast selection is intended to entice, not intimidate.

“If you don’t know much about this, ask us,” Grant says. “We are passionate about food and can advise customers on how to season the meat and how to cook it. We carry a range of infused salts, including flaky and kosher. And if you want a thicker cut of meat than what you see in the cabinet, we can do that for you as well. To have a great steak, you have to start with a great piece of meat.”

Grilling season is upon us and the Rare Butcher has the product and the know-how to ensure you make the most of it. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/rarebutcher and www.instagram.com/rarebutcher.

Head Butcher Rob Pursel and Owner/GM Grant Molyneux.

GOLF TOURNAMENT 2021

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.

3422 Walker Rd., Windsor 519-250-0811. 25 Amy Croft Dr., Tecumseh 519-735-0072.

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

Johnny Shotz - Tecumseh’s #1 roadhouse and home of the Chicken Deluxe. Serving Halibut every Friday. Everything cooked from scratch. 37 HD TVs, 15 beers on tap. Follow us on facebook. 13037 Tecumseh Rd. E. 519-735-7005

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

1526 Wyandotte Street East. 519-253-1234.

The Parlour Ice Cream Co.- Satisfy your sweet tooth with premium Canadian made ice cream. 24 flavours, 15 Belgian chocolate dips to drizzle, ice cream cakes, milkshakes and so much more! Open Year Round. theparlourlasalle.ca

5881 Malden Rd. Unit D3, LaSalle 519-970-9665

River’s Edge Tap & Table – Discover what is so delicious in the Harbour District of Riverside. Relaxing patio on the water, wine bar lounge, dining with private room available. Enjoy seafood, steaks, chops, pastas, burgers and more! 494 Riverdale Ave. 519-915-0200 riversedgewindsor.com

Tea House Windsor - Local cafeteria offers Eastern/Western snacks with coffees, teas and drinks. We make all fresh with the specialty of Pink Kashmiri tea. Dine in, take-out, catering. Frozen homemade snacks available. Halal options. Mon-fri 9am-4pm. Closed weekends and holidays. Located in the Jackson Park Health Centre. Call to order: 226-348-6151 2475 McDougall St., Windsor

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. 1731 Wyandotte St. E., Windsor. 519-915-6145. catering@vitospizzeria.com.

For information on listings and advertising in Bon

please call 519-979-5433.

Celebrating 70 Years of Service in Windsor Essex

In the world of wedding anniversaries, 70 years is considered the Platinum Anniversary. That’s because platinum is incredibly strong, shiny, enduring and never tarnishes.

The same could be said of Marcel’s Collision Inc.!

In 1951, Marcel Marier opened Marcel’s Service Garage Ltd.

Marcel’s brother Jerome, who was involved from day one, recalls, “Half of Tecumseh Road—which was known as Tecumseh Boulevard back then—was a dirt road with farms on one side of it.”

The two brothers also operated a towing business. “We were associated with Triple A towing, which paid $2 per call. I was on call 24 hours a day and remember once being so tired that when the phone rang, I picked up my coffee to answer it and poured it right into my ear before I realized what I’d done,” laughs Jerome.

Business was brisk and the brothers branched out into used car sales. Eventually they expanded further, adding a complete range of collision and mechanical services.

To accommodate the continuing success and growth of Marcel’s Service Garage Ltd., two new expansions were built.

Eventually, Jerome became the sole owner and welcomed sons T.J. and Marc to the bustling family enterprise. The business became Marcel’s Collision Inc. in 1990.

Since the beginning, many Marier family members (three generations and counting!) have dedicated themselves to Marcel’s, which continues to thrive and prosper. Marc, now the sole owner, says, “Perhaps more than anything else, Marcel’s Collision

Inc. is a testament to the strength and power of family. We’re all so proud of our rich history of pride, determination, perseverance and believing that dreams really can come true.”

This year, Marcel’s marks a momentous milestone: serving Windsor Essex County for 70 years at their original Tecumseh Road East location.

Today’s vehicles are complex. The repair process for all late models and makes requires a high level of precision. From the tiniest scratch to complete unibody repair, Marcel’s highly qualified technicians have the knowledge, expertise and know-how to do the work right the first time. They are trusted experts in state-of-the-art methods and materials.

Marcel’s can transform any car back to pre-accident condition. It’s also one of the few Collision shops qualified to perform Type 6 Structural Inspections, which are essential to getting vehicles back on the road after major collisions. Working with all insurance companies and directly with Enterprise car rental agencies, all work is 100% satisfaction guaranteed—in writing!

A true one-stop auto shop, Marcel’s offers the full gamut of mechanical services. They have their own fleet of vehicles for rent, sale or lease. In-house financing is also available.

Marc concludes, “When you’re talking about cars, you need go no further than Marcel’s. We have everything you need right here under one roof. Let 70 years of quality, experience and excellent service work for you.”

Owners Marc Marier with his daughter

Michelle Marier Whitehead (third generation)

ROCKSTAR FANTASY CAMP

Rob Higgins Unveils New Country Music Project

STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN / PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN LIVIERO

FOR FORMER Drop Dead Famous vocalist Rob Higgins, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

“It all goes back to my Dad,” Rob explains. “He played an old guitar on an amp. I remember being three years old and listening to him play all the old Johnny Cash songs. I remember thinking to myself, ‘Wow, I’d love to be able to do that.’ From there, I was hooked.”

Rob’s love affair with music has been a lifelong one. At the age of 19, he started working at the Polaris Recording Studio with the late George Hello.

“I wanted to learn the ropes,” Rob states. “I was always writing songs along the way. I’m definitely more of a singer/songwriter than a actual musician. I mess around with the guitar, drums and the piano, but instruments are definitely not my forte. I get the ideas down in music, then I bring in the lyrics to take it to the next level. Melodies and the writing are my main things.”

Rob describes his songwriting process as combination of chaos theory, word association and free therapy.

“There’s a couple different ways I can write a song,” Rob explains. “Sometimes an idea will just pop into my head. I’ll hear a comment from someone or see something that will inspire me. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s just tragic stuff that you go through. Other times, a song will just hit me out of nowhere. I’ll have no idea where it came from. And sometimes, I will focus in on a topic or idea and it becomes a very methodical approach.”

Now approaching his early fifties, Rob has been fortunate enough to play at countless venues across Windsor and Essex County in a career that spans the previous three decades.

“Whenever I get up on stage, there’s nerves involved,” Rob explains. “But they’re usually good nerves! I’m usually excited to get up there! We work really hard to prepare for shows. By the time the show starts, we’ve already put in countless hours just to be there. And then, once you’re up there, the switch flips. To me, I feel like it’s my job to put on a good show, sound good and make the audience smile. That becomes my main focus.”

Rob is perhaps best known for his role as the lead vocalist in Drop Dead Famous, a prominent local cover band. Performing alongside musicians like Dave Sinewitz, Scott Holmes, Chris Holmes and Chris Blais, the band quickly rose to prominence in July 2014 when they opened up for Theory of a Deadman.

“We’ve opened up for so many awesome main acts,” Rob explains. “At a lot of different festivals. But, in terms of a personal favourite, one that sticks out is the time we opened for Theory of a Deadman. My cousin, Tyler Connolly, is their lead singer. We got to open up for them in Barrie at a sold-out arena.”

Rob and his Drop Dead Famous bandmates took the stage at 10 pm, when the crowd was starting to get rowdy.

“Everyone was primed and ready by then,” Robert calls. “It was pretty nerve-racking. Normally, when you open for someone, the audience is not there to see you. So, I wasn’t really sure how things were going to go.”

Now, seven years later, Rob describes the venue as “rockstar fantasy camp for an hour.”

“I was such a great experience,” Rob states. “We were received so well. And it was a real big deal getting to play with Tyler.”

After so many years developing a unique sound, Rob did something unusual for any artist: He reinvented himself.

“My previous sound was very pop-rock,” Rob explains. “With Drop Dead Famous, we were covering everything from Kings of Leon to U2 to Kid Rock to Rage Against the Machine. We had so much fun doing it! It was a riot! But, it was very pop-rock. So, I decided I wanted to make the switch to country music.”

In terms of making such a dramatic leap, Rob returns to the apple and the tree.

“My grandfather played country music,” Rob recalls. “My Dad played country music. Growing up, I used to go to see Garth Brooks in downtown Detroit. I’ve always loved country music!”

When asked how difficult it was to

make the transition from pop-rock to country, Rob shrugs.

“It wasn’t that hard,” Rob states. “Being a lyricist, country music is more about storytelling. It has more to do with the words than pop-rock. Not to say that in pop-rock the lyrics aren’t important, but the guitar riffs and the melodies can sometimes take precedence. As a writer, on that end, it was very easy. In terms of tone, I maybe had to make some adjustments here or there, but it wasn’t too difficult.”

And despite such a dramatic turn, Rob’s fans have surrendered their grudging approval.

“A lot of guys that used to follow us have said, ‘Oh my God, you’re going country?’” Rob admits. “They’re so used to our old sound. And country music has changed so much in the last 10 years. So now, they hear what we’ve got if they say, ‘Oh. I hate to say it, but I kind of like it.’”

Ultimately, Rob describes the switch as embracing his authentic musical desires.

“I always had that dream of being a big rockstar when I was a kid,” Rob states. “But it made sense making that transition now, because of where I’m at in my life. My age. My life experiences. It just seems like country is the right avenue to express these things.”

Rob credits his musical compatriots with helping him make this journey, specifically his co-writers Dave Sinewitz and John Drew. He has worked closely with Marty Bak at SLR Studios, Loc Michaud, Chris Blais, Scott and Chris Holmes, Terry Lesperance, Jeff Burrows, Ryan St. Denis, Deb Van Lare and Kelly Hoppe.

HiGGi’s Country Music Project has currently released two singles, “Crazy Country Girl” and “This Old Bar.” Both and his entire previous library are available on all major streaming platforms.

“People always come to me with the same questions,” Rob explains. “‘Do you really think you’re going to make it? Have you made it? Why haven’t you made it?’ I don’t think they realize that making it as a musician is like buying a lottery ticket. The amount of people that are writing and recording really is that big. And, to me, there’s different levels of making it. Playing with my friends. Writing music that I love. Shooting music videos. Going to play the shows. In my opinion, just by finding something that I love so much, I have made it.”

More information about Rob is available at

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TAKE A DEEP BREATH. YOU HEARD ME. That’s right. In through the nose. Count to five. Out through the mouth. Count to six. Feels good, doesn’t it?

But let me ask you a simple question: What did you just inhale?

Aerus Windsor provides state-of-the-art air and water purifiers, floor and central vacuum systems, plus allergy control products. The company combines natural, world-class technologies with innovative and revolutionary processes to create extraordinary healthy living environments.

“Our filtration system captures 0.1 micron particles,” Owner Michael Crawley explains. “As well as asthma and allergy triggers, bacteria and pathogens, dust mites, pet dander and cigarette smoke.”

Since 1924, the name Electrolux has been synonymous with the best floor care in homes throughout North America. The company has an unmatched history of innovation. The Smithsonian Institute recognized the Model 30 Canister Vacuum as one of the Top 100 US products ever designed.

“We evolved from Electrolux, taking on the name of Aerus in 2000, which is based on the Greek meaning “AIR”, Michael recalls. As a matter of fact, when you think of Aerus, think clean air. We had a new name for a new generation of products.” And we are backed by performance. Altogether, the company has served over 50 million satisfied customers. Over 99% of those customers have said they would recommend us to family and friends.”

Aerus Windsor is committed to exemplary service and remarkable technological advancement.

“We’re committed to helping people,” Michael states. “Our filtration systems help people with their asthma and allergies, dust control and harmful contaminants. When we put one of our products in your home or office, you can expect a long life. These are

Michael stresses the importance of breathing air that is free of toxins. “We all breathe 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Michael explains. “Air provides more energy than food or water. And unfortunately, people are not sure what they are breathing these days. You want to make sure you are breathing clean air. There is Bacteria. Viruses. Dust. Allergens. And more.”

Michael will gladly come to your home or office for a free consultation. “When we come into the home or office, we can set up a Laser Particle Counter,” Michael states.

“People have similar concerns. ‘Where is all the dust coming from?’ ‘I’m sneezing more.’ ‘I am coughing more.’ You cannot see anything, most of the time, unless the sun shines in or there are bright lights around. There are also issues with basements and mold. But we can come in and find out what’s going on.”

And as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Aerus and their products are now more important than ever.

“The virus is a concern to everyone,” Michael explains. “And because of the pandemic, we’re spending a lot more time inside. Even beyond COVID, there are a number of chemical and infectious compounds in the air that our products help take care of.”

Working with Aerus Windsor is a breath of fresh air!

“It’s all about serving the community,” Michael states. “We have a great heritage. We have high quality products that are built to last. Friends and family are happy to recommend us based on quality products and service. I have some customers that I have been working with 2nd and 3rd generation family members. We’re here to make every home a healthy home!”

More information is available at aerusofwindsoron.com.

high quality pieces of equipment that do what we say they’re going to do.”

Michael Crawley owner

“I never could have imagined how connected I would be to this school. Over the years everyone here has truly become a part of my family - the friends I have made, the experiences, the people. It is so bittersweet to have to move on to high school….”

– Tatiana, 2021 grade 8 graduate

How Montessori pedagogy meets the biological and social needs of the DEVELOPING child and why Montessori education may be humanity’s only hope for a post-pandemic world.

LAKEVIEW has always been labeled as a “home away from home” to its families. The family-like community allows the children to feel safe and comfortable around others and comfortable with being their true selves. This is not just because of a good retention plan; this is due to the fact that they live by the Montessori philosophy. As a CCMA accredited school and a Montessori teacher training centre, they always put the needs of the child first and teach them to care for themselves and others through Grace and Courtesy studies at an early age. Montessori allows staff, students and parents to be themselves and work closely together with the same end goal of helping the child develop at his/her own pace.

This past year, students all around the world were faced with challenges that we

never thought they would have to experience in their youth. The unknown factors of this pandemic created all different kinds of mental, emotional and academic setbacks. In the 40 plus years that LAKEVIEW has been in Tecumseh, they have never believed that all children are expected to learn at the same pace of their peers in their grade. Any academic setbacks that students may be faced with are no challenge for LAKEVIEW’s teachers due to the way the Montessori curriculum is uniquely established. Not only will it not be a challenge academically, but not mentally and/or socially either. The scientifically researched curriculum by Dr. Maria Montessori proves that this approach to education supports and nurtures children’s development in all areas: physical, intellectual, language, and social-emotional.

To be successful takes creativity, flexibility, self-control, and discipline. Central to all those are executive functions, including mentally playing with ideas, giving a considered rather than a compulsive response, and staying focused. The Montessori approach is shown to meet more criteria for the development of executive function for a more extended age group.

– Diamond & Lee, Science, 333(6045), 959-964.

What “education for life” can actually mean and how it equips children to meet the CHALLENGES of our new reality.

LAKEVIEW students are encouraged to learn more about the things they are passionate about. No matter what subject the student shows interest in, their teachers make sure they support their love for the subject by offering them the resources to learn more. Montessori fosters a student’s natural love for learning. For example, learning about real world problems and proposing solutions to them in the higher grades or learning about new emotions that we may suddenly feel at a young age; no

“From the moment I stepped through the doors of Lakeview, the school welcomed me like I was family, and right after my first day, I knew this school would be a second home to me…” – Sofia, 2021 grade 8 graduate

subject is too large or too small. Montessori is set up to help children grow into respectful, social, knowledgeable, independent and resourceful adults.

Researchers also compared the social contexts of Montessori and traditional middle schools. Montessori students reported more favorable impressions of their schools and teachers than their traditionally schooled peers. Further, Montessori students reported spending more time on academic tasks and in active learning pursuits, and they had more positive perceptions of classmates than their traditionally schooled peers. Children in Montessori classrooms showed strengths in executive function skills, including self-regulation, working memory, planning, and inhibitory control, especially with high fidelity implementation. Executive function strengths were associated with academic achievement.

The tools the workforce of tomorrow will need to be creative thinkers, are, to have social skills, the ability to problem solve, risk-taking, believe in teamwork and affective communication skills. Oddly enough, when you look at the Montessori curriculum these are precisely the skills learned in a Montessori classroom.

As education faces the challenges of a post-pandemic world, it is also presented with opportunities and perhaps, the responsibility to change. Now is the time to explore how research and practice reflect the wider world of education. One can only imagine the possibilities across the curriculum for those children receiving Montessori instruction. These studies clearly show that it is time to develop a new model for education that will demonstrate the value of a child-centred approach and serve as a practical blueprint for all classrooms.

Contact Prof. Maureen Harris for further details 519-735-5005 ext 121 or mharris@lakeviewmontessori.ca www.lakeviewmontessori.ca

13797 Riverside Drive East, Tecumseh, N8N 1B5

“It’s a lot to take in: just saying goodbye to all of my teachers and mentors. But every moment is a fresh beginning, and we have to embrace that…”

– Matthew, 2021 grade 8 graduate

Children in a Montessori school, as compared with children in the other types of school, showed significantly greater gains on measures of executive function, reading, math, vocabulary, and social problem-solving.

– Rathunde & Csikszentmihalyi, American Journal of Education, 111(3), 341-371.

WLM ONLINE OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

Empowering Marginalized Women

Leads To National Recognition For Natalie Suzor

STORY BY KAREN TINSLEY / PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN LIVIERO

GROWING UP in Lakeshore, young Natalie Suzor’s first love was the performing arts.

“Singing, dancing, acting—you name it, I did it,” laughs Natalie. “Then I turned 10 and it was out with the musicals and in with competitive hockey and soccer!”

Natalie also remembers cottage weekends and Friday morning golf lessons with her cousins.

“I can thank my grandparents for turning us all on to golf when we were kids.”

The capital city in France’s AuvergneRhône-Alpes region, it sits at the junction of the Rhône and Saône rivers. Its Roman, Medieval and Renaissance architecture reflects 2,000 years of history. Covered passageways between buildings—called traboules—connect Vieux Lyon and La Croix-Rousse hill.

Natalie also enjoyed her elementary school French education so much that she chose to continue at École secondaire catholique l’Essor. The name l’Essor, coined by local resident Florence Limoges, is a portmanteau combining “Essex” and “Windsor”. Essor also refers to the French word “to take flight”.

“I’m glad I chose L’Essor; I’m so grateful to be fully bilingual. After graduating, I decided to pursue International Relations and Development Studies at the University of Windsor. The well-rounded program and the opportunity to study so many different subjects intrigued me.”

“To make the most of my International Relations degree, I knew I needed to go on exchange. Because of my fluency in French, France seemed like the best place to go. In addition to all the magic, romance and history of that country, I could also enhance and sustain my language proficiency.”

Natalie hopped on a plane and took up residence in France’s third largest city, Lyon.

Natalie says, “Lyon is an amazing place. It’s big and modern, yet historic. The people have their own way of communicating that adds to the city’s charm. Not only is Lyon amazingly beautiful but it’s also the food capital of France. In 1935, French food critic Curnonsky, the Prince of Gastronomy, dubbed Lyon as the ‘world capital of gastronomy’. Love of food is a common passion in France; Lyon is the ideal place to discover—and fall in love with—French cuisine.”

Home to the prestigious indoor market Les Halles de Lyon, Beaujolais and Rhone Valley wines, world-renowned Bresse chickens and St-Marcellin and St-Felicien cheeses, what’s not to love? Lyon boasts more than 1,500 eateries; one of the highest concentrations of restaurants per capita in France.

“It’s a bustling, thriving metropolis”, says Natalie, “but it still retains an authentic French charm.”

Over the next 10 months, she studied European Union law, visited 10 other countries, and made lots of lifelong friends.

Read the complete story at windsorlife.com.

Natalie (right) and her role model and mentor, Aunt Colleen.

THE CHEAP HANDYMAN

New Book Chronicles

Home Improvement Misadventures

STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN / PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN HARRIS

ACCORDING TO LOCAL AUTHOR Brian Harris, for the first couple years after he retired, he just did whatever he wanted.

Which, he admits, was not a whole lot.

“I worked in the insurance business for many years,” Brian explains. “I retired six years ago, in 2015. In those days, I played a lot of hockey and tennis. I rode my motorcycle around. I just did a lot of the stuff I couldn’t do when I was working.”

However, after Brian and his wife Maureen sold their first home, a new project presented itself.

“In May 2017, we sold the house we’d been living in for decades,” Brian recalls. “One night, after moving into our new place, myself, Maureen, my son Scott and my daughter Leah were sitting around the kitchen table reminiscing. Then, out of the blue, Scott chimed in and said, ‘Hey, Dad! I remember when you tried to fix this – and it didn’t go well!’”

Some first homes are fixer uppers. Brian and Maureen’s first home was an ongoing challenge.

“I used to keep a toolbox by the front door,” Brian laughs. “Every day I was fixing something.”

Before long, the Harris family was swapping tales about Brian’s misadventures trying to keep the house from collapsing on top of them.

“That first story just opened the floodgates,” Brian states. “Everyone started coming out with these stories about how I tried fixing things around the house and failed far too often. I said, ‘Hey, guys! Take it easy!’ But then, my kids piped up and said, ‘Dad, why don’t you write a book about this? It would be hilarious, and a lot of people would be able to relate!’”

Although he’d never written anything before, Brian was inspired by his family’s enthusiasm and decided to meet the challenge head on.

“I set up a little office downstairs in our basement,” Brian explains. “The first thing I did was write down all the mishaps from over 35 years – that took quite some time! And, sad to say, it’s embarrassing how many screw ups one can come up with. Once I had my list, I started working on the stories themselves.”

The writing process took Brian about a full year. He typically worked on two or three chapters simultaneously. If one started lagging, he would switch gears and work on another.

“Once the story was done, I would go back to it a couple weeks later,” Brian reports. “If it was still lacking something, I would edit it myself. Each story probably got two or three passes from me. I wanted to make sure I was doing the best I could do.”

After that year, Brian had a full manuscript sitting on his desk, bursting with 50 hilarious stories.

“The chain saw made short work of the branch: within seconds

it was plummeting straight down to the ground,” Brian writes, in one chapter. “I watched as it landed right on its end, recoil like a giant spring, and vault gracefully through the air, landing squarely on the hood of my truck parked innocently next door.” Estimated cost of the job” $0. Actual cost of the job $1395.

Brian always ended each chapter with these two phrases about estimated and actual costs. Once the book was finished, Brian decided to face his next challenge: the publishing industry.

“At the time, this was still just a hobby for me,” Brian states. “But I decided I may as well go after the big boys anyway! Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and a few others. All the big five publishers.”

After sending out a barrage of emails, Brian realized that most high-profile publishing houses did not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

“The big companies weren’t interested in talking with me,” Brian laughs. “I was told that they only accepted submissions through a literary agent. At that point, I had a decision to make. When I sent out my manuscript, I did get some bites from smaller presses, but I really wanted to approach the giants first. And I wasn’t really interested in self-publishing.

Undaunted, Brian decided to start hunting for a literary agent. In only two months, he got an offer of representation from a Toronto-based one: Lloyd Kelly, from Kelly Consulting Agency.

“It was the best thing ever!” Brian exclaims. “I am extremely fortunate to have met Lloyd.”

Once Brian and Lloyd joined forces, everything seemed to move at a breakneck pace. Lloyd was able to sell the manuscript in October 2019.

“Lloyd called me on Thanksgiving weekend,” Brian recalls. “He said, ‘Brian, I hope you’re sitting down. I just a call from Simon & Schuster in New York. They are interested in talking with you about the book.’”

Brian tries to describe his reaction to the news:

“I just about fell down,” Brian states. “Forget sitting down!”

Once the book was sold, things seemed to speed up for Brian even more. After a conference call with the publishers, he signed a contract. After that, he spent three months working with the editors at Simon & Schuster.

“That was a really lengthy undertaking,” Brian explains. “I hadn’t worked that hard in my life! Both of my editors in Canada and the U.S. were great to work with. I really lucked out with them, the same way I really lucked out with my agent. I was very fortunate to work with them.”

Brian’s debut book was originally slated for a May 2020 release, to correspond with Father’s Day. However, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the launch was pushed back a year.

The Cheap Handyman: True (and Disastrous) Tales from a [Home Improvement Expert] Guy Who Should Know Better was released on May 4, 2021.

And thus far, Brian’s book has received positive reactions from readers:

“This is a hilarious book about the author’s mishaps when doing home repairs. Anyone who has ever had an epic fail when doing a little home improvement or repair will appreciate and enjoy this book,” one Goodreads reviewer writes.

“If you need a fun, light read that you can pick up and put down frequently, I say this is worth it,” another writes.

“‘Don’t worry, honey!’ ‘I can so do this!’ ‘It should be fine...’ All things many spouses have heard. 50 stories of what not to do for home repairs. This book has several bad uses for duct tape, many broken appliances and so much more,” a third chimes in.

And for any of his fellow aspiring authors out there, Brian has a simple piece of advice: “Do it.” Brian states. “Roll up your sleeves and don’t think twice! You will run into dry spells, but don’t let them discourage you. They will pass! Be persistent! Follow your dream and write the book and then another! If you’re really pleased with it then ‘get it out there.’ You may be pleasantly surprised! So get going and good luck!”

INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY

St. Clair College Students Develop Hearing Device

STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD SHEARON

WINDSOR HAS ALWAYS been a phenomenally innovative community. Award-winning breweries and distilleries. Nationally and internationally acclaimed artists. Worldrenowned media companies. Actors and filmmakers as far as the eye can see.

And, of course, inventors.

Bryce McGregor is a recent graduate of St. Clair College’s Biomedical Engineering Technology program. A former resident of Amherstburg, he currently resides in London where he is embarking on a student placement at University Hospital.

“My older brother took the Biomedical Engineering Technology program as well,” Bryce explains. “I used to look over his projects whenever he would bring them home. Coming out of high school, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do. But I ended up taking an interest in what he was doing.”

And the program, despite the intimidating title, is really about keeping the wheels of the medical industry greased and running smoothly.

“No one really understands what we study,” Bryce states. “And it is a relatively new program. It’s only been offered at St. Clair for the last five or six years. But basically, we’re in charge of doing repairs and maintenance for every possible medical device in a hospital or clinical setting.”

According to Bryce, the need for these roles is higher than one might think.

“We impact a lot of people,” Bryce explains. “Obviously, we are not doctors or nurses. But without these devices, a lot of what they do wouldn’t be possible.”

Right: Bryce McGregor, Keagan McGeen, Sarah Williams, Caitlin Vanderkwaak and Colin Michon present their project to professor Jim Durocher.

Below: The internal workings of the Hearing Device.

Bottom: Bryce McGregor gives a demonstration while wearing the Hearing Device.

And for all his assertions, Bryce’s work may just have impacted more people than he thought.

For one of his major assignments in the program, Bryce and his teammates—Keagan McGeen, Colin Michon, Quinn Fazekas, Sarah Williams, Brianne Morency and Caitlin Vanderkwaak—decided on an ambitious project.

“I was put in a group of six students,” Bryce recalls. “We were told to focus on a disease or medical condition and create a device that could make the lives of those afflicted a little easier. So, something to treat their condition or help monitor it.”

After initially playing around with the idea of prosthetics, Bryce and his team ended up creating a sensor to help the visually impaired.

“We spent a couple weeks researching what we were going to do,” Bryce reports. “Then, we moved into basic design schematics. We narrowed down what components were going to go where. We wanted to get everything organized before we dove right into it.”

Once the design was finalized, Bryce’s team ordered all the necessary parts required.

“COVID presented some difficulties with shipping,” Bryce states. “But once everything came in, we spent a long eight weeks putting it all together and troubleshooting. There were definitely a couple headaches along the way! That said, the actual construction of the device was the most fun part of the process. We ended up getting it to do exactly what we wanted to do.”

In terms of hurdles, the realities of 2021 made logistics and communication an issue.

“We were a little restricted because of the pandemic,” Bryce explains. “We were only able to be in the lab one day a week, instead of four days a week. If we wanted to coordinate anything extra, it had to be over Zoom or a phone call. There were so many different moving parts of this project. We all had to work on different components at home.”

In addition, getting all the different pieces of technology to cooperate was a challenge of its own.

“Having different components built and then function the way they were supposed to was difficult,” Bryce states. “The first time we put everything together, it didn’t work. Somehow. Even though everything worked individually! Troubleshooting the

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connectivity between all the different features was hard.”

The device is an ultrasonic sensor for the visually impaired, worn in a harness around the chest. When the wearer approaches an obstruction in their surroundings, the device produces an audible alarm. If the user comes closer to said obstruction, the device emits a second and third tone.

“The whole thing is battery charged,” Bryce reports. “It runs on 3.7 lithium batteries. It can usually last up to a full day of use. We’ve also built a charging station for the device.”

Bryce and his team headed in their assignment during the final week of April. Although they were all impressed by the work they had done, they did not expect the feeling to be reciprocated on such a grand scale.

“We expected to hand it in, do our presentation, get our mark and go on our way,” Bryce explains. “We knew the product was good. But we didn’t expect to get the recognition that we did.”

St. Clair College, itself, reached out to Bryce’s teammates for a feature on the college website. As well, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) wrote an article on the device itself.

“The device has been picking up interest,” Bryce states. “Which is really nice to see! The stories shed a little bit of light on us as people, but they also spotlight the program! It’s really nice to see the program getting the recognition that it deserves.”

Although each member of the group has graduated—and many have embarked on future projects—they still have several irons in the fire when it comes to how to improve their device.

“We never really thought about doing anything more with it after we handed it in,” Bryce admits. “But, after seeing all the attention the project has been getting, we’ve been considering our future plans. There were things we wanted to do with the device that we couldn’t, just because of time or resources. There are a few little tweaks and upgrades that we would like to make.”

Some of these new features include adding new sensors for a full 360-degree radius and replacing the audible alarms with buzzers for greater accuracy.

And ultimately, Bryce credits his program with the creation of the device.

“I hope this device brings more recognition to our program,” Bryce stresses. “To the kids who are coming out of high school and aren’t really sure what they want to do, but would love to get our hands on stuff, I think they would love the program!” WLM

At Rose City Ford, we love what we do for you! From our technicians to our service advisors, to our sales and parts professionals, we perform with high-quality standards. And hey, why not make time for fun? We want you to have a reason to smile along the way.

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