The DRIVE magazine // Summer I 2019 // Issue 124

The

DRIVE

ISSUE 124

BIG RISKS FOR BIG REWARDS Gavin Booth is a betting man

LIFESTYLE | CULTURE | PEOPLE | TRENDS

DESTINATION: BACK TO SCHOOL It’s not just about watching them grow up, it’s about making sure they’re safe along the way, with your new Rose City Ford.

STAY ALERT N E YE AN D K E E P A R O OUT FOR U ON LITTLE ONES ND A TS E E THE STR SIDEWALKS

The

DRIVE

PAUL ST-PIERRE

Publisher

KEN STEWART

Managing director

DAVID HUNTER

Sales director

SABINE MAIN

Editorial & Creative director

MEL MONCZAK

Sales

SHAWNA BEECROFT

Graphic designer

CONTRIBUTORS JEN HALE

Copy editor

SYX LANGEMANN

Lead photographer

ANTHONY SHEARDOWN

Photographer

MARNIE ROBILLARD

Graphic designer

LAYAN BARAKAT

Writer

ALLEY L. BINIARZ

Writer

ANUSHREE DAVE

Writer

DR. ANDREA DINARDO

Writer

TITA KYRTSAKAS

Writer

ASAPH MAURER

Writer

DONALD McARTHUR

Writer

JESSE ZITER

Writer

The

DRIVE

ISSUE 124

BIG RISKS FOR BIG REWARDS Gavin Michael Booth is a betting man

LIFESTYLE | CULTURE | PEOPLE | TRENDS

THEDRIVE#124_TEXT.indd 1

2019-08-13 11:37 AM

On the cover: Gavin Booth defies convention and poses for a promotional campaign as a film director.

Photo Credit: Melissa Stewart Photography

Follow and like us: Twitter @thedrivemag Instagram #thedrivemag Facebook @thedrivemagazine

The DRIVE magazine is delivered direct to nearly 50,000 select homes and businesses throughout Windsor-Essex exclusively through Canada Post.

Mail subscriptions available online at www.thedrivemagazine.com/signup or by emailing info@thedrivemagazine.com CANADA POST Delivery agreement no. 43497602. Printed in Canada.

Owned and operated by the Landscape Effects Group of Companies.

1125 County Road #42 RR#1, Belle River ON, N0R1A0, 519.727.4769 All advertisement content to appear are subject to approval of the publisher and the publication assumes no responsibility for content included. We do not necessarily share the opinion or views of such advertising and assume no liability of this content or messaging.

28

CONTENTS

FALL 2019

PEOPLE DRIVE Last Call is Gavin Booth’s latest masterpiece and it premiers in Windsor on September 21

WELCOME 6 Editor’s letter FUN DRIVE 8 We went bananas for YelloFruit non-dairy dessert, and you will too!

HISTORY DRIVE 13 A revival of an oldie but goodie, we explore the city, before and after TREND DRIVE 14 Apple mania with Oh So Mona!

SOCIAL DRIVE 20 The House of Oakley saves our furry friends 24 Design your garden to attract pollinators SPORTS DRIVE 52 Hockey’s top Windsorites share the Cup and their latest achievements PSYCH DRIVE 57 D r. Andrea Dinardo’s 5 ways to focus better MUSIC DRIVE 60 A llessandro Rotondi sings his heart out LIFE DRIVE 64 #BUSLIFE. A family converts a bus to a mobile house. The possibilities are endless ART DRIVE 66 A sk an artist with Asaph Maurer

32

PEOPLE DRIVE Science, physics, and chemistry at the University of Windsor

REAL ESTATE DRIVE Windsor’s real estate market is hot. We asked the experts to share the trends they are seeing and the locals on why they love it here

46

SCIENTIFICALLY

speaking

EDITOR’S LETTER

6

Our previous issue was packed with all things ‘tech.’ We received great feedback and are smiling ear to ear as we carry the proud torch of Windsor’s tech success.

Believing the hype delighted us so we dug a little deeper to explore the nucleus of technology... and it was a direct line to the world of science. ‘Scientifically speaking,’ the theme for this issue, came together with the help of Dr. Chris Houser, Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Windsor.

After chatting with Dr. Houser about the department’s current roster of geniuses, it was obvious that there’s a plethora of amazing research to share.

The list of scientists could potentially provide enough content for the entire 2020 editorial calendar, but we managed to narrow it down three particular experts in science, chemistry, and physics. I promise that this will not feel like science class all over again. These professionals share what led them to their career paths and how they are influencing the world—and it’s happening right in our own backyard.

Just as scientists have to use their imagination to come up with explanations and piece together bits of information in a way that makes sense, filmmakers and directors also piece together characters and events in a similar way. Enter Gavin Michael Booth. Booth is an award-winning filmmaker we are honoured to highlight, and his latest film, Last Call, consists of two simultaneous 76-minute single-take shots in real time in different parts of Windsor. In this issue we illustrate how Booth’s unconventional rebellious attitude has brought him success.

We hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you.

Thank you for your continued support, and as always, your feedback is welcome at info@thedrivemagazine.com Sabine Main, Editorial + Creative Director

Cn o itr t ? W a.

CLIENT FOCUSED • Let us guide you through the Buying & Selling Process • Put our knowledge and experience to work for you • Let us make your dream a reality • Our greatest success is you recommending us to your friends & family

NEW DEVELOPMENTS LASALLE/WINDSOR/LAKESHORE

www.teamarmitage.com

519.903.0967 I 519.259.7352

FUN DRIVE

Going bananas for non-dairy frozen dessert

A FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS THAT STARTED AS AN EXPERIMENT IN THE KITCHEN IS SET TO EXPAND NATIONWIDE

By Anushree Dave | Photography: Syx Langemann

It all started at the dinner table two and a half years ago.

The business idea came to Claire Lysnes and Andrew Kinnear, the co-founders of Yellofruit, when they were experimenting with different recipes to make mushed bananas tastier for their kids.

The trial and error led them to wonder if it’d just be easier to buy something with a banana base and a nice taste at the grocery store.

But there was nothing like it on the market. That’s when Lysnes and Kinnear knew they had something unique they could offer to the world.

Despite being busy parents with two toddlers and a baby on the way, the idea quickly became a side project for the couple. With their combined expertise—Kinnear is a marketing consultant and Lysnes worked in project management at PwC for 10 years—the couple began product development when Lysnes went on maternity leave. “[We started with] figuring out how we could make a dessert that was non-dairy,” says Kinnear. “I liked the idea of a banana base because it was novel. And we wanted something we could feel comfortable feeding our kids. We didn’t want any chemicals or weird things you couldn’t pronounce in the ice cream.”

8

FUN DRIVE

‘‘

We wanted something we could feel comfortable feeding our kids.

We didn’t want any chemicals or weird things you couldn’t pronounce in the ice cream

”

The YelloFruit Team and the Big Banana car at Landscape Effects on a perfectly hot day serving up tasty treats.

THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

9

FUN DRIVE ice cream making, and the second half of the course offers insights about the ice cream industry and market. It’s open to manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, and is also suitable for anyone interested in working in ice cream manufacturing, whether they have previous experience or not.

Ontario, and will travel across Southern Ontario to Toronto.

In the fall of 2018—almost two years after their initial idea—the couple had a completed recipe and a brand. The frozen dessert, packaged like ice cream but with a banana base instead of cream or milk, was called Yellofruit. “I started selling full time around [the fall], and by January I had stopped taking on consulting clients because we had started selling into grocery stores,” Kinnear says. “In order for this to work, we have to sell a lot, so in between production runs and finding manufacturers and distributors I was really trying to sell to every grocery store—both independent and chain. By March 2019, we were doing our first production run.”

which is a sugar alcohol. Those are essentially chemicals. If you can’t make them at home do you want to put that into your child’s body? It would be great to have a zero-sugar ice cream but I would rather give our kids a little bit of sugar and treat it like a moderation thing as opposed to putting some unknown [ingredient] in our product.”

At the moment, Yellofruit is available in three flavours, which are named after their three kids. Holly, who just turned three, has “Holly’s Favourite Mango” named after her.

The strawberry and chocolate flavours are Kinnear had no formal background in respectively named after five-year-old twins the industry before taking the course and he Monty and Eddy. learned quite quickly that ice cream is compliOne of the goals of the company was to cated. “A lot of people ask me questions that create a tasty product that the co-founders are kind of scientific like, ‘Is this a sorbet?’ would feel comfortable feeding to their own I have to start with explanations about the kids. Therefore, each ingredient was carefully science of ice cream. I’ve almost had to build selected, with a science-backed reason for that into my sales pitch because it’s interesting selecting one ingredient over another. “When and it’s a real differentiator when it comes to people ask me, ‘Why do you have to add sugar features of the product,” explains Kinnear. By to your product?’ I tell them honestly that to the end of the course, he had the training, make a good frozen dessert you have to use knowledge, and network to get their product sugar. And they say ‘what about no-sugar ice off the ground. creams?’ And I say they have things like polyol,

The taste, branding, and ingredients are helping the brand stand out from the competition. Kinnear explained the product in bigger stores is available in the natural food section, which sets them apart from most frozen dessert products. The brand also appeals to individuals who have a specific need, like a

By April, the product was available in 100 dairy or nut allergy. stores across Ontario. By Canada Day, YelloAfter a long two-and-a-half-year journey fruit was available at Loblaws. “It happened of learning, development, testing, and implefast once it started rolling out.” mentation, the co-founders of Yellofruit are

To learn about the science of frozen desserts while figuring out the ice cream business, Kinnear signed up for a weeklong ice cream technology course offered by the University of Guelph. The school’s Department of Food Science (previously known as the Department of Dairying) has been around since 1885, and the ice cream technology course has been offered since 1914. The first half of the course focuses on the science of 10

One key factor that contributes to the brand’s identity is their unique social media marketing campaign. The posts feature a big, yellow banana car that’s touring across Ontario. Kinnear found the banana car online and reached out to the owner, Steve Braithwaite, to ask if they could use it for a marketing campaign. Braithwaite, who builds custom cars, responded positively to the request. “I knew people would love the car, smile, and take pictures with it, and eventually make the connection between the Yellofruit brand and the banana fruit car they’re seeing in all these photos,” says Kinnear. “If there was some guy with an apple car it wouldn’t have made much sense. But Steve’s banana car works very well.” The tour started in London,

thrilled Canadians across the nation will finally get to enjoy the fruits of their labour.

The upcoming plan for the company is to keep adding stores to the list of places where the product is available. In September, they’ll be rolling out into No Frills in Canada. In October, they’ll start to move west into federated co-op stores. “We’re going to keep building the business with scale,” says Kinnear.

“Our most important thing is that we want to make sure people like the product and that it tastes good.”

Yellofruit: https://www.yellofruit.com/ Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @yellofruit Guelph course: https://www.uoguelph.ca/ foodscience/ice-cream-technology-short-course

D.

76 Talbot St. S. I Essex, ON I 519.776.6316

www.essexappliance.com

PROFILE

Medica Pharmacy and Clinic

Sponsored by Medica Pharmacy and Clinic

A new healthcare business serving the Via Italia and Walkerville neighbourhoods is keeping the memory of one of Windsor’s most beloved physicians alive. Now an integrated pharmacy, family practice, and walk-in clinic, Medica opened for business this past May as a community pharmacy aligning a sophisticated, up-to-date suite of services and patient-centric Old-World values.

Open seven days a week, Medica offers free delivery, a robust selection of over-the-counter products, and specialty pharmaceutical services including anticoagulation management, blister-pack dosing, and onsite A1C testing in a clean, modern, functional space.

The business has reinvigorated the Erie Street building once occupied by the late, beloved physician Dr. Lazar Jovanovic.

Born in the former Yugoslavia, Dr. Jovanovic spent half a century practising in Windsor, particularly serving the city’s immigrant communities. He is memorialized by the striking limestone clock tower at the roundabout at Erie and Parent.

Medica owner and pharmacist Frank Vella was a driving force behind the monument, which was inaugurated in 2018 and stands just down the street from his new business.

A Wayne State–educated professional and product of Windsor’s Saint-Edmond and E.J. Lajeunesse schools, Vella has operated several pharmacies in Windsor-Essex during his 15 years of work.“When this location became available, it seemed like a natural fit,” says Vella, who notes that Medica has French-, Italian-, Spanish-, and Arabic-speaking staff.

“Coming from an immigrant family, Dr. Jovanovic inspired my lifelong mission to go beyond what you think is standard for the people that need it most.”

The young physician Dr. Tiffany Czilli (SEE-lee) just joined the Medica staff on September 7. She operates a private practice and staffs the Medica Walk-In Clinic, continuing the legacy of family medicine at the corner of Erie and Pierre. A WindsorEssex native, Dr. Czilli has practised for five years elsewhere in the city. After graduating from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Czilli finished postgraduate training at Queen’s and Western Universities before completing a residency back home.

“Medica presented an opportunity to work in an exciting collaborative setting,” says Czilli, who was particularly attracted to Vella’s young, professional, and forward-looking pharmacy team. “There is a need in the city; it just makes sense.”

Vella and Czilli were introduced by a mutual friend who appreciated their shared enthusiasm for patient-centric healthcare. “Fundamentally, our standards of practice are very similar,” stresses Vella. “Every person who walks through our doors is a valued patient deserving individualized care.”

Medica Pharmacy 1210 Erie Street East (at Pierre ave.)

Windsor, ON 519-255-7777 rxmedica.ca

12

This moral commitment is more than just empty speech: this July, Vella made a $6,000 donation to the Windsor-Essex Community Health Centre’s Street Health, so the organization could purchase a commercial washer and dryer to allow its homeless clients to launder their clothes. He’s also spent years assisting community mental health initiatives alongside the prominent local psychiatrist Dr. Leonardo Cortese, amongst a number of other community initiatives.

1951

HISTORY DRIVE

The building on the left is 703-17 Ouellette, and housed the Knights of Columbus Auditorium, built in 1916. The rear building (716 Pelissier) was the Knights of Columbus Grand Hall, built in 1922, and featured a ballroom, swimming pool, gymnasium, bowling alley. and woodworking room. The house in the middle was built in 1912 as a duplex for Annie and James H. Richards. The building on the far right was the VMY Hotel, owned by Vladimir M. Yaksich, and was originally built as Clifford Apts circa 1910. Large homes once lined Ouellette Avenue south of Wyandotte; most were adapted to commercial enterprises, repurposed, or razed.

2019 The left structure is currently undergoing renovations. The middle building is currently the Windsor Centre for Film, Digital Media and the Creative Arts. The VMY Hotel on the right became The Cook Shop in 1980.

From Windsor Before and After: a new book from Walkerville Publishing Inc. Release date: Fall 2019. WPI is owned by Chris Edwards and Elaine Weeks.

TREND DRIVE

Apple Cinnamon Energy Bites Makes 25 energy bites What you will need: • 2 cups rolled oats • ¼ cup ground flaxseed • ¼ cup slivered almonds • ¾ teaspoon cinnamon • ½ cup peanut butter •¼ cup honey • 5 chopped dates • 1 cup grated apple (not packed) Directions • To begin, prep a baking sheet with wax or parchment paper.

• In a large bowl, stir together the rolled oats, flaxseed, cinnamon, slivered almonds, grated apple, and chopped dates.

In another bowl, stir together the peanut butter and honey, then combine with the rolled oats mixture.

falling FOR

APPLES

MONA SHARES THREE QUICK AND EASY FALL FAVOURITES

By Mona Elkadri | Photography: Vicky Bartel 14

• Using your hands or a tablespoon measure, roll out bite-size pieces and place them on the parchment paper. To prevent the batter from sticking to your hands, dampen them with water between rolling.

• Place the energy bites in the refrigerator for 45 minutes or until firm and enjoy!

• Keep stored in an air tight container refrigerated for up to five days.

TREND DRIVE

Apple Walnut Baked Brie What you will need: • 1 small round of brie cheese • ¹ ³ cup chopped walnuts • ¼ cup brown sugar • 1 Tbsp butter • 1 tsp cinnamon • 1 apple, peeled and sliced • 1 Tbsp lemon juice

Directions • Preheat oven to 350°F. Once oven reaches temperature, place the brie on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.

• Pour hot water into a bowl and add the chopped walnuts. Let sit.

• Next, the melt butter in a pan on medium heat and add sliced apples and cinnamon.

Cook until apples are soft.

• Once the apples are cooked, add the brown sugar and lemon juice and stir until it has formed a semi-runny syrup-like substance.

• Remove the applesauce from the heat, strain, and pat dry the walnuts, then add them to the sauce and mix.

• Finish by pouring the applesauce on top of the brie cheese and serve.

THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

15

TREND DRIVE

Apple Squash Bowl Serves 2 What you will need: • 1 butternut squash • 1 cup quinoa • ¼ cup dried cranberries • 1 Tbsp butter x 2 • 1 tsp cinnamon • 1 apple diced • 1 Tbsp brown sugar • salt/pepper to taste Directions • Preheat oven to 400°F degrees.

• Place squash on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Then cut the squash in half lengthwise and top with 1 Tbsp of the butter, as well as salt, pepper, and brown sugar. Bake for one hour.

• Cook quinoa as per package instructions.

• While the squash and quinoa cook, place apples, dried cranberries, cinnamon, and remaining 1 Tbsp of butter in a pan on medium heat and cook until apples are soft but still a bit firm. This will add a nice texture to the squash bowl.

• Once both the quinoa and the apples are finished, combine together.

• When the squash is finished baking, scoop some of your quinoa mixture into the “bowl” of the squash and serve.

• Finish by pouring the applesauce on top of the brie cheese and serve. D.

Mona Elkadri is a lifestyle blogger with a fondness for everyday living and entertaining, from sweet recipes to home décor and DIY, and everything in between. ohsomona.com 16

Simply the finest authentic Italian cuisine available in the region!

Catering & Outdoor Events I Full Menu & Kids Menu I Open for Lunch & Dinner I Private Function Rooms Available 231 King Street West, Downtown Chatham, ON • 519.360.1600 • mammamariasristorante.ca

Come and Discover Leamington’s NEW RETIREMENT RESIDENCE “I walked past this building daily and watched it being built from the ground up. I was living alone at the time and cooking for one is miserable. Seacliff Manor hosted an open house and I toured four rooms. I picked the first room I saw and I brought my children along for the visit and my daughter commented that ‘she could live here.’ I sit at a different table daily and everyone is my friend here. It took me a couple of weeks to get organized but it’s been an amazing experience.”

Seacliff Manor Testimonial

For more information call today 519-326-2624 | 30 Seacliff Drive East | Leamington, ON | seacliffmanor.ca

Epoxy It!

Dedicated to providing affordable solutions with the highest-quality coating system products (manufactured in Canada) and services to our customers. We strive for high quality workmanship, delivered in a timely manner that ultimately exceeds our customers expectations.

GARAGE FLOORS • BASEMENTS PORCHES • DRIVEWAYS • COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL • INDUSTRIAL www.duramaxfloors.com I 226.346.0151

EVERY KITCHEN DESERVES A CUSTOM DESIGN.

Actual Project

2 North Talbot Rd., Maidstone, ON I 519-723-4141 I www.wayneswoodcraft.com

-SYLESSERVICING YOUR NEEDS FOR EVERY SEASON

SOCIAL DRIVE

Creating a safe space for wildlife at the House of Oakley MAMA KATE SHOWS US THAT IT’S POSSIBLE TO CO-EXIST WITH WILDLIFE IN A PEACEFUL AND RESPECTFUL WAY

By Alley L. Biniarz Photography: Syx Langemann

20

SOCIAL DRIVE Mama Kate knew she wanted one of her next animal rescues to be raccoons—she just didn’t know how fast it would happen.

afraid of other dogs so they don’t approach people’s pets, or think of coyotes as friends when they’re out in the wild.

During one of the worst storms of the spring, she got a call from Hailey at Safe Haven Farmstead and Rescue saying that the neighbour had found two raccoons that needed help. Their mom had been hit by a car, leaving them alone, and the storm had blown them out of their tree.

Mama Kate built their muscle strength and memory through kiddy-pool fishing lessons and by running her hands up trees to inspire them to climb. With her aid, the raccoons were four weeks ahead of where babies would normally be.

“Those raccoons were in possibly one of the worst conditions we’ve ever seen. They’d gone a week without any nutrition whatsoever, the wind was knocked out of them, and their eyes were sunken in,” Hailey says. She warned Mama Kate that they were in a bad situation, and she didn’t have high hopes that they would make it.

But it was in Mama Kate’s nature to try, and as she drove through the storm to get them, Hailey found the third raccoon.

“They went from lethargic with no life in them to climbing all over her,” Hailey says about the animals’ instant connection to Mama Kate.

“She was able to get them to feed in minutes; it was unbelievable how quickly she was able to bond with them.”

With their chance of survival, Mama Kate took the three back to “The House of Oakley” with her, where they were appropriately named: Storm, Rain, and—because “Hail” didn’t stick—the third was named Hailey.

Growing up on her family’s 290-acre land, Mama Kate was used to being surrounded by wildlife and nature. Rehabilitating animals was embedded into her at age five, when she found and rescued her first animal—a little half-pound grey kitten whose eye was sticking out—whom she appropriately named Popeye. From that moment on, she lived by her family’s motto: if an animal showed up on their property in need, they would do everything they could to help them.

Even with her experience, Mama Kate wasn’t oblivious to the fact that she needed help with each new species she took in. The raccoons had taken a dramatic turn within a week, but there was still a lot she’d have to prepare for to make sure they were ready to be released back into the wild.

“Normally, raccoons would stay with their moms for about a year and she would teach them everything. Since their hormones kick in sooner than that, I have to teach them in a short amount of time,” Mama Kate says.

Ashlyn, Mama Kate’s dog, is a second mother figure to the raccoons. She doesn’t have pups of her own, but she has fostered this relationship with them. Mama Kate allows it, but teaches them to be THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

“We’ll have them a few more months but they’re already wanting to venture out on their own,” Mama Kate says about taking them out back where they’ll eventually be released. It’s the perfect area because it’s wildlife protected, with no risk of hunters or traffic, and filled with other raccoons.

Mama Kate hangs windchimes so they can always hear when they’ve gone too far, but every once in a while, when they can’t see her, they’ll come back and check. As much as they are cute and lovey with her now, by 16 weeks, she says, they’ll want nothing to do with humans.

“It’s all about giving them enough love until they don’t need you anymore.” She speaks from experience. Before the raccoons, Mama Kate rehabilitated two squirrels: Oakley and Willow. Willow was ready to be released before Oakley was, but eventually, when he was ready, Oakley released himself.

Mama Kate can still see the animals from time to time as they roam around the property, but she keeps a respectful distance.

“You can live alongside nature in a way that doesn’t harm them and still enjoy your own space,” Mama Kate says. “People see raccoons as a nuisance, but at the end of the day, we’re moving into their habitat and they’re just adapting to ours so they can survive.”

Mama Kate knows raccoons can be destructive—so they’re definitely not pets—but she wants to show people another side of wildlife that makes them reconsider the way they look at them.

“I want people to understand and respect that they need to eat, too. They’re also benefitting the environment by keeping our rodent population down and are a great predator to have in the ecosystem.”

Hailey adds that it’s important for us to speak up for these animals, because they don’t have a voice.

It’s our job to protect them as best as we can.

“There are certain aspects of the world today where we ignore the roots we grew from, and we don’t spend enough time getting to know the inner mother nature we all have. If we put the screen down, maybe we’ll notice that a bird fell out of a tree, or we could help a turtle cross the road.”

SOME TIPS FROM SAFE HAVEN FARMSTEAD AND RESCUE AND MAMA KATE ON HOW TO CO-EXIST WITH WILDLIFE: • Keep your garbage cans closed or build a literal cage around your garbage to keep pests out.

• Make sure your pets are vaccinated if you know there’s a risk that they’ll come in contact with wildlife.

• Keep your pets inside during hours that wildlife roam around.

• Call someone that is experienced to properly trap and relocate animals; you can cause more harm to the animals (and yourself) if you don’t know what you’re doing.

• If you see a wild animal, keep a safe and respectable distance. Few animals will attack unless provoked.

If you have any questions or concerns about a wild animal in your area, or you’ve come across an animal in need, contact: Save Haven Farmstead and Rescue: https://www.facebook. com/SafeHavenFarmstead/ D.

This slowing down and reconnecting with nature is what will help us co-exist peacefully and successfully with wildlife.

21

Premium Seating Membership

The Ultimate Windsor Spitfires Experience • • • •

Prime Sightlines Access to Crown Royal Platinum Club Lounge VIP Parking Pass (one per two seats) Exclusive appreciation events, contests and special offers

Luxury Suites Rentals Single Game Packages

Birthday Parties | Staff Parties | Client Appreciation Corporate Networking Outings | Bachelor Parties Prices starting at $40 per person.

CARA PARTICELLI Premium Seating Guest Services Manager phone. 519-254-5000 x 225 email. cara@windsorspitfires.com

Moving Windsor and Essex County in the Right Direction.

Buying or selling? Call Andrew today!

P: 519.979.9995 I C: 519.564.2639

andrewjsmithrealty.com

22

www.evolabuilders.com

The foundation of Evola Builders is built on quality, trust, dedication and positive relationships with clients as well as tradesmen.

Our team strives to make your dream home a reality, paying attention to every detail.

We give our clients a fun and stress-free building process while delivering the highest quality of service and design.

@evolabuilders

SOCIAL DRIVE

The sweet hum of pollinators PLANTING CORRIDORS OF POLLINATOR PLANTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY WILL MAINTAIN OUR YARDS’ ATTRACTIVENESS, WHILE SUSTAINING THE NATIVE FORAGER SPECIES

By Alley L. Biniarz | Photography: Syx Langemann

24

SOCIAL DRIVE

Within minutes of sitting in Brandi Bechard’s backyard, monarchs and bees flutter by—but the county is definitely not as populated with these pollinators as it once was.

When asked if Windsor-Essex was undergoing a bee shortage, Brandi—who has a background in ecosystem management—says that when it comes to biodiversity loss, especially within pollinating insect species, there are practices we have adopted in agriculture and urban development that have had a negative impact on our local pollinator populations. However, she believes we have the tools to help bring them back through regenerative stewardship of the land.

First, we have to understand and appreciate their role within the ecosystem. “Pollinators are a keystone group of species,” Brandi explains. “This means many other species in the ecosystem depend on the health of pollinators and the functions they provide. Their job is to pollinate wild plants that birds, deer, and other wildlife depend on, as well as the agricultural crops that humans depend on. It’s a trickle-down effect.”

visual winter interest while providing habitat in the form of leaf litter and seeds for birds. Often, native trees and shrubs will then be the first to blossom and provide the first food that pollinators can rely on come spring.

The main restriction to what you can plant is to ensure you’re not planting invasive species. Brandi suggests doing your research on what is and isn’t invasive in Windsor and Essex County. She recommends referring to ERCA’s Native Plant Guide, as well as asking the staff at your local nursery for advice on planting native species; Brandi’s go-to nursery is Flora Gardens on the corner of Hwy 3 and Walker.

When designing or renovating your pollinator garden, Brandi’s advice is to plant things in groups or masses. “Insects don’t see like we do; they get this crazy image that gets put together in their brain and directs them to the centre of the flower. If you mix different flowers all over the place, it’s confusing for the forager and they have to switch gears every time, while planting in masses makes it easy to float from flower to flower,” she says.

With the lack of green space in the urban areas of the city, Brandi says we can incorporate the planting of pollinator gardens.

“When you think about it, if even two houses per street planted a pollinator garden, we could create a corridor for pollinator species to follow and navigate their way through the city when travelling from one green space to another,” Brandi says.

Through her business, Ground Culture Gardens, Brandi focuses on developing designs for homeowners to follow and learn to create multifunctional landscapes and gardens that attract and sustain pollinators and other beneficial insects.

“Pollinator gardens are small but effective. If there’s a honeybee in the area searching for nectar, it’s going to zone in on your garden. Then, it will send out a message for other bees in its same colony to come.”

Brandi suggests planting native plants as a starting point, because our local pollinators have evolved in our area to know the way these plants look and smell. That’s not to say that non-native species don’t support pollinators, because they do. Take lavender, for example—it’s a Mediterranean species that does well in our climate because it’s hot, but you’ll also see pollinators buzzing around because they’re drawn to the fragrant flowers.

“Try to plant a diverse set of plants in your garden; it’ll help support a variety of pollinators,” Brandi adds. Some native plants to incorporate into your garden are black-eyed Susan; purple cone flower (a.k.a. echinacea), which is both medicinal to humans and good for native bee forage); prickly pear cactus; and common milkweed, which sustains the larval stage of monarchs through to butterfly.

“You don’t want to stick something in your yard just because it’s native.

Make sure you plant for the microclimates within your yard, and choose specimens based on your sun exposure and soil,” Brandi says. “As long as you work with nature and incorporate a little garden design to make it look nice, you’re probably going to have pollinators in your garden.”

Brandi has offered some tips and tricks on how to get your pollinator garden to thrive through the seasons: • You can let about 20% of your vegetable garden go to

seed or flower, which will support pollinators without extra work.

• Designate

a section of your yard to native plants, but not invasive species or noxious weeds. This will maintain your relationship with your neighbours while fostering the stunning native flowers that pop up.

• Plant at every level: ground covers, shrub layer (herba-

ceous plants and shrubs), and canopy layer (trees). For example, instead of high-maintenance grass as your ground cover, you can plant creeping thyme, which is edible for people, has pretty flowers that bees love, is low-maintenance, and smells wonderful.

• You

don’t have to build a new garden from scratch; you can swap out ornamental plants for pollinator-supporting species that fit into your current design.

• You

can save your own seeds by drying flowers in a paper bag, shaking the seeds out, and planting them next year. This helps spread these plants without costing you money.

• Plant species that will bloom at different times of year.

By staggering bloom times throughout your garden, there will always be something attracting pollinators into your yard while looking great year-round. D.

Planting isn’t just about feeding the pollinators, but also hosting them through the winter months. If there’s not a lot going on in your garden in the winter, plant some native species that will provide some THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

25

Quality • Reliability • Service Tear Offs & Repairs • Asphalt Shingles • Built Up Roof Systems Metal Roof Coating • TPO & PVC Roof Systems Maintenance • Commercial Siding • Modified Roofs Roof System Analysis • Single Ply Rubber Systems

Commercial • Industrial • Residential

CALL QUINN ROOFING TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE 519-256-8474 • quality@quinnsolutions.ca • www.quinnsolutions

26

THE RIGHT IMAGE TO FIT YOUR BUSINESS.

Proudly serving the landscape industry and home owners for over 60 years.

Uniform Rental Services - Restroom Sanitation Facility Services - Hygiene Services - Local Production

LANDSCAPE SUPPLIES Decorative Stone Construction Aggregate Top Soil Rockery Mulch

9085 Twin Oaks Drive - 519.979.5913

www.cintas.ca

1894 Manning Rd., Tecumseh South of The E.C. Row Expressway

519.735.7777

PEOPLE DRIVE

The story of the storyteller: HOW FILMMAKER GAVIN MICHAEL BOOTH TAKES BIG RISKS FOR BIG REWARDS

By Anushree Dave | Photography from Gavin Booth

28

PEOPLE DRIVE The film Last Call is a story about a man, Scott, who attempts to reach a suicide crisis line but dials the wrong number. He gets connected to a single mother, Beth, working as the night custodian at a local community college. The two spend the night talking on the phone as perfect strangers, exchanging nothing identifying but first names. As their conversation progresses and gets deeply personal, Beth learns Scott has an alcohol addiction, is calling on the anniversary of his son’s death, and is thinking about ending his life.

personal anecdotes of life, death, and depression). The music video, like Last Call, was shot entirely in Windsor.

Booth prefers to film in Windsor, even though he currently resides in Los Angeles.

Filming in L.A. is costly and complicated depending on where the filming is taking place. If the project has commercial value, the filmmaker needs a permit that costs at least a few hundred dollars. Hiring talent is also more expensive in L.A. than in Windsor. “A lot of my friends in L.A. are incredibly jealous when I explain to them how easily I get access to places in Windsor and they often don’t believe it,” shares Booth. “They think Windsor is this mythical place where indie filmmaking is welcome. We wouldn’t have been able to make Last Call if it weren’t for the generosity of people in Windsor and St. Clair College who allowed us to have so much access and work within the means of our budget.”

Gavin Michael Booth, an award-winning filmmaker from Windsor, filmed the project in two true single-takes. The movie is presented in split-screen, and showcases both characters in real time as they navigate a deeply personal and life-changing conversation. “The camera never shuts off from the beginning of the movie until the end. So you’re watching two unbroken takes. You’re watching two camera crews filming in two different areas of Booth explains that local businesses are Windsor,” shares Booth. just one degree of separation away as he has The subject matter of the film is heavy, a strong network in the area. He grew up in but making a film with a serious focus is not Amherstburg and remembers spending his something from which Booth shies away—he childhood watching movies with his family. makes sure to approach the topic with caution “My dad showed me a lot of R-rated movies and care. “We wanted to be as careful as we like Alien and all these movies that I shouldn’t possibly could to respect the subject of mental have watched when I was seven or eight years health and not make light of it nor use it just old. But I just loved them and could handle for the sake of entertainment.” When he sat the violence and mature themes. I was down with Daved Wilkins, the actor who movie-obsessed,” he remembers. plays Scott in the film, the two did research This obsession with movies inspired Booth to figure out how to best tell the story. to buy his first camcorder with the money he “We researched with a friend of ours who works as a volunteer crisis worker taking these calls. We learned that there is a protocol where if you’re not agreeing to be off the phone safe in 20 minutes, they call the police to do a wellness check on you. It’s hard to make a feature film with just a 20-minute time slot, so we came up with the idea of Scott calling a random stranger,” explains Booth. Dialling someone random also worked well to develop the storyline—the anonymity allows both characters to get vulnerable with the stranger on the other side of the call.

This isn’t the first time Booth has presented emotional and sensitive storylines on screen.

He directed and co-produced a music video— SYML’s “Where’s My Love”—that also shows a young woman and her silent struggle with mental health. The video has over 15 million views on YouTube, and it’s worth reading some of the top comments people have left on the video about how they’ve interpreted the story and found meaning in it (many have shared THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

saved up from delivering newspapers door-todoor. “That was the one thing I wanted to have as a kid so I could make movies with my friends, which is funny because it’s the same mentality now. I just like getting together a big group of artists and friends that I can collaborate with. I would spend all my evenings and weekends making terrible parody movies of Indiana Jones or Friday the 13th.”

As he got older, that passion for filmmaking remained. He went to General Ahmerst High School where he was encouraged by a film teacher, the late Keith Harrick, to turn that childhood obsession with movies into a serious hobby. “I compare my teacher to Robin Williams’s character in Dead Poets Society. He was all about ‘carpe diem’ and seizing the day.

He had a knack for video editing and telling stories so he started encouraging me to show my work,” says Booth. Mr. Harrick would bend the rules in Booth’s favour—giving him the alarm code to the school so he could work there after hours.

Last Call - L.A. premiere with actor Daved Wilkins

29

PEOPLE DRIVE

Scarehouse - behind the scenes

Last Call - Behind The Scenes Production Meeting at St. Clair Mediaplex

LAST CALL PREMIERES AT THE CHRYSLER THEATRE IN WINDSOR ON SEPTEMBER 21 @7PM. TICKETS ON SALE VIA THE CHRYSLER THEATRE BOX OFFICE: WWW.CHRYSLERTHEATRE.COM For movie trailer and more information visit: www.gavinmichaelbooth.com 30

PEOPLE DRIVE Last Call - behind the scenes

By the time it came to picking a career after high school, Booth knew he wanted to make films for a living. Since he couldn’t afford film school, he started doing any paid work he could find that would allow him to practice his video-making skills, from wedding videos to local TV commercials. “A lot of people will move to a larger city. They have to have two day-jobs or work their way up the film industry [by starting at the bottom]. But I was able to start my company and be in charge of my career by staying in Windsor,” shares Booth.

Most recently, Booth got the chance to partner with a movie theater chain in the United States to do a showing of Last Call in seven cities on September 13 and 14. “It’s part of national suicide prevention week. It’s an event they want us to put on. We hope the film will be a conversation starter about the topic but we know we have to wait until people see it and tell us that it’s a conversation piece. It’s not for us to dictate how people will react to it.”

Booth understands that audience perception may differ from artist intention. “With any art Booth got his first big opportunity when piece you put it into the world, you hope that he broke a few rules by sneaking into a Third it has the effect you want it to, but you don’t Eye Blind concert in Detroit. “I made fake get to be the decider of that.”

Canadian media credentials and used them Another piece of advice that Booth has to go to concert venues with a camera and for emerging filmmakers who are entering told them I was there to meet the band and the industry is to start educating yourself do an interview. It was just my way of being on the current trends. “Cinemas are betting a starving artist and not pay for tickets to on sequels and giant blockbusters like The these concerts I wanted to go to.” It ended Avengers and Wonder Woman. But Netflix is a up working out well for him—Booth got a job real disruptor because now there’s a home for shooting tour video for Third Eye Blind and all this other content. There will also be a lot working with Stephan Jenkins, the band’s more available for niche audiences and fewer lead singer, on a documentary for an album global things like Lost or 24 or Stranger Things. he was producing. “I still work with the band It used to be that the entire global community today in different capacities—sometimes enjoyed the same thing. I think it’ll just be editing, sometimes tour videos.” smaller niche audiences.”

Working with the band was the opportunity that took Booth to Los Angeles. Moving to L.A. helped him develop a network of like-minded individuals in the industry. A few years ago, he worked with a company called Blumhouse, a company known for making horror films like the remake of Halloween and Paranormal Activity. Booth got to film a live movie with the company. It was broadcast to an audience over the internet in real time and it’s one of many opportunities that Booth says he wouldn’t have had if he hadn’t relocated to L.A. THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

Booth also believes that filmmaking is more accessible now than ever before. He uses film director Steven Soderbergh as an example of someone who has made films using an iPhone. “The industry has become much more democratized in that you can be anyone and if you have access to the internet and a smartphone, you can produce work and have it be seen online.” That’s not a luxury that Booth had early in his career.

tried to sell them but we didn’t. It’s a disappointment to cast and crew and investors when you take a risk and there isn’t a reward.

But you can’t be scared of failure or rejection,” says Booth. “With every terrible step along the way, you have to learn how to turn it into a win or a lesson. There’s a lot more failure than success but nobody really talks about failures along the way.”

And failure is something that you are more likely to encounter when you take risks and do something new, like Booth recently did with a series of self-portraits he took for his portfolio.

In the photos, he’s seen sitting on the road with a sign that reads, “Will Direct for Food.”

He wanted to take photos that were different than what most film directors have: black-andwhite, serious-looking headshots. His photos are symbolic of his time in the film industry.

“All directors’ photos mostly look the same.

I’m a starving artist—everything I make goes right back into my career. It’s not a fun struggle but it’s just the sacrifice to make this all work.”

To stand out and be memorable in the overcrowded business of content creation, Booth believes in taking big creative risks and breaking conventional rules. He credits Mr. Harrick for instilling that approach in him. “He did some out-of-bounds teaching but I am blessed for it. He sparked a little bit of rebellious spirit in me, which has been my number-one asset moving forward.”

Whether it’s covering serious storylines, sneaking into school after hours to edit videos, or showing up at concerts with fake media passes, taking risks—small and big—is a recurring theme in Booth’s life story. “In order to win big, you really gotta risk big,” says Booth.

“I shot my first three films in Windsor “That’s the basic law of gambling and this and the industry was different back then. We entire industry is a gamble.” D. 31

PEOPLE DRIVE

SCIENCE FACT: THE STATE OF THE ART AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR

University of Windsor researchers operate in the shadow of the Ambassador Bridge, steps from the end of the country. According to Dean of Science Chris Houser, there’s a certain poetry in that: Windsor’s research scientists are on the leading edge of Canada— in every sense. And three of his colleagues can prove it.

By Jesse Ziter Photography: Syx Langemann

32

PEOPLE DRIVE

What do you think about the University of Windsor, and why do you think that?

According to Dr. Chris Houser, dean of the Faculty of Science since July 2016, the story many of us tell ourselves about Canada’s southernmost university leaves a few important pages missing.

In actual fact, Windsor’s Faculty of Science has long been producing globally significant, world-changing research, much of which might seem spirited off the pages of a science-fiction novel. If this sounds surprising, I suggest you keep reading.

Dr. Houser is a geomorphologist of coastal and aeolian environments, which essentially means he travels the world to study beaches.

(Tough racket, I know.) Before coming to Windsor, he was previously associate dean for undergraduate affairs and faculty development in the College of Geosciences at Texas A&M. “People in Windsor don’t have a tendency to brag about themselves,” he notes. “I came to Windsor from Texas; Texas does not have problems bragging. I came in with a sense of pride as to what Windsor represented—what we could do as a Faculty of Science or an institution—and made sure we started to tell our stories.

Steven Page THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

As Houser sees it, bragging is essentially storytelling, and some amount of it is necessary to oppose UWindsor’s “out of sight, out of mind,” status in the collective Canadian consciousness. “When I got here three years ago, I was shocked at how few people in the community knew what the university did— 33

PEOPLE DRIVE let alone what science in the university was doing,” he recalls. “It is important that people in the region know the level of advanced science that’s occurring at the university. We are making a major research impact—not only on the region but globally.”

When addressing student experience, Houser leans in to the evidence-based virtuein-smallness messaging espoused by American liberal arts colleges. He eagerly enumerates his new employer’s advantages, including smaller across-the-board class sizes, uncommonly favourable faculty-to-student ratios, and one of the very highest rates of undergraduate research participation in Canada. “We are not Western,” he stresses, positively. “That message is starting to really take. We’ve made ourselves the programmatic and geographic destination for science in the province.

“People assume by the names that the big schools are better, but I think what we are doing is as good or better than Western, McMaster, or Toronto,” he continues. “We are that leading edge. We’ve competed successfully against Toronto and McGill and some of these larger institutions for faculty. They chose Windsor because they know we’re small.”

But not too small: this December, the Faculty of Science inaugurated a state-ofthe-art, energy-efficient science, research, innovation, and industry collaboration facility. The $30-million, 46,000-square-foot Essex Centre of Research (“CoRe” to those in the know), is the outcome of a unique multilateral partnership at federal, provincial, and university levels. An expansive addition to the existing Essex Hall, the new facility consists of three floors of open-concept lab space designed to enable leading-edge research and development and to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration. “I think it’s important to recognize that the federal and the provincial governments—and obviously the university itself—invested in the science that is occurring at the University of Windsor,” says Houser.

“The federal government recognized that what we were doing in transnational health and advanced materials is important.”

To get a better sense of the bleeding edge work going on behind laboratory doors in the faculty of science, The DRIVE sat down with with Drs. Charu Chandrasekera, Dan Xiao, and Tricia Breen Carmichael.

“We’re not at the end of the world,” their dean stresses. “We are the destination. We can do things that a lot of other people can’t.”

34

PEOPLE DRIVE

Charu Chandrasekera Thinks Outside the Cage The University of Windsor placed a major bet on one envelope-pushing biologist and her controversial plan to replace animal-based research with modern methods rooted in human biology that promise not merely to replace, but also to outperform conventional techniques.

According to her Dean of Science, if it works, it’s going to be revolutionary.

In 2011, a heart attack changed everything. primary investigator under whom she was Dr. Charu Chandrasekera’s father was running experiments with mice and rats— convalescing from quadruple bypass surgery. about the usefulness of certain protein recepA University of Calgary PhD graduate, tors for protecting human hearts like her Chandrasekera had set out to make a father’s. meaningful career in cardiovascular science and wondered if the work she was doing would one day help to protect hearts from damage in the event of a myocardial infarction. She queried a leading professor—a 20-year veteran THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

As Chandrasekera explains, 95% of drugs tested and found to be safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials. “We have a scientific culture obsessed with curing animals that often forgets we are attempting to “That was the defining moment for me; I cure humans,” she stresses. “We can continue still remember exactly what he said and how along this path for another century and we he said it,” Chandrasekera now recalls. “How will not make major progress.” the hell would I know? I’ve never looked at this in Chandrasekera left academic research after humans.” that experience to join an American non-profit 35

PEOPLE DRIVE that promotes alternative methods to animal testing and higher standards in biomedical research. She was exposed to an entire community of academics, industry figures, and government regulators who were actively shifting away from animal testing.

Today, a biochemist and molecular biologist approaching two decades’ experience in research focused on cardiovascular disease and diabetes, Chandrasekera is the founder and executive director of the University of Windsor’s Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods (CCAAM) and its subsidiary, the Canadian Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (CaCVAM).

can do drug testing. You can test hundreds of about catching up to the progress already made diseases at once.” in these countries.”

The next pillar of the project will see the CCAAM establish unique courses and programs in animal replacement science to educate future scientists, ethicists, and policymakers. “There was an advantage to hosting the centre at a university,” says Chandrasekera, “because you can develop the next generation of students, training them to think outside the existing, failing paradigm. Ten years from now, replacement of animal testing through alternative methods is going to become very real.”

‘‘

At present, Chandrasekera’s work is largely funded through a $1 million October 2018 donation by the Eric S. Margolis Family Foundation—the philanthropic arm of the former owner and chair of Jamieson Laboratories, which now focuses on animal welfare issues. It was the largest gift for research in the University of Windsor’s history.

The world’s very first similar centre, the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, was established at Johns Hopkins University This academic year, the CCAAM will offer in 1981. “I was six years old, learning to climb its first undergraduate course, and Chandrase- mango trees in Sri Lanka,” recalls ChandraseLaunched in October 2017, the CCAAM is kera expects her first PhD student to begin in kera, who now stands professionally beside its the first and only centre of its kind in Canada founder, Dr. Alan Goldberg. dedicated to the development, validation, and This spring, Chandrasekera received the promotion of animal-free methods to research Women for a Humane Canada award from human disease and predict human drug and Humane Canada, the national federation of chemical safety. Its overarching vision is no less humane societies and societies for the preventhan to promote the replacement of animals in tion of cruelty to animals.

Canadian biomedical research, education, and An ethical vegan who wears a tattoo of her regulatory testing through science, innovation, late cat’s pawprint on her forearm, Chandraseand ethics. kera bristles somewhat at the suggestion that The CCAAM potentially represents a her work can be folded into any larger societal watershed moment for health research in shift towards veganism, ethical consumerism, Canada. Animal research has traditionally and a renegotiated understanding of humanrepresented a good faith effort to advance kind’s relationship with animals. “The centre biomedical science by emulating our diseases is the future of biomedical research,” she and drug responses, and it has led to breakstresses.

“It’s the future of medicine.

It’s the throughs like the discoveries of insulin and future of chemical safety testing.

It’s not just penicillin, but a swelling body of credible me in a little corner doing this.

It’s a global evidence indicates that the effectiveness of movement. Upholding the highest standards this research is at an all-time low. of ethical care of animals should happen in The CCAAM research laboratory, which science regardless of anything else.” will host its official grand opening in October, Fundamentally, Chandrasekera’s project is ultimately aims to study human disease and about advancing science to benefit animals, test chemical toxicity using human cell and yes, but also humans. tissue-based systems such as 3-D bioprinting and organoids—miniature three-dimensional “If you look at anything in human history, organ-like structures engineered from adult it’s very difficult to change long-standing January. At the high school level, Chandrasehuman stem cells to recreate human biology paradigms,” she continues. “It’s not easy, but kera is preparing to launch a major program in a petri dish. The first two projects will focus the facts are there. When we were using horse aimed at phasing out animal dissection in on diabetes-in-a-dish and Alzheimer’s-in-a-dish. chariots as the primary mode of transportascience classrooms.

On the day of our visit, her team had just tion, we still aspired to fly. We did, and about Meanwhile, the CaCVAM will work side-by- 60 years from our first flight, we landed on the printed human liver tissue for the first time side with regulators, primarily Health Canada, moon. That’s where we need to go in biomedical in her lab. and international consortia to expedite the research, because we know the system is broken.

“We have tools at our disposal to look at development, validation, and acceptance of “If the ultimate goal of the scientific human biology in a completely different light,” alternative toxicity testing methods. community is to advance human medicine, insists Chandrasekera. “You can take these “When it comes to advancing alterna- it’s time to prioritize human biology.” micro-engineered environments that emulate our natural physiology and configure them in tives to animal testing,” says Chandrasekera, Contact: 519.253.3000 x3086 so many different ways to create diseases in “Canada is lagging behind many nations a dish, or you can put them on a computer and we direly need government support— cpchandr@uwindsor.ca chip the size of a thumb drive on which you financially and legislatively—to even think www.uwindsor.ca/ccaam

We have a scientific culture obsessed with curing animals that often forgets we are attempting to cure humans

’’

36

PEOPLE DRIVE

Dan Xiao’s New Image of Accessible Healthcare A University of Windsor physicist is an expert in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology. Her lab is hard at work developing a portable and affordable handheld MRI device that might one day be taken into remote areas in Northern Ontario and elsewhere to improve healthcare for marginalized groups.

In science, everything is impossible until it isn’t.

During her job interview for a tenure-track faculty position at the University of Windsor, Dr. Dan Xiao told a story. Imagine, she prompted the hiring committee, a future in which MRI devices could be made tiny enough to cram into a small capsule. Swallow a pill, and a team of researchers could access sophisticated images of the inside structure of your digestive tract.

If this idea sounds like the stuff of science fiction, that’s because it is—at least for now. “It would be very, very hard,” Xiao says, smiling, but it’s a logical theoretical endpoint of an ambitious research project now well underway at the University of Windsor.

Xiao’s area of concentration is experimental biomedical physics, including medical imagining and diagnostic technologies.

Buoyed by a $6 million federal commitment from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada that was announced in this past fall, Xiao works to make potentially life-saving MRI devices small enough to fit in the palm of one’s hand.

For the uninitiated: MRI is probably the most flexible and powerful diagnostic imaging technique available to clinical medicine. In the simplest terms, MRI scanners produce amazingly detailed images of soft tissue, bone, and organs—including the brain—by looking THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

37

PEOPLE DRIVE deep inside the body. They use radio frequencies and exceptionally strong magnets to generate powerful magnetic fields that affect the water molecules comprising 70% of the body at a subatomic level. There are no known side effects.

According to Xiao, other popular medical imaging modalities, like X-ray and CT scan, produce comparatively simple single-contrast images. “With MRI,” she explains, “the contrast is really rich, and the information in there is very rich. I can differentiate one cell tissue from another based on microscopic-level properties. It’s very, very flexible data. Just by adjusting the parameters of your experiments, you can highlight different features very easily.

So, the experiment design is very important.”

Xiao joined the University of Windsor in July 2017 from the University of New Brunswick, where she had completed a PhD, post-doctoral fellowship, and two years as a research scientist. Xiao came to Southwestern Ontario because, well, that’s just how the academic job market works: professors go where the work is.

Fortunately, it’s been a very happy marriage so far. “For the area of research I’m doing, usually you have a lot of people gathered in a very large group, sharing really expensive instruments, and all working together as a large research team,” explains Xiao, who is the only UWindsor faculty member working in her field. “I’m okay in that setting, but what I like about here is, although I’m by myself and it can be very challenging, I can do whatever I want, because there is nobody telling me what to do! It’s a very friendly, very good environment, and I receive lots of help from the senior faculty.”

Xiao’s research work is effectively split into two streams. She operates a conventional but miniaturized MRI instrument, which she uses to help several of her biological sciences colleagues perform research studies using mice and rats. The device is also appropriate for frogs, fish, or really whatever else can fit inside.

Xiao’s group designs new experimental methodologies—ways in which to collect and process imaging data—in collaboration with biomedical researchers who study cancer and brain function. “Based on what they study, we provide them a way to look at their subjects non-invasively,” she says.

‘‘

“For some applications, the information produced is sufficient to perform diagnoses in near-surface tissue,” says Xiao.

“For example: skin disease, muscle issues, whatever you can think about that’s one centimetre below the surface.”

MRI is conventionally very expensive,” explains Xiao. “When people talk about MRI, they think about the big fancy instruments in hospitals. I’m trying to develop low-cost, cheaper MRI instruments so that point-of-care diagnosis is more affordable.

’’

Essentially, Xiao’s challenge involves finely calibrating the device and designing innovative experiments to enable scientists to successfully interpret the data we know exists in the world. When scientists discuss signal processing, they inevitably talk about signalto-noise ratio. A smaller, weaker magnetic field means a weaker signal, which means it’s harder to separate the information you’re trying to capture from the noise you are not.

“The major challenge of such devices is their sensitivity,” says Xiao. “The information is there, but it’s mostly buried in noise. That is why we are working a lot with machinelearning data processing to compensate and cope with the low signal.”

Fortunately, Xiao boasts a flexible background in experiment design and data processing, which are eminently transferable skills in her field. The portable MRI endeavour represented a very feasible research project even if she was unable to secure substantial funding early in her career.

Eventually, a fully functional handheld MRI machine could be taken into developing and remote communities where comprehensive healthcare may be difficult to access. It could also help diagnose problems closer to home. “Even if you have accessibility to a conventional MRI machine,” Xiao notes, “you will usually wait months for an appointment, because the cost of the machine is to the order of many millions of dollars. Here, the cost of the material and construction is essentially nothing.”

At the moment, Xiao’s lab includes seven students, most of whom are undergraduates. Under her supervision, undergraduates are already composing papers for peer review, writing sophisticated “deep learning” I note that Dean of Science Dr. Chris algorithms, building 3-D printers, and Houser is fond of categorizing the device as restoring decommissioned electromagnets to a “backpack” MRI. Xiao laughs, happy to go solve complex problems. along with that branding.

“They’re quite happy that, as undergraduates, they get to work on real research Really, the prototype would fit comfortably projects,” says Xiao, noting that this access to inside a modest lunchbox. To the untrained research assistantship is a meaningful advanobserver, it would seem to work similarly to an tage of studying in a smaller department. airport security wand—capturing images from

Xiao’s less conventional work has fasci- a small box held close to the skin rather than For the students, as for their advisor, the nating promise. fully enclosing the patient. possibilities are virtually endless.

38

PEOPLE DRIVE

Tricia Breen Carmichael weaves her magic One University of Windsor chemistry professor is developing the wearable, washable materials from which we’ll build the consumer electronics and medical devices of the future. Soon, her high-tech textiles will feature biosensors capable of measuring pressure, motion, pulse, and geospatial location—all while feeling as comfortable as your favourite sweatshirt.

THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

39

PEOPLE DRIVE

‘‘

Remember Maxwell Smart’s shoe phone? that operate reliably in dynamic conditions.

Dr. Tricia Breen Carmichael can’t forget it.

In the case of textiles, Carmichael again A professor of surface and materials looks to the past to find the future. “We’ve chemistry at the University of Windsor’s been developing textiles since the beginning Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, of civilization,” she notes. “We have a huge Carmichael heads a research group focused variety to work with if we want to make them on developing new materials and methods for functional. In science, the structure of the the fabrication of stretchable and conductive textile is the problem: each one has this 3-D textile-based wearable electronics, less cumber- architecture that you have to deal with.” somely referred to as “e-textiles.”

Carmichael completed a PhD in According to her, we have wanted to wear organo-metallic chemistry—a completely technology for a very long time. different area of her discipline—at the UniverCarmichael’s public lecture slides include sity of Windsor in 1996. She used that degree illustrations and photographs of early as a springboard to a two-year postdoctoral “wearables” invented by eccentric visionaries fellowship at Harvard, where she pioneered like Hugo Gernsback, founder of the seminal new methods for the three-dimensional self-asscience-fiction magazine Amazing Stories and sembly of electrical connections.

The thing is, there’s huge potential here for the aging population.

’’

Between 1999 and 2005, before returning to her alma mater as a faculty member, Carmichael worked in private industry at the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, New York. “It was fairly leading-edge research,” she notes. “I worked on and started to learn about organic electronics there. I just continued from that, and got interested in soft materials, polymers, and textiles—trying Often, these consumer objects were rooted to solve those problems.”

Today, Carmichael holds more than 25 in sound ideas, but the technology of the time hadn’t caught up with their inventors’ imagina- worldwide patents. tions. “You couldn’t really execute it,” CarmiWhile early research projects largely chael explains. Nobody really wanted to take focused on threading tiny wires through off their shoe to make a phone call. fabrics or printing on them using conductive namesake of the Hugo Awards for speculative literature. Gernsback’s devices, which date back to the 1920s, include primitive television goggles that use tiny cathode ray tubes, and “The Isolator,” a bizarre anti-distraction helmet. “I have a fascination with those old devices,” admits Carmichael, who is also an associate dean in the Faculty of Science.

“Some of them are so crazy!”

Today, relatively accessible devices like FitBits and smartphone-integrated virtual reality headsets suggest we really are living in the future. “But if you look at what was then and what is now,” Carmichael cautions, “the wearability hasn’t really changed that much. Modern devices are still very obvious.

They’re not integrated with what our bodies are like—which is soft—and they’re not really integrated into our daily lives. You have to put them on deliberately.”

According to Carmichael, the logical next step is to integrate functionality into experimental textiles directly. “How do you take clothing and add this function to it so that it’s just there?” she asks. “That is the type of question we look at in my lab.”

ink, both approaches tended to add bulk to the material while decreasing flexibility.

Carmichael’s lab uses a series of chemical baths in order to subtly but significantly change the surface of a fabric while arriving at a surprisingly soft and stretchable end product.

In one breakthrough textile, each individual fibre is coated in a layer of gold—an excellent conductor that very rarely irritates the skin— less than one-one-thousandth the width of an average human hair. At the moment, the product is just a small patch, but the underlying logic is scalable. “Something like this is wiring,” Carmichael explains. “It just looks like gold fabric, but it’s conductive and durable.

We made an imitation sweat solution, and we did the laundry cycles in the lab with regular detergent. And then my student worked out with it on her clothing and we looked at the changes; it was stable.

In simplified scientific terms, Carmichael, works to integrate functional materials such as metals, carbon nanotubes, nanowires, graphene, and electroluminescents with “The popular perception is that this is elastomers to prepare stretchable components, kind of cool, but sort of gadgety,” continues which she then uses to make electronic devices Carmichael, who offers the self-lacing sneakers 40

from Back to the Future as an analogue in the popular imagination. “The thing is, there’s huge potential here for the aging population.

Detecting slips and fall or looking at different patterns of behaviour or mobility could be very important. And for that population, it has to be really wearable.”

Building on this foundation, Carmichael and her group have made inroads towards wearable textiles with embedded light-emitting devices that might be used for safety clothing. Another project involves studding clothing with imperceptible sensors that could constantly monitor one’s pulse, blood pressure, sweat levels, or location. Performance tracking and injury detection applications for athletics are already driving investment in the field.

Carmichael’s modestly sized lab comprises approximately 12 people, including one postdoctoral fellow, three current doctoral students, and two master’s students. For the Carmichael Group, some days involve scouring the internet for interesting new materials, while others are much more unpredictable.

“Sometimes, it’s going to Fabricland to buy textiles to play with,” says Carmichael, “or sometimes it’s building a small machine to solve a problem. My students can be very creative and imaginative in the lab and pull from many different aspects of their experience.”

Going forward, Carmichael anticipates various collaborations with data wizards, kinesiologists, and healthcare professionals, whose expertise complements her lab’s core chemistry skillset.

“People have a lot of preconceived ideas, but chemistry is incredibly broad,” says Carmichael, citing her own work experience in the technology sector. “I think there’s not really widespread knowledge, even among students, that a chemistry degree gives you a great foundation to do almost anything. Fields like electronics need people with chemistry backgrounds who understand materials and can design new ones to solve problems.”

uwindsor.ca

The values that I learned as a University of Windsor student are integrity, teamwork, self-discipline, critical thinking, compassion, humility, respect and courage.

They are the same ones that we try to instill in our students every day.

We know the University shares our values and continues to promote excellence through scholarship, research and creative activity, and we strongly encourage our students to consider UWindsor as a postsecondary destination. We are all Windsor Proud.”

Terry Lyons, BHK 1986 Director of Education Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board

As it turns out, even the most futuristic technology is still powered by a physical thing that’s, well, made of stuff. “Exactly!” agrees Carmichael. “And some of that stuff is stuff that hasn’t been invented yet.”

Contact: 519.253.3000 x3538 tbcarmic@uwindsor.ca www.carmichaellab.com D. THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

41

IT’S NOT JUST A HOUSE, IT’S A HOME.

NEW HOMES RENOVATIONS ADDITIONS

NEW GAMES NEW THRILLS Breakaway & Paradise Gaming Centres

WWW.AZARHOMES.COM DANNY AZAR PRESIDENT

HAVE NEW WAYS TO PLAY! Introducing our new and exciting line up of cabinet machines with several different ways to play and win! All games offer bonus rounds and a chance at progressive jackpots.

PARTNER with success To advertise in our next issue, email or call us Ken Stewart kstewart@thedrivemagazine.com

519-256-0001

655 Crawford Avenue, Windsor, Ontario

519.259.8570

www.breakawaygamingcentre.com

Dave Hunter dhunter@thedrivemagazine.com

519.567.0753

519-977-6100

Mel Monczak mmonczak@thedrivemagazine.com

2340 Dougall Avenue, Windsor, Ontario

519.903.1353 The

DRIVE

ISSUE 120

www.paradisegamingcentre.com

Join our FREE Loyalty Program The

ISSUE 121

Must be 18 years of age or older to play. *Must be 19 years of age or older to be served alcohol.

A SUPER MAN

When don’t tell means TELL EVERYONE

IN DISGUISE

LIFESTYLE | CULTURE | PEOPLE | TRENDS

THEDRIVE#120_TEXT.indd 2

2019-02-26 5:52 PM

PEOPLE | TRENDS CULTURE | LIFESTYLE | 2019-04-09

4:08 PM

PROFILE

Shepley Excavating & Road Maintenance Ltd. The guy who could get it done

Sponsored by Shepley Excavating & Road Maintenance Ltd.

While Jeff Shepley was 17 and still in school, he had a vision of a career outside farming, which his family had done for years: he wanted to work in construction.

Like most success stories, Jeff’s life changed in a single day—a man with a dump truck and backhoe showed up at his father’s home, asking if they wanted to buy his equipment. Jeff knew instantly that this was his chance.

With a $20,000 loan from the bank, co-signed by Jeff’s father, Jeff had set his path for the future.

Buying the equipment was the first step towards the business that is now known as Jeff Shepley Excavating Ltd. Because Jeff was still in high school, he had to push harder than most to find projects to keep this equipment busy; his vision was to become known as “The Guy Who Could Get It Done.”

Starting with a small team in 1979, today the company has found its comfort zone with over 30 employees, many having been with him for over 25 years.

“It’s very special when people commit their whole career to a single workplace. We are very proud of these team members and the accomplishments they have made here with us,” Jeff says, now 40 years in business with a dedicated team by his side.

Jeff Shepley Excavating Ltd. bids and constructs civil work, while Shepley Road Maintenance Ltd.—established in 1996— is known for doing total road rehabilitation of surface treated roads, crack sealing of asphalt pavement, and asphalt repair throughout Essex County and Chatham-Kent.

Jeff credits his many years in the business to the hard work of his in-office engineer who has dedicated his time and experience.

“All of the work we do is specialized so we are very hands on, which is why I enjoy working in the field with our team,” Jeff says about his dedication to the technical aspects of the business. “We get many questions and concerns from municipalities, and we always try to assist them with their situations. It’s gratifying to see the end result when their project turns out the way they envisioned it.”

Jeff and his wife Paulette have always been proud of their success and were happy their four children decided to become involved with the business at one time or another. Two of them are continuing to build the company today.

Shepley Excavating & Road Maintenance Ltd. 2964 County Rd 12 Essex, ON N8M 2X6 519-776-4601

Their youngest daughter, Candace, took on the dayto-day roles in the office and assists in the accounting department. Their son Denver has been in the field managing projects and working hands-on with the crew since he was 19. Jeff and Paulette’s other two daughters, Amanda and Vanessa, both went on to achieve great success with their own career paths in Calgary and London.

Jeff is proud to say that Shepley Excavating & Road Maintenance Ltd. has made it 40 years in the business, and he’s not ready to retire anytime soon. If you see him in his CAT road grader, give him a wave!

Actual Project

1455 Matthew Brady Blvd | Windsor 519.944.5277 | bayviewglass.com

DS 60

Richy Nix

44

PLAN YOUR 2020 RETREAT Purchase your summer vacation home.

Book a tour and see what it’s really like to be at Rochester Place.

WE ARE ALMOST SOLD OUT Reserve your spot now!

rochesterplace.com

Joe Hallow THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

981 County Road 2, Belle River, ON | 519.728.2361 ext. 4 | info@rochesterplace.com

45

REAL ESTATE DRIVE

THE YQG EFFECT EXPLORING WINDSOR’S BOOMING HOUSING MARKET

By Layan Barakat | Photography: Syx Langemann

46

“Top 35 Cities to Buy Real Estate in Canada.” The headline had taken over my timeline. Friends and family proudly shared the article from MoneySense.ca that ranked Windsor in the number one spot with 11% on a five-year annual ROI—a goldmine for any investor. A series of emojis sat under each individual post ranging from big hearts to angry, red faces. People had opinions, and they wanted to share them. Some were thrilled that the infamous “South Detroit” was known for something other than a classic ’80s rock ballad, while others shared their concern that this would negatively affect residents in an already inflated market.

With the growth of the YQG community came a swell of hometown pride. A quick search of #YQG on Instagram will reveal thousands of photos from young entrepreneurs, bloggers, and residents with filtered snapshots of their favourite local spots.

“We’re so Windsor Proud that we started a hashtag series called #WindsorProud,” said Rob Agnew, broker and General Manager of Manor Windsor Realty Ltd. “We couple up with different corporations, individuals, and groups to brag about our town a little bit. It certainly goes out there so people that are thinking of relocating to Windsor can see more clearly the benefits of coming here.”

New homeowners and realtors alike can attest to the fact that Windsor’s market has seen a surge as of late. “We are up 11.38% this June versus June 2018,” said Deidre Ritsche, realtor and one half of the dynamic duo of BorderCityLiving.ca, a blog dedicated to highlighting local unique, urban living spaces.

The heart of Windsor lies in the residents, the ones who feel a duty to make their community one they can be proud of. I had a chance to sit down with three residents from three different pockets of the Windsor-Essex area, who each explained to me what makes their corner of the region special and unique.

She and her business partner, Stephanie Bradt, are part of the wave of Windsorites who left the city years ago to embark on personal adventures and endeavours, but who were drawn back to their hometown—much like the majority of their clientele. “It’s almost like they didn’t realize how good they had it in Windsor until they left, and now they’re back and they’re like, ‘Wow, I struggled in those other cities, I was a small fish in a massive pond,’” said Deidre. “You can come back and make a difference and that’s what Windsor needs, especially in the urban core.”

That difference is what has helped Windsor flourish over the past few years.

With the development of the downtown core, old Walkerville, Ford City, and the expansion of residential neighbourhoods, each pocket in the Windsor region (and surrounding townships) has something to offer. “People are excited to be back here and out-of-towners are excited about everything the Essex County region has to offer,” said Angie Goulet, from Angie Goulet & Associates, a team of real estate agents within Re/Max Preferred Realty Ltd. with over 16 years of experience in the Windsor region. “We have great schools, we have an emerging culture of restaurants and things we can do across the board in our backyard, but we don’t have the problems of a big city. Windsor has been growing at an exponential rate, but the community remains grounded in its roots.”

THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

“I love the sense of community in the downtown core. The residents and business owners are always looking out for each other.”

Katie Stokes

DOWNTOWN Katie Stokes is a local entrepreneur with a home-based business, Blab Media, and a retail shop called WhiskeyJack located on Maiden Lane in the heart of Windsor’s downtown core. As a resident of the downtown area for approximately six years, she understands the importance of economic growth in the heart of the city. “I love the sense of community in the downtown core,” said Katie. “The residents and business owners are always looking out for each other. Every time I read the news there seems to be a lot of negativity towards the core.

While we’re an area that’s still growing, we’ve got lots to offer. I also love that I’ve become good friends with the small business owners at the shops that I frequent on a regular basis.

There’s a wonderful sense of belonging down here and a fierce spirit because we’re used to fighting for everything we want.”

According to Katie, there are more residential properties developing downtown than there have been in the past 20 years. Deidre agrees, and added, “People are hungry for that walkability and that lifestyle.” As a young professional, it seems like a no-brainer for Katie to make the downtown core her home base but she believes that residents of all ages should consider housing opportunities in downtown Windsor. “I want people to live downtown, experience the area, and become invested in its future,” said Katie.

47

WALKERVILLE

COUNTY

Old Walkerville experienced exponential growth in the past five to six years. As a resident of the neighbourhood myself, I’ve seen the area flourish and become the trendy spot for restaurants, boutiques, and year-round festivals. Paul Brereton has lived in Old Walkerville for nine years. His passion and commitment to the neighbourhood he calls home is undeniable.

Although the downtown core and trendy areas like Walkerville and Ford City have become highly desired, it’s the suburbs and the surrounding townships that have lured in out-of-town buyers who are looking to swap out the bustling, busy cities for a quieter community.

ALKERVILLE

Walkerville has become one of the more desired areas in the real estate market. With a good mix of residential housing, walkable entertainment, and a flourishing art scene, housing prices have inflated, making it difficult for first-time buyers or even renters to afford the cost of living in this highly-soughtafter neighbourhood. “From a financial perspective, our neighbourhood has seen a “The entire neighbourhood is steeped in big benefit from the recent trend in housing history, and you can feel it when you walk prices. Houses are going for above asking in around,” he said. “The sense of togetherness days, if not hours!” said Paul. and the pride that we all have in our homes, Of course, an inflated market has its our streets, and the neighbourhood makes downsides.

“With the good often comes the Walkerville different. It’s like nothing I’ve bad,” Paul admits.

“Because of the demand experienced anywhere else. I know the names and competition, houses are often being sold of every neighbour on our street for at least without conditions (and inspections) so the 10 houses in both directions. We even have mechanism that is designed to ensure quality a Christmas walking tour where we set up refreshment tables in every house and walk and safety is being forsaken for dollar signs. It between them, sharing stories and catching has also resulted in a measurable increase in up on whose kids are going where and doing the number of people knocking on my door what. We shovel each other’s walks and mow and asking me if I’d be interested in selling my each other’s lawns when the family is away on house. I just hope that the influx of buyers all vacation, and are welcome on any front porch have the same passion for our neighbourhood for an evening glass of wine.” that we do.”

48

Heather Parisé and her husband David are a young couple raising their children in Cottam, Ontario, a small town in Canada’s southernmost municipality. “Living in a small town outside of the city affords us the ability to have a larger lot that accommodates our hobbies and lifestyle,” said Heather. “While being in Cottam means that we each have a 30-minute commute to work, the drive is worth the tradeoff of coming home to open spaces. We love raising our kids in a smalltown community with lots of amenities nearby, including great parks and Kingsville’s many restaurants. Cottam’s central location puts everything in Windsor-Essex County within reach.”

Touted as one of Ontario’s warmest communities, Essex County offers the allure of small-town living but is situated just minutes away from Windsor’s downtown core and the Windsor-Detroit border. Residents can embrace the best of both worlds while escaping to conservation areas, national parks, or one of the many gorgeous wineries within the region on weekends. It’s no wonder that many new residents are settling in this rural community. “Housing prices in the area have definitely increased. This is positive for those currently in the market but would make it more challenging for first-time buyers wanting to break in,” said Heather. “The size of some county lots in the area can sometimes increase prices for comparable houses located on smaller lots in town.”

Affordability is definitely not the only factor in the recent housing market boom Windsor-Essex is experiencing. Out-oftowners are coming here for the charm, the potential, and the neighbours who are more than happy to share their passion for the area.

“We’ve never had so many new house starts,” said local realtor Rob Armitage, from Team Armitage, in reference to Windsor’s growing economy. “We have the highway that they had to build and now they’re moving on to the bridge—it’s good! When we’re working and prices are trending up, as frustrating as it might be to buy in, it’s a good thing.”

Parisé family

COUNTY

“Living in a small town outside of the city affords us the ability to have a larger lot that accommodates our hobbies and lifestyle.”

An economy that’s allowing investors to purchase properties with little to no risk “is an attractive market here for investors because the gains are pretty healthy,” said Paul Germanese, realtor with Royal Lepage Binder. “Although the values continue to rise about 20% a year—this is the third year in a row where we’re going to hit about a 15% mark at least— it’s still good numbers for them.”

Whether you’re new to the area or not, it’s hard to deny the charm of the Windsor-Essex region. With its small-town feel and big-city drive, it’s no wonder that Canadians all over the country are flocking to our community.

While housing prices continue to soar, every realtor I spoke to urged Windsorites to not get discouraged, especially if they’re just breaking into the market. With the inflated market comes economic growth. “The unemployment in this town is lower than it has been in many, many years,” said Rob Agnew, “so that helps people getting into the market and moving up the ladder.” https://www.moneysense.ca/spend/real-estate/35-top-canadian-cities-to-buy-real-estate-2019/ D. THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

Dedication Knowledge Results ...It’s YOUR Move!

KERR

Sales Representative

CarolKerr.ca

PREFERRED Realty Ltd., Brokerage Independently Owned And Operated

C: 519.790.9091 Carol@CarolKerr.ca 49

HAVE YOUR

SAY WHAT DO YOU WANT TO READ ABOUT?

TELL US: thedrivemagazine.com/haveyoursay OR haveyoursay@thedrivemagazine.com

50

The THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

DRIVE 51

SPORTS DRIVE DJ Smith, Bob Jones, Steve Ott, Bob Boughner

r e n r o C ’ C o a c he s WINDSOR-ESSEX LURES NHL BENCH BOSSES BACK HOME EVERY SUMMER

By Donald McArthur | Photography: Syx Langemann

Donald McArthur caught up with four local hockey standouts achieving success as coaches.

One of them just brought the Stanley Cup home to Lakeshore for a victory tour. The others dream of following in his skate strides.

52

SPORTS DRIVE

DJ SMITH

BOB JONES

STEVE OTT

The Battle of Ontario will heat up this year when new Ottawa Senators’ coach DJ Smith squares off against the Maple Leafs and Mike Babcock, under whom he worked as an assistant for the past four years. Smith, a former Windsor Spitfire player, captain, and coach, has been a head coach before—he led the Oshawa Generals to the Memorial Cup in 2015 and was named OHL Coach of the Year in 2014—but never in the National Hockey League.

Others might have given up on the dream after a quarter-century of long nights and gruelling bus rides, but Bob Jones just kept grinding and believing. “You never give up hope,” says Jones, 49, who is about to embark on his first season in the National Hockey League as an assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators. “I spent 23 seasons in junior and one in the American Hockey League so it’s been a long road, but, at the end of the day, it’s all worth it.”

Bringing the Stanley Cup home to Essex County was Steve Ott’s way of thanking the community that has had his back since he moved to Stoney Point in Grade 8 with dreams of hockey glory and the skills and tenacity to achieve them.

“There are only 31 of these jobs in the league and seven in Canada. It really is a big step but it’s something I’m ready for,” says Smith, 42. “It’s taken me 16 years to get to this position and I’m going to make good on it.”

Jones was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in 1989 but never laced up the blades in the NHL, playing instead for teams like the San Diego Gulls, Fort Wayne Komets, and Muskegon Fury.

While the media scrutiny in Ottawa might not be as intense as in Toronto, Smith knows there will be pressure as he seeks to rebuild a franchise that has floundered since reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in 2007.

“My biggest challenge is to change the culture there and establish a positive work environment on a daily basis and it’s something I think I’m good at,” says Smith.

“We have to show that the team is going in the right direction and that we’re turning the corner and playing hard.”

Smith was raised in River Canard before moving to Tecumseh, a place he calls “one of the best-kept secrets in Canada.” He and his young family—including Brock (3) and 15-year-old Colton, who is eligible for next year’s OHL Draft—will continue spending their summers there after moving to Ottawa.

Smith is married to award-winning journalist Christie Bezaire, who worked for CTV Windsor before moving on to CP24 in Toronto. She’s looking for new opportunities in the nation’s capital and won’t be on the sidelines for long. “She’s very good at what she does,” says Smith.

Smith played in 45 NHL games for the Leafs and Colorado Avalanche, notching one goal and one assist, and the desire to win the Stanley Cup burns stronger than ever. He refused to touch it during a recent event at Rochester Place and says he’ll keep grinding until he can hoist it himself.

“You only touch it when you win it,” says Smith. “If you want to achieve anything in life, you have to think about it every day and I really believe I’m going to win that Cup.” THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

He began his coaching career in 1995 as an assistant with the Greyhounds in his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie and moved onto Brampton, Toronto, and Sudbury before landing in Windsor in 2007 as an associate coach for the Spitfires.

He won back-to-back Memorial Cups with Bob Boughner, served as the Spits’ head coach in 2010-11 and then again as an associate coach before landing the top job in Oshawa in 2015. He worked as an assistant coach for the Texas Stars in the AHL in 2018-19 before close friend DJ Smith offered him his big break with the Sens.

“I never reached the pinnacle of the NHL as a player,” says Jones. “This is something I’ve been waiting for my whole life, as a young player and then as a young coach. It’s finally come to fruition.”

Jones will start as the team’s “eye in the sky,” relaying information from the booth to the bench, but the working plan is for him to get down to ice level for the third period.

Jones has called Windsor-Essex home for 13 years—the longest stay in his journeyman career—and his family will keep their home in Tecumseh while he and his wife, Paige, rent a home in Ottawa. Their son, Blake, is an apprentice plumber with Encore. Daughter Brianna (20), is a second-year nursing student at St. Clair College.

Smith encourages his children and all young players to keep chasing their dreams no matter the odds or obstacles. “You’ve got to be patient, you have to work hard, and you have to stay focused,” says Jones. “Sometimes the reward comes fast, sometimes the reward comes later. I never questioned it.”

“It’s such a great feeling to be able to share it with friends and family in the community who have backed me for so many years,” says Ott, a former Windsor Spitfire and current assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues. “I have had a lot of support in my career. It’s a special feeling to be able to tie it all together and bring it home.”

Ott has come back to Stoney Point to connect with his sister and parents every summer during a 14-year NHL career that saw him score 109 goals and record 179 assists over 848 games with the Dallas Stars, Buffalo Sabres, the Blues, Detroit Red Wings, and Montreal Canadiens. He used to spend those summers training hard and hitting the gym but now he’s mentally unwinding after a gruelling campaign that saw his squad crawl out of the basement and the coaching staff work 67 consecutive days.

While hockey is never far from his mind, he’s trying to decompress and spend time with his wife Erica and children, Layna (12), Maverick (4), and Hendrix, who turned one in August.

Ott loves working for the Blues and has one year left on his contract. He is soaking up knowledge working under head coach Craig Berube in the hopes of moving up the coaching ranks. “I’m continuing to garner as much experience as I possibly can. I enjoy learning every single day and I’m in a very good position as an assistant coach to continue to learn,” says Ott, whose retired Spits jersey hangs from the rafters of the WFCU Centre. “I’m willing to put the years in and the work to hit my main goal of becoming a head coach in the National Hockey League.”

An estimated 1,200 people came out to view the Cup at the Atlas Tube Centre and, if Ott has his way, they’ll be lining up to see it next year as well. “That hunger to have one leads to a hunger for a lot more,” says Ott. “It’s such a dream to win the Stanley Cup. You want to do it again and do it again and do it again.”

53

SPORTS DRIVE

BOB BOUGHNER Bob Boughner is keen to get back behind the bench as an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks and hopes it’s a path that provides him another shot at a head coaching job in the National Hockey League.

“It’s something I loved doing,” says Boughner, who was let go as the bench boss of the Florida Panthers in April after the team missed the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. “You have to put yourself in the right positions to get to that point and San Jose is a great place to be.”

Boughner oversaw the Sharks’ defence for two seasons, coming within two games of winning it all in 2016 before heading to the Panthers. The Sharks snapped him up again in May with a two-year deal and the work has already begun.

He went to the NHL draft in Vancouver in June and also to San Jose. He knows the Sharks are contenders, with elite defencemen like Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns, and he wants to win the Stanley Cup more than ever after seeing Steve Ott bring it home to Stoney Point. “When you see a close buddy achieve his dream like that, you want it even more,” says Boughner.

Boughner played 10 seasons in the NHL, netting 15 goals and 57 assists over 630 games with the Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, and Colorado Avalanche. He wore the ‘C’ for the Flames and, from 2003 to 2006, served as the executive vice president of the NHL Players Association.

Boughner coached the Windsor Spitfires to back-to-back Memorial Cup championships and was twice named OHL and CHL Coach of the Year. He maintained his stake in the club when Cypher Systems Group took a controlling interest and is still very much involved. “We’re a young team with a lot of talent,” says Boughner. “This will be our year to start turning the corner and having some real success on the ice.”

Boughner and his wife, Jennifer, return to Tecumseh every summer with their four children: Brady (23), Molly (21), Emma (19), and Lola (16). The kids will attend local schools when Boughner heads back to San Jose. “We decided long ago that this would be our summer home and we’ll always come back,” says Boughner. “It’s just a great place to come back to every summer and catch up with family and friends and decompress.” D. 54

devonshiremall.com

WINDSOR’S PREMIER SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

it’s your

TURN

landscapefx.com

Plan your escape now

Our recent creation

Discovery Happens Here From preventative care to life-saving treatment, Erie Shores HealthCare is at the heart of our community’s health and well-being.

Through your support, we can continue to make all kinds of amazing things happen here.

Discover how you can make a difference at:

eshfoundation.ca

Proudly Supported by Erie Shores Health Foundation

‘‘’’ You can’t do big things if you’re distracted by small things.

5

PSYCH DRIVE

WAYS TO FOCUS BETTER

By Dr. Andrea Dinardo

PUT AWAY THE PHONE. Research shows the mere presence of a phone impairs intellect and reduces brain power. And if you can’t trust yourself to hit the switch, lock your phone in the trunk of your car and give a trusted friend the key until you are finished your task. No kidding! You’ll miss it for the first 20 minutes, then you’ll forget all about it. You’ll get twice as much work done in half the time.

CLEAR OUT MENTAL CLUTTER. Empty your mind of your to-do lists, worries, and what-ifs before you settle in to work or study.

Write them down and put them in a “worry box” to be tended to once your project is complete.

Repetitive thoughts running through your head could be your biggest distraction.

BE SLIGHTLY UNCOMFORTABLE. Do not sit or lie on your bed when you are reading or working on a project. Sit up straight in an office chair and keep the room temperature cool. This will help keep you alert and awake.

CREATE A SACRED SPACE. The physical act of preparing a space for work can be very calming. Clean your office. Organize your desk. Remove visual clutter. Make your space a welcoming, energizing, inspirational place to be. Add in vibrant colours, fresh notebooks, lightly-scented candles, and bright overhead lights. Your hard work deserves this level of respect.

REWARD YOURSELF...EVENTUALLY! Delayed gratification can be an excellent tool for sustaining attention and motivation. Make a list of all the things that are distracting you and use them as rewards once all your work is done. Bonus: you’ll have a special treat to look forward to. Your success is worth the wait! D.

Dr. Andrea Dinardo is a psychology professor, author, and speaker who is passionate about helping people live their best lives. Visit DrAndreaDinardo.com to learn more about her TEDx talk and psychology workshops.

Disclaimer. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

57

Calling all Authors and Writers

Where good company and great food come together.

For live music dates go to www.factoryhouse.ca

Writing is an art and we’re looking for someone who is sharp, provocative and ambitious at it. We want you to dig deep and cover a wide range of topics that influence our community and speak to our audience.

eats & drinks. plenty of parking Contact us at: Editorial@thedrivemagazine.com

TheDriveMagazine.com Twitter @thedrivemag Instagram #thedrivemag Facebook @thedrivemagazine

Follow us

519-915-8224 • 5240 Tecumseh Rd. E. • Windsor www.factoryhouse.ca

Hyprov with Colin Mocherie & Assad Mecci January 25

Sept. 28

PRESENTING PARTNER

Jan. 25

Box OfďŹ ce: 519-252-6579 www. chryslertheatre.com

A customized steel structure: buildings with infinite possibilities!

Residential, Commercial and Industrial Construction

519-919-0045

www.coliseumcontracting.com

MUSIC DRIVE

60

of

Man Music

WINDSOR’S ALLESANDRO ROTONDI IS LIVING HIS DREAM THROUGH DEDICATION AND A PERPETUAL DESIRE TO LEARN

By Tita Kyrtsakas | Photography: Syx Langemann

“Everything I ever wanted to do was always music,” Allesandro Rotondi exclaims. “You listen to a song. You love it. You learn it.”

MUSIC DRIVE lids would be cymbals. That was fun,” he smiles. As Rotondi grew older, he got his mom’s old record player fixed and started playing her old records.

was like, ‘Why wouldn’t you want to get up every day and do what you love as a career?’

So I thought about it and I’m like, he’s right.”

Rotondi decided he would pursue music with the ultimate goal of becoming a music teacher Then he heard The Beatles. so that he can inspire others to follow their “When I heard those albums, I fell in love. dreams too.

It was their early albums like Hard Day’s Night.

Now Rotondi works weekends performing Straight-up pop tunes. So I started writing mainly vocal and guitar at weddings and songs more like that,” Rotondi explains. restaurants, and during the week he plays in Rotondi grew up just before YouTube retirement homes. Many people come up to exploded. Rotondi would go to the library and him after he plays tunes from Elton John and take out books on his favourite bands, and he Frank Sinatra in awe that he knows the songs. studied music by listening to it.

When he started playing the retirement “I would take a record and rewind it on homes, he became interested in learning more the record player and learn it chord by chord. songs from the ’40s and ’50s.

Once you learn enough chords, they start to “They like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett puzzle-piece together. You can make artistic and the residents are cool because they tell me decisions about what you think is going to be these great stories, like, ‘I used to see Sinatra on a song. Now when I put on a new tune, I in Vegas back in the ’50s or ’60s.’ And you can learn it in about 30 seconds to a minute, don’t hear that from anyone else because it’s once I find the key and the chords.” their era. So that’s interesting to me.”

Rotondi eventually learned to play guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, drums/percussion, Rotondi finds great joy in playing for all harmonica, and vocals. When he was in high age groups. “On a Friday afternoon I could school and wondering what his potential be at a retirement home playing Frank and career could be, Rotondi’s music teacher at Tony tunes and then by nighttime I could be St. Anne High School, Mr. Gagnon, changed at Kildare House playing Weezer and Green his outlook.

Day.” He adapts to the audience after realizing “Mr. Gagnon was talking one day and he what they want to hear and he has over 450 Photography: Syx Langemann

Rotondi was just two years old when he started playing music. Now 21, Rotondi lives and breathes music: he wakes up to music, scours record stores for albums old and new, plays gigs across the county, writes his own songs, is part of a band called Midnight Metro with his old high school pals, and attends the University of Windsor for his Bachelor of Music. Every part of his life is dedicated to music in some way.

His lifelong affair with music started at home in a space full of love and melodies in the air. Both of his parents are big music lovers, and his dad is one of the members of the KISS tribute band, Destroyer, which tours around Canada. When Rotondi was just an infant, Destroyer would have rehearsals in the family’s basement. After everyone left, Rotondi would pop downstairs and play the bass and drums.

“When they’d take their stuff I would make drums out of pots and pans and the THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

61

MUSIC DRIVE songs memorized. His favourite band to this day is The Beach Boys.

A part of Rotondi’s music degree is to take a class on ethnomusicology, where students learn about a culture of music in which they aren’t involved. He decided to study California and ended up completing one of The Beach Boys’ unfinished songs.

Rotondi thought, “How fun would it be to take the song as a blueprint and finish recording and writing it?” He arranged the song in the same way the band creates their music, with the xylophone, ukulele, and glockenspiel in the forefront. The song ended up getting to Al Jardine, one of the co-founders of the band.

Rocksolid Windows & Doors Ltd. Strives for excellence in all stages of our projects. Honest and knowledgeable advice during consultation. Innovative concepts and design collaboration.

Clean, friendly, professional installation.

Featuring

“Jardine really liked it and invited me to Caesars Windsor [when the band was on tour]. Me, Ashley [Rotondi’s girlfriend], Jardine’s wife, and a couple other people were sitting there in the third row watching them rehearse. He’d ask, ‘How’s it sound?’ What do you say when The Beach Boys ask you how they sound?” he laughs.

The experience was life-changing for Rotondi. “Hearing my heroes craft music in front of me was the greatest education you could ever have.”

As for his original music, Rotondi just released his first album called Around You: the acoustic album was recorded at home and influenced by his grandfather and his relationship with Ashley. The final song is called, “What’s the Weather Like in Heaven?”

Before his grandfather passed away in 2011, he’d always ask Rotondi if he had a girlfriend yet. The song is a sendoff, a progression of how far he’s come since losing such an important person in his life.

As Rotondi continues to learn about all kinds of music, he keeps an open mind when it comes to various genres. “Some people say, ‘country music sucks,’ but I try not to think like that. I didn’t know the first thing about jazz when I started university. I didn’t even know how to read music. When I got there, I found it so intriguing and scary at first, but I wanted to learn. You have to abolish your expectations and have a wide perspective on music. So, if you don’t like country music, can you appreciate the artistry? A big part of music is finding the next place to grow.”

Wherever Rotondi goes next, he’s surely one to watch grow. You can follow him here: https://ampl.ink/dbPmj D. 62

519.962.1000 • 4215 Seventh Concession • Windsor, ON • www.rocksolidwindows.ca

TICKLED

pink At Marquis Tile we partner with companies that care about family. Torlys Smart Floors were created with your family in mind.

Come visit us to learn and see what we have to offer.

ALWAYS ON DISPLAY WWW.MARQUISTILE.COM 519-979-4200 1825 Manning Rd I Tecumseh, ON

Relax We take care of the details

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Well Appointed Single Family Homes

THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

CUSTOM HOME BUILDER

519.252.0419

63

LIFE DRIVE

#BUSLIFE

Nobody believed Annie Vanrivong and Jordan Marks when they said they had an unconventional idea for a home.

When they came home with a shell of a school bus that they were going to start renovating, it looked like the two had a long road ahead if they wanted to make the bus liveable during their yearlong travels around the U.S. and Canada—along with their two small children. It wasn’t until Annie and Jordan gutted the bus and started putting up the walls that their friends and family started to take them seriously—it was the push they needed to bring this big idea to life. It took three years of seemingly endless renovations and hiccups, but this July, the family of four was finally ready to take off on their #BusLife adventure of a lifetime. With the entire bus costing them about $25,000, it was an affordable alternative to a home, but it took a tremendous amount of effort on their part.

The idea first came about when Jordan and Annie had moved back to Windsor from Saskatchewan with their first daughter, Avairy.

“I was a stay-at-home mom for about five years and when we came back and I had to work, Jordan and I were on opposite schedules. We never saw each other or spent time with our daughters,” Annie says as we sit in the heart of the newly finished bus.

Jordan and Annie knew that if they got a mortgage in the current economy, their situation would worsen. At first, they thought about building a Tiny Home, but those run between $70,000 and $150,000 up front. Taking into consideration land ownership or putting the Tiny Home on wheels and needing a truck to pull that, the chances weren’t looking good.

The idea of a bus was looking more and more attractive to them, especially because they’d be able to travel around. “If you don’t have a positive financial situation, it’s hard to get on your feet,” Jordan says.

ANNIE AND JORDAN TOOK AN OLD SCHOOL BUS AND TRANSFORMED IT INTO A MOBILE HOME FOR THEIR FAMILY OF FOUR TO TAKE ON A YEARLONG ROAD TRIP

By Alley L. Biniarz | Photography: Syx Langemann 64

He and Annie had the privilege and support system to back them on their decision.

The three of them, plus their new daughter Riley, were able to live with Annie’s parents and use Jordan’s grandparents’ property to store and work on the bus. If not for them, Annie and Jordan aren’t sure this lifestyle would have been attainable.

There were no step-by-step instructions to follow because each bus layout and roof curve varies, and it’s nearly impossible to find exact measurements. Annie and Jordan would come home after a day of working on the bus

LIFE DRIVE and continue researching on their phones waste and fresh water that they can refill, and through the night to try to school themselves solar panels decorating the roof. On top of the environmental benefits, their month-toin electrical, plumbing, and design work.

“We were both a little delusional,” Annie month expenses won’t be more than food laughs. “One summer we worked almost every and gas, since they’ll be parking in free lots or day until midnight, and I remember feeling campsites when needed. so mentally exhausted. The physical work was Along with the money they’ve saved up, fine, but it was the planning. The dimensions their financial plan is to take Annie’s keychainare weird and rounded and nothing is easy to stamping business, Wolf and Rebel, on the road build on a bus.” and sell her creations at markets throughout The entire process encouraged them to test their journey. This also gives the family key their newfound skills and to problem solve, all milestones they can hit along the way, while while keeping their cool and rallying through providing the opportunity for socialization for the situations that felt like a dead end. “There the parents, as well as for their girls. were times where we’d butt heads, especially “Kids are resilient and make friends in this small a space, but I think at the end of so easily. The kids will be more socialized it we learned and understood so much more through this than if they stayed in school with about each other,” Annie says. the same people every day. They’ll become Once the bus was finished, Annie and more cultured and it will help them get out of Jordan had people lining up to congratulate their shell by talking to new people,” Jordan them or tell them how inspiring their journey says. “Socialization is a matter of perspective, has been. The modern-styled bus is decorated and they’ll end up in a routine at some point with plants that breathe life into the compact in their lives, but at least this gives them a space; it’s enough to tempt anyone to switch contrast to the norm.” over to the Bus Life.

In terms of education for their girls, the Annie and Jordan have designed the curriculum is loose, but Annie and Jordan will bus to be completely sustainable, with a be “unschooling them” by using prompts from composting toilet, two 60-gallon tanks for the world around them, and by fostering the

girls’ interests and strengths.

“We’ll be teaching them at a grade above, so they’re not held back when we return,” Annie says about their initial concern. The parents are confident in the girls’ learning skills because they’re already so engaged in reading. Some of their favourite books are from the Little People, Big Dreams series that teach children about famous historians, scientists, and artists like Marie Curie or Frida Kahlo.

Right now, the plan is to make their way out to BC and then cross over into California and Arizona for the winter months. Eventually they’ll go down to Florida and then come back up to do the East Coast in the spring and summer. If their adventures extend beyond one year, they’re open to the challenge.

All fears and uncertainties aside, Annie and Jordan have stamped “Runaway Expedition” on the rear of the bus, ready to take on this new lifestyle.

If you’re located in North America, odds are you may catch a glimpse of Annie and Jordan’s bus on the open road or at a market in your area.

You can follow their #BusLife adventures on Instagram at @runawayexpedition D.

you

It’s more than dentures, it’s a new FREE CONSULTAT IO

N Implant & D igital Dentures Emergencie s & Repairs

thedenturecenter.ca Crafting your smile

THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

LOCATIONS Windsor: 2601 Lauzon Parkway 519.969.6316 Leamington: 33 Princess St. Suite 320 519.326.7391

65

ART DRIVE

Artist

ASK AN

By Asaph Maurer | Photography: Syx Langemann

With WIFF around the corner, I’ve been asked how an artist can cultivate relationships with art collectors and supporters in one’s own home city. Film festivals are often a time when small, new, or unknown filmmakers can be launched onto a world stage, and we have similar opportunities as artists. Since I am a fan of taking immediate action, here are 10 things you can do right away that will bring you closer to your goal of gaining recognition in your hometown. Remember that it is not the most talented or skilled artists who are able to reach the top, but rather the ones who cultivate the best relationships.

1. Instead of asking a potential buyer to 4. Work on bigger format art. If a lot of your artist or with any area in life, introduce new purchase your art, find out instead what work is small, you don’t get the wow factor disciplines into your routine such as more they need. Don’t be afraid to stretch your of a huge decorative piece. Push your abiliexercise or an earlier schedule. These habits abilities by agreeing to a project that’s ties to create something large, which can tend to seep into other aspects of your life, outside of your comfort zone, and thereby then fetch you a higher price. such as allowing you to procrastinate less winning the support of a possible lifelong when it comes to creating art.

5.

S

tart making prints.

Offering prints client. increases the value of your originals. It 8. C reate more. The more art you create, the 2. O ne true fan of your work is worth a allows more eyes to see your creations better you will get. Find art that inspires you hundred who are casually interested. Build while providing a new income stream. and copy it just to improve your skill level. relationships with your true fans one small Plus, they’re easier to give away and make step at a time.

9. F ind balance. Half your art can be what an incredible business card.

3. S upport local. I’ve said this before, but don’t you love to create and the other half can et out more. Attend lots of events in be afraid to give away art to local charity 6. G be what people want you to create. Don’t your city and meet people. The level of auctions. Take it a step further and customneglect either aspect. your success is based on the quality of your make a piece that will be a perfect fit for relationships.

10. Fall in love with the process. True art the event and thus help them get a higher created from a deep place of love will price for your piece and raise more money 7. R emember that success is not pursued; it is always resonate with the right audience. D. for their cause. attracted. If you want greater success as an

‘‘

’’

Instead of being the artist who hopes for the overnight success, be the artist who works for years to achieve what appears to be overnight success. If you work for it, it’s inevitable.

Asaph Maurer is a Windsor-based visual artist who has been a professional artist for two years. He is deeply involved in the arts community in the city and his mission is to help each artist grow by coaching the new global talent forward. www.asaphmaurer.com

66