Your Place Or Mine? Special Edition 2021

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

ARTIST BETH KYLE

BREAKING ECHOES LOCAL BAND HALTS THE CYCLE

COLLECTING PANDEMIC PORTRAITS

DEADLIFTING CHAMPION DANE JACOB DILLON BREAKS RECORD

VISIT US AT

windsorlife.com SPECIAL EDITION 2021 www.windsorlife.com

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BRINGING THE OUTDOORS IN

AN INVITING GRACIOUS WATERFRONT HOME

Your Place

Or Mine?

HOW TO MAKE WHERE AND HOW WE LIVE EVEN BETTER

Elegant Kitchens

Actual Project

Your one step to a successful renovation starts here!

Beautifu Bathr

Achieving a beautiful home is about more than selecting attractive flooring and finishes. It requires careful consideration to balance many factors: An intelligently designed layout that promotes flow in shared areas and privacy in the bedrooms and home office. Storage spaces designed to keep everything organized in the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms and family room. Age in place strategies, including wider halls and doorways and an accessible shower. Large windows and garden doors to let sunshine naturally brighten your rooms and your mood.

Family Home Improvements is ready to help you build these elements and more into your remodeling plan. Serving Windsor and Essex County for over 40 years, the award-winning renovation experts know which trends and products withstand the test of time. The design and construction team can show you what is possible in your home.

Catering to both do-it-yourselfers and homeowners who want Family Home Improvements’ pros to take care of design and construction, the team tailors the project to your needs and budget.

Your go-to source for the renovation products, sound advice and expert service you’ve been looking for, Family Home Improvements provides convenient one-stop shopping in its large retail showroom.

Now that you know where to begin, partner with Family Home Improvements and transform your home!

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2744 Jefferson Blvd. (519) 945-3000 Showroom Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8-5; Sat. 9-2 Actual Project

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www.familyhomeimprovements.com

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YOUR PLACE OR MINE? 2021

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VOLUME 28, ISSUE 3

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

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WRITERS Michael Seguin

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

Sooters Photography Max Wedge Taylor Vigneux The Miceli Family Ashley Cline, Incline Photography Tawnie Clarke Michelle Dillon

ADVERTISING SALES 519-979-5433 VICE PRESIDENT ADVERTISING SALES

Charles Thompson 519-818-7352 ADVERTISING SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Leslie Campbell 519-567-0603 ADVERTISING SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Mel Monczak 519-551-0072

Contact Sound Hearing Care today to schedule your hearing test!

WINDSOR LIFE MAGAZINE

318-5060 Tecumseh Road East Windsor, Ontario N8T 1C1 Tel: (519) 979-5433 Fax: (519) 979-9237

www.windsorlife.com

We have implemented and continue to maintain COVID-19 protocols in the office and are committed to ensuring everybody’s health and safety.

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

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519.979.3300 Donna Ellis PATIENT COORDINATOR

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

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

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Tina Stafferton DOCTOR OF AUDIOLOGY

Are you still planning to retire early?

Have your retirement plans changed because of COVID-19? If so, you have plenty of company. Nearly eight million Canadians say that COVID-19 has caused them to reconsider their retirement timing.

So, in thinking about the possibility of early retirement, consider these factors: Your retirement lifestyle – Your ability to retire early depends somewhat on what sort of lifestyle you’re anticipatings. If you think you’ll be traveling extensively or pursuing expensive activities, you might not be able to afford to retire as early as someone with more modest ambitions. Of course, there’s no “right” or “wrong” way of living in retirement – we all have our own dreams and preferences.

But be aware that different lifestyles do carry different price tags.

Sources of retirement income – Obviously, a key factor in knowing whether you can retire early is the amount of retirement income you can rely on. So, you’ll have to assess all your sources: including government pension plans (CPP/QPP and OAS) as well as your own investments and an employer sponsored plan if you have one.

For government pension plans, the longer you wait until collecting, the larger your monthly payments (although they will “top out” when you reach 70, excluding cost-of-living adjustments). In regard to your investments and retirement accounts, you’ll need to establish a withdrawal rate that’s appropriate for the length of time you expect to be retired.

Your feelings about work – Your goals are not static – they can change in response to any number of reasons, both external and personal. When you first decided you wanted to retire early, you might have been motivated by, among other things, a weariness of your current job. But has that changed over time? Have you found new challenges that interest you at work? Or, if you were forced by the pandemic to work remotely, did you actually enjoy the arrangement and want to continue it?

After all, many employers have found that their workers can be just as productive working at home, so, even when we’ve gotten past COVID-19, we might see a sizable shift in the geography of the workplace. In any case, if your feelings about work have changed in some way, leading you to think you could work longer than originally planned, you’d likely gain some financial advantages.

The pandemic may lead to a reevaluation of many financial goals – and taking early retirement might be one of them. By thinking carefully about your situation and your options, you can come up with a course of action that’s right for you.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

Don Harris

LaSalle Centre 519 969 3825

Chris Horovenko Tecumseh Rd. at Norman 519 944 2971

Julie Charrette

LaSalle 519 966 5046

John Atkinson

Riverside East 519 944 9080

www.edwardjones.com

Steven Kidd

LaSalle 519 734 8599

John Wood

Tecumseh Rd. at Forest Glade 519 739 9583

Colin Duggan South Windsor 519 967 0084

Diane Santing

Tecumseh Centre 519 979 7334

Matthew Sears Windsor St. Rose 519 945 6165

Dean Doster

St. Clair Beach 519 979 5555

Theresa King

Belle River 519 727 1041

Dave Freeman Cabana Near Howard 519 967 0084

Mark Szarek

Leamington 519 324 0144

Jennifer Johnson

Windsor on Howard Ave. 519 969 1419

Michael Shields

Leamington 519 324 0144

Sean Hunt

South Windsor 519 972 6389

Dennis McDonald Kingsville 519 733 6186

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TCI TITAN CONTRACTING

TRUST IS NOT THE ONLY THING WE BUILD

CBSA Truck Inspection – Phase 1

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FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @TCITITANGROUP

TEL: 519-977-1125 • FAX: 519-977-0352 2489 SEMINOLE STREET, WINDSOR, ON www.tciwindsor.com

The Wait is Over!

We can't wait to celebrate with you!

Proper Picnics is proud to introduce Windsor's first luxury picnic experience.

Here to help you celebrate all of your special occasions in style.

You choose the date for this unique experience and we will collaborate with you to select an ideal location.

We provide a delicious graze board as well as both set up and clean up - you only need to arrive, sit down and enjoy.

The Proper Picnics experience is perfect for this upcoming Mother's Day, birthdays, date nights, engagements, bridal parties, and so much more!

Visit our website properpicnics.ca to reserve your special experience Facebook: Proper Picnics Windsor | Instagram: @proper.picnics

Publisher’s Note Spring is in the air, and it is welcomed. For many of us, this has seemed like the longest winter in history. With limited to no travel and less ability to see family and friends, I know that we are all anxious to get outside more, start to plan our spring projects and make plans to start seeing those who bring us joy.

This is our “Your Place Or Mine?” issue, where we focus a bit more on those who help turn our houses into homes. With more of us doing staycations, and the potential for more home entertainment, we are investing more time and money into our private castles. Through the pages of this issue, you will find a multitude of great companies in the area to assist you with your home projects. These may include a contractor for your project, a retailer to supply you with premium materials, someone to assist with your interior decorations and furnishings, or someone to help you make the move to your next home.

We do business with quality companies so you can confidently put your faith and trust in those organizations as well.

In this issue is a four-part series on Beach Grove Golf & Country Club, which is celebrating their 100th Anniversary.

Started 100 years ago by 16 local businessmen, this local gem has stood the test of time through good times and bad and has come out stronger than ever. The updated yet traditional Tudor facility sits on the shore of Lake St. Clair in Tecumseh has been a significant part of the local landscape for generations.

Hopefully, over the course of the next few months, we will all start to enjoy more of the freedoms that we once had. More of us will be getting vaccinated and restrictions will begin to lift enabling shops and restaurants to open completely, more opportunity for socializing and the freedom to move around unabated. Maybe, we will even see the border open again soon.

In the interim, let us all stay safe and continue to obey the current protocols. If everyone works together, we will get back to normal sooner.

Remember the three W’s. Wear Your Mask, Wash Your Hands and Watch Your Distance.

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Dan Landry DD

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38 ON THE COVER Looking down Beach Grove’s 9th fairway to the grand Clubhouse on the shores of Lake St. Clair.

DEPARTMENTS

Photography courtesy Beach Grove Golf & Country Club See page 54

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NEW & NOTICED

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BON APPETIT!

84

HOROSCOPE

F E AT U R E S 16

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REDESIGNED RIVER RETREAT

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An Invitingly Gracious Waterfront Home

A 21-Day Meditation Challenge by Kent Walker

“CRAZY SWITCH”

NEED FOR CONNECTIVITY

New Song By Local Rock Band Breaking Echoes

Windsor Embraces Innovation With WEtech Alliance

STORIES WORTH TELLING

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Artist Beth Kyle Launches Pandemic Portraits 44

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WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

INTERESTING TIMES

Beach Grove Survives Turbulent Events

CELEBRITY SET TAKES NOTICE

Notable Names Grace The Links at Beach Grove 78

LESSONS OF HISTORY

Beach Grove is Built on Friends, Family and Lifestyle 85

STEVE BELL

Four Decades In Windsor Media 90

THE GORY STUFF

Taylor Vigneux Brings Her Imagination To Life

The Sepia-toned Roots of Beach Grove 64

GIACI MICELI

Family Spreads Autism Awareness Through TikTok

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INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF THINGS

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DEADLIFTING CHAMPION

Dane Jacob Dillon Breaks Canadian Records

WE LOVE FIRE is part of the United Buyers Group,a network of over 290 privately owned fireplace and hearth stores throughout North America. They specialize in helping you find the perfect heating system or grill designed to suit each room.

Take the time to browse their online gallery at WeLoveFire.com of ideas for more inspiration and then choose Scotts Fireplace as your retailer for delivery or installation.

Get cozy with a fireplace by SCOTTS FIREPLACE Visit our showroom at 2 North Talbot Road, Maidstone 519.723.4111 | scottsfireplace.ca

Hot Furniture Trends BECKY’S PICK: SMALL SPACES REIMAGINED Handstone has introduced a solid wood collection specifically in smaller footprints called the Parker. With a variety of woods and finishes it makes downsizing a little simpler and offers the quality that only solid wood can bring.

Drop leaf tables are a great space saver and allow for extra room when guests come to visit but keep the room open. With a heavy duty mechanism you will see that Handstone’s workmanship and design is second to none.

CHERYL’S PICK: TEXTURE, TEXTURE, TEXTURE Adding texture to the room adds dimension and warms the space making it cozy and giving it character. The addition of the caning to this collection is a soft and subtle way to offer storage options without making the space feel heavy.

Offering select pieces that can be used in bedroom, living and dining rooms the “Cane collection” is one to watch.

DAWN’S PICK: HOME OFFICE OPTIONAL With many homes now accommodating a home office, we have people seeking something a little different to help their home not feel like an extension of the work day. Workspace by day, beautiful furniture by night, having something that can add joy to your workspace can make all the difference to your day. TH Solidwood’s Evoke and Luxe collections offer just that. Visit their website at thsolidwood.com to see more and visit our showroom this spring to see their exceptional quality in person.

SHERRI’S PICK: GET INTO THE GROOVE The “Groove” Collection is spectacular in style and value. Shown in luscious navy velour, the fabric is hot and on trend. The collection boasts a 90” Sofa, 83” Apartment Sofa and 29” chair. It definitely commands attention and is a show stopper for any space.

RENEE’S PICK: NIGHTSTANDS REDISCOVERED The LH Imports nightstands are just a sample of the mix and match pieces that can be used to reinvent your bedroom space. Perfect with Upholstered beds and to add a little flair to your guest room, these unique cabinets are fun and functional!

JESSICA’S PICK: SIMPLY SLEEK Stylus Furniture strives to offer a wide selection of high style accent chairs that are the perfect finishing touches to your room. With a modern flair, they are esthetically pleasing and are scaled to provide comfort and not sacrifice the look.

So sit back, relax and take a seat, you’ll be glad you checked out these little treasures.

ROSIE’S PICK: NO NEED TO COMPROMISE Customize your comfort with this great look from Décor Rest. Set your style with a choice of wood or metal leg. Set your comfort with soft or firm foam. Set your look with hundreds of fabrics to choose from. It’s all about you, your family, your home. Although special orders may take a little longer don’t compromise. Time flies, order now for Fall arrival.

CHALENE’S PICK: MUSKOKA DREAMING Handstone furniture introduces the Muskoka collection. With clean lines, optional storage and metal detailing it is attractive from every angle. The coordinating accent chair is available in fabric and leather and the metal detail and wood finish can be changed to suit your space. Go rustic with Heritage or brush work maple or give it a more contemporary flair in maple or cherry finishes with silver or gold finishes. Solid Wood and Made in Canada, what’s not to love?

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In This Issue

Custom solutions for better living

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Spring is here and the weather taunts with hints of the beautiful days to come. Easter and golf season approach. As the weather improves and doldrums of winter become a fading memory, this issue of Windsor Life Magazine looks at some milestones being celebrated in Windsor-Essex County.

Nothing says “spring” like home renovation.

A magnificent four-bedroom waterfront home in Amherstburg is restored to its former glory.

Dane Jacob Dillon is a 29-year-old awardwinning bodybuilder and powerlifter. His rise to success started 15 years ago, thanks to the challenges presented to him by a certain high school biology teacher.

Artist Beth Kyle, launches Pandemic Portraits, a new art project that she is compiling into a book.

Seeking a new challenge, and realizing she “liked the gory stuff,” Taylor Vigneux, took a leap of faith an enrolled at the College of Makeup Art & Design (CMU). She is now a make-up artist, working on special effects in film.

WEtech Alliance celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. During these past 10 years, WEtech Alliance launched several programs, including: DeskUP and Nerd Olympics. Its focus has not wavered from its original goal: helping grow tech companies of all stages and champion innovation in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.

Breaking Echoes is not only a local band you should hear, but it also has a story to tell.

Defying classification, the band has a new song titled “Crazy Switch”.

Kent Walker has a meditation challenge for readers. He has compiled his accumulated knowledge from a lifetime of experience into one informative, accessible book: How to Reduce Suffering and Increase Happiness: A 21 Day Meditation Challenge.

After four decades in Windsor media, former AM800 sports director and current “Voice of the Spitfires”, Steve Bell opens up about life behind the microphone, and how he is adjusting to his “new normal”.

The Miceli family brings Autism Awareness to the social media platform, TikTok, creating dozens of videos showcasing their unique, loving bond with their older brother, Giaci.

In January of this year, Beach Grove Golf & Country Club celebrated its 100th anniversary. The Club’s fascinating history is told in a four-part series, complete with many vintage photographs.

Matthew St. Amand

IF EVER THERE WAS A TIME FOR SELF-CARE, IT’S NOW! Winter is finally behind us! Thanks to the pandemic, it seemed especially long. Now Spring is in the air, the vaccine rollout is well underway and there’s hope that better days are on the horizon.

What better time to treat yourself to a little self-care?

At La Vida Salon and Spa, we are proud to offer a unique experience which begins the moment you arrive. Get ready to be transported to a tranquil place of peace and pampering!

Our comprehensive range of restorative treatments and therapies have been developed to revitalize your mind, body and spirit.

RELAX, RECHARGE, REFRESH If your nails are looking a little ragged or your feet are not sandal-ready, treat yourself to one of many manicures or more than 15 sumptuous pedicures (for women and men).

Whether it’s rampant roots, greys gone rogue or shaggy outgrown strands, Red Seal hairstylist Sarah-Anne Bertram can make you feel and look like a million dollars again!

Sarah-Anne invites you to “experience a ‘mini-vacation’ in my salon chair.

After your cut, colour, fresh new style or hair health treatment, you’re going to walk out loving your locks!”

If the harsh, cold weather has left your skin looking dull or feeling dry, our rejuvenating facials can enliven its tone Sarah-anne Bertram HAIRSTYLIST and texture. If you’ve never experienced a professional facial by Aesthetician Maria Mastroianni, you don’t know what you’re missing! The effects are immediate and long-lasting.

Maria and Sarah-Anne are just two of our highly trained and qualified professional team, which also includes Aesthetician Giovanna Lepera and hairstylist Christine Francis. If facial veins, visible signs of aging or other

maria Mastroianni OWNER, AESTHETICIAN

cosmetic issues are bothering you, we offer a full range of Medical Aesthetics.

One of the immediate benefits of therapeutic body massage is the deep relaxation that happens when brain chemicals called endorphins (also known as the “feel good hormones”) are released into your bloodstream.

Tell us where you hurt, and we’ll tell you how we can help.

Our spa services and packages—lasting anywhere from 1 hour to an entire day of deluxe treatments—are the gold standard in self-care.

IF YOU’RE FEELING UNSURE ABOUT VISITING Even before the pandemic, we were meticulous about cleaning and sanitizing. We stringently adhere to all Windsor Health and Safety Unit best practices. Our credibility and reputation depend on it. Your safety and wellbeing demand it.

Maria says, “La Vida Salon and Spa strives to be your haven from a hectic world. Welcome to a place where YOU are the focus. There are no egos here. Your complete trust and total comfort are our top priorities.

You’ll always feel welcome and at ease--and you’ll want to come back again and again!”

For a full menu describing all of our services, treatments, packages and prices, visit lavidasalonandspa.com.

Giovanna Lepera and Maria

Christine, Sarah, Maria, Giovanna

1580 Ouellette Ave., Windsor | 519.997.4517 | lavidasalonandspa.com

Take Me To The River A COUNTRY HOUSE WITH CONTEMPORARY FLAIR STORY BY KAREN TINSLEY / PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAX WEDGE

EXPERTLY RENOVATED, passionately redesigned and furnished with flair, this exceptional Amherstburg homestead is a place to embrace every season in Southern Ontario--truly a place to be.

Three years ago, award-winning homebuilder/designer Drew Coulson and his Coulson Design Build Inc. team began transforming this magnificent 4-bedroom waterfront home in the heart of Essex County’s Barrels Bottles Brew region.

“Then sadly, our clients went their separate ways. But this home’s unobstructed panoramic view of the Detroit River along its 100-foot frontage--and its proximity to all that Amherstburg has to offer--inspired us to keep going,” says Drew.

There may not be a shopping mall in Amherstburg, but its abundance of local farmers’ markets, historical landmarks and bevy of

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proud, savvy small business owners cater to every taste. Whether you’re seeking a retro diner or gourmet eating experience, awardwinning world-class wines, craft beers, whiskies, handcrafted coffee blends or freshly churned ice cream, you’ll find it here. You’ll also find everything from vintage antiques to cutting edge fashion, which makes it a wonderful place to live, work and play!

"I know the town well because I was born and raised here,” says Drew, who married his high school sweetheart, Kary. They met at General Amherst High, where Kary now teaches. “I love the heritage, historical value, small town charm and incredible waterfront. I still call Amherstburg home, so it gives me great pleasure to design and build here.”

Drew wanted every inch of this home to make a truly stunning

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statement “from the moment you step inside. The waterfront is so restorative; I wanted the house to carry that feeling. You don’t need things that are too shiny or too much pattern or colour. You want to complement the serenity of the landscape; the simpler and more natural, the better.”

Like all Coulson homes, this one is sustainably built.

Metal roofing—valued for both durability and practicality—is making a design comeback. No longer just the domain of humble cottages, the treatment perfectly complements the pleasing exterior lines of this impressive home.

The open concept floor plan has been carefully laid out to foster a feeling of being surrounded by the outdoors. High ceilings and crisp grids of abundant,

Left: A grey sectional creates understated elegance. Horizontal wood paneling, accenting the fireplace, brings the outdoors in. Top: Unexpected hits of red brighten the neutral palette of this bedroom with a view.

Above: A vintage oversize pew bench and modern Mandela wall art pair perfectly.

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oversize steel mullion windows maximize natural light. Breathtaking views of birds, wildlife, boats and Boblo Island abound.

From the foyer, your eyes sweep over the kitchen, dining area and great room.

A formidable wood-paneled wall houses a giant flatscreen TV and built-in gas fireplace: all the better to create cozy ambience and warmth on chilly mornings, rainy afternoons or snowy evenings. Hardwood floors are sophisticated and on-trend.

Peaceful shoreline sounds set the stage for relaxing, restorative sleep in each of the four spacious bedrooms.

Four full bathrooms (including a massive master bedroom ensuite), a 1,000square-foot protected front porch and more porches at the rear of the house makes this home a big family’s fantasy come true. With ample space and amenities to welcome overnight guests (including a fully insulated, heated three-car garage and private bunkhouse), this is the ideal place for weekend or staycation entertaining: laid-back casual, grand style or anything in between.

Like a breath of fresh air, white invigorates spaces. Inspired by nature, neutral shades connect us back to the earth. A striking combination of clean whites, soothing neutrals and natural wood tones throughout the home stimulate all the senses.

Punchy pops of brilliant reds and mystical blues add interest, style and contrast.

“Allowing natural, organic textures to be your base gives you the freedom to play with different accent colours when the seasons change,” says Drew.

The sprawling front porch showcases the unique beauty of all four Southern Ontario seasons; picture postcard sunsets can be experienced in all their glory.

Plenty of comfortable, inviting outdoor furniture creates perfect places to sit

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Clockwise from above: Stand-alone soaker tub inspires a spa-like vibe; antique dark wood chairs bring a farmhouse feel to this modern kitchen; rustic sliding barnwood panels hide laundry room when not in use; a beautiful marriage of vintage and modern; dining room with a view; muted blue accents work beautifully in this bedroom suite.

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455 DALHOUSIE

Check out this beautiful, one-of-a-kind home on one of Amherstburg's most desirable streets. There is so much detail with decorative ceilings, gorgeous woodwork and large open rooms. It's an entertainer's dream. Industrial kitchen with stainless steel counter tops and center cooktop. Exposed brick throughout goes with the fun and creative flare. Four large bedrooms and an office upstairs. One bedroom currently converted into the laundry room. Amazing bathroom with large walk-in shower and a soaker tub. Outside continues to impress from its oversized pergola, all the way to the inground pool. And as a bonus you have your very own bar! Invite your friends and host a great time.

CALL JOHN, KIM OR JAYCI

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John D’Alimonte

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www.JOHNKIMSELLS.com

Kim Wheeler

Jayci Wigle

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back, sip a glass of wine and watch the freighters lazily glide along the river. What a wonderful way to end a day!

The unapologetically modern kitchen is predominantly white, creating clean lines.

And yet, thoughtful attention has been devoted to detail. In lieu of a standard cabinetry island, a custom-built work table (painted a pale robin’s egg blue) is a fresh take. A rustic trio of chunky glass and silver metal pendant lamps balance the table’s large scale, casting a warm glow when savouring apps, cocktails or casual meals.

Above the sink, an oversize picture window sweetens the deal for whoever pulls dish duty. Plenty of custom cabinets provide ample storage for kitchenware. Generous counter space, easy-to-clean work surfaces and built-in professional grade stainless steel appliances converge, injecting energy.

The spacious laundry room is concealed behind vintage barn door panels that slide open and closed along a wrought iron rod— which can certainly come in handy if unexpected visitors arrive on laundry day!

In a thoroughly modern splurge, the colossal ensuite bathroom features luxury finishes and fixtures, a stand-alone soaking tub, two picture windows and vintage sink station cabinetry (from downtown Amherstburg’s Dusty Loft Antiques and Collectibles).

“The Gathering Space” dining area looks out onto one of the back patios. Sliding screen doors provide a picturesque view— and make it a cinch to step out and check on whatever you’ve got grilling on the gas barbecue.

To keep visual flow throughout the space, Drew kept the floors bare for the most part.

He is justifiably proud of this home.

“For most of us, our home is our most significant, enduring investment. That’s why I feel it’s so important not to compromise, and to create a space that can be changed up or rearranged when the spirit moves you.”

When it comes to being a place to be, this home ticks all the boxes.

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

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ESSEX APPLIANCE CENTRE LTD.

Sales. Service. Delivery.

FOR OVER 30 YEARS, Essex Appliance Centre has served as the premier location for Windsor and Essex County’s appliance needs.

Opened in 1986 by owners Gord and Cathy Stevens, Essex Appliance Centre offers a vast selection of both low-priced and high-volume appliances alongside competitively priced premium brands.

“Gord and Cathy are great people to work for,” Frank Resendes, the Store Manager, states. “It’s a family-run business. They know how to treat their employees and their customers.”

Located square in the epicenter of Windsor and Essex County at 76 Talbot Street South, Essex Appliance Centre reaches beyond the county’s borders.

“We’re well-established here in the centre of Essex County,” Frank explains. “We deliver from Boblo Island to Wallaceburg and as far as Ridgetown. So, we go pretty far!”

Going one step ahead is part of Essex Appliance Centre’s mandate.

“We always like to take care of our customers,” Frank states. “That’s the advantage we have over the big box stores. We make sure that we take the time to educate the customer. We take care of our customers from the sales level and beyond, making sure they’re looked after from beginning to end, especially when service is required.”

One of the unique services Essex Appliance Centre offers is their free home delivery and installation.

“Being a small-town company, we don’t outsource our delivery service,” Frank explains. “This is a big deal for most of our customers. And, while the box stores always charge you for delivery, ours is free. And, we go a step further. We connect and install almost all of the appliances, so that customers can begin using them as soon as we leave.”

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What’s more, Essex Appliance Centre boasts of one of the largest appliance showrooms in Southwestern Ontario, providing their customers with unparalleled selection and volume.

“Our store has a warehouse atmosphere,” Frank explains. “We have about 20,000 square feet of showroom.

We have a pretty large variety, with a vast selection on display. That way, our customers are able to feel and touch the appliances they’re shopping for, as opposed to just staring at them on a monitor.”

Essex Appliance Centre’s large space allows them to carry a wide assortment of brands and prices.

“You can get anything from a $399 dryer to a $30,000 stove,” Frank states. “We have everything from economy brands to your super premium luxury brands. That’s the beauty of our store. We have so many brands behind us so that we can service all clientele. As well, our inventory is constantly changing and remains up to date with the newest and best features available on the market.”

Essex Appliance Centre’s dedication to providing their customers with the best possible products and services means that they remain perched on the cutting edge, keeping up to date with the latest and greatest trends in appliance technology.

“We’re finding that a lot more of the manufacturers today are leaning towards new developments in smart appliances,” Frank states. “Everyone has a smartphone nowadays. And life gets so busy. You can preheat your stove from an app on your phone. We’ve got fridges with camera in them, so that if you’re at the grocery store and you can’t remember what you need, you can check on your phone.

You can check how much time you’ve got left on your laundry machine from a different floor. They’re getting pretty neat!”

Essex Appliance Centre also contains a fully-equipped service department, which offers both replacement parts and a repair services.

“Most box stores give their customers a 1-800 number to call, which can be inconvenient,” Frank states. “But we have customer service as an in-house service. We have two techs on staff to help with any breakdowns.”

As well, aside from the breadth and depth of the services Essex Appliance Centre provides, their prices remain neckand-neck with the larger franchises they compete with.

“We work a little harder for our money,” Frank admits.

“But, we also work with low margins. So we’re able to sell our products for cheaper than the box stores.”

At Essex Appliance Centre, it all comes back to service.

“My favourite part of working at Essex Appliance Centre is meeting new people,” Frank explains. “Showing them what’s out, what’s new. We’re just a small town business, plugging away with the big guys. But, we do our best to service all of our customers—loyal and new.”

76 Talbot St. S., Essex PH: 776-6316 • 776-8611 • 776-9788

AZAR HOMES LTD. At Your Service A home is the most significant investment a family will ever make.

It should reflect the style and needs of the people living within it.

Every family’s needs are different, and Azar Homes Ltd. is the builder to bring that custom design to life.

“We construct truly customized homes,” says Danny Azar, owneroperator of Azar Homes. “We have never built the same house twice.”

The son of long-time Windsor home builder, Tony Azar, Danny grew up on job sites learning the business from ground-up. He opened Azar Homes in 2008 to fill a need he did not think was being met.

“I feel the word ‘custom’ is misunderstood,” he explains. “A truly custom home should begin with a list of ideas and needs that will ultimately develop into the right home for the individual. A choice between ‘Custom House A’ or ‘Custom House B’ does not, necessarily, accomplish that.”

People come to Azar Homes with their inspirational pictures and layouts from the Internet, which are great starting points.

“If you have an idea, we can work with it,” Danny says.

If customers have their own drawings, that works. For people who need help in that department, Danny has ready access to a topflight architect—his brother, Dory Azar, who runs his own, separate architecture firm Dory Azar Architect Inc. One myth Danny would like to dispel is that “custom homes” only belong to the realm of the wealthy.

“We build to your budget. The average home-buyer can do this,” he says. “For instance, if someone falls in love with a ranch style

home, but their family needs a little more room, we’ll sometimes suggest a two-story, which can give them an extra 500 – 600 square feet for the same dollars.”

The process of realizing one’s dream home begins with a free consultation in Danny’s office.

“Even before the consult, I will ask if they can send any images to let me know what they’re thinking,” he says.

From there, Danny creates a formal quote to ensure the customer understands what they will receive, and the cost associated. Once that is established, an agreement is signed, and the fun begins.

Danny can also make use of 3D rendering software to give customers a more realistic idea of what the home will look like.

Sometimes, 3D printed miniatures are created so the customer better understands what how the home’s exterior will ultimately look.

“We offer full customization,” Danny says. “That means we can help find the property to build on.”

This customization even extends to ensuring the home captures the spirit of its surroundings.

“We’re currently working on a very unique home near a nature preserve,” Danny continues. “It is a two-story home, and the customer really wanted to capture the surroundings in the design.

So, Dory worked with the client to create a wing shaped roof line.”

Azar Homes also does renovations. They recently began discussions for an extensive reno on a home on the water in Kingsville.

The talks got to a point where the homeowner fell in love with the overall design and decided to simply demolish the house and build the entire design, brand new.

As one satisfied customer recently commented on Facebook: “…

Azar builds homes your friends are jealous about...”

PREMIER CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS Your Azar Homes experience will be one worth sharing and something to brag about amongst family and friends!

1126 Lesperance Rd, Tecumseh | T: 519.735.2144 | azarcustomhomes.com

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Often Imitated But Never Duplicated!

As Windsor and Essex County’s only full blind and shade manufacturer, Made to Shade Window Coverings and Owner Michael Campoli have been trusted since 2005.

“We’ve been in the community for 21 years, and in retail for 16,” Michael states. “We’re the only factory-direct window covering store in the area. We manufacture all our own shades at our facility. All our products are all 100% Canadian made.”

Made to Shade is unique among other window covering companies in that it operates using a fleet of mobile showrooms rather than a retail storefront.

“We bring the showroom to your home!”

Michael states. “We take all the necessary safety precautions. All our guys wear their masks and maintain social distancing.”

The effect allows for a much more personalized approach to your shopping needs.

“I need to go out to your house to see your colours, what you need and what your requirements are,” Michael explains. “It’s difficult to visualize a piece of fabric at a retail store. You’d want to actually see it in your home!”

Michael’s exemplary customer service and peerless catalog have made him beloved by all his customers—repeat and new.

“Wow, great experience. Michael and his team are great. Our schedules were conflicting, so Mike made a special trip at 7am to come measure. The install team was so fast. Great company to work with,” Seany writes.

“Absolutely in love with how blinds look—perfect colour, perfect style. Working with Mike was a great experience he was patient as we were deciding which colour to pick, he gave us a recommendation and we ended up choosing that one! Not to forget, it was an affordable price compared to others! Thank you Mike and his team!” Rima writes.

“The best customer service I have ever received. Timely, polite, helpful, pleasant and comfortable to deal with.

Mike helped out with our choices by giving us ideas which we never thought of. Love the blinds! Thank you Mike!” Sandi writes.

Made to Shade hosts an expansive range of modern and innovative window treatments to suit any need and lifestyle, including Eclisse Vision Shades, Roller Shades, Sunscreens, Venetian Blinds and more!

And recently, Michael’s shades have just gotten even sleeker. Last year he purchased a new cutting table with an ultrasonic mechanical cutting knife from Poland. The machine seals the fabric in such a way as to prevent fraying.

“It allows for a straighter, error-free cut,” Michael states. “We were good before but we’re even better now!”

Once the order is placed, Made to Shade has a four-week turnaround time.

“At the time of sale, we confirm the install date,” Michael states. “We can set up a whole house in two-to-three hours, at most. My crew is very efficient. No mess. We clean up after ourselves.”

What’s more, Made to Shade offers a lifetime warranty on all products.

“Our lifetime warranty isn’t something that we just say,” Michael explains. “It’s something that we do. If someone calls us about a shade that was installed in 2006, then we’re right there repairing it.”

Made to Shade Window Coverings can be reached at 519-999-9898. Request a quote today!

Commercial | Residential Free shop at home service!

Call 519-999-9898 • madetoshade.ca

Let us bring the store to your door.

-Michael Campoli

CATERING TO THE COMMUNITY ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS you think about when you find out you are expecting is your nursery, and chances are, you have already thought about what you want your space to look like.

“We want to help you make that dream nursery a reality,” Three Lambs Owner Jeanine Jodoin explains. “Inspired by something posted on Instagram and can’t find it? We love helping you create your vision within your budget.”

With the largest nursery showroom in the area, Three Lambs offers a variety of top-of-the-line and exclusive furniture brands, including Natart Juvenile, Dutailier, Babyletto, Monte Designs, and more.

In addition to their fabulous collection of cribs and dressers, you will be pleased to find several options of gliders, rockers and recliners when you visit their bright and inviting showroom.

“If you are looking to not only support your local but also the national economy, we have a lot of Canadian furniture options as well,” Jeanine states. “We’re investing in our products long before our customers do. We believe in everything we carry because we have researched it and know that it’s of the highest quality. Regardless of your selection, built here or abroad, you can trust you will love it.”

All of Three Lambs’ furniture is entirely GreenGuard certified. Even their mattress options are completely toxic-free.

“That criterium is determined before we even consider investing in the brands,” Jeanine explains. “When customers come in, they do not have to do that research. They can shop knowing that everything is safe and of the best quality.”

And while you are designing your perfect nursery, allow Jeanine’s friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you build your dream registry.

Three Lambs offers a unique concierge-type customer service that helps parents, and their families find the perfect products and brands to suit their lifestyle.

“Think of concierge services in high-end hotels,” Jeanine states. “When you call the concierge and ask, ‘This is what I’m looking for. Help me find it.’ You trust the concierge to know. Here, it’s a similar concept. This is an informationdriven environment.”

Jeanine is strongly committed to creating a shopping experience where parents feel supported and empowered with the right knowledge so that they can make the best decisions for their growing family.

A mother of five children, Jeanine has familiarity shopping for and using prenatal and postnatal products. Her curation

atmosphere. Sometimes customers will even bring babies in that are still wearing hospital bands on their wrists!”

In addition, as Southwestern Ontario’s largest independent baby store, Three Lambs’ 5000 square foot showroom expands beyond your typical baby boutique. They carry items for mom and offer a large selection of non-toxic toys as well as the most adorable curation of clothing lines from sought-after brands like Rylee & Cru and Quincy Mae (to name only a few).

“We are honoured to be there for you throughout the entire journey,” Jeanine smiles.

Expecting? Call (519) 735-0035 to book your registry consultation or browse their website at threelambs.ca.

reflects not only her vast product knowledge and popular trends, but also the collective experience of her customers.

“Items sold in a big box store are selected based on the bottom line,” Jeanine states. “We do things differently. We have specifically curated our product selections because of their quality. We want to offer the perfect products that work for you and your precious family.”

Feeling a little daunted by the experience? Book a free consultation today!

“All of our staff members are highly trained in product knowledge,” Jeanine explains. It’s a very non-judgmental and non-opinionated environment. “We’re not saying, ‘I have this. You have to have this!’ We’re asking, ‘What’s your space like? Where do you plan on using this stroller? Do you plan on walking on pavement primarily or taking it on trails more?’ We know the right questions to ask to help you navigate the process and find the perfect product for you.”

At Three Lambs it isn’t just about what’s the “best,” it’s about what’s the best for YOU. This exceptional service and impressive catalog have made Three Lambs Baby Boutique beloved by their clients.

“Sometimes I’ll get text messages from customers in labor,” Jeanine states. “And then, hours later, they’re sending me photos of their beautiful newborn. That, to me, is really special. We strive to create a small boutique, intimate

13444 Tecumseh Rd E, Tecumseh, ON N8N 2L9 www.threelambs.ca | 519.735.0035

Breaking Echoes band members (l-r): Craig Hotham, Chris Mailloux-Beal, Gabe Prestia, Keith Lloyd and Derrick Green.

BREAKING ECHOES NEW LOCAL BAND HALTS THE CYCLE

STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN / PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHLEY CLINE, INCLINE PHOTOGRAPHY CHRIS MAILLOUX—better known as “Chase”— has been running his own studio since he was 15.

“I had always wanted my own studio,” Chase states. “But, when I was 15, studio time was very expensive. So, I heard that one of my friends was closing down his studio because he was moving to Toronto. I asked him if I could rent it. And he agreed.”

A couple weeks later, Chase’s friend dropped off all the equipment on his front porch.

“He said he was in a hurry,” Chase recalls. “That he didn’t have time to explain to me how everything worked. And then, he took off. He basically just said, ‘Here you go! You’ll figure it out!’”

And over the course of several years, Chase did just that.

“I had to figure out how to route everything,” Chase explains. “The dials. The knobs. You name it. I guess the biggest hurdle was finding the necessary space for all this equipment. Fortunately, my parents were generous enough to volunteer their garage. But, it was a long process. Even over a

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year ago I was still doing renovations. Making sure everything was soundproofed. Getting everything up to par.”

However, for Chase, the experience was never an onerous one.

“I love the learning,” Chase states. “It’s one of the things I’m good at. Beyond recording I am also a web programmer and I run a concrete company. Learning is what I’m good at!”

After he opened his own studio out of his parent’s garage, Chase started performing. His early shows took place downtown, at now-lost venues such as Bentleys.

“My first show, I was terrified,” Chase recalls. “I was like a statue on stage. I didn’t move at all. I just stood there – completely still! Fortunately, I was the youngest person in the scene at the time. So, everyone pretty quickly decided to take me under their wings. They always showed me a lot of love and appreciation when I was around. They always try to give me advice and help me along. I owe a lot of the things I know about the music business to the other people in the Windsor music scene.”

▼

One such member of the local music community was the renowned DJ Needle from CJAM Radio.

“He wanted to manage me right away,” Chase states. “He ran the local hip-hop station. He was a prominent member of the Windsor scene. He was always trying to help people get where they are. Even held seminars where he gave the lowdown on the ins and outs of music business. Even still does stuff like that to this day!”

However, despite his early successes, Chase admits that he lacked some of the drive necessary to launch his music career.

So, for a period of time, that aspect of his life was allowed to dwindle.

But, as many of us can attest, destiny has a way of asserting itself.

“One night, I was drinking with some friends,” Chase explains. “We got pretty messed up. And one of my best friends, Craig Hotham—who we all call Money— kept saying, ‘Come on! Let’s go in the studio! Let’s go in the studio! I’ve never heard you sing! You’ve never heard me play guitar!

I promise I’m good! I promise I’m good!’

He’d been bugging me for a long time.

But, that night, in my inebriated state, he must’ve convinced me.”

And it is a good thing he did. That night, as Chase picked up the microphone, and Money picked up the guitar, sparks started to fly. Shortly thereafter, Chase and Money put together their own self-produced album.

“We called ourselves ‘Chase and Money,’” Chase states. “But, after a while, we decided that if we were going to perform full shows, we had to round out our sound.”

As the months wore on, the two added three new members to their band, including: Keith Lloyd, the bassist. After beginning his career as a guitarist, he switched instruments.

“He really has that ear for composing,” Chase explains. “He has a very unique, fun baseline. He’s never boring or repetitive.

And a baseline can really make a song!”

Derrick Green, the drummer. Originally from the Toronto area, he initially came to the band’s attention when he responded to their Kijiji ad earlier last year.

“He came by to audition really looked the part,” Chase states. “He was really nice. He’s worked with a couple big names before. But his real test was in the studio. He passed with flying colours!”

And Gabe Prestia, the lead guitarist. The newest member of the band and musical genius.

SPRING IS COMING. IS YOUR GRILL READY?

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Spring into your sports car.

Christina Mandri

Porsche Brand Ambassador

Office 519-601-1322 Ext. 223 christina@porschelondon.com 1265 Wharncliffe Rd. South London, ON

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“He came out and tried out for the band,” Chase explains. “He can shred a guitar like no one I’ve ever seen. He’s completely self-taught.”

After a while, Chase decided that the group needed a new name. And, after 200 candidates and 3 to 4 months of arguing, the band finally decided on a new name: Breaking Echoes.

“A lot of us come from a background of substance abuse,” Chase admits. “And relationships that were less than ideal in our personal lives. So, the idea behind Breaking Echoes is that we don’t want history to repeat itself. We don’t want to make the same mistakes. We want to break that echo.”

Since the band has formed, they have released several new singles and numerous music videos.

One such single is “Crazy Switch,” which was released on February 1st.

“This one has been a surprising success,” Chase states. “We had been approached by a television company that was looking to get an intro song done. So, we decided to go with a classic rock kind of feel.”

The song, as it turns out, turned out to be much more complicated than the Breaking Echoes crew initially envisioned. Although they missed the deadline for the TV show, they continued to work on it until they weren’t just happy with the results—they were thrilled with them.

“Crazy Switch,” perhaps more than any other song in their repertoire, demonstrates the band’s unique, spellbinding sound.

“It’s hard to describe our sound,” Chase admits. “It’s really a challenge to put us in any main genre. I mean, we call ourselves ‘rock,’ but our songs have elements of country, heavy metal, classic rock—even a little bit of hip-hop sometimes. There’s a lot of mix-and-match going on. I guess were kind of a rock web. We just go into the studio, find something that sounds good and run with it.”

And although COVID-19 has halted some of the band’s momentum, Breaking Echoes continues to diligently leave their fingerprints on the local and national music scene.

“We’re still rehearsing and were still practicing,” Chase explains. “We’re getting ready. When the pandemic lifts, and it’s time to go, we want to start by playing some local shows and leaning upwards from there. We’d also love to land a supports spot for a bigger artist and tour around with them.”

Breaking Echoes can be experienced on their Spotify channel and on their YouTube page.

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NEWANDNOTICED

BUD BANK INC.

EVENT MANAGEMENT From April 9th to April 13th St. Clair College Event Management students are hosting an online charity auction benefiting the non-profit charity Habitat For Humanity Windsor-Essex. The money raised from the online auction will go directly to Habitat For Humanity Windsor-Essex to benefit our community. Habitat For Humanity Windsor-Essex is dedicated to our community. The funds will go directly back to our local community and help a local family have safe and affordable housing. Pictured is Louanne Sylvestre, Project Manager and Kaitlynn Towers, Assistant Project Manager.

The event is hosted on Bidding Owl: biddingowl.com/stclairevmt.

Bud Bank Inc., located in Chatham was formed to provide quality cannabis products to the public. “We’ve gone from speak-easy type dispensaries,” says Don Tetrault II, President of Bud Bank Inc., “to multi-million dollar corporations and fully developed retail spaces.” Bud Bank guarantees the quality of all cannabis products, be it dry herb, edibles, or concentrates. budbank.shop. 1-877-442-0420.

W.E. ADVANTAGE MORTGAGES

WINDSOR CHAPEL Windsor Chapel has been in business since 1904. Now in its fifth generation of family ownership, Windsor Chapel has been deeply involved in the community over the past century. Windsor Chapel has donated $100,000 to the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County over the last five years. Pictured is Colleen Reaume, Hospice Executive Director Hospice, Katharen Bortolin, Hospice, Scott Lockwood, Windsor Chapel CEO) and Philip Janisse, Windsor Chapel Owner. windsorchapel.com. 519-253-7234.

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W.E. Advantage Mortgages is proud to announce the newest licensed member to their team. Taylor Brain is a recent graduate from the University of Windsor and has achieved all Provincial Licensing regulations. Taylor is now poised to assist homeowners with the purchase or refinance of their home. Taylor's main focus will be with first time home buyers, assisting them through the tricky path to home ownership.

Contact Taylor today to begin your future of home ownership! 519-974-9393. weadvantagemortgages.ca.

MIKE HORROBIN Mike Horrobin has recently been selected by his peers as a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, the highest distinction conferred upon the Association’s members. Mike has been with Tepperman’s for nearly three decades and is currently the Vice President and CFO. He has extensive volunteer experience on numerous boards and committees, including serving as President of the University of Windsor Alumni Association, Chair of the University of Windsor Board of Governors, Treasurer of the Windsor Essex Children’s Aid Foundation and Chair of the Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare Board of Directors, where he is currently serving as Past Chair.

A PROGRAM OF THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF GIFT PLANNERS

WINDSOR-ESSEXCOUNTY CHAPTER

ATTENTION: All Charities, Non-Profit Organizations, Estate Planners, Funeral Homes, Estate Lawyers or Financial Planners.

May is Leave A Legacy Month.

Windsor Life Magazine is pleased to have been chosen again this year, by the Association of Gift Planners, to carry a special section in our May 6th publication to take the Leave a Legacy message to our readership. With over 70,000 delivered magazines, Windsor Life Magazine has proven to be most effective in its ability to reach the largest percentage of addresses in Windsor/Essex and Chatham/Kent.

May is Leave a Legacy month and Windsor Life Magazine will inform readers through an editorial overview on Leave a Legacy month, a tutorial on how to do a legacy gift, profiles of some past donours and the benefits of a Leave a Legacy plan.

We have developed a special advertising support section and are offering special pricing for organizations and individuals who may benefit from, or assist with, a Legacy Program.

QUEEN OF CLEAN WINDSOR A locally owned and operated residential and commercial cleaning service, Queen of Clean Windsor Inc. offers top notch service with a royal touch! Owned and operated by husband-wife team is Adam and Shawna Morrison, Queen of Clean Windsor Inc. has invested in many new disinfectants and equipment, and is ready to keep Windsor’s homes and businesses clean and safe.

Pictured is Co-Owner Shawna Morrison. queenofcleanwindsor.ca. 519-988-0389.

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As always prices include ad development if necessary. Deadline for booking space is April 9th and space is limited. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require further information.

IN MAILBOXES IN EARLY MAY! SPACE IS LIMITED, SO CONTACT US TODAY CHARLES THOMPSON

MEL MONCZAK

519-818-7352

519-551-0072

LESLIE CAMPBELL

519-567-0603

cthompson@windsorlife.com

mmonczak@windsorlife.com

lcampbell@windsorlife.com

Windsor Life Magazine is delivered through Canada Post to over 70,000 addresses which includes every business and over 55,000 homes & condos.

EYEWARES OF WINDSOR Eyewear Worth Wearing!

At age 12, young Monique Siara sported non-prescription eyewear to make a fashion statement. In high school, she needed “real” glasses to help correct near-sightedness.

“I discovered optician John Walker and Eyewares of Windsor when he opened in 1995,” exclaims this busy proprietor of Dr. Monique Siara Dentistry, her bustling city dental practice.

“I admit I’m just a tad obsessed with eyewear. I own so many eyeglasses that my husband gifted me with a beautiful leather and glass display case that holds 12 pairs—and I had a hard time choosing which ones would make the cut!”

Needless to say, Monique knows what she likes when it comes to eyewear. And being in the service business herself, she also knows a thing or two about the right way to treat customers.

“Just as my dental staff have been with me for more than 20 years, so too have the staff at Eyewares. That tells me a lot about their operation. Todd (an Eyewares associate) knows me so well that he starts pulling styles off the shelf for me to try on when I visit. I appreciate his good eye. I also appreciate that it’s not about just making the sale…it’s about taking the time to treat me the way I want to be treated. I feel valued and important during every visit.”

“That’s one of the things that keeps me coming back to John, his wife Sue and their expert, caring staff. They feel like family. We know each other’s kids—and my husband, who doesn’t even wear prescription glasses, buys his sunglasses from Eyewares.

It's probably not a surprise that a person with such a penchant and passion for eyewear is also quite a discerning customer.

Someone not only looking for the pinnacle of fashion and cuttingedge technology, but also quality, fit and workmanship.

“I golf, I ski, I play tennis. After endless pairs of ski goggles that just weren’t working for me, I finally found a helmet and visor in France that fit the bill. Because some people just aren’t the type for contact lenses—and I’m one of them—John helped me find the perfect pair of frames to wear underneath my equipment. And besides, if I wore contacts, how on earth would I ever replace my most iconic fashion accessory?”

Friends call Monique “the female Elton John” – because of her vast eyewear collection.

“Recently I purchased my very first pair of progressive lenses, which are a whole new ballgame. With the challenges of multi-focus lenses, the staff were excellent to ensure that the lenses were manufactured to my specific needs and the fit was perfect. That prep really made all the difference! Luc took the utmost care in the lab to handcraft my lenses to perfection.”

Dr. Siara concludes: “Everyone puts their heart and soul into their craft. That’s why I refer anyone looking for glasses their way. I have also sent people to Eyewares because they weren’t happy with glasses they had purchased elsewhere. Eyewares not only solved their problems—but often at no charge. How amazing is that?”

From Burberry Aviator to Prada Baroque sunglasses to Oakley sport glasses to Chanel or Gucci high fashion frames, just ask Dr. Siara. At Eyewares of Windsor you’ll discover 5-star selection, expertise and service!

Ph. 519.254.2020 3893 Dougall Ave. eyewaresofwindsor.com

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BETTER BLINDS AND DRAPERY North American Made Custom Window Treatments at Competitive Prices

placed, they return to install the treatments. “All of our staff are very experienced and helpful,” says Mark.

Interior designers and decorators are invited to bring their clients to Better Blinds and Drapery and see the possibilities. “Home tailors are also welcome to browse among our extensive fabric selection that Canadian mills sourced from around the world,” Kate says.

Kate and Mark are always delighted whenever the company’s previous clients return. “They say their draperies and blinds are still in great condition; they just want to update the colours or styles to match newly painted walls or new furniture,” Kate notes. “We continue providing the same enduring quality and service today.”

Celebrating their 27th year in business, clients know that they can count on Better Blinds and Drapery for all new window coverings, repairs and service.

“We are delighted that our outstanding customer service and business excellence has been recognized formally, with receiving the Consumer Choice Award this year”, says Kate, who has co-owned Better Blinds and Drapery with her husband, Mark, since they purchased it in March of 2014 when the original owner retired.

“Window treatments are esthetic as well as practical. In addition to privacy, they provide insulation against winter cold and summer heat, and protect flooring and furniture from fading,” Mark says.

As a specialty shop offering blinds, draperies, shutters and fabrics, Kate points out, Visit our Showroom or Have our Designer Come “We do just one thing and we do it exceedingly well. One misconception is that custom means expensive or inaccessible. It does not,” Kate says. “Upholding our standard for quality is just as important to us as being competitively priced.”

Many clients are homeowners who want to dress their windows in ways that reflect their good taste. Some do a single room; others select treatments for their entire dream home.

Other clients are corporate, requiring durable, attractive blinds and other coverings for the windows of their commercial buildings.

“People appreciate that we have a modern showroom with our products on display, for custom order and purchase,” Mark says.

“It’s beneficial to be able to see, feel and operate our window treatments. As certified motorization experts, having many different options ready for clients to compare is key in the selection process. There are so many choices.”

After narrowing down the products and colours they like, the clients receive a free in-home consultation for final selection.

While Kate and Mark take care of people in the Better Blinds and Drapery showroom, in clients' homes, the fulltime staff designer creates beautiful treatments to dress windows.

“Many clients aren’t sure what they’re looking for. We provide as much assistance as requested,” Kate says.

Custom draperies are made locally, in Windsor, by their fulltime seamstress. In the factory attached to the showroom, staff manufacture, resize, and repair blinds. “Unlike some competitors, our blinds aren’t premade, stockpiled and then cut down. Ours are made exclusively for your windows,” Mark explains.

Their on-staff installation specialists comBETTER BLINDS Custom North American Made & DRAPERY plete the final check measure to ensure a Blinds, Drapery, Shutters & Service. perfect fit for every window before ordering.

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MR. INSULATION

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Save Money With Mr. Insulation Do you have less snow on your roof than your neighbours? That’s a sure sign you have heat escaping.

Don’t put it off any longer. Mr. Insulation is committed to quality installation of every type of insulation to improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Owner Fred Corp and Butch Laframboise have a combined 42 years’ experience.

Together, they offer both new home builds and older home upgrades.

“Proper insulation is the best way to control your heating and cooling costs,” Fred points out. “It may seem obvious when the weather is cold and you notice drafts that can be sealed properly, but it is the air conditioning in the summer that is costing you even more money.”

Insulation can settle after 20 years. Spray foam insulation offers several benefits including: significant savings on energy costs, added strength to the building structure, does not require a vapour barrier, is permanent and will not sag, stops air and moisture infiltration, eliminates ice damming, improves air quality and keeps dust and pollen out.

“Union Gas customers can qualify for a rebate of up to $5,000 towards improving the insulation of their home,” Fred advises.

The Mr. Insulation free home consultation can tell you if you are eligible for a grant and provide cost effective solutions towards improving your home’s insulation capacity.

Butch is the person you speak with during a consultation, while Fred ensures that the installation is completed to your satisfaction. Butch steers customers through the entire process making it ‘worry free.’

There is a greater need than ever before for good insulation in your home due to rising energy costs.

Attention: Riverside and South Windsor Residents – If you are a resident of South Windsor or Riverside and reside in one of the hundreds of homes built before 1970, then your home was built without insulation. In some cases, grants can cover up to 90% of the complete upgrade.

“Not even half of the homes in these areas have taken advantage of this rebate,” says Butch.

“Don’t waste any more time, energy or money,” Fred says. “Give us a call.”

Call Fred or Butch at Mr. Insulation today to arrange a free consultation: 519-962-6062.

FAHRHALL HOME COMFORT SPECIALISTS Home Maintenance Tips for Spring Benjamin Franklin once said: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

The end of winter is around the corner and spring cleaning will soon be the order of the day. Alana Mariani of Fahrhall Home Comfort Specialists suggests homeowners include some routine maintenance around the house. “There are some simple things homeowners can do to improve the performance of their HVAC system,” Alana says. “First, replace the filter.”

Filter change frequency depends on filter size, so check manufacturer’s specifications to learn how often yours should be changed.

“Homeowners should also do a visual check of the outdoor A/C unit,” she advises, “removing debris, such as leaves, from the top and exterior parts of the unit.”

Change the batteries in all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. Dust them and test them to ensure these lifesavers are in good working order.

“Also, schedule a professional air conditioning inspection,” Alana continues. “Fahrhall offers monthly plans as low as $9.92/month, which includes a 32-point inspection on either your furnace or A/C. We check filters, controls, operating pressures, capacitors, and much more.”

Homeowners should never underestimate the value of preventative maintenance. A few minutes and a few dollars, today, could help avoid costly repairs and/or replacement, tomorrow.

One Fahrhall technician returned from a service call with a cautionary tale: The customer’s A/C unit provided minimal cold air in the warm weather. When the technician investigated, he found the evaporator coil was blocked by dust/particle build-up and animal fur.

“This happened because the dirty filter was never changed, and regular yearly maintenance was not done” Alana explains.

The condenser on the outdoor unit was clogged with leaves, poplar fuzz, and other debris, severely limiting the system’s ability to cool.

There was also a potentially hazardous situation that could occur during heating season: carbon monoxide could leak into the home through severely deteriorated venting.

“These problems could have been remedied by the homeowner doing some routine preventative maintenance,” Alana says.

These conditions could also have resulted in overall system failure.

“As it was, the homeowner was experiencing poor efficiency, higher utility bills and improper airflow,” Alana concludes. “Not to mention the extremely dangerous health risk of carbon monoxide leaks.”

While there are many benefits to routine preventative maintenance on a home’s HVAC system, the furnace and outdoor units are only part of the story.

Do you or your family experience excessive cold or allergy-like symptoms? Do you encounter unusually high levels of dust and debris when you clean the house? Have you found mold in your home, or detect a musty odor? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you should consider having your ducts professionally cleaned. Breathe easier while improving the energy efficiency of your home and lowering your bills. It’s a win-win.

As any homeowner knows, there really is no end to the “honey do list”. There is one more area worth checking during the spring maintenance blitz: if you have a sump pump, ensure it’s in good working order, and that your back flow preventer is clear of debris. If you’re unsure how to check this, a home plumbing inspection can help.

Adding a few maintenance checks to spring cleaning provides peace of mind and a chance to catch problems before they become catastrophes.

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Pandemic Portraits Local Artist Embraces New Project STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY TAWNIE CLARKE

FOR MOST of her life, Beth Kyle identified herself as a closet artist.

“I’ve always done art,” Beth explains. “As far back as I can remember. Anyone that knows me from my childhood knows that I always had a pencil in my hand. But, I kept a lot of my art a secret. I just didn’t have the confidence in my talents. And when I would show off my work and people would like it, I would usually just give it to them instead of charging them anything. I got a lot of flak from friends and family for that! But, I just didn’t have the confidence in myself.”

However, as she matured, Beth eventually found the strength to proudly display her talents.

“Eventually, I decided that my art was worth something,” Beth states. “I decided to value myself as an artist if I wanted to make it. So, I started to sell my work. Very cheaply, mind you. I think I sold my first portrait for $50!”

From there, Beth began the long process

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of becoming a professional artist while working as a full-time personal support worker.

“From there, I just started to evolve,” Beth explains.

“I did a lot of researching because I’m mostly self-taught.

I read a lot of books. I did a lot of tutorials. I looked into different types of equipment. If there was anything that I couldn’t figure out myself, I asked fellow artists.

I actually snuck into different groups online and sent a private message to certain people, saying, ‘How did you achieve this look?’”

Beth credits her husband, Damien, with giving her the boost she needed to pursue her passion.

“I met this wonderful man 16 years ago,” Beth states.

“He’s been my support. We’ve been married 14 years.

He’s been my backbone. Anything I’ve ever wanted to do, he’s been, ‘Let’s do it! Let’s get going!’ He really, really showed me that I had more worth than I truly thought I did. I owe him a lot of credit. He always says, ‘It wasn’t me! It was you!’ But, you can’t put a price on a good sidekick!”

And art, Beth explains, is not just about passion projects.

“I’m always painting,” Beth states. “If I’m cooking dinner, I’m sitting at my breakfast bar with a pad of paper. Art is my solitude. And especially working as a personal support worker, since I have my art, then my anxiety and depression doesn’t get the better of me.

There’s so much anxiety out there! I’m very lucky that I have my art to fall back on during these times. I don’t know where I would be today without it. It just helps me get through the stresses of life.”

After a number of years, Beth’s artistic skills skyrocketed. As a result, she and her husband, Damien, decided to build her a studio so she could pass along her knowledge.

“Well, let me put it this way,” Beth smirks. “I decided I wanted my own studio. So when we had made the decision to build a house a couple of years ago we

Clockwise from right: “I’m Mary”; “My Guardian Angel”; “All That Jazz”; Painter Beth Kyle; “Orenda”; “Moment of Preparation”

created a lower-level studio. I wanted a space where I could teach.”

Unfortunately, Beth was only able to administer a couple of lessons before COVID-19 halted her momentum.

“We had to shut things down,” Beth states. “That was kind of sad. As I said before, there’s something incredibly soothing about creating art. I didn’t have a great start in life. I had some bumps and some difficult hills to climb. And art was my solitude throughout all that. It gave me a place to express those feelings.”

However, rather than sitting on her laurels, Beth quickly discovered an exciting new project to occupy her time. Thanks, ultimately, to her husband and sidekick.

“During the beginning of the pandemic, me and my husband were sitting at the breakfast table,” Beth recalls. “My husband is a truck driver, so we’re both front-line workers. At the time, we were very unsure about what was happening. Everything was so scary. So, he was just sitting at the table in deep, deep thought.”

That morning, Beth decided to snap a photo of her husband, which she then used to sketch a portrait of him. And that portrait ended up becoming the first of many in a new series.

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“That portrait became one of my most successful pieces,” Beth explains. “I chalk it up to having a really good muse. After that, I did a self-portrait. And then it just sort of took off from there!”

Previously, Beth was volunteering with seniors in the community. So, she started asking them if they would be willing to model for her.

“I would say, ‘Could I try you?’ ‘Could I paint you?’” Beth states. “I just felt so bad for them. Thanks to the pandemic, many of them were feeling forgotten or left out.

I wanted to do something that could lift them up. So, I took a few of them on.”

Beth’s new project, Pandemic Portraits, ended up becoming a roaring success. So much so that she is currently compiling her best portraits into a book.

“I want to put all my COVID art together,” Beth explains. “Just as an act of remembrance, to memorialize everything that happened in 2020 and 2021.”

Beth is still compiling new photos for her book.

“I’ve joined Windsor Frontline Healthcare Workers and a couple other Facebook groups,” Beth states. “I asked if anyone had a good reference photo that I could paint or draw. And I can’t even tell you how many

submissions I got. There has to be close to 6,000 by now! People have sent me photos of themselves working in a COVID ward or a relative who passed away. Just all kinds of different stories.”

And thus far, the reaction Beth’s work has gotten has been phenomenal.

“I’ve gotten amazing feedback,” Beth states. “People are just so thrilled about it.

I’ve had so many people message me. I’ve been hearing stories about how they’ve lost parents and grandparents in long-term care.

It’s heartbreaking. I wish I could do a piece for everyone!”

What is most special about this project, Beth stresses, it how it tells the stories of actual people in Windsor and Essex County.

“I don’t want to just paint our healthcare workers,” Beth states. “I want to paint everybody. Coffee shop employees. Police and firemen. We’re all in this together. It’s hard to say that the frontline workers are just the ones that work in hospitals. I think everyone who’s struggling right now deserves to have their story told.”

More information about Beth’s art is available at bethkyleart.com.

Additionally, she can be found on Facebook (@Beth.Kyle.Artist) and Instagram WLM (@bethkyleart).

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GO BIG, OR GO HOME THE ROUMANN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY does not do things by half measures. Just check out some of its recent projects: The Cedar Point Sports Center in Sandusky, Ohio, 155,846 square feet and a project value of $42 million. The Kalahari Resorts (Phase 1) in Sandusky, Ohio, spanning 52 acres, with a project value of $130 million.

Founded in 2014 as a consulting company, Roumann expanded in 2017 as a full scope design and build contracting business. Its leaders are a “dream team” of industry veterans, with decades of experience in all areas of the construction field: planning, estimating, design, and build.

Roumann Construction counts among its customers some of the most recognized names in North American retail: Campbells, Kroger, Menards, Petco, Walgreens, among others.

What sets Roumann apart from the competition?

“We build faster,” company president, Ron Rousse explains. “Our recent Kroger projects included two new stores and one new fuel center, which are now open and operating.”

More than that, Roumann Construction completes projects on time and on budget.

On the recent Kroger project, Ron and his team analyzed recommendations from engineers brought in by the customer, and suggested modifications to the project design. Roumann also solicited and vetted bids from its network of subcontractors, ensuring the right people were brought in to get the job done. When the dust cleared and the project was completed, they had saved their customer $750,000 in additional site costs.

“The main benefit customers have with Roumann Construction,” Ron explains, “is that we’re their single point of contact under a single contract.

We oversee all aspects of the project from the ground up. We own 100 percent of the responsibility and accountability for the job, from start to finish. And we deliver.”

In addition to company president, Ron, who has oversite of projects, from ground-breaking to completion, the “dream team” consists of Keith Winningham, Brian Binkowski, and Tony Perales. Keith has more than 30 years experience in construction, managing projects, including new retail construction and remodels, and medical facility remodels. Brian Binkowski, has 30+ years of construction experience, specializing in commercial construction—new and remodel. Tony Perales has over 26 years of professional experience, developing and maintaining relationships with clients by surpassing their expectations of quality and performance.

Recently, Tony oversaw a large warehouse added onto the existing chemical buildout for Betco Corp in Bowling Green, Ohio. The project came in ahead of schedule and under budget.

“These are high level guys,” Ron says of the team. “They perform multiple functions, so we don’t need a large number of people only doing a few things each.”

Roumann Construction offers a full range of construction services, delivered in numerous ways, to fit clients’ needs for any project size.

These include (but are not limited to): RFP Assistance for Planning & Budgeting; Pre-Construction Planning & Budgeting; Construction Management; Owner’s Representative; Engineer-Procure-Construct (EPC); Design-Build; General Construction.

“One of our most popular ways of project delivery has been through our design-build services,” Ron says, “in which clients enjoy a streamlined process with faster delivery time as well as lower project costs.”

Roumann Construction is ready to bring its skill and expertise into the Canadian market. They are always looking for people at the top of their game. If that’s you, reach out to Ron through www.roumann.us.

www.roumann.us

Unique Glass and Mirror Products for Over 30 Years

PHOTO BY TREVOR BOOTH

New custom product, the "silhouette slider", complete with hidden television and fireplace.

Completely custom built to fit.

BAY-VIEW GLASS AND MIRROR provides complete commercial, residential and industrial glass and mirror services. Their work can be Eric LaMarre (Owner) seen across the county, gleaming against some of the region’s finest homes and businesses.

What makes Bay-View Glass and Mirror so unique among their contemporaries is Owner Eric LaMarre’s unique, innovative approach to every job.

“Anything you can think of, we like to get involved and do,” Eric states. “There’s lots of options. We’re completely custom. If you have a cool idea that’s out of the box, come see us and we’ll figure it out!”

Bay-View Glass can transform your living space into a bona fide work of art. Bay-View offers a wide range of trailblazing services, including frameless shower enclosures, Euro style barrier-free accessible showers, back painted glass, custom railings and much more!

Adaptability is one of Bay-View Glass and Mirror’s greatest strengths. During the pandemic, the company switched gears, focusing on providing commercial spaces with a safer environment.

“During COVID, we launched a series of protective barriers,” Eric explains. “I had enough forethought to see that we needed to do something. So, I managed to get my hands on a bunch of glass and we made protective barriers for the Windsor Family Credit Union, St. Clair College, Caesars Casino, both hospitals and more. We probably did about 2000 or 3000 partitions in total.”

For the casino alone, Eric came up with, designed and installed protective barriers between every

single slot machine, every table, every cashier, every security desk and every kiosk.

“We’ve been very busy!” Eric states. “I managed to come up with three different partition designs in total. Convenience stores.

Pharmacies. Dental offices. Restaurants. People all over the world were buying them. It was really nice that we were able to help people out.”

Which is not to say that Eric has not been mulling over exciting new creative ideas during the last year. Recently, Eric has put the finishing touches on a new product.

“We have custom-option mirrored sliding closet doors,” Eric explains. “The floor-to-ceiling doors make any room look much more spacious. And they can accommodate any size television or fireplace. They can be custom-built entirely into the doors. When you turn it on you can see them. When you turn it off, it’s just a mirror again.”

And the product is not entirely confined to sliding glass doors.

“We could put a mirror right on the wall and put the TV in there,” Eric states. “Literally, we could put a TV behind a mirror anywhere you want!”

Bay-View Glass also carries an exclusive glass coating.

“We just launched a new product line called Diamon-Fusion,” Eric explains. “When you buy glass for your showers, you now have two options: regular glass or glass with an applied coating.

The coating helps to protect against hard water stains and things like that. It’s a high-value product.”

To find out how glass can transform your living space contact Eric and his team at Bay-View Glass and Mirror at 519-94GLASS (944-5277), or visit the website at BayviewGlass.com.

“We’re always trying new things,” Eric explains. “If you have an idea, and we haven’t tried it yet, then we can’t wait to get started!”

519-94GLASS (944-5277) 1455 Matthew Brady, Windsor www.bayviewglass.com

Inspiration and

Education The Miceli Family Raise Autism Awareness Through TikTok STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY THE MICELI FAMILY

ONE WINDSOR FAMILY is using social media to share their love with the world.

The Miceli’s are an exceptionally close family of six. There’s the parents, John and Rita, the eldest Lauren, there’s Giaci and then the twins, Carolina and Maria.

Although, as Carolina points out, Giaci is clearly the star of show.

“Our parents have helped us embody how Giaci is the centre of our family and our universe,” Carolina states. “We’ve always known, ever since we were little, that we had to protect and take care of him alongside our parents. That really helped us develop that close relationship that you see in our TikTok account.”

Giaci is a 25-year-old man with autism. Even though he’s their older brother, Carolina and Maria have always been heavily involved in caring for him.

“For as long as I can remember, we’ve had such a close relationship with him,”

Clockwise from left: Carolina, Giaci and Maria Miceli; Giani enjoying an autumn walk; Giaci shares in acknowledging his sister, Carolina’s, graduation; the Miceli family: (back row) Lauren, Rita, John, (front row) Carolina, Giaci and Maria.

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Giaci, the video accumulated 200 likes.

Within a week, that number had ballooned to 100,000 likes.

“People kept asking for more Giaci content!” Carolina explains. “People kept saying, ‘Your brother is so handsome! He’s an angel!’”

Inspired, Carolina changed her account over to Giaci, and Maria made him an Instagram page. Since then, the twins have created dozens of Giaci videos, showcasing their unique, loving bond with their older brother.

“Through our account we’ve been able to help people with Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA), which is a type of therapy a child with autism can undergo,” Maria explains. “We’ve been able to show them what Giaci can learn, whether that’s house skills like cooking or cleaning or life skills.

He does have a job, so we can show them Giaci at work. It’s very inspiring for them.”

“It’s all about giving people hope,” Carolina states. “It’s all about giving people things to look forward to when their child with autism becomes an adult. It’s been monumental for us as a family. Just the fact that the things we’ve been able to do in Giaci’s life can impact other people.”

And what an impact it’s had. Presently,

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Giaci’s TikTok account has accumulated over 500,000 followers.

While the twins have a difficult time narrowing down their favourite videos of their brother, they do point to a couple of his standout performances.

“One of my favourites is one where Giaci is laying in bed and being grouchy,” Maria recalls. “We don’t really post a lot of videos where he’s in a bad mood, because 95% of the time he’s smiling. He’s a very happy-golucky guy. So, Carolina went into his bedroom and he told her to get out of his room. And obviously we would never invade his privacy. But this day, Carolina could tell something was different. He didn’t really want her out of his room. So Carolina said, ‘I just want to lay down with you.’ And he just cracked right up and said, ‘No!’ He just wasn’t having it. That one kills me.”

“My favourite video is where we explain Giaci’s stim, self-regulating behavior,” Carolina states. “It really let’s people into our lives and let’s people see what Giaci does. I think that was really inspirational because they don’t know what a stim is. It’s something a child on the spectrum—or someone with anxiety—might do to calm their nerves or release some pressure. Giaci has a different stim for every one of his feelings. So,

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Maria explains. “He is a very fun-spirited, loving guy. We have this very joking relationship. The connection and the bond we have is one that, if I’m having a bad day, I come home and see Giaci and my day is immediately better.”

The twins describe Giaci as their family’s mascot and star player. And now, thanks to his TikTok account, they get to share his glowing personality with hundreds of thousands of people.

“Back in April, I finished my undergrad,” Carolina recalls. “So, I had a week off inbetween my winter and summer semester.

Previously, I had been making TikTok videos for myself and my boyfriend, mainly just to keep up with my friends. Then, one day, I was redoing my room. There was this painting that I had, and I didn’t like it. So, I decided to repaint it!”

Carolina conscripted Giaci’s help in repainting, knowing that her brother would grace the canvas with his signature smiley face.

“I decided to make a video of him painting with me,” Carolina states. “I posted it on TikTok and decided I’d see what happened.”

At the time, Carolina had around 50 followers. Upon posting her first video of

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I was able to make a video and educate people about that.”

Giaci’s TikTok account has also been extremely beneficial in allowing the public a greater understanding of the wide spectrum of autism.

“I think autism is often misrepresented in the media,” Maria explains. “When a lot of people think about autism, they think about the higher functioning types, like The Good Doctor. Or maybe even Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory. But it’s such a big spectrum. There’s so many in-betweens.

So, it’s nice to represent our version of autism and our brother.”

And the tidal wave of support Giaci has received means the world to the Miceli family. “When we made this account, we had no intention of it rising to the extreme that it has,” Carolina explains. “We’re amazed that we’ve been able to touch as many people as we have. Our parents have worked so incredibly hard to make sure that Giaci has an independent life and a life with purpose. It’s amazing to be able to share how hard my parents have worked and how hard Giaci works every single day.”

Giaci’s example has become especially inspiring towards parents of children with autism.

“People look up to Giaci, because he’s an adult with autism,” Maria states. “Them being able to see what their future, or their children’s future, might look like is very inspiring. It’s something we wish we could’ve had. It’s very motivational. It inspires us to keep making these videos.”

“Now, more than ever, we need to capitalize on what’s good in the world,” Carolina explains. “And my brother reminds me of that every single day. And we’re so grateful that he’s able to do that for us and the half million people who follow him!”

“We always knew he was amazing,” Maria states. “Now the rest of the world thinks so, too!”

Additionally, Carolina, Maria and Giaci are raising funds for Autism Ontario Windsor-Essex.

“They’ve lost all of their fundraising initiatives due to COVID-19,” Carolina states. “So, they aren’t able to have any physical fundraising initiatives. All those opportunities are gone. So, we’re launching a GoFundMe page. That money will help go towards people within our local chapter who have lost their regular schedules and therapy time.”

More information is available here: https://bit.ly/35L1IhR. WLM Back to Contents

PRECIOUS CARGO & MOM 2 Furniture for Life If the global pandemic of the last year has taught us anything, it’s that shopping local is the smartest, safest way to buy goods, and at the same time, has the greatest benefit for our community.

For 18 years, Precious Cargo & Mom 2 has been making dreams come true for expectant mothers and their families with their beautiful collection of hardwood baby and youth furniture. Located at 252 Queen Street in Chatham, and boasting a completely revamped website, Precious Cargo has navigated the hurdles and restrictions of the past year by doing what they always do: “We sell furniture for life,” says owner-operator Sandra Stepniak.

Following a 35 year career in banking, Sandra shifted gears a decade ago, and purchased Precious Cargo.

Although furniture is a cornerstone of the business, Precious Cargo offers a wide selection of products new parents need for their babies: reusable diapers, baby toys, slings and carriers, strollers, cars seats and booster seats, clothing for every occasion. Precious Cargo also carries nursing bras, maternity belts moms wear for support, various creams, and even remedies for nausea.

“Our biggest seller is definitely our furniture,” Sandra explains. “Our most popular line is high quality, Canadian made furniture from a company out of Quebec called Natart.”

Natart Juvenile is the largest manufacturer of baby furniture in North American.

“Their furniture is made to order,” Sandra says, “so with a little planning, new parents can time their furniture to arrive when its needed.”

Every family’s needs are different. As a mother and a grandmother, Sandra has the experience to offer some guidance to new parents who

may be unsure how to proceed furnishing their little one’s room. “Attending trade shows for the past ten years,” she says, “I have gotten to know what is popular. That’s where I first learned about Natart and their great quality.”

This year was the first year Sandra missed a trade show. It was canceled due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, but she is hopeful to be back in the future.

Throughout these unprecedented times, Precious Cargo has continued operating at their Queen Street location.

“With everyone ordering online,” Sandra says, “we decided to completely revamp our website.”

Between curbside pick-ups and allowing a limited number of patrons into the store, Sandra has been able to remain connected to her customers.

“We’re very popular among grandparents,” she says. “We sell furniture, but we also have a great variety of clothes and gifts. We carry the Itty Bitty Baby line of clothes. All their apparel is designed and manufactured in Manitoba for the last twenty-two years.”

Precious Cargo also carries Apple Cheeks reusable diapers, a Canadian company started by two moms in Montreal who made a real splash on CBC’s Dragons’ Den in 2012. They also carry a specialty line of clothing called Mayoral, from Spain, which is very popular.

With health restrictions lifting, Precious Cargo continues to follow all safety protocols.

“As a shopper, it’s nice to go into a store and actually look around,” Sandra comments. “Smaller, locally owned businesses are ideal for this because there are no big crowds here. But people can still order online, if they choose, or call us to place an order.”

Check out Precious Cargo’s new website at preciouscargocanada.com or visit them at 252 Queen Street in Chatham.

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Brews & Cues - LaSalle’s premium destination for craft beer, award winning wings and pool tables. Private party rooms available for groups up to 60. Call to reserve. 5663 Ojibway, LaSalle 519-972-7200. brewsandcues.net 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 1125 Lesperance Rd., Tecumseh 519-735-0447 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 Cramdon’s Tap and Eatery - South Windsor’s friendly gathering place. Offering great food at affordable prices. Satellite sports and billiards in a pub-like setting. www.cramdons.com 2950 Dougall Ave. 519-966-1228 Eddy’s Tabouli – Discover Windsor’s newest source for authentic, homemade Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. Fully-stocked wine menu. 1614 Lesperance Road. 519-979-9600. taboulibyeddys.ca.

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Fratelli Pasta Grill - Offering flavour drenched “woodfire” grilled steaks, seafood and pasta dishes. A fresh and healthy selection of modern and time tested classics. Located behind McDonald’s on Manning Rd. in Tecumseh. Take-out, catering, private parties. For reservations call 519-735-0355. fratellipastagrill.com The Hungry Wolf - The Hungry Wolf serves up Windsor’s best Greek, Canadian, Mexican and Lebanese food. Home of the best gyros in Windsor! hungrywolfrestaurant.com.

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Paramount Fine Foods - Serving flavourful Lebanese dishes like no other! Famous for charcoal BBQ meats, including vegetarian and vegan options. Dine in, take-out and catering. Kids play area available. 3184 Dougall Ave., Windsor 519-915-9020. paramountfinefoods.com.

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2475 McDougall St., Windsor Call to order: 226-348-6151 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 Appetit! please call 519-979-5433.

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WLMONLINE

A WHOLE NEW SCHOOL OF THOUGHT Kent Walker’s New Book Proposes a 21-Day Meditation Challenge STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN

KENT WALKER IS A MAN that dwells in two worlds. On the one hand, he’s firmly rooted in academia. For the last 11 years, he’s taught a variety of courses at the University of Windsor, before settling into his current role: the MBA Director at the Odette School of business. In addition, his wife, Mesia, cofounded Modo Hot Yoga. But, this mover and shaker also has a distinct spiritual side.

“When I was doing my PhD, I was in pursuit of that Western core belief about how we can understand the world,” Kent explains. “So, it was more about going into science in trying to understand the world that way. And I’m still a professor today. I still do research. I think there’s tremendous value in what I studied. But, one of the things I started noticing was that my research wasn’t answering some of the fundamental questions. Stuff like, ‘why do we suffer? What is our purpose here?’”

The more Kent went into science, the more he realized that the tools he had been given were not helping him find the answers to the larger questions that had been troubling him.

“Gradually, I became turned off by Western methods,” Kent states. “I started looking into Eastern philosophy. So, even before my wife opened the yoga studio, I’d been pursuing it, to some extent.”

After relocating to Windsor back in 2009, Kent became a certified yoga instructor.

“I did a one-month certification course in Nicaragua,” Kent recalls. “It was pretty amazing! I was on the beach every day. I got to swim in the ocean every day.”

In addition to several other courses and certifications, Kent also underwent a vipassana.

“For 10 days, you don’t talk,” Kent explains.

“You don’t even make eye contact with anyone.

There is also no dinner! I ended up losing about 15 pounds. All you do is meditate for about 11 hours a day.”

Read the complete story at windsorlife.com.

WETECH ALLIANCE Regional Innovation Centre Celebrates 10 Years STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN

FEBRUARY 11TH, 2021 marks an important milestone for WEtech Alliance, a local Regional Innovation Centre. Ten years ago, the organization was formed with a simple mission: to help grow tech companies of all stages and champion innovation in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.

“It’s official,” President and CEO Yvonne Pilon states. “We’ve been around for a decade.”

From humble beginnings in a corner office of Next Dimensions’ head office, to their current location inside University of Windsor’s EPICentre, the organization set out to encourage the development and growth of the region’s entrepreneurial talent and tech ecosystem.

Adam Davis, CEO of Next Dimension and Founder and former Member of the Board of Directors, describes the founding of WEtech as the union between several different entrepreneurs and tech companies.

“Stuart Sutton, a customer of mine, approached me with the idea,” Adam explains. “We arranged a meeting between several different companies. Basically, the idea was simple: to grow the tech community in Windsor. Eventually, those conversations accrued into the City of Windsor, the University of Windsor, St. Clair College and others.”

Left: Frank Abbruzzese & Yvonne Pilon at Hacking Health Windsor-Detroit IV in April 2018. Top: the WEtech Alliance team and community partners at the FIRST Robotics Championships in Detroit in April 2018. Above: Yvonne Pilon, Deborah Livneh, Karen Behune Plunkett and Rob Whent at WEtech’s launch event in February 2011.

Read the complete story at windsorlife.com.

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BEACH GROVE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB CENTENNIAL: BEGINNING Part I: The Founding And Building of The Venerable Golf And Country Club STORY BY MATTHEW ST. AMAND / SUPPORTING NOTES BY BOB BRITTON PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY BEACH GROVE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB THE YEAR WAS 1921. World War I—“the war to end all wars”, as British author and social commentator H. G. Wells, referred to it—was only three years in the past. The Spanish Flu Pandemic was not yet a year gone.

The most popular movie on the silver screen was The Kid, starring Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance, and Jackie Coogan. The top song of the time was “I Ain’t Got Nobody” recorded by Marion Harris. In Canada, the legendary fishing and racing gaff rig schooner, Bluenose, was launched under the command of Angus Walters. The country’s Prime Minister was Arthur Meighen, followed, in December that year, by William Lyon Mackenzie King. Ontario’s Premier was Ernest Charles Drury, head of a United Farmers of Ontario– Labour coalition government. Herbert W. Wilson was Windsor’s Mayor.

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“Beach Grove course has been built with a view to permanency…”

— April 22, 1922 edition of The Border Cities Star

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Windsor’s newspaper of record, The Border Cities Star—price: 3 cents, circulation: 17,500—published the following headlines in its Monday, January 10, 1921 edition: “Turks Fight To Retain Aintab”, “Fear Felt For Safety Of American Aeronauts”, “Husband Won’t Take Wife’s Fast Seriously”.

Inside the paper, readers saw a half-page ad that Wilkson’s Boot Shop, at 35 Ouellette Avenue, was having a “Price Revision Sale”. MacDonald’s Cut Brier Smoking Tobacco proclaimed itself “The tobacco with a heart!”—a half-pound tin cost 85 cents. A page three headline read: “Studebaker Takes On Hundred Men At Walkerville”.

And on this very same day, a charter for the “St. Clair Beach and Country Club” was obtained.

In the July 9th edition of the newspaper, a small blurb appeared on the front page, titled “Name is Changed by Country Club”, which reported: “To avoid confusion with similar names, the St. Clair Beach and Country Club has decided to change its title to Beach Grove Country Club... Regular play will start for

Clockwise from left: One of the earliest images of a golfer enjoying the new course; laying out the landscape for the future of Beach Grove’s golf course, 1921; Founding Fathers who met in 1921 and obtained a charter to create Beach Grove. Clockwise from top centre: George H. Fenkell (in glasses), C.A. Lanspeary, Hiram H. Walker, William Isaacs, Harrington E. Walker, Lt. Col. S.C. Robinson, William Spitzley, Herman Sanderson, John H. Coburn, Dr. C. W. Hoare, Hobart A. Springle, Henry B. Parsons, B.C. Spitzley, Angus McLean. Missing are Fredrick D. Everts and John H. Smith; working on the course to prepare for the opening on August 19, 1922; vintage hickory golf clubs (“hickory sticks”) from early 1900s; Mr. N. Bates Ackley, a director, wielded the gilded spade, while Mr. J. D. Mansfield, a prominent member, started the plow into the ground.

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MICHAEL E. KELLY, ASA

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the first time on a temporary nine-hole course next week. Construction of a permanent 18-hole course is expected to be completed in six weeks, but it is not probable it will be in use until next year.”

And so begins the story of the venerable area golf and country club celebrating its 100th year of operation in this science fiction year, 2021.

The contract to construct the golf course was awarded to the now famous designer Stanley Thompson of Toronto. Construction of the course began on June 23, 1921.

During construction, Beach Grove’s Board turned its attention to plans and drawings for the clubhouse. Concepts were presented at the Board’s meeting on November 18, 1921 by the principals of the Cameron and Ralston architecture firm, located in Windsor. Cameron and Ralston’s initial cost estimate for the clubhouse was $75,000, complete, including equipment.

The plans were such that the building could be constructed in sections, with the option of adding onto the structures as future needs dictated. Although the Board approved the plans, it decided not to proceed with any further action until the membership had the opportunity to examine them.

On February 10, 1922, the Board held a meeting prior to the Annual General Meeting of members. The Board appointed a Building Committee to consider Cameron and Ralston’s plans and how to finance the project. The prevailing thought was that work on the clubhouse should commence as soon as possible to attract and increase Club membership. The newspaper kept pace with Beach Grove’s progress, publishing in that day’s edition: “Beach Grove Club Meeting Tonight... To Elect Directors and Discuss Plans For New Club House.”

The blurb read, in part: “It is proposed to have the club house built by the time the new 18-hole course is opened June 1.”

As often happens with projects of this scale, details were changed, others were added, such as the flooring: changed from maple to birch. Additional French doors from the dining room to the porch were added. A larger water tank, 500 gallons, was added as fire protection. Copper screening was added to all doors, windows, and porches. There was a provision for upstairs servants’ bedrooms. The details were reviewed right down to agreeing the exterior of the club house should receive an extra coat of paint, as well as the installations of an insulated refrigeration room, electric call buttons, a steam heating system, and an oil-burning boiler.

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Congratulations Beach Grove on 100 Years

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The Founding Members were a collection of prominent local men, whose names would be familiar to nearly any frequent reader of The Star: John Henry Coburn, Fredrick Daniel Everts, George Harrison Fenkell, Charles Westlake Hoare, William Henry Isaacs, Charles Archer Lanspeary, Angus McLean, Henry Benjamin Parsons, Sidney Cecil Robinson, Herman Harvey Sanderson, Bertram Curtis Spitzley, William Albert Spitzley, Hobart Anderdon Springle, John Henry Smith. Also among the first members were Harrington Edward Walker and Hiram Holcomb Walker, grandsons of the legendary Hiram Walker, who founded the world-renowned Hiram Walker and Sons Ltd. distillery in 1858.

In the April 22, 1922 edition of The Star, the following headline appeared: “Officers of Beach Grove”, with a sub-heading: “Strong Directorate and Committees Named” listing the members and their new positions: President: Harrington E. Walker; Secretary: J. H. Coburn; Treasurer: H. B. Parsons; Business Manager: Don F. Kennedy; Directors: Harrington E. Walker, Hiram H. Walker, Dr. C. W. Hoare, Dr. H. H. Sanderson, B. C. Spitzley, M. G. Campbell, C. A. Lanspeary; Executive and Finance Committee: B. C. Spitzley, Dr. C. W. Hoare, J. H. Coburn; Membership Committee: Harrington E. Walker, Dr. H. H. Sanderson, J. H. Coburn; Chairman of Greens Committee: Don F. Kennedy; Professional: Frank Lewis; Greenskeeper: H. J. Walker; Chairman of Clubhouse Equipment and Furnishings: Clement King.

The article stated that the: “Beach Grove course has been built with a view to permanency… The Club is helped by a natural, distinctive quality of turf, which will give the fairways and greens an unsurpassed quality. The seed, five tons of it, was imported from New Zealand, and is known as Chewing's Fescue grass, which grows almost solid and will provide a superfine surface.”

In the August 19, 1922 newspaper, an artist’s depiction of the north-easterly view of the clubhouse from Riverside Drive was published, accompanied by a write-up: “The above drawing shows the beautiful and spacious new Beach Grove Country Clubhouse which opened to members of the club today. Both this morning and this afternoon handicap tournaments for members were held, and with ideal weather for golf, a large number went around the course. This evening the

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club’s restaurant will be thrown open to the men members with a combination dinner and smoker. The formal opening of the club, however, does not take place for two weeks when special arrangements will be made for entertaining the women members. The private ferry service running daily from the foot of Parkview Avenue, Detroit, to the club house dock, was started today.”

Following its official opening, Beach Grove was mentioned, periodically, on “The Woman’s Page” of the newspaper. For instance, in the Thursday June 21, 1923 edition it’s stated that “Major and Mrs. E. M. MacLean, Argyle road, Walkerville, entertained a few friends at Beach Grove Country Club, at an informal bridge dinner, last evening.”

From the same edition: “Miss Fenkell of Detroit, entertained a number of friends at a bridge luncheon at the Beach Grove Country Club, yesterday.”

“Mr. E. Harrington Walker, President of Beach Grove Country Club extended the privileges of the club to the chiefs of police for luncheon today.”

Above an ad for “Alluring Pearl Necklaces of Indestructible Quality $5 and $6” at Howell Bros. & Knowlton JewelersWatchmakers at 41 Ouellette Avenue—on September 10, 1924 appeared an article titled, “Bridge Luncheon At Beach Grove To Be Popular Event”, subtitled “Cards and Mah Jong to Occupy Afternoon at Delightful Local Clubhouse; Special Bus Service for Tomorrow’s Affair”. This was part of an ongoing effort to appease and involve the country club’s “golf widows”— the women whose husbands loved spending their free time on the links of Beach Grove.

It was clear, too, that Beach Grove enjoyed lively competition with other area courses. In the Thursday, August 26, 1926 edition of The Star, writer Brock Smith described how Beach Grove won an “interclub match” with St. Clair Country Club: “The match is a semi-annual event…

There were 16 players a side, making eight four-ball matches… Bob McKelvie, pro at Beach Grove, shot a 75, and Bill Fox, pro from St. Clair, shot a 76.”

Such nail-biter, down-to-the-wire matches only added to the prestige and excitement surrounding Beach Grove.

The fun and frolic, however, ended abruptly in the frigid, early morning of February 26, 1927, when a fire broke out in the Clubhouse, burning the entire structure to the ground.

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BEACH GROVE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB CENTENNIAL: EARLY DAYS Part II: Following A Disastrous Fire, The Beach Grove Board And Members Rebuild And Relaunch The Course And Clubhouse STORY BY MATTHEW ST. AMAND PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY BEACH GROVE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1927, sometime around 7 o’clock in the morning, a fire started in the Beach Grove Clubhouse. The point of origin was an overheated furnace pipe in the basement. The ferocity of the inferno was intensified by a lashing 40 mileper-hour gale coming off Lake St. Clair. Poor water pressure from the hydrant in front of the building also thwarted firefighters’ efforts to extinguish the blaze. In little more than an hour, the entire structure of the clubhouse was reduced to charred cinders.

A General Meeting was held on Monday, February 28, at the Prince Edward Hotel.

There, Beach Grove President/Chairman, Dr. C. W. Hoare, stated that the club was at a crossroads: It could either undertake the daunting task of reorganizing its finances and rebuilding, or close entirely.

Membership unanimously agreed to work toward rebuilding the Club.

The contract for rebuilding was awarded to Pennington-Boyd Architects, Windsor.

Co-owner of the firm, Mr. J. C. Pennington, was a Beach Grove member. The cost estimate on the plans he submitted to the Club amounted to approximately $150,000.

In the meantime, two by-laws were enacted: One, authorizing the Board of Directors to borrow the sum of $100,000 from the Canada Permanent Mortgage Corporation (CPMC), and the other authorizing the Board to issue two classes of bonds of the Club to an amount not exceeding $200,000: Class (a) for the amount of $62,500 and Class (b) for $137,500.

These by-laws—Nos. 11 and 12—were presented by motion at a Special General Meeting of members on June 17 and unanimously carried. A month later, work on the building officially began with a sod-turning ceremony on Saturday, July 16, attended by numerous Beach Grove members. An article, later in the year, reported: “Mr. N. Bates Ackley, a Director, wielded the gilded spade, while Mr. J. D. Mansfield, a prominent member, started the plow into the ground.” The golfers would not be denied. A May 4, 1927 headline stated: “Beach Grove Club Emulates Phoenix”. It reopened December 31, 1927.

A year after its reopening, the newspaper published an account of the event under the headline: “Beach Grove One Year Old”. The accompanying write-up stated, in part: “Just one year ago the new Beach Grove Country Club was officially opened with a jolly New Year’s Eve party, when a record crowd was in attendance. Another event of unusual interest was the Red Letter Stunt Day, in which all golfers appeared on the golf course in costume, the course being materially changed for the occasion, and which resulted in much merriment.”

Behind the merriment, however, Beach Grove’s financial position remained precarious

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Top left to right: Beach Grove’s Great Hall, circa 1930; golfer Bob Panasik. Centre left to right: original clubhouse (which was destroyed by fire in 1927); a group of Beach Grove Golfers checking their score cards in 1950s; a vintage 1920 Ford Model T on display in front of the Clubhouse; three dining room staff in the 1930s. Bottom: the pool (rear clubhouse) that was opened in 1939 making Beach Grove Windsor Essex’s finest Private Family Club.

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for the next few years. It must be remembered that the Great Depression was in full swing.

According to Canada, Bureau of the Census: “Urban unemployment nationwide was 19 percent… By 1933, 30 percent of the labour force was out of work, and one-fifth of the population became dependent on government assistance.” Golf was not a high priority for many Canadians.

By April 17, 1930, the Club was in default and taken over by the CPMC, which appointed a Manager to control and operate Beach Grove.

For the most part, the turmoil remained in the background, as the Club continued receiving kudos for its course and new clubhouse. A headline on July 26, 1930 proclaimed: “Beach Grove Layout One of Best In Border District… $100,000 Spent Alone On Clubhouse”.

It’s a testament to the resolve and business acumen of the Beach Grove Board that the Club navigated these rough financial waters, at all. Businesses collapsed at a record rate at this time. Whole communities went bust. It was probably not the Board’s proudest moment, seeing the property taken over by its bond holder, the Trusts and Guarantee Company, but it was a move that kept the Club alive. During this challenging period, on May 16, 1931, the Club underwent a reorganization and saw its name changed to “Beachwood Golf Club”.

These difficult decisions, however, saved Beach Grove from insolvency. Not only did the Club emerge from the Great Depression, it did so in a position of strength, which allowed it to make a series of major upgrades. These were featured in a full-page article on July 8,

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1939. The headline read: “Golf Players’ Wives No Longer ‘Widows’ As Relaxation Assured For Whole Family... Swimming Pool…provided.” Three of the people responsible for this bold move were Club President, W. H. Cantelon, Director, Harry J. Mero, Club Treasurer, E. R. Musselman. The article stated: “A look at the Club’s newest development program will convince even the most rabid anti-golf crusader that they have done a remarkable job... Beach Grove has gone ‘family style’ in a big way.”

“This has always been a family-focused Club,” says Club President, Frank Dayus Jr. “An Olympic-sized pool was added in the 1930s because of the dedication to families.

At the same time, Beach Grove also built the harbour so that people could enjoy the fabulous boating this area offers. These were amenities that no one else was offering. They introduced services that the whole family could enjoy together.”

The old poet once said: “The world is too much with us.” Those words were never truer than during World War II, when Beach Grove again found itself facing tough financial decisions. Fuel rationing and member resignations set the Club in dire financial straits. Membership in 1943, consisted of 109 Class A members, 20 in other classes and four complimentary. Once again, shrewd stewardship by the Board saw the Club come through those rough times, and membership numbers improved.

In 1944 Mr. Thomas Gibbons, a VicePresident of the Hiram Walker Corporation, was elected President of the Club. In 1945 the CPMC advised Mr. Gibbons that it wished to sell the properties to the Club, rather than continuing with the existing lease arrangement. The Board issued debentures for sale to the membership to finance the $85,000 mortgage. During a meeting of the Directors, a by-law was passed authorizing purchase of the Club. Membership approved the plan. The first order of business was changing the Club’s name back to “Beach Grove Golf and Country Club”.

Through the 1950s, golf tournaments took off. It was the era of the wunderkind. In the August 30, 1950 newspaper, under the headline “Mike Saffran Wins Essex-Kent Boys’ Golf Tourney” was the story of the 15-yearold Beach Grove caddy who “harvested the reward of eight years persistent effort under rain-laden skies here this morning when he defeated Chester Niziolek, 16, Roseland, 4 and 2 to win the Harry J. Neal Trophy” in the 18-hole final. Next to that article, was a photograph of a kid clowning around with golf clubs, beneath the title “Now, With

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this Grip, You Lunkheads, Golf Is Really Simple”.

That boy was Bobby Panasik, age eight, who had just won honors in the boys’ novice division. His home course was Beach Grove.

Bobby’s was a name to watch for over the years.

In 1951, the Essex-Kent Boys’ Golf Tournament—in its 24th year by that time—was held at Beach Grove and saw a record number of entries: 208. An August 28, 1951 newspaper subtitle read: “Nine-year-old Bobby Panasik’s 90 Leaves Mature Duffers Agog”. The article reported that “Panasik… strode off with Hogan-like determination and after four holes led Fox by three...

Grown men looked at each other and fumbled for words... Bob flabbergasted the gallery with singing spoon shots, stringline pitching and finely controlled putting.”

In 1952, Bob Panasik put on another brilliant display of skill and heart, but it wasn’t enough. “History Repeats as Fox Trims Panasik by 5 and 3” was the August 26 headline. In 1956, the tournament was played at Beach Grove, where The Star proclaimed: “Panasik’s Blistering 68 Makes Him Hot Favorite”. He didn’t win that year, either, but he eventually learned to win, by the year 1974, Panasik was named Canada’s Golfer of the Year.

By the end of the 1950s, the golfer to watch was Beach Grove prodigy, Susan Penrose.

In 1958, a young Orest Spooner got a position at Beach Grove as a caddy master.

He would go on to play on many pro tours including the Canadian Open and held Head Pro or General Management positions at many of Canada’s top courses. At 84 years old, Orest is still active at Beach Grove both as a golfer and a curler.

In 1962, the Beach Grove women’s bowling team won the annual Inter-Club Bowling Tournament for the fifth year in a row. On the links that summer, Susan Penrose, 16, won the Essex-Kent Girls Golf Tournament championship for the third year running. According to a July 23, 1963 article, the tournament was unofficially referred to as the “Susan Penrose Open”.

Alas, the year that headline appeared, Susan lost to Pat Miller.

With the onset of 1960s, curling mania gripped the region. In 1964, Beach Grove spent $135,000 for construction of a foursheet curling facility for its membership, which topped approximately 200 at the time.

Almost 40 years after fire nearly put an end to Beach Grove, the Club forged a new path into the future with ice.

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BEACH GROVE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB CENTENNIAL: MODERN TIMES

Part III: Beach Grove’s Reputation Grew To Such A Degree, Over The Decades, That The Celebrity Set Took Notice STORY BY MATTHEW ST. AMAND PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY BEACH GROVE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

Clockwise from bottom: Former NHL players Darren Banks with Bobby Nevin; NHL Legend Bobby Hull; Billy Whitelaw; David Batten, Walter Gretzky, Jordan Batten & Jim Flick.

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A RUMOR PERSISTS that mobster, Al Capone, visited Beach Grove and possibly stayed the night in one of the rooms available to members. Capone was an infamous Chicago mobster who went by the nickname “Scarface”.

Capone rose to prominence during America’s “Prohibition Era”, which began in 1919 when the U.S. government passed the 18th Amendment, outlawing alcoholic beverages. It really succeeded in creating lucrative industries in “bootlegging”, “rum running”, and “speak-easies” (illegal bars). Capone was at the heart of it, and so were various Canadian distillers, particularly those positioned along the Canada/U.S. border.

Beach Grove Centennial Committee Chair and Vice President, Karl Straky, says, “I don’t know if people have heard the story—don’t know if it’s true— but I have heard it a couple of times, that the famous Al Capone slept upstairs, here at the Club, one night... We used to have bedrooms upstairs above the men’s Stanley-Thompson Lounge...”

There are, however, stories of celebrities visiting Beach Grove that can be verified.

Throughout the 1960s, celebrities took notice of the Club. Members who were around then remember the sightings and hearing the stories. One such person is Manz Contracting Services Inc. owner, and 48-year Beach Grove member, Dave Batten.

“I began playing golf at age five,” Dave remembers, “and I started at Beach Grove when I was thirteen years old.”

In 1965, Dave applied for a job with Alf Hill, Golf Club Professional,

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cleaning golf clubs and caddying. One afternoon, Alf called over to Dave: “Grab your clubs! I need you to fill-in with a foursome that’s waiting on their fourth.”

Dave headed out to the first tee. There, he saw the group—and did a double-take.

“One of them was Engelbert Humperdinck,” Dave recalls.

The English pop singer was at the height of his fame. He was in Windsor performing at the Elmwood Casino on Dougall Avenue.

Back in the day, entertainers such as Sammy Davis, Jr., Sonny and Cher, and even the infamous Lenny Bruce, performed at the venue.

“I golfed a few holes with them,” Dave remembers. “I was so nervous. Engelbert was great, though, just enjoying the course.

Around the third or fourth hole, the missing guy showed up and I left the game.”

Later, in the locker room, Engelbert posed for photographs with members and signed autographs. As he was leaving, Dave called after him, half-joking: “Can you get me into the Elmwood to see the show?”

“Sure,” Engelbert said.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Dave laughs. “He did it.”

Into the 1990s, celebrities could be found in profusion at Beach Grove.

A main draw for celebrities for two decades was the annual Mio Manz Charities Celebrity Golf Benefit, which Dave Batten created with his friend, former NHL goaltender, Eddie Mio. After the first couple of years, the benefit was held each year at Beach Grove, raising money for the Sunshine Foundation of Canada, among other worthy causes.

In organizing the inaugural event, one of the first phone calls was made to an old teammate, whom Eddie Mio knew from his days with the Indianapolis Racers in the World Hockey Association. Eddie was a senior player there in 1978, and he was paired with a skinny 17-year-old kid from Brantford, Ontario named Wayne Gretzky.

Years later, after winning Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, Eddie was best man at Wayne’s wedding.

Wayne Gretzky agreed to be part of the event.

Among those at the first event was John Chisholm, former owner of Rose City Ford.

A few years later, he brought Jim O’Connor, President and Chairman of Ford Canada, who generously enlisted his considerable resources to help.

Dave Batten was not without his own Rolodex. He called old friends, such as

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Another celebrity who turned out for the Celebrity Benefit was saxophonist, Alto Reed, a long-time member of Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. His work includes the sax intro to the Seger classic, “Turn the Page”, and the sax solo in “Old Time Rock and Roll”, among many others.

“I’ll never forget,” Dave says. “Alto arrived with no clubs or golf shoes. When I asked him if he left them in the car, he said he didn’t own any—he had never golfed before in his life. Turns out, when Alto got the call, asking if he would appear, he just said, ‘Sure,’ and came out. He just wanted to help.”

The first Mio Manz Benefit played at Beach Grove raised more than $500,000 in three days. These proceeds went toward a Mio Manz “Dream Lift” with the Sunshine Foundation, which took 85 kids to Disney World for a day.

In the years that followed, the list of celebrities who participated in the benefit only grew: actor Michael Woods, singer Karen Newman, WXYZ news anchor Rich Fisher, Detroit Piston Vinnie Johnson, WRIF personality Ken Calvert, Olympic champion skier Liisa Savijarvi, former Olympic skier Karen Stemmle, Canadian bobsled captain and Beach Grove member Chris Lori, Redwing Darren McCarty, pro wrestlers Lex Luger and Mark “The Hammer” Hayes, among numerous others.

Arguably, the most memorable person to grace the links at Beach Grove was a graphic artist who lived in Detroit, an ad man, named Billy Whitelaw. He was not a famous athlete, actor, or singer, but was a most singular figure. Emigrating from Glasgow, Scotland to Windsor—before settling in Detroit—Billy claimed to be related to the Right Honorable William Whitelaw, a Conservative politician who served Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s.

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smokescreen of rolling Rrrr’s and pronunciations that threaten to pull words apart…

That is the mark of a real character. And that was Billy Whitelaw.

“Billy was the jewel of the Club,” Dave recalls. “Everyone just loved him.”

Fourteen years Dave’s senior, Billy was light years ahead in life, running his own advertising company in Detroit, bringing clients and friends to Beach Grove each week. Wearing his customary plaid tammy and filling the course with a brogue that could unsettle sand traps, his voice could often be heard in the pro shop, saying to Alf Hill: “I’d like Wee Davey Batten to play with us today. Can you shake him loose?”

In years to come, Billy and Dave organized numerous excursions, taking Beach Grove members on tours of Scotland’s golf courses.

“We brought people to St. Andrews, when I was twenty years old,” Dave remembers.

“Members Dr. Garth Annisette, Dick Sheldon, Dr. George Koppert, Dr. Greg Hasen and others came with us for ten-day tours of Turnberry, Loch Lomond, Western Gailes, Carnoustie, Muirfield, and some real down and dirty golf courses, too. By the end of the tour, you knew you had golfed! And with Billy as our tour guide…” Dave shakes his head, smiling.

It was through Billy’s machinations that the legendary Jim Flick came to Beach Grove. Flick was instructor to PGA legend, Jack Nicklaus, for 35 years. It was never easy to trace the origins of Billy’s efforts, but the best guess on how he met Jim Flick was while playing the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Few outside his sphere ever heard of Billy Whitelaw, but anyone who met him never forgot him. As Billy, himself, might have said: “Noo aats a rale character!”

Recalling the memories, Dave appears physically transported. Catching himself lost in thought, he chuckles: “I don’t know how my life would have turned out without Beach Grove. The fun we had there.”

Dave and his wife, Pat, had triplets: Jordan, Jarrod and Jenna, who all grew up playing golf at Beach Grove. Although they all showed promise, Jordan took lessons from Jim Flick for a while, before landing a golf scholarship to the University of Texas in El Paso.

“Beach Grove has five decades of my family’s life,” he reflects. “I was married in the Club. My kids are all members, and my grandkids are starting to golf here. For more than 50 years, I have walked into that clubhouse. So many good things derived from there in my life.”

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HAPPY 100TH ANNIVERSARY

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BEACH GROVE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB CENTENNIAL: TODAY Part IV: Celebrating 100 Years In Operation, Beach Grove Has Weathered Many Storms And Come Out Stronger Each Time STORY BY MATTHEW ST. AMAND / PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY BEACH GROVE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

AT 20 BRIDGE STREET LOWER in Dublin, Ireland stands a pub called The Brazen Head. A hostelry of one kind or another has stood on that location since the year 1198. Things work a little differently in North America. After 40 years of hosting concerts and sporting events—sometimes championship level—Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena was demolished. The same fate befell the Pontiac Silverdome. Precious few businesses make it to the century mark in North America. Canada, itself, is only 154 years old.

“The fact that this business has existed for one hundred years is truly amazing,” says Aidan Blunt, General Manager of Beach Grove. “It is a testament to the commitment and hard work of so many members and staff throughout the history of the Club.”

Established in the years immediately following World War I and the Spanish Flu pandemic, Beach Grove survived a fire in 1927 that destroyed the Clubhouse—and saw the structure rebuilt within the same calendar year. Beach Grove survived The Great Depression, which lasted almost the entirety of the 1930s.

Clockwise from right: St. Clair Dining Lounge; the back deck facing Lake St. Clair; the upgraded pool and new pool house/multipurpose room; view of Pro Shop sitting behind the 9th & 19th greens; sunset view of the harbour and Lake St. Clair; the main dining room; front of the Clubhouse.

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“Then there was World War II,” Blunt continues, “with large numbers of men leaving the area to fight the war overseas. That might have been the lowest time for Beach Grove. A decision was made to lay-off all staff except for one, who lived here, running the boiler in the winters, and maintaining the grounds in the summer.”

In more recent memory, there was the devastating St. Patrick’s Day Flood of 1973, which saw upwards of 3,000 families in Maidstone, and along Lake St. Clair, evacuated from their homes.

Following each event, Beach Grove came back stronger.

Maybe that’s because the venerable country club and golf course is built upon the most elemental aspects of human life: Friends, Family, Lifestyle.

“Throughout those tumultuous times, Beach Grove remained a haven for families,” says Karl Straky, Centennial Committee Chair and Vice President. “People had their weddings here, celebrated their anniversaries, birthdays, and attended events. This is where people gathered with their friends and family and enjoyed life.”

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“This has always been a family-focused Club,” says Club President, Frank Dayus Jr. “We built the first Olympic-sized pool in the 1930s because of our dedication to families. Within the same timeframe, Beach Grove also built a harbour, so people could enjoy the fabulous boating in this area. Nobody was doing that at that time. The Board knew they could approach and please whole families.”

In fact, the installation of the pool and harbour was a joint project. Construction of the harbour involved transforming a weedfilled marsh and building a break wall. The harbour was officially opened in July 1939 and remains a unique feature among private clubs in Canada. Today, there are 28 slips, allowing members and their guests access to Lake St. Clair.

“Since the beginning, Beach Grove has been more than a business,” Blunt observes.

“The Club is a home away from home for our members. It is a place to commemorate milestones and gather to celebrate family together. Our membership is active and vibrant.”

The golf course also remains true to its original design. Over the years, substantial capital investments have been made at Beach Grove, to improve everyone’s enjoyment. In 2014, the Club made a significant investment in a mass renovation project: new locker rooms, the Stanley Thompson Lounge was updated. The Marine and St. Clair Rooms and the Upper Deck were also updated, which provides excellent views of the water.

Three years later, in 2017, a further investment was made on the Rose & Crown Dining Room, construction of a new pool house and multi-purpose room. On the golf course, irrigation was upgraded, and bunkers were improved to frame-out the greens.

“We’re always interested in improving playability,” says Golf Course Superintendent, Curtis Bondy. “That means a faster, firmer, drier course. It’s more environmentally friendly because less water is used in upkeep.”

The trees of Beach Grove have always been an important feature of the course.

“In recent years, we have lifted the canopies,” Bondy continues, “which basically means trimming the trees from the ground up. This improves the view. Our members love that.”

After 100 years, Beach Groves knows a few things about perseverance. That is how it approached the restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“The Management Team and the Board were all focused on maintaining services while keeping members and staff safe,” states Julie Columbus, Director of Membership Services. “When restrictions were relaxed—and the ‘OK’ was given by the Premier to reopen following all health protocols became a huge part of our operation.”

After weeks of lockdown, golfers across the province converged on courses.

“We adapted everything,” Blunt confirms, “We were very conscious of ‘touch points’—such as the ball washers, water coolers, and even the flags on the greens.”

“Curling had to be reconfigured, as well,” Blunt explains. “In conjunction with the rules and policies from Curling Ontario, we created our own set of curling protocols, a multi-page document, that walked curlers through the safest way to do it.

Throughout the pandemic, Beach Grove’s pool program remained active, while following all health protocols.

“Social distancing permitted Aquafit and lane swims,” Columbus notes. “Swimming lessons had to be canceled, but we were able to rent pods by the pool, in hour-andforty-five-minute increments, so families could still safely enjoy the water. We had to re-imagine some things, but it allowed members to enjoy as much of the Club as possible while remaining safe.”

It is interesting how life comes around full circle, and the year Beach Grove celebrates its 100th anniversary, the world remained gripped by the pandemic.

“To celebrate our Centennial Anniversary on January 10th, we offered a wonderful family style Birthday Meal to our members for take-out,” Karl Straky, Centennial Committee Chair and Vice President explains. “During the pandemic and especially when we have been in the Red or Grey lockdown zones, our members have come to rely on the Club for our Beach Grove 2 Go food and beverage service. Over the course of our 100th Birthday weekend, our team served over 1,200 take-out meals complete with birthday cupcakes for the entire family to enjoy! It was an incredible success.”

The pick-up area, out front of Beach Grove, was decorated with vintage articles from storage.

“Somebody found some old curling uniforms,” Columbus added, “and somebody else brought in a couple of mannequins, so we dressed them in vintage golf and curling clothing.” Music from the 1930s played

and the heritage display was accented with other antique items, such as old hickory golf clubs.

Beach Grove has a momentous year ahead, a Centennial calendar full of opportunities to celebrate 100 years of history with the membership. Straky noted, “There are 100 members who have volunteered to assist with the planning and delivery of the celebrations. As Beach Grove’s Vice President and the Centennial Committee Chair it is my honor to lead and represent the Board of Directors and an amazing team of volunteers who have worked diligently in preparing 2021 as a year to commemorate Beach Grove’s deep-rooted history.”

The celebrations are spread throughout the year including a heritage golf day featuring play with hickory clubs and 1920 golfing apparel, a Speakeasy night with jazz music and whiskey lounge, a Rum Runner tour, a family festival, and the hosting of the Ontario Men’s Amateur Golf Championship and Ontario Mixed Curling Championship, plus much more! The year-long celebration will end with a New Year’s Eve Gala which hopes to be a spectacular evening affair with Big Band music, dancing, and entertaining bootleg gangsters.

“Enthusiasm is building around the Centennial Legacy Project, which will see a new Porte Cochere at the main front entrance with landscaping enhancements. As well as the Community Initiative Program, which will raise funds for local charities as an important part of this year’s legacy” shares Straky. “The Centennial Committee, staff, and members are all looking forward to the time we will be able to gather safely together and raise a glass offering Cheers to 100 Years!”

For all that is written, now, about the coronavirus and its effects, it will be but a footnote in Beach Grove’s epic story—a sentence in a history written 50 years from now.

Today, Beach Grove is adapting and thriving, and marking a milestone few establishments achieve. It remains a special place to members and residents in the community, where every visit is memorable.

“We are thrilled to be celebrating our 100 Year Centennial in 2021” says Beach Grove President, Frank Dayus Jr. “The enthusiasm and interest we have had from the community has been overwhelming.

Looking ahead to the next 100 years is exciting, as we grow our Beach Grove family and create a legacy for the future of the Club.”

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You have to learn how to keep your feet on the ground. This or that? What should I do?

Back and forth. One step forward, two steps back. The facts need to have a base of correct information and confirmation before doing anything. Taking ‘baby steps’ are what will be needed if you want to get ahead.

CANCER JUN 22 - JUL 23: You alone cannot seem to get comfortable, Mom. Take note, everything that happens is not your fault. You tend to feel guilty even if someone on the other side of the street drops something. You have to take good care of yourself before you are able to take the proper care of others.

LEO JUL 24 - AUG 23: You may be doing a balancing act trying to keep everybody happy. You are here. You are there. You seem to be wanted everywhere.

When duty calls, you are the first to respond. Take a look at that guy or girl in the mirror. He or she can tell you what to do.

VIRGO AUG 24 - SEP 23: You are likely to be prepared for anything, more so than those around you realize. It is hard to take that first step. However, you are ready to move on with confidence in yourself and in your situation. This could be a good time to finish projects.

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BY LESLIE NADON

LIBRA SEP 24 - OCT 23: The key is to get in step with each other to minimize difficulties. Information that was hidden in the past may now come to the surface in time to be helpful. Make a list of pros and cons. Double check all facts and figures. You may have to make a decision and then correct as you go on.

SCORPIO OCT 24 - NOV 22: You may be determined to do what you want to do. Most likely you are extra sensitive now, picking up emotions and feelings from others. Be careful that you do not accidently teach children how to cry. Teach them how to smile. You can use the inner strength you have to help heal children.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 23 - DEC 21: Paying attention to what is going on around you can put you in the right place at the right time. Trust your instincts. You are on a path to lead and teach. If you lead, they will follow. Give yourself more credit for what you can do and have done. You deserve it.

CAPRICORN DEC 22 - JAN 20: Rules and regulations are changing almost every day. You may find yourself getting caught up in what do I do now? The power that is needed to resolve a situation could be in your hands. Smaller adjustments may be necessary steps to take in order to move forward.

AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 19: Do not take anything or anyone for granted. Research, investigate and seek answers before making decisions. Perhaps you should write a book. In this day and age, it might become a best seller. You never know until you try it.

PISCES FEB 20 - MAR 20 Is it time to sow seeds for future fruition.

Stay focused on the task at hand. Even if problems arise in connection with work or family, you can find solutions that should work for all concerned. It may be time to break away from the crowd and lead.

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STEVE BELL

Four Decades In Windsor Media, Steve Bell Looks Forward To A “New Normal” STORY BY MATTHEW ST. AMAND

AMONG THE FIRST things people notice about Steve Bell, former sports director at AM 800, is that he has his priorities straight. He also believes that little things matter. That’s how he missed the first call for our interview.

Ninety seconds later, however, Steve phoned me back, sounding a little out of breath, as he explained: “Sorry, I was shoveling snow from my driveway.”

Haling from Kincardine, Ontario and working his first job in radio in illustrious Sudbury, Steve Bell knows about snow.

“I worked about six months at AM 790 CKSO in Sudbury after graduating Fanshawe,” he recalls. “One night, while I was on the air, a buddy, named Murray Brookshaw, who worked in Windsor called out of the blue.” Murray said he had taped a few of Steve’s shows and played them for his boss, Kevin McGowan, who was interested in hiring Steve.

After Murray convinced Steve he wasn’t pulling his leg, Steve went to the nearest typewriter and composed his resignation letter.

“I moved to Windsor on Labour Day

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Below left to right: Steve with Luke Boka, Spits All-Time Franchise Leader in regular season games played, at a speaking engagement at a local school; making a guest appearance with Lisa Williams and Mike Kakuk of AM800’s Morning Drive, at the annual Cans for a Cause Broadcast at Devonshire Mall; sneaking in a quick bite at Tim Horton’s Camp Day.

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Weekend 1980, and came to work at 580 CKWW,” Steve says. “That was prior to the mini-van. Chrysler was still making the K-car.”

For the next four decades, Steve called Windsor home. As his career flourished, there were no doubt offers enticing him to leave. What kept Steve in Windsor?

“The people,” he says. “And I loved my job. I never had the feeling ‘Hey, I want to move on.’ I have met tremendous people through the charities, my colleagues, clients, and listeners.”

Steve is the embodiment of the adage: “We make our own luck.” He has filled many roles in his radio career, starting on the six-to-midnight shift at AM 580.

“I was mostly spinning records,” he remembers, “but in between, I talked about music and sports, and things happening in the community.”

In 1993, CKWW and CKLW merged, and their formats flipped. Steve continued as an on-air personality at AM 800. Long before that, though, he was busy making his own luck.

“I wanted to work more in sports,” Steve says. “Dave Quinn was the sports director, then, and the ‘Voice of the Spitfires’. I decided to work with him, volunteer whenever I could… learn from the master.”

In 1987, Quinn moved on and Steve was ready to take over.

“The first Spitfires game I called on my own was in 1986 in North Bay,” he says.

“Beforehand, I was nervous, so I called my dad. He said: ‘Call it like it’s your buddies playing street hockey in Kincardine.”

It was a roller coaster season that year for the Spitfires, seeing them go all the way to the Memorial Cup—only to lose to the Medicine Hat Tigers in the final game.

Hearing first rate play-by-play, it’s easy for hockey fans to miss the preparation and memory work that goes into it. The pace is intense—“I jump out of my seat about fifty times a game,” Steve comments—and it takes a special dexterity with words to paint a picture for listeners. It’s enough to give most people a panic attack. What keeps Steve coming back as the Voice of the Spitfires?

“I loved it from Day One,” he says.

“They let me in for free. I sometimes get a slice of pizza. You can’t beat it!”

He also enjoys the camaraderie among the team, with whom he travels to out-oftown games.

“When I first started, I remember Adam Graves sitting behind me on the bus,” Steve

says. “It’s a wonderful experience getting to know these fantastic players at the beginning of their careers: Ed Jovanovski and Steve Ott, for instance. I remember when they were sixteen years old, joking around on the bus.”

Steve gives high marks to the Windsor Spitfires ownership group, headed by Brian Schwab, John and Stephen Savage, and Bob Boughner.

Following the recent restructuring at Bell Media, owner of AM 800 and other media outlets, the company informed Steve its new corporate strategy didn’t include him.

“Within minutes of the announcement hitting the news,” Steve says, “the Spitfires’ owners called me to ask, ‘You’re still doing the games, aren’t you?’ I said yes.”

After news of his departure was reported, many people reached out to Steve to offer support. These included Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens, business owners, such as Adam Lally, Brad Jones at La-Z-Boy Comfort Studio in Essex, Goran Todorovic of Team Goran, Joe Ciaravino at Antonino’s Original Pizza, and Mark DiPonio from Expert Windows. Each contacted Steve to say: “We’ve got your back. You’re a member of our team.”

“Dave Cassidy, president of Unifor Local 444, called me at home,” Steve continues.

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“He said, ‘Whatever I can do’—and I’m not even part of a union!”

The community support is not surprising.

Over four decades, Steve established himself in Windsor-Essex as a big-hearted, go-to guy willing to help with any charitable event.

“I’ve never, ever, in 41 years, said no,” the Windsor Star quoted Steve as saying in a recent article. “I’m not a great emcee. I’m not funny, but if I can raise money in Windsor and Essex County, I’ll be there and I plan to be there in the future…”

Indeed, there is every chance Windsor will be seeing more of Steve Bell now that he is a free agent.

Currently, he is still processing the recent life-change, and speaks fondly of his former colleagues.

“Without a doubt the best part of working at the radio station for over forty years has been all the wonderful people I’ve met,” Steve says. “When I first arrived, there was great leadership from men like George Ferguson, Bill Timpson and Tim Pratt.”

Steve’s first day in Windsor, he met Cam Gardiner, Wayne Stevens, and Lynn Martin, who just recently retired.

“I’ve also worked for solid, honest people like former owner Jim Waters from the CHUM Group,” he continues, “General

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Manager Eric Proksch and Sales Manager Cathy Miller, who always had my back.”

Steve particularly enjoyed working with the AM 800 sales team, but is quick to point out: “Not just because they often picked up the tab.”

He has many great memories of working with Mike and Lisa in the morning.

“And with some immensely talented journalists like Rob Shervill, Paul McDonald, and amazing reporters like Teresinha Medeiros. I simply can’t name everyone,” Steve goes on, “but I’ve had such a wonderful time and consider myself blessed to call so many of these people my friends.”

For the time being, Steve is chill about his new status.

“My family is everything to me,” he says.

“I’ll spend more time with Lori, my wife of twenty-four years. I’ll see more of my stepson, Matt, and his wife, Denise, and my three granddaughters, Avery, Lilah, and Brynn.”

Just after the Bell Media announcement, Brynn said to her grandpa: “You don’t have to nap in the afternoons anymore because you don’t have to get up so early. You’ll be able to spend more time with us!”

Steve agrees. More family. Fewer naps. It’s all about priorities.

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In a few short years, much has changed in the world of retail cannabis.

“We’ve gone from speak-easy type dispensaries,” says Don Tetrault II, president of Bud Bank Inc. on Richmond Street in Chatham, “to multi-million dollar corporations and fully fleshed-out retail spaces.”

Located in a former bank, Bud Bank is part of the new generation cannabis dispensaries.

“We liked this location because we wanted the vaults,” Don says.

More importantly, the location provides accessibility.

“We have a large floor space,” he continues.

“All counters meet the 2025 accessibility regulation. The entrance is wide and easily accommodates wheelchairs and walkers. Many of our customers are senior citizens and we provide them a comfortable place to shop.”

At a glance, Bud Bank resembles a high-end jewelry store. The minimalist wood décor showroom is dotted with wares stored in transparent, locked acrylic boxes. These are “sensory jars”. The tops are perforated to allow customers to smell the product, and a magnifying glass is attached, allowing for closer visual inspection.

“Bud Bank is a recreational dispensary,” Don says, “so you don’t need a prescription to buy from us.”

He is quick to acknowledge that neither he, nor his employees are doctors.

“When someone expresses their needs, we can’t say ‘OK, take this,’” Don explains.

“We educate our customers so they can make informed decisions for themselves.”

Bud Bank’s product line is vast: edibles, beverages, topicals, concentrates, accessories, to name a few.

“If we don’t have what you want,” Don says, “we can order it.”

Certainly, many customers purchase Bud Bank’s products for recreational purposes.

Others seek only the medicinal benefits of cannabis. Bud Bank accommodates all customers.

“If you don’t want to smoke, no problem,” Don continues. “We have many other options: roll-ons, vaporizers, concentrates, body cream, bath bombs.”

The industry is tightly regulated and Bud Bank adheres to all guidelines. During these unprecedented days with the global pandemic, they also follow all health protocols to ensure customer safety.

It’s a brave new world at Bud Bank. To learn more about what they offer, visit www.budbank.shop.

Optometrist Dr. Roxanne Jubenville, Optical Receptionist Val Fick, Co-owner Ted Jubenville, President-Optician Martin Jubenville, Optician Jessica Jubenville, Co-owner, Optician, Contact Lens Specialist Mike Jubenville.

ALL EYES ON UVC! THE JUBENVILLE FAMILY celebrates 40 years of providing expert vision care in Windsor Essex Martin Jubenville’s business vision began when he was just seventeen years old at a company called Imperial Optical where he performed odd jobs. The inquisitive young Martin absorbed everything there was to know: from grinding and cutting lenses in the lab to dispensing eyewear.

After working for a prominent Windsor ophthalmologist, Martin was then recruited at age 23 to work in Detroit as an Optical Manager for several retail establishments (including J.L. Hudson).

In the meantime, he married Carole and they became parents of five (four sons and a daughter).

Born and raised in Windsor, Martin dreamed of his own practice “south of Detroit”. On February 9, 1981, with Carole’s unwavering support, that dream became reality. On the 2nd floor of the Sherwood Building on Tecumseh Road East (next to Tecumseh Mall), Union Vision Center (UVC) proudly opened its doors.

The early years were lean and labour intense for the industrious young couple.

Martin worked pretty much around the clock, only coming home to eat dinner with his family before returning to work until the wee hours of the morning. Carole also worked around the clock: the busy homemaker and mother of five was also learning the basics of the optometry business from her husband.

Together, they built a flourishing family business.

UVC Today 40 years later, UVC is one of Windsor and Essex County’s preferred full-service optometric practices.

Martin and Carole’s sons Mike and Ted (both opticians; Mike is also a contact lens specialist) recently took over the day-to-day operations of UVC, but 81-year-old Martin still shows up for work

5 days a week. Mike and Ted say there’s still lot to learn from their dad.

“He’s there for us whenever we need him,” Ted says.

So too it seems, is the rest of the Jubenville family. Martin and Carole’s daughter Roxanne is a UVC optometrist and granddaughter Jessica is an optician. And Mike adds, “Val Fick, our delightful, indispensable secretary, has been part of our UVC family since 1986.”

A visionary business gives back Mike knows firsthand about the horror the pandemic has created in our hospitals because his girlfriend is a nurse. “Many people may not know what our frontline workers endure because of all the personal protective equipment they’re required to wear. It’s not only expensive, it’s uncomfortable. Elastic from multiple masks digs into skin and leaves painful marks; safety goggles, shields and prescription glasses fog up. My girlfriend sent me a picture of what her face looks like after a shift; that’s when a lightbulb went on,” he says.

“After talking to my family and UVC suppliers, we announced a partnership with Safe Vision to offer comfortable, well-fitting, fog-free prescription safety goggles to any frontline worker at cost.

UVC is so grateful that throughout this pandemic, we’ve been able to keep our doors open. So we wanted to help in a meaningful way.”

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Clockwise from bottom right: Hands used for an episode of Hotel Paranormal; the Dracbat, Taylor’s first creature design; two halloween makeup designs; a monster designed for SOS: Save Our Skin; makeup artist Taylor Vigneux.

A CREATIVE SPARK Special Effects Makeup Artist Taylor Vigneux STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY TAYLOR VIGNEUX FOR MAKEUP ARTIST TAYLOR VIGNEUX, it’s all about sharing what’s in her mind with the world.

A modern Renaissance Woman, Taylor seems to have done it all. She started training in gymnastics when she was two years old, before going on to compete as a National Gymnast for 12 years. After an injury, she shifted over to National Springboard and Platform Diving—even training at the Eastern Michigan University!

“I was training over in the States six days a week,” Taylor recalls. “All throughout high school.”

After graduating secondary school, Taylor studied Hairstyling at St. Clair College.

She plied her trade at a hair salon for about five years before deciding that she felt called to do something else.

“I wanted to do something bigger,” Taylor admits. “I wanted to do big crazy runway hair. At the time, my cousin was a model in Toronto. She told me about this makeup academy up there called College of Makeup Art & Design (CMU). So, I decided to enroll.”

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At CMU, Taylor expanded her personal repertoire. She learned everything from wig knotting to creature design to special effects to prosthetics.

And while attending postgraduate school in Toronto, Taylor came to an uncomfortable discovery about herself.

“I realized that I liked the gory stuff,” Taylor laughs. “I liked the makeup. I liked the special effects. Don’t get me wrong, I love high fashion equally as much. But working on special effects in film really did something for me!”

According to Taylor, she credits that love with the artistic freedom involved with special effects.

“I’m able to open up my mind a little bit more when it comes to special effects,” Taylor states. “There’s a bit more room to be creative! You’ll read the script and get to come up with the vision with the director.

And it’s all your work. You get to create it out of your mind. It gives me the free range to follow what I’m being inspired by at the time.”

But, Taylor admits that there’s a certain other appeal to the whole process.

“I like to gross people out!” Taylor laughs.

“I like seeing the reactions on their faces!”

And the industry seemed to take to Taylor just as quickly as Taylor took to the industry.

Right out of college she was hired onto a Space Channel British science fiction show, SOS: Save Our Skin.

“I literally got hired the week I graduated,” Taylor explains. “I actually got hired to run the Hair and Makeup and Special Effects department. I was able to create my first monster alone out of school! He was 6’4” and 210 pounds. He just towered over me.”

SOS: Save Our Skin did exceptionally well, winning several different awards. After the show, Taylor was pulled in several different directions. She even began running Hair and Makeup on the Miss Universe Canada preliminaries in Windsor (and then later helped out at the finals in Toronto!).

However, when trying to narrow down her favorite projects, Taylor mentions a currently unreleased film she worked on called Afterward.

“I worked on it about two-and-a-half years ago in Huntsville,” Taylor explains.

“That was the hardest shoot I’ve ever done.

It was a lot of night shifts, in the woods, in negative forty degree weather. And we were out there for 18 hours a day in the snow. It was a huge challenge, just because of the conditions.”

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That said, Taylor maintains that all that pressure did create a diamond.

“Some of the best work I’ve ever done was for that movie,” Taylor stresses. “I had full range to do whatever I wanted. I was running Special Effects and Hair. And I got to create this monster with a group of people out of Toronto. It was this Draculabat creature! Very demonic looking. And it looked great! And that doesn’t even mention all the prosthetics and blood! At one point we were standing on the lake, in Huntsville, just pouring gallons of blood all over the ice! It was awesome!”

And in the high fashion side of things, Taylor was honoured to be able to work with Canadian fashion model and public spokesperson for vitiligo, Winnie Harlow.

“She’s a famous supermodel from Toronto,” Taylor explains. “She has a skin condition called vitiligo, where patches of skin lose their pigment and turn white. I got to do her makeup for a runway show for Fashion Art Toronto. And now she’s a huge success! She’s been modelling for the Kardashians. She’s been in a Drake and Eminem music video. She’s been on America’s Next Top Model. She’s doing very well.”

Taylor is proud of having been able to work with such a meteoric success, so early in both their professional careers.

“It was amazing to work with her so early in her career,” Taylor states. “And I was just starting out at the time, too.”

In terms of recent assignments, Taylor has not let the pandemic slow her down.

“I did Sean Paul’s new music video, ‘Bust a Bubble,’” Taylor explains. “I ran the Hair and Makeup department for that. And then I shot a new music video for Dvsn, which is pretty cool!”

And when it comes to future projects, Taylor has already secured work on a couple new feature films.

“I’m working on a couple features being shot in Miami,” Taylor states. “Those are being shot in the next couple months. It’s completely safe—we’re following strict COVID protocol. I’m really excited!”

Because, for Taylor Vigneux, it all comes down to fanning that creative spark within her.

“My focus right now is just to find as much work as possible,” Taylor states. “To be able to express myself as much as possible. I really have a passion for what I do.

I’ve been so fortunate to be able to focus on this area of my life. I’m excited to keep learning and growing.”

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DANE JACOB DILLON

Left: Dane in Muskoseepi Park, Grande Prairie, Alberta. Below: Dane participating at the USPA American Cup at the LA Fit Expo in 2019. Bottom: Dane deadlifting at the CPL Canadian Nationals in Red Deer, Alberta.

Canadian Powerli昀er Sets New Deadli昀 Record STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHELLE DILLON

▼

IF DANE JACOB DILLON HAS A FATAL FLAW, it’s this: He can be talked into things. Dane is a 29-year-old award-winning bodybuilder and powerlifter.

A Chatham native, Dane is currently ranked among the top 10 all-time powerlifters in the world—in both the 125 kg (275 lbs.) and 140 kg (308 lbs.) weight classes.

His rise to success started 15 years ago, thanks to the pushing and prodding of a certain high school biology teacher.

“When I was in high school, I played for the football team,” Dane recalls.

“It was there that I got into training a little bit. Really, it was all because of my high school football coach, Mr. Rybansky. Basically, every time he saw me in the hall he would say, ‘What do you bench? What do you bench?’ And I would say, ‘I don’t know. Probably the same that I benched at tryouts.’”

By the 10th grade, Mr. Rybansky’s insistence wore Dane down.

“I decided to give it a shot,” Dane states. “From there, I realized that I had gained a lot of strength very quickly. But, at the time, I was still primarily focused on football.”

After graduating high school, Dane enrolled in the University of Windsor’s Sociology program. And importantly, he decided not to pursue university football.

“Really, my first year of university was my only year away from training since I was 15,” Dane explains. “I tried a few things, but I couldn’t really get into them. I also gained some weight during my first year—falling victim to the Freshman 15 that everyone talks about. I wasn’t as strong or as fit as I normally was. I started to feel like I needed a purpose.”

After resting on his laurels for a whole year, Dane made an important decision.

“I decided that I needed something to be working towards,” Dane states.

“So, after my first year, I thought, ‘Well, I don’t really know where this is going to go, but I want to become as big and as strong and as fit as possible!’”

Dane threw himself back into his training—hitting the gym harder than ever before. After a couple months, he realized that his efforts had not gone unnoticed.

“A friend approached me at the gym,” Dane recalls. “He said, ‘Hey, I see you have been training. You are making a ton of progress. Have you ever considered bodybuilding?’ And I said, ‘Well… no. What exactly is it? What exactly do I have to do?’”

Just as before, Dane found himself roped into something beyond what he anticipated.

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“My friend said, ‘Well, just give it a shot,’” Dane explains. “‘I’m doing this competition next spring. You should do it with me.’ So, I decided to follow his lead.”

For several years, Dane was a dedicated bodybuilder.

“Bodybuilding is all about how you look,” Dane states. “At performances, there’s a panel of judges-- usually eight— that will grade you on your physique. You go up on stage. You wear your little posing trunks. You want to get very lean. You want to be as muscular as you can be. It’s all about muscle symmetry. It’s all about the judges’ perception of how you look relative to how everyone else looks.”

Thanks to the focus on aesthetics, the most important part of bodybuilding often takes place in the kitchen rather than the gym.

“Bodybuilding involves a lot of repetition,” Dane explains. “It’s all about building up the muscle as much as possible. And the nutrition component is a big one.

Nutrition is probably more important in bodybuilding than it is in any other sport.

I was weighing every single gram, every single piece of food that I ate. It’s all about ensuring that all the hard work you put into building up those muscles doesn’t go to waste. It’s all about being able to properly display that work on stage. It can be a bit draining.”

As it turned out, Dane was a spirited bodybuilder. Within a few months, he went pro with the National Physique & Athletics Association (NPAA).

However, by 2015, Dane’s enthusiasm for the sport was waning.

“Bodybuilding was fun and all,” Dane explains. “But, I realized that I was just naturally stronger than my competition. And it was never easy for me to stay that lean.

I’ve done four bodybuilding competitions at that point—and the dieting portion gets real old real fast! I am not naturally that slim of a guy. My last show I lost about 43 pounds to prepare for the competition.”

As expected, an older friend of Dane’s used this opportunity to bend his ear about a new sport: powerlifting.

“Over the course of a couple years he kept encouraging me to try it,” Dane recalls. He’d say, ‘You’re the strongest guy I’ve ever seen. Just try powerlifting. Just try it.’

Finally, he wore me down and I decided to give it a shot.”

While bodybuilding is all about the physique, powerlifting is all about raw strength.

“Powerlifting is all about your squatbench-dead lift,” Dane explains. “It focuses on your one rep max. The maximum amount of weight you can lift—one time.”

Dane also discovered that the social aspect of each sport was radically different.

“Bodybuilding is all about you,” Dane states. “It is all about someone’s opinion of you. This causes you to overvalue the perceptions of others. As a result, people are— at least from my experience!—more negative towards themselves and their competition.

Powerlifting, meanwhile, is very black and white. You either lift the weight or you don’t.

Mind you, there are a panel of judges there to determine whether a lift was quality or not. But, there’s a lot less opinion put into it. So, because of that, I found that everyone was much more supportive. Everyone wants everyone else just to do the best they can.”

Dane has competed at several powerlifting competitions over the years—including venues at Salt Lake City, Los Angeles (where he won the L.A. Fit Expo in 2019) and all throughout Alberta. Most recently, last November, he traveled to Edmonton to enter the men’s 140-kg class at the World Raw Powerlifting Federation’s Shell Shock V competition.

“That was where I did my heaviest lifts,” Dane explains. “It’s where I broke the most records and surpassed my own personal limits. I reached every goal I set for this competition. I had a goal of squatting over 800 pounds, and I squatted 804. I bench pressed 518 pounds. And I deadlifted 887—the heaviest deadlift ever done by a Canadian.”

Dane won first place at the competition with a total lift of 1,002.5 kilograms, the second-highest total in any weight class in Canadian history.

And now that he has reached such heights, Dane is content to briefly rest and take in the view.

“Right after that competition, I made a bunch of plans to compete in other events,” Dane admits. “Right after you win competitions, you’re on a bit of a high! But now that I’ve calmed down, I don’t have any future shows lined up. I hit all my goals during the last competition. I’ve basically decided to focus on my overall health, instead of my lifting records. After talking to my wife, we decided it’d probably be better if I wasn’t 310 pounds!”

Dane currently lives in Grand Prairie, Alberta with his wife, Michelle. He is in the process of completing his Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a specialization in Finance.

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