The Drive Magazine // Spring 2021 // Issue #135

“

uwindsor.ca/lancercentre

I’m honoured and proud to be both Mayor of the City of Windsor and an alumnus of the University of Windsor. As a UWindsor student, I always knew I was part of something special – an institution dedicated to encouraging young people to make a better world through education, scholarship, research and engagement. This is a school committed to shaping individuals who achieve excellence in all that they do here – and beyond.

We are all Windsor Proud.”

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens BComm 1996, MBA 1997, JD 2011

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625.

625. are proud of our strong relationship with LiUNA 625.

We congratulate LiUNA 625 for their continued success in the construction industry in Windsor/Essex County.

We congratulate We congratulate congratulate LiUNA LiUNA LiUNA 625 625 for625 for their for their continued their continued continued success success success in the in inconstruction the construction construction industry industry industry in Windsor/Essex ininWindsor/Essex inWindsor/Essex Windsor/Essex County.

County.

County.

WeWe congratulate LiUNA 625 for their continued success in the the construction industry County.

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OLD FAS H ION E D WH IS K Y COCK TAIL .

PE R FEC TLY CR AF TE D

BY J. P. WIS E R’S .

E ASILY E NJ OYE D

BY YOU.

Please enjoy our products responsibly.

The

DRIVE

PAUL ST-PIERRE.................. Publisher DAVE HUNTER..................... Vice President, sales BREANNE MCGINTY............ Sales STACEY MCDONALD............ Sales SABINE MAIN...................... Creative director SHAWNA BEECROFT............ Graphic designer MARNIE ROBILLARD............ Graphic designer

CONTRIBUTORS ANNA STANLEY ................... Copy editor SYX LANGEMANN................ Photographer TREVOR BOOTH................... Photographer MONA ELKADRI................... Stylist/writer ALLEY L. BINIARZ................ Writer JEN BRIGNALL-STRONG....... Writer DEVAN MIGHTON................. Writer TATIANA CAHUR.................. Writer (student contest) MATTHEW ST. AMAND......... Writer

On the cover: LiUNA 625 Business Manager, Rob Petroni.

Boots on the ground. A man of the people.

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CONTENTS

ISSUE 135

26

AROUND TOWN 10 Noteworthy Mentions Around Town

PORTRAIT LiUNA 625 Business Manager, Rob Petroni knows there is strength in number, and that looking out for others is the true key to success.

SPOTLIGHT 14 A Conversation with Steve Bell FOOD 20 Mediterranean Salad by Oh So Mona FOOD 46 Word of Mouth. Local foodies use Social Media to Support Restaurants amid Pandemic Restrictions OPINION 50 Marriage

Or Mortgage? The debate COMMUNITY 52 Being There. Being a Big Brother Changed Their Lives Forever CHANGING THE CULTURE 56 D ressed to Impress – How a Local Family Bottled Success INNER-VIEW 60 Cup Of Joe with Joe Heraldo

38 SPOTLIGHT The Maestro of Canadian Whisky – Dr. Don Livermore reflects on 25 years at Hiram Walker & Sons.

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HEALTH 64 Maddie Simone Living her Purpose CHARITY 68 C hasing Inclusion – Stephanie Seguin and The Chasing Hazel Foundation EDUCATION 72 Libro Financial Contest – Tatiana Cahur

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A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER I think I speak for most of us when I say that the early months of 2021 have proven to be as challenging as 2020, if not more so. Despite all of the hurdles and trials, we continue to get through it as a community with patience and kindness. We have our eyes set on brighter days when we can visit, gather, and breathe a collective sigh of relief.

To say that we are being tested for our resilience is an understatement. This is most certainly the case with frontline workers.

I am confident that history will hold you up as the true heroes of this story. Thank you to each of you for your continued efforts to keep us all safe, fed, and healthy.

As you open The Drive magazine, it is my hope that this passion project of mine, in a small way, can help support our mental health and lift our spirits by sharing stories of our remarkable neighbours who often go about their business without the recognition we know they deserve. We hope to highlight them, amplify their voices, and share their talents with each of you. Maybe you will be informed, maybe you will be inspired, and maybe you will be entertained. This labour of love is made possible with a great deal of support from our readers, advertisers, and vendors.

A sincere thank you for taking this ride with us, issue after issue.

A shout out to our talented team, who continue their high-quality work while managing the challenges of a pandemic. Lastly, a big thanks to all the Canada Post postal carriers, who provide the critical last step, delivering The Drive to your doorstep.

Our goal for every issue is to share the stories of our residents, one neighbourhood at a time. We invite you to keep reading and getting better acquainted with the extraordinary people around us. Sit back, relax, and enjoy your latest issue of The Drive.

Yours truly, Paul St. Pierre Publisher 8

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AROUND TOWN

TOWN Welcome to our custom content page meant to highlight unique news from the Windsor-Essex region

BRIGHT GREEN ROOF Bright Green Roof Windsor has launched the first and only roofing preservation service. Finally, there is an alternative to a roof replacement. The Windsor based franchise was born during the pandemic, with a focus on helping Windsor’s homeowners save thousands on home maintenance during this difficult time. Their bio-based preservation solution adds 5-10 years of life to a roof, enhances colour, and improves resistance to the elements. With the roofing industry generating over 15 million tonnes of waste annually across North America, Bright Green Roof is an advocate for a healthier carbon footprint. Get your questions answered from the Bright Green Roof family directly at 519-800-0399, or visit www.RoofPreservation.ca

HORIZON ROOFING LTD Trust the commercial, industrial and institutional roofing specialist at Horizon Roofing LTD in Windsor for new construction, restorations, replacements and 24 hr emergency services. Their use of high-quality / industry leading roofing materials combined with decades of experience results in a durable roofing solution in which you can feel confident. At Horizon Roofing LTD, they are always willing to provide you with the best services and put the attention to detail into a great product that is always delivered. Horizon Roofing consistently provides reliable and quality service that makes you realize you chose the best company for the job. To schedule an appointment with one of their professionals, please contact their office at 519-969-5152.

519CULTURE Born and raised in Windsor, Essex County, creator of 519Culture Serena Koehl, holds a passion for people. Missing the farmers markets, live music shows and connecting with others laid the foundation in creating 519Culture, a local lifestyle box. In late March 2020, Serena hit the ground running with an idea to support small businesses and help people discover the Windsor Essex lifestyle. This concept was interesting, and Serena quickly had businesses jump on board. Each box includes a variety of products, services, and coupons to help navigate the amazing things going on in our community. It's a new way to explore and support local businesses plus experience their products/services with the convenience of delivery to your door. Join the 519Culture and visit www.519culture.ca for more information about how to get involved and give the gift that everyone wants.

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AROUND TOWN

AREPEL CONTRACTING At Arepel Contracting, they have built their livelihood on remodeling people's homes. From the simple to the lavish, they have experienced it all and we can help you every step of the way. They pride themselves on exceptional customer service and have knowledgeable staff with over 45 years of experience. Residential or commercial they have all your needs covered: from residential remodels to commercial damage repairs and everything in between. They even have complimentary estimates where they will come out to you. Contact Mike Lepera at 226-774-5969 or visit them online at www.arepel.ca today.

CALIFORNIA CLOSETS California Closets is designed to fit Your Space and Your Budget.

Mickey Janzen, owner of California Closets in Windsor will collaborate with you to design the perfect solution for your lifestyle and budget. Their expert design consultants listen to your needs and requirements and create a custom design that can be tailored to any price range and organizing needs. Equipped with a wide range of product options and ingenious space-saving ideas, it is their job to make sure you get exactly what you want. California Closets showroom is now located at 1160 Walker Road in Windsor and they may be reached at 519-723-2110 or online at www.californiaclosets.ca/windsor

DIAMOND HOME IMPROVEMENT Rod Gillen and Dan Pare would like to announce that Diamond Home Improvement has moved to a new and much larger location to better serve their clients. They are now located at 6930 Concession Road North in Amherstburg, ON. Diamond Home Improvement is a family operated business that strongly believes that your home is where your heart is. Strong family roots grow in homes and that is why Diamond Home Improvement vows to use only the highest quality materials with the most experienced employees to ensure your home is your sanctuary. Diamond Home Improvement was established in 1983 by the Gillen Family and perseverance, determination, and hard work have made them an industry leader in Windsor and Essex County. It is their mission to help you create the home of your dreams. To Book an appointment please call 519-966-7311 or visit them online at www.diamondhome.ca GEML CONSTRUCTION INC. GEML Construction Inc. is the local company you need for your custom home building and renovations. From commercial to residential, we have taken on every challenge and we are passionate about custom designs. Owner, Greg Geml, graduated from the construction technology program at St. Clair College and was honoured to become a red seal fully licensed carpenter at the tender age of 20 - the youngest in Ontario. Greg decided to follow his dream and launch his own construction business - GEML Construction Inc. Now, seven years later, not only does Greg love carpentry, but he is passionate about his Windsor hometown and the family he has built.

Greg is now focussing on his true passion of residential construction, renovations and construction management. For more information on GEML Construction, please visit www.gemlconstruction.com or call 519-981-4365 today.

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AROUND TOWN

XTREME FX Xtreme FX owners Brad Dixon and Guy Riendeau know a thing or two about motorcycles and operating a successful business. The pair recently purchased the company in October of 2020 and decided to move the business to Windsor where they set up a stunning showroom a month later. Their new showroom and garage is located at 2800 Deziel Drive. For over 25 years, the partners have raced motocross professionally across Ontario and across the United States. Xtreme FX is an authorized Kawasaki and Suzuki dealership and provide both sales and service on motorcycles, personal watercraft, and ATVs. They also carry a large selection of quality apparel, parts and accessories. For more information on their products and services please visit them online at www.xtremefx.ca or contact the showroom at 519-727-6840.

THE WALNUT GROVE BED AND BREAKFAST Chasing a dream of theirs, Bob and Leslie Meloche purchased a 120-year-old farmhouse in Pleasant Valley to convert into a luxury bed & breakfast in 2018. After three years of restoration and renovation they are excited to share their slice of heaven. Situated on 10 acres, to enter the farmhouse, one walks through a stately pergola with large koi pond and soothing waterfall - home to their many large koi. Three bedrooms opulently appointed offer up the high level of stay the owners feel is important to restoration of the spirit and soul. Sustainability and accountability to the environment while supporting local businesses is paramount to their brand which also includes creating their own sausage, granola and maple syrup, as well as partnering with local growers, butcher and wineries. The Walnut Grove is a full-service Bed and Breakfast and Leslie, a Sommelier with culinary arts degree, enjoys cooking and sharing the wealth of the county to guests while Bob is fondly called ‘Builder Bob’ or ‘Tractor Bob’ depending on which hat he is wearing. Dinners by the koi pond, charcuterie in their meadow or floating in the pool after exploring the county is what the owners hope guests will embrace when visiting the WG. Their website is www.thewalnutgrovebnb.com or call 519-982-1112 for more details.

MB OPTOMETRY Following her dream, Dr. Melissa Bussey, OD opened the doors to her new practice, MB Optometry, this past April. Located at 1350 Provincial Road in Windsor, this unique office encompasses a modern style that is warm and inviting and is bound to provide an unforgettable experience for all. Offering a large selection of eyewear, the office utilizes advanced technology that not only allows thorough eye examinations, but the complete customization of lenses tailored specifically for you and your visual needs. Dr. Bussey prides herself in providing comprehensive eye exams to ensure the preservation of ocular health and vision.

In addition to providing these services, Dr. Bussey's passion for sports vision training led her to pair her optometry office with a state-of-the-art sports vision training facility. Dr. Bussey has provided both eye care and sports vision training services to NHL and NBA teams throughout her career and is excited to now offer these same services to athletes in the Windsor Essex and surrounding regions through Sports Vision Windsor. Call 519-997-2897 to schedule your eye appointment or sports vision consultation today or visit them online at www.mboptometry.ca.

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SPOTLIGHT

STEVE BELL IS ONLY JUST GETTING STARTED Forced to hit reset on his career, the local sportscaster is busier than ever.

By Devan Mighton Photography by Trevor Booth

When you sit down with Steve Bell, the first thing you notice is his energy. He is enthusiastic and exuberant. He has a gift for gab and a bluesy newsman's voice – it is no wonder he has been on the radio for 41 years, not to mention the Windsor Spitfires' play-byplay guy since 1987.

The youngest of four children, as a kid, Bell lived in a perpetual war over the radio. Growing up in rural Kincardine, his parents had a taste for country music, namely that played on the local station – CKNX Wingham. The kids wanted more of that modern flavour and constantly fought to turn the dial to Windsor's Big 8 CKLW.

Bell was offered a job at AM580 CKWW in Windsor when a college friend, Murray Brookshaw, handed a recording of Bell to the station's program director, Kevin McGowan.

Bell moved to Windsor on Labour Day weekend 1980 and never looked back.

Bell has become a pillar in local sports media. His natural radio voice, expertise, and knack for storytelling has captivated audiences for over four decades. However, in early February, at 63 years old, Bell was unceremoniously terminated as sports director at AM800 CKLW – a BellMedia company.

"I had a lump in my throat. I could hardly catch my breath," admits Bell. "People say, 'Hey, you're 63 years old. You must be ready to pack.' Forty-one years, man? I was just getting started! I was just getting my feet wet!"

"Growing up, I just always wanted to be on the radio, and I wanted to be a DJ," confesses Bell. "I liked it all, whether it was news guys back in the day – Grant Hudson, Byron MacGregor, all of the great news guys Bell says he feels no animosity towards his on the 20/20 News. I was mezmorized by it former employer. all, the magic of it – how did this radio work?

"That's their prerogative," he says. "That's There was nothing else that I ever really fine. I'm not knocking anybody. They're a wanted to do." very successful company, and I wish them After graduating college, he picked up his all the best. I have nothing bad or negative first radio gig in March 1980 as a disc jockey to say about anybody. I'm still close with all at CKSO 790 in Sudbury. A few months later, the people that I've worked with. I consider 14

myself extremely fortunate to have been there that long, and I enjoyed it."

As one of the great local sportscasters of our time, Bell has seen many of the highs and lows of local athletics and has learned to process the gravity of such moments.

After learning under Dave Quinn, Bell took over the Spitfires' play-by-play in the fall of 1987. He had the privilege of calling games of one of the greatest Memorial Cup contenders in modern history.

The Spits, owned by Peter Karmanos and Compuware, were loaded for the 1987-88 season. Coached by Tom Webster and injured player Paul Maurice, on the ice, the team was led by a talent pool featuring Adam Graves, Darryl and Darrin Shannon, Kelly Cain, Mike Wolak, and star goalie Pat Jablonski.

"The Spits were the best team in the country the entire year," recalls Bell. "The team was loaded with talent. It was a complete team."

After leading the Ontario Hockey League with a 50-win season and sweeping the playoffs with a 12-0 record, the Spits were off to Chicoutimi for the Memorial

SPOTLIGHT

They're a really good local business that takes care of their people, and I'm glad to be associated with them.

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SPOTLIGHT

Cup championship. After sweeping the women's basketball team winning the tournament's round-robin, the Spitfires ran national championship, the AKO Fratmen into trouble. winning a championship at the old Windsor "I remember it like yesterday," says Bell. Stadium, and the St. Anne's High School "The Spits lost that final game in Chicoutimi teams dominating at Carmelita Hall. To to the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Spits had him, these moments are just as special as their one-off game of the entire year and lost covering the major pro events in Detroit. it 7-6. I doubt they gave up seven goals in a game the entire year."

Bell says that the Spitfires have provided him with many great moments over the years, and he is proud to still be their play-byplay guy moving forward. He states that the Spitfires have always had his back, even more so after his termination.

"It's amazing to see. They always say it's the small businesses that drive the economy.

What I've seen is resiliency, and we've gone everywhere from Closet Cravings in St. "Part of it that's most enjoyable are the Clair Beach to Whiskeyjack Boutique [in little things back here in Windsor, being Downtown Windsor]." at a high school football championship, Bell says that the people that have had seeing the kids play," says Bell. "They're not his back, like Todorovic, Lally, Mark and going to the NFL; they're not going to the Joe DiPonio at Expert Windows, Brad pros; they're playing to win that high school Jones at Furniture One in Essex, and championship game - that's every bit as fun Joe Ciaravino at Antonino's Pizza have or enjoyable as being at the Ryder Cup." inspired him by standing by him through

These days, Bell says that he's busier than "The Spitfires – Brian Schwab, Stephen Savage, John Savage – they were right there," ever and can be seen all over Facebook doing states Bell. "They're a really good local sportscasts with Goran Todorovic of Team business that takes care of their people, and Goran ReMax and Adam Lally of Lally Ford.

I'm glad to be associated with them."

"I'm also doing some promotional videos As a sportscaster, Bell has seen many for Team Goran – it's all his idea," says Bell, great moments like Windsor's three the official "Care Ambassador" of Team Memorial Cups, the Windsor Lancers Goran. He has been making the rounds 16 16

to local businesses with the Team Goran videographer to provide free promotional videos for local businesses.

thick and thin.

"Those are people I like to be associated with because, although we can't shake hands these days due to COVID, an elbow bump, a look in the eye – we're good, we'll figure things out, everything's good," states Bell.

"When you can trust people like that, it's easy to do your job." D

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FOOD

Photography by Vicki Bartel 20

FOOD

Mediterranean SALAD

For this recipe you will need: TOPPING 1 pita grapeseed oil (enough for frying) SALAD 3 cups baby arugula ¼ cup freshly chopped mint ½ cup sliced cucumber 5 thinly sliced radishes ¼ cup crumbled feta ½ peeled pomegranate seeds DRESSING 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp white vinegar ½ tbsp balsamic vinegar 1 tsp sumac 2 tsp pomegranate molasses syrup 1 tsp salt 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 tsp honey Directions • Start by cutting your pita into strips and fry them until golden brown for about one minute. Once finished, set aside on a paper towel to cool.

• To assemble your salad, start by layering the baby arugula, chopped mint, cucumbers, and radishes.

• Next, top the salad with crumbled feta, peeled pomegranate seeds, and lastly your fried pita strips.

• Drizzle the dressing once you are ready to serve and enjoy!

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

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PORTRAIT

IF YOU WANT TO GO FURTHER LiUNA 625 Business Manager, Rob Petroni knows there is strength in numbers, and that looking out for others is the true key to success.

By Matthew St. Amand Photography by Syx Langemann

There is an African proverb that states: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

The Labourers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) wants to go far, and it wants to take as many people along for the ride as possible. There are few simple truths that lie at the heart of LiUNA including: there’s strength in numbers, hard work should be rewarded with good wages and benefits, workers have a right to safe working conditions, and people should have the ability to retire with dignity and security.

It will be these simple truths that drive them into the future with so many strong people in such great numbers.

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There is a North American proverb growing union of construction workers, that says: “Culture in the workplace begins waste management workers, show service at the top.” workers and healthcare workers in Canada.”

At LiUNA 625, that’s Business Manager It is an international union, with members Rob Petroni. Anyone who knows Rob knows throughout the United States. Between that he does things differently. For one, he America and Canada, LiUNA has more hired a veteran rock musician, Jeff Burrows, than 500,000 members. as LiUNA’s Community Relations Director.

For another, he is always seeking new ways to look out for members. That is exactly what he was doing in 2017 when he announced that the LiUNA benefits plan would begin offering medical cannabis products to discourage opioid prescriptions.

same year, Rob became an Executive Board member of the Ontario LiUNA Provincial District Council. In 2021, he was appointed director of Organizing for Central and Eastern Canada.

“When I first became an organizer, there were six of us for all of Central and Eastern Canada,” he says. “We had a small office on Seminole with a staff of three. There were 400 LiUNA members in Windsor-Essex.

Today, we have an office on Fasan Drive in

LiUNA members are involved in building highways and bridges, waterways and dams, hospitals, schools, and government institutions. They make streets, communities, cities, and provinces work. From low rise to Oldcastle, with a staff of 23, and 2000 high rise construction, pouring concrete to members county-wide.” landscaping homes, the workers of LiUNA From the beginning, Rob has been doing Interviewed by the CBC about this devel- literally build Canada. more than meeting quotas and hitting opment, Rob explained: “Now that we’ve As Rob notes: “For every dollar paid to targets—he has been helping to change added this, we’re hoping more doctors... will construction workers, seven dollars goes people’s lives. move towards prescribing the cannabis oil as back into the local economy.”

“You have a worker who’s earning $14-anopposed to the opioids. The most important Not only did Rob find employment as a hour in a job, and then I come along and part of this is to reduce the opioid use and member of LiUNA, but he also found room educate him on how he could be making or abuse.” to move within the organization. $25-an-hour with benefits and pension,” Rob Rob’s ability to approach situations so “In 1997, I successfully ran for an Execu- explains. “Joining LiUNA is a game-changer. uniquely is likely because he has experienced tive Board position of LiUNA local 625,” he You go from struggling in a job to having a the industry from every rung of the organicontinues. The position provided him with career that allows you buy a home and raise zational ladder. an avenue for his ideas about improving and a family. As an organizer, I was invited to Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, he promoting LiUNA. people’s weddings.” joined LiUNA in 1987 as a construction It was during that time, heading toward worker. In 1992, Rob moved to Windsor 2009, the general shortage of skilled workers to study Psychology at the University of in numerous trades and industries came to Windsor and continued working construclight. Employers had an increasingly difficult tion during summers to fund his education. time filling skilled positions, and industry “After university, I worked in the field,” commentators began making dire prediche says, using the industry term for constructions about the impact that would have on tion sites. “I worked on the first phase of the economy. the Windsor Casino. As a LiUNA member, LiUNA’s brilliant solution was to create when one project finished up, they sent me the Construction Craft Worker apprenticeout to work on another. I was right on the ship program. ground as a Construction Craft Worker, “It’s a three-year program,” Rob explains. part of a crew pouring cement.”

“We graduate about 32 new journey men So, does LiUNA act as a kind of employand women each year. All training is free ment agency for members? to our members.”

“No,” Rob says, “LiUNA is a place that Members are not only enjoying higher businesses call when they need workers. wages, but they also receive excellent benefits If a road builder calls, saying they need a “In 2002, I was approached by the and a solid pension. pipe layer, the union dispatches one to the Business Manager in London/Windsor “We have 135,000 members participating job. If you need ten workers tomorrow, you to see if I wanted to try organizing,” Rob in the pension plan,” Rob says. “LiUNA runs don’t have time to put an ad in the paper remembers. “The International had just the pension.

If you move anywhere within or on the Internet. You call LiUNA and started an organizing fund for a new wing Central and Eastern Ontario, it’s the same we’ll send them out. The difference is: an of recruiter, because finding skilled workers pension, the same organization.

So, workers employment agency is paid by the employer. was becoming a problem. LiUNA was way have full mobility.”

With LiUNA, workers are paid directly by ahead of the curve and rolled out a North the employer, but we handle the worker’s American wide fund for recruiting.”

One of LiUNA’s mottos is: “Building benefits and pension packages. Those stay Better Communities Together.”

Rob was good at his job, and his results with the worker wherever they work. They were noticed. By 2006, he was Assistant “LiUNA members want to be represented are not tied to the employer.”

Business Manager, and in 2009, Rob was in the community in the best light possible,” According to its website, LiUNA “is elected to his first four-year term as Business says Jeff Burrows, veteran rock drummer and the most progressive, aggressive and fastest Manager, the top position in LiUNA. In the member of The Tea Party.

LiUNA members want to be represented in the community in the best light possible.

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PORTRAIT

For every dollar paid to construction workers, seven dollars goes back into the local economy.

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PORTRAIT

Many labour organizations are active in raising money in the community, doing charity bike rides, runs. Rob and LiUNA brought in Burrows, and through its sponsorship of the Windsor Bluesfest—among other events—supports local causes, such as Transition to Betterness (T2B), Brentwood, the Canadian Mental Health Association, and various food banks.

The Bluesfest is a Windsor institution, having brought the biggest names in blues to the city. In recent years, a need arose to re-imagine the annual festival. That’s when Rob and his wife, Carol, stepped in.

They formed a non-profit called Bluesfest Windsor, which keeps the festival going, but steers the proceeds toward area charities.

LiUNA stepped in to be a major sponsor.

That’s when Burrows was brought in.

“My role is to make sure everything backstage runs smoothly,” Burrows explains.

“I recalled the best festivals that Tea Party played, usually in Europe, and created an atmosphere like that, from artist treatment, riders, food, to load-in and load-out.”

In 2019, this evolution proved successful.

Among the artists who performed were Vanilla Ice, Young MC, C&C Music Factory, featuring Freedom Williams and 2-Live Crew and Tone Loc. Buddy Guy and Eric Gales also played. There was even a tribute to Prince, which saw Morris Day and The Time, Sheila E., Purple Reign and Master of Cool take the Windsor stage.

The name of the festival has further evolved into LiUNA Y UNIT Y, but remains non-profit and volunteer-based.

It’s greatest success to date was the 2020 New Years show “From Ontario With Love A Celebration Of Hope”, hosted online from Windsor’s Capitol Theatre, which celebrated its 100th anniversary.

According to 519 Magazine: “The celebration… [featured] powerful Front-line Workers stories from six Ontario locations including Windsor, Ottawa, Niagara, Thunder Bay, Huntsville, and Kingston. The evening [was] hosted by Kim’s Convenience star Andrew Phung and Canadian television and radio personality Arisa Cox with award-winning DJ duo Loud Luxury, live from Windsor’s Capitol Theatre…”

There is a lot happening a LiUNA 625. To learn more, visit them online at www.liuna625.ca. D 30

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SPOTLIGHT

THE MAESTRO OF CANADIAN WHISKY Dr. Don Livermore reflects on 25 years at Hiram Walker & Sons

By Devan Mighton Photography by Syx Langemann

Whisky is a storyteller's drink. Each drop of amber, aged with care, is a time capsule, a record, a legacy of decades of careful selection, endless planning, and dedication to the craft.

Canadian whisky dates back to the late 1700s, but the American Civil War transformed the category.

Young entrepreneurs like J.P Wiser and Hiram Walker, travelled to Canada and created a legacy that has endured. Just like a spirit maturing in a cask, Canadian whisky has evolved over the years through the hands, hearts, and minds of those who made the hard decisions, predicting the future, what the whisky drinkers of today will enjoy.

Enter Dr. Don Livermore.

"My intent was never to go to school to become a whisky maker, brewer, or distiller," he says.

39

SPOTLIGHT

40

SPOTLIGHT

A quarter-century ago, Livermore sat down for a job interview at Hiram Walker & Sons, and the trajectory of his life changed.

Not a whisky drinker himself, the microbiology biochemistry undergrad learned his art on the fly. In 2004, he received his master's degree in distilling and brewing at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland and his doctorate in 2012. In the same week, he was promoted to be Hiram Walker's master blender.

"I enjoy it many different ways," he admits. "Being in Windsor, on a hot summer day, I'm not going to be sipping whisky neat by my pool. There are certain brands that we make, like the Wiser's Deluxe, the Wiser's Triple Barrel, Hiram Walker Special Blend – I like them with ginger ale as a nice cocktail or with soda in the summer.

the Hiram Walker distillery that end up in shock at the number of styles the facility can create.

"Canadian whisky is one of the most innovative, creative, adaptable styles of whisky there is," he explains. "One part about being a master blender is being able to look into the crystal ball and wondering what is next. You've got to be able to listen to your consumer. That's probably the hardest thing as a blender – to listen to your customer and ask, 'What do you want?'

"For 10 o'clock at night, sitting in my La-Z-Boy, I usually have it neat or with an ice cube or two – and it usually depends on This year, Hiram Walker & Sons won its which whisky it is. I find that the more rye fourth straight Distillery of the Year Award I blend into the whisky, I tend to want an "I'm not making whisky for me. I'm at the Canadian Whisky Awards. ice cube." making it for you."

"I'm grateful for the people I work with," Livermore says that a previous boss Livermore says that there is a lot of states Livermore. "You're only as good as the enthusiasm and excitement for Canadian of his used to call him "The Connector". weakest link of your chain. At the end of the whisky at the moment, not just domesti- However, Livermore likens his job to being day, our research and development team are cally, but internationally as well with Lot the maestro at a symphony. He acts as the designing the whiskies, but we design from 40 Dark Oak recently winning the top rye intersection between the people inventing the quality ingredients that everybody else whisky in the world at the World Whisky products, coordinating grains, the brewer, makes here." the distiller, the barrel purchaser – then Awards 2021.

"We've got such a great staff at Hiram Walker here. We've got some of the most talented people in the world that make whisky here in Windsor. It takes a great team to make great whisky. Decisions such as selecting good quality grains, fermentation parameters, and they're helping me through these things – getting me different barrels, different ways to make whisky, distillation techniques such as different types of pot or stills and column stills, and choosing new types of barrels all play an important part in the final whisky recipe."

"It's an incredible and talented facility, and the record shows. We've won the distillery of the year now four times in a row.

I think that says a lot."

I'm not making whisky for me.

I'm making it for you.

Livermore didn't come into the business as a whisky drinker, but as a scientist in love with creating.

"My educational background was never designed to be whisky but more of a fermentation specialist," explains Livermore. "I never really was into whisky. I had some typical Canadian whisky when I was in university-college, but not a lot. It wasn't until I came to Hiram Walker where I here and gained an appreciation for all of the different flavours and all of the different things you can do to make whisky. The job probably got me into whisky more than anything."

"I think that the category of Canadian whisky is poised to make a comeback, to have a renaissance, because we have a lot of versatility and can adapt in our style of whisky. I believe that this facility here, the Hiram Walker distillery, is one of the best distilleries in the world," he states proudly.

he creates recipes with his whisky blender's prescience.

He also feels the weight of history when it comes to being the Hiram Walker master blender. He is the keeper of history, the keeper of processes. "I have to remember each nuance and put it in for the next generation."

Livermore says that it would not be a Although he has an affinity for Manhat- stretch to label Windsor "Whisky Town". He His proficiency as a master blender tans, in 25 years with the spirit, Livermore says that he often deals with businesspeople eventually led to the LCBO asking Livermore has adapted to the Canadian whisky lifestyle. and members of the media coming through to create his now-famous "flavour wheel".

41

SPOTLIGHT

"I laughed and asked, 'Do people really "If someone wants different flavours, use those?'" he chuckles. "I put pen to paper, I manipulate those things. We're very adaptand I developed that wheel, and it's actually able in what we can do, and that's what makes trademarked in 170 different countries. Canadian whisky a very exciting category."

I never thought that people would use it the Livermore is proud of his place in the way they are." history of Canadian whisky and the mark he The Canadian Whisky Flavour Wheel has made at Hiram Walker & Sons. carefully divides the flavours of whisky into "I think to be part of the history of this key components, like flavour notes and facility is an extraordinary responsibility," he chemical composition. says. "Honestly, it's awesome how important "It's a distillery cheat sheet if you want it is to the region, to society, the economics, to call it that," says Livermore. "Flavour and to be part of it. Shaping not only today for whisky only comes from three spots. It but shaping the future when I'm long retired. comes from the yeast, which is fermentation, What I'm putting away today will still be used, from the grain, and from the barrel." if you think about it, 30 years from now."

42

"It's such a storytelling opportunity and to be a part of that rich history and story is really cool," states Livermore. He relishes the idea that in 30 years, friends will still be sipping and storytelling over the whiskies that he painstakingly blended and aged.

"That's the good part about whisky, the conviviality and moments with friends. It's the storytelling, that social side of it – that's the connection."

For more from the maestro, follow Dr. Don Livermore on Instagram @cdnwhiskydoc. Life of a Master Blender. To book a tour please visit the J.P. Wiser Tour site.... jpwiserstour.ca Cheers!

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Through the Generations:

JOE MATTE’S GARDENING Photography by Trevor Booth

The oldest landscaping company in Windsor is celebrating a monumental anniversary in business, and has the named founder to thank for it.

In 1951, Joe Matte wasn’t a business owner but a gardener for another landscaping company. A client – Mr. Butch Meretsky – saw the spark of passion for the job in Joe’s eyes and set Joe up with the tools and clients to launch his own business.

From day one, Joe worked to live up to that generous offer, honed his skills as a self taught landscaper, and until the day he died in 2001, he was a humble and hardworking man who wanted to repay what he’d been given.

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owner, Louis says. “If he saw that same drive in others, he would help them get started with advice, clients, or anything else they needed. Joe was instrumental in helping to start five other companies within his extended family. He never worried about the money; he was just grateful to be working.”

Joe’s reputation proceeded him from job to job. Even though gardeners and landscapers weren’t well respected as a profession in the early days, he managed to be one of the most well-respected people in the community and industry. Louis explains that one time, Joe was working for automotive mogul Dan Kane, and walked into the show room wanting to buy the new 1975 Cadillac demo.

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Joe was always the most talented at pruning, which is one of the company’s specialties to this day. “I’ve been told by other professionals in the industry that they can tell if our team been on a site because of our ‘picture perfect’ crisp details. It feels really fulfilling,” Louis says about their pride in doing the job right every time.

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Louis and his father still have that car, the memories, and the business, all thanks to Joe. This is why Joe Matte’s Gardening has outlasted so many other landscaping companies; not only because of his hardworking nature, but the high standard he brought to the industry.

We love it here.

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“My grandfather was persistent,” Louis recounts the story he’d heard from Joe, and says that Dan ended up selling it to him.

“He drove it to a client’s house later that day – a well-known doctor or lawyer – and the client said he’d tried to buy that same Cadillac, but Dan wouldn’t budge on it!”

The Joe Matte’s Gardening team is, and always has been, a family operation through and through. Louis (grandson) and his father – also named Louis – now have the pleasure of welcoming the next generation of family members to their team: the twins Jake and Josh, and of course, another Louis!

“Seeing that my grandfather started from nothing, I think he would be proud of the fact that the fourth generation is continuing the legacy he started,” Louis adds.

They thank God – and the Windsor community – for being able to celebrate these 70 years in business and look forward to many more years of serving the area. D 45

FOOD

WORD OF MOUTH Local Foodies Using Social Media to Support Restaurants amid Pandemic Restrictions By: Jen Brignall-Strong Photography by Melanie Cerveni Photography and WindsorEats

After a year of COVID-19 closures and restrictions, the hospitality sector remains one of the hardest hit industries around the globe, with some restaurants losing as much as 70 per cent of their revenue each month.

With no marketing budgets and a lack of foot traffic, many local eateries have come to rely on social media as their sole method of connecting with customers.

But posting on their accounts can only go as far as their fan base. Thankfully, a burgeoning group of online foodies has stepped up to the plate; sharing recommendations, photos, and the latest takeout deals in an effort to help their favourite restaurants stay afloat.

I wanted to be able to bring some attention to the places that didn’t have a strong social media presence and get the word out for them.

46

FOOD

“I was having brunch at a restaurant and noticed a group of people taking pictures of their meals and posting them,” recounts Coletti. “I thought, ‘I can do something like that here in Windsor to support our restaurants.’ I started Scenes from Dinner as soon as I got home.”

When COVID-19 hit last year, Coletti made a point to double her efforts, working with businesses to get the word out about how they’ve adapted to the current situation.

“The restaurants need us right now; some are really struggling,” she says. “I’m glad to connect with the community and showcase Windsor the best way I can.”

Cathy Gaudry has also played a pivotal role in the Windsor food scene, doling out daily meal suggestions on her “Lunch Reporter” Facebook page.

It began over a decade ago when Gaudry started her job at a local accounting firm.

“When I was hired, my boss said, ‘don’t bother bringing a lunch, we go out for lunch every day,’” recalls Gaudry.

Like Coletti, she started sharing pictures of her meals on her personal Facebook page, but quickly decided she needed a specific spot to document her food finds.

LIKES, SHARES & GIVEAWAYS In recent months, a group of like-minded gourmands has formed a Facebook page called “Windsor Food Spotters.” With over 7,600 members and steadily growing, it has become the local source for meal suggestions since it began in January.

“It’s pretty crazy how fast it took off,” says co-creator Shawn Rizk. “But with everyone sitting at home, it was the perfect time to build this online community.”

The page not only gives people the chance to share pictures from their favourite takeout meals, it also offers restaurants a way to reach a broader audience. Many regularly post their menus and specials, and Rizk also works with them to create weekly “behind the scenes” videos to showcase their food.

“I wanted to be able to bring some attention to the places that didn’t have a strong social media presence and get the word out for them.”

Rizk’s goal is to create a fun, positive environment that benefits the restaurant community. He even runs gift card giveaways twice a week from the restaurants he features.

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“I’m tired of seeing so much negativity “I was bombarding people with food every online,” laments Rizk. “I just want to bring day, so I thought I should probably just make everyone together give away some free food. a page,” she laughs.

How can anyone argue with that? Food makes When COVID restrictions shuttered people happy.” restaurants, Gaudry and her coworkers LUNCH REPORTS switched to takeout. & DINNER SCENES Sharing food photos and hosting giveaways has become a passion project for local blogger Christina Coletti as well. Since 2015, she’s used her “Scenes From Dinner” social media accounts to highlight some of the best places to eat and drink in our region.

With over 12,000 followers, she strives to support restaurants, wineries, tourist events, and up-and-coming chefs.

“I’m so proud to promote local businesses; I love showcasing the restaurants and the different kinds of food this city has to offer,” says Coletti. “I have people message me and ask, ‘where should I go for a first date?’ or ‘where should I meet my friends for drinks?’

It’s a lot of fun.”

Coletti always shared her food adventures on her personal accounts, but was inspired to create her page after a trip to New York City.

47

FOOD

Social media has really taken over as the new word of mouth.

“Especially with this latest lockdown, I make a point to support at least one local restaurant a day,” says Gaudry. “I like to try something new every day if I can.”

Both Coletti and Gaudry are also active on the Windsor Food Spotters page and love seeing the outpouring of support that their fellow foodies are showing to restaurateurs.

INSTA SUCCESS While many restaurants have struggled during the rollercoaster ride of restrictions, others have found success thanks to the spotlight these influencers and groups have shone on their food.

Rico Taco, which has operated mainly at festivals and pop-up events over the past decade, has now blossomed into a full-time takeout operation after likes and shares fueled their success at the WindsorEats Outdoor Food Hall this past summer.

Countless pictures of their drool-worthy churros and birria tacos flooded the internet and created a huge buzz, prompting the family-run business to open a ghost kitchen out of Generations Diner on Ottawa Street.

“My best advertising is social media,” explains owner Armando Armas. “It’s amazing; my customers sharing the food (on Facebook and Instagram) has been great.”

48

A picture is worth a thousand words and then some according to WindsorEats’ Adriano Ciotoli. Having “Insta worthy” food was a big part of what drove people to the Lanspeary Park event. Like all of their other events, special attention was paid to creating an environment that adds to the overall dining experience and a menu that encourages diners to whip out their phones and snap some pics.

“People eat with their eyes first,” explains Ciotoli. “Visuals are everything. If you’ve got food that stands out and looks delicious, that’s going to encourage people to share.”

More photos, more likes, and more shares translates to more business.

Chef Rosemary Woods, co-owner of The F&B Hospitality Group, says she’s definitely noticed the rise in activity among Windsor’s foodie groups over the past few months.

“My Facebook feed is filled with all these posts,” she laughs. “It’s great.”

Woods says in the beginning of the pandemic, social media became the main way for F&B’s restaurants to update customers on changing restrictions, meal deals, and more.

“It was really the only way we could get in touch with people,” explains Woods. “We started posting a lot more and it helped us quite a bit.”

The group even successfully re-launched two beloved Windsor restaurants during the pandemic and utilized the reach of their F&B and Grand Cantina accounts to spread the word about the openings of Slices Pizza and Taloola Café.

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“As soon as we put out the hint that we were re-opening, it just exploded online.”

That cross-posting tactic, combined with buzz from the foodie pages, will undoubtedly help the team drum up excitement about their latest venture: an Asian-themed restaurant called Funky Chow Kitchen, opening later this spring in Walkerville.

“Social media has really taken over as the new word of mouth,” says Woods. “With all these people sharing, the reach is just unbelievable. It will definitely continue to help the industry."

With restrictions in place for the foreseeable future, supporting local has never been more important. Ordering a meal from your favourite restaurant (and sharing a few pics) not only puts food on your table, it also puts food on theirs. D

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49

Marriage

OR MORTGAGE?

Red Hot Housing Market Forcing Local Couples to Put Wedding Plans on Ice By: Jen Brignall-Strong

They’ve been putting off their weddings and buying a home instead.

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OPINION

While some might see the show as simply lighthearted reality TV, others view it as a reflection of tough decisions many couples have to make in real life.

With housing prices skyrocketing in Windsor-Essex County and the economic uncertainty brought on by COVID-19, some local couples have had to make the choice between signing a marriage license or a mortgage application.

The average housing price in Windsor for March 2021 was $531,805. That’s up from $379,813 just 12 months earlier and over $200,000 higher than in 2019. To put the minimum 5% down, potential home owners are having to fork over more than $25,000 cash. With the average cost of a wedding in Canada now approximately $30,000, many simply can’t afford to do both.

As prices continue to rise and mortgage rates beginning to climb as well, mortgage broker Mike Brain from Windsor-Essex Advantage Mortgages says it’s something he’s seeing a lot more of in the past two years.

“Twenty years ago, it was people getting married and using the funds from the wedding for a down payment,” explains Brain. “With many couples paying for their own weddings now, that’s definitely changed.

In the last few years especially, they’ve been putting off their weddings and buying a home instead.”

Brain says it’s a trend that he’s worried could become the new normal.

“I really feel for these young kids right now trying to buy a house,” says Brain. “It’s too bad they’re foregoing this great celebration, but you need a place to live and with the market the way it is, sometimes it has to be done that way.”

Brain also points out that not only do people need the extra funds for a down payment, they also need to be making more to qualify for a bigger mortgage. Many also have to factor in repaying their student debt as well.

Local real estate agent Paul Germanese has seen a shift in couples’ priorities as well. In most cases, he says, two full-time incomes are now needed to purchase a home. Between managing their careers and trying to find a house, there’s very little time or money left for them to plan a wedding.

“When I first started, you could have a

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single person able to afford a house on their sole income or a couple being able to start a life off of one income,” explains Germanese.

“That’s no longer the case, so I’ve definitely seen the traditional ‘big wedding’ taking a backseat to the real estate market right now.”

Germanese says he doesn’t see an end in sight to the price increases and encourages couples to get into the market while they can so they have a place to start their life together.

“I think the current situation is really making people rethink where they want to put their money and it’s not into big weddings anymore,” Germanese says. “A lot of people are still having them, but on a much smaller scale.”

While having to pick between a traditional ceremony or finding a home sweet home may be upsetting to some, others no longer see the need for large, lavish weddings and have happily opted to invest in real estate.

For Jodie Fowler and her fiancé Josh Moulder, postponing their nuptials meant a larger down payment. With a growing family, the couple decided the money was better spent on a house that suited their needs.

“When we got engaged, we had just had a baby and a 3-bedroom house with four kids,” recalls Fowler. “We said, ‘We could spend $25,000 on a wedding or we could buy a bigger house.’”

Ultimately, Fowler says she doesn’t regret foregoing a wedding to invest in a home.

“Best decision we ever made,” she laughs.

“We’re still not married but we don’t care.”

Whether couples choose to walk down the aisle or prefer the path to homeownership, Brain says it all boils down to what brings them joy and makes the most sense for their own unique situation.

“When it comes down to it, they really just needs to sit down and figure out what’s going to make them happy in the long run; having a house or having a wedding.” D

51

COMMUNITY

BEING THERE One man’s experience with Big Brothers showed him that the rewards to volunteerism go both ways.

By Matthew St. Amand Photography (right) by Trevor Booth

If you ever wonder how you can make a difference in the world, think of Ernest Coulter.

Mr. Coulter was a young New York City court clerk who, in the first years of the 1900s, noticed an increasing number of boys passing through the courtroom. He wondered if interacting with caring adults might help the kids stay out of trouble, so he set about finding volunteers. In 1904, Mr. Coulter enlisted 39 men, each of whom agreed to befriend one boy, marking the beginning of the organization we know today as Big Brothers Association (which, notably, joined forces with Big Sisters International in 1977).

One person who sought to make a difference was retired Windsor Police Service Sergeant, Brett Corey. Born in Montreal, Brett went through high school in Ottawa, and moved to Essex County in 1981 to attend the University of Windsor, where he studied human kinetics.

“I was about twenty-one years old, living in residence,” he recounts, “and one day I saw a poster about Big Brothers in Vanier Hall. It was a time in my life when I was looking for a way to give back to the community.”

It’s about time, being present, being interested.

Just sit talk.

Go for a walk.

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He describes the Big Brothers background check as “fairly extensive”, which included a series of in-person interviews.

“The vetting process is thorough for all of the obvious reasons,” Brett says, “but it’s also intended to find the best match between big brother and little brother.”

Following the interview process, Brett was paired with a boy named David, who was seven years old and lived with his mother in West Windsor.

COMMUNITY

“It was going pretty well,” Brett remembers. “Every relationship takes work, but Big Brothers did a good job matching us.

Unfortunately, after about a year, David’s mother decided to move out of Windsor, so my match with him ended.”

get our skates on, get out there with our “They offer a lot of support,” Brett says. hockey sticks and just pass the puck around. “Big Brothers wants your match to succeed.

You’re always connected to the organization He loved that.”

There are a few misconceptions about through your caseworker.” being a Big Brother that should be cleared up.

People who are interested, but are Brett’s caseworker, Linda, contacted him hesitant to volunteer, often have a few to ask if he was interested in another match. common concerns. One is: “Big Brothers is a “So, they wanted to match you with great idea, but I can’t fit it into my schedule.” another boy right away?” I ask Brett. “Is there “It can be an hour or two a week, really that much need?” and doesn’t have to be a set routine,” Brett Brett takes a moment, as though says. “As long as you’re adaptable, and the wondering if my question is serious. It is. little brother is adaptable, you can make Then, he says: “Big Brothers has a list of kids anything work.” waiting to be matched. At any given time, Another concern is: “I can’t afford to take there are at least a hundred names on it. And a kid out all the time.” they just sit and wait until another volunteer “It’s not about spending money,” Brett becomes available.” continues.

“It’s about time, being present, Brett told Linda he wanted to continue being interested.

Just sit talk. Go for a walk. with the program. That’s when he was Big Brothers does a really great job of pairing matched with Jeremy. men with kids who have common interests.

“I was about twenty-two, by then,” Brett The kids are not looking to be entertained. says. “Jeremy was eight.”

They just need a positive male role model in their lives. Once you start interacting, you see Their interaction was casual.

“I took him to see movies,” Brett recalls. how much they want that.”

One more concern that arises: “Do I have to get involved in the child’s home life?”

“You don’t get involved at all,” Brett says. “The point of a big brother is to just spend time with the child, away from their home. Whatever is going on there, your caseworker tells you, ‘That’s not your responsibility’. Any concerns you have, bring them to your caseworker.”

Jeremy’s passion for hockey intensified, and he also took a great interest in his big brother’s new career when Brett was hired

by Windsor Police.

“I had just started policing, and I shared most of the things I was learning, there,” Brett recalls. “He had a lot of questions.”

As Jeremy’s interest in hockey continued, Brett outfitted him with hockey gear and got him signed up with Windsor Minor Hockey.

“After being a poor student, I finally had a little money in my pocket,” Brett says. “and “We went bowling a few times. The thing he Also, Big Brothers organizes several group it was something I was able to do.” really homed in on was ice skating. So, we’d events, such as Tiger games, picnics, and an All told, Brett was Jeremy’s Big Brother find some ice—a pond, the lake, anywhere— annual Christmas party. for eight years.

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“There comes a time when matches are ended, officially,” Brett explains. “Big Brothers has a start-point and a termination-point, when kids are around fifteen or sixteen years old. When Jeremy and I reached that point, we just naturally stayed in contact.”

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Jeremy’s father was originally from Florida and had moved back when Jeremy was young. As Jeremy entered his teen years, he decided he wanted to live with his dad so he attended high school in Florida and even landed a hockey scholarship at a college.

Even while in Florida, Brett and Jeremy stayed in touch, through the odd long distance phone call, writing letters occasionally.

“Then I got a call one day,” Brett remembers, “where Jeremy told me he was applying to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

It was amazing how everything seemed to come full-circle: playing Windsor Minor hockey had a role in him getting a scholarship. And then becoming a police officer.”

In August of 1998, at 22 years of age, Jeremy became a Deputy Sheriff with the Orange County Sheriff's Department in Orlando, Florida. Today, he is married, has children of his own, and has risen to the rank of Sergeant.

When I first joined Big Brothers, I looked at it as a one-way street,” Brett says. “What I could give to Jeremy. What I found was, as the relationship progressed, I was getting as much out of it from him, as he was from me.”

When the new Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex building was constructed on Jefferson Avenue, one of the plaques in the front bears a quote from Jeremy, speaking about his experience with Brett and the program: “I am 100% certain that I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without Brett’s guidance, mentoring and friendship. This wonderful organization we know as Big Brothers /Big Sisters paired the two of us together but I know that a greater power was involved. I am so very thankful to have had a great man – Brett come into my life to be there to help me along the bumpy road of growing up.”

Big Brothers has expanded its programs since Brett first joined. To learn more about these programs, and the organization as a whole, visit them online at www.windsor. bigbrothersbigsisters.ca.

And if you ever wonder if there is a need, remember, the list is always there. D 54

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CHANGING THE CULTURE

DRESSED TO IMPRESS

HOW A LOCAL FAMILY BOTTLED SUCCESS Cedar Valley Selections’ Ameen and Surria Fadel speak about their rise to supermarket shelves near you.

By Katrina Manzocco Photography by Brandon Marsh Photography

One-part family tradition, two parts community support, stirred together with a whole lot of hustle is the secret sauce behind Cedar Valley Selections — a homegrown salad dressing empire kickstarted

by Ameen Fadel.

Started when Ameen was just 16 in Lakeshore, a spark of an idea has flamed into a thriving business venture with a growth that shows no signs of slowing.

Meet the Fadels Surria Fadel, Ameen’s mother and business partner, comes by her talent for cooking honestly. With an entrepreneur as a father, she grew up around the restaurant business where food was always an important part of her childhood.

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CHANGING THE CULTURE

“I wanted to nurture this within my own family,” says Surria.

“I made sure my kids were always helping out in the kitchen — we always encouraged them to cook, experiment, and try new things.”

Luckily, the Fadels have always been generous in sharing their talents with those outside of the household.

As a family with five children, teachers at Belle River District High School were very familiar with the Fadels by the time the youngest, Ameen, entered the classroom as a freshman. Years of Surria sending along delicious home-cooked dishes with older siblings to potlucks and other school activities over the years had earned a following of students and staff alike.

“By the time Ameen came through the school, the teachers were putting in requests,” says, Surria, laughing. “With him being number five, it felt as though they were in mourning for the dishes they had come to love — they knew that once he graduated, the food would stop coming.”

It was at school that the Fadel’s kitchen talents became something new. In May of 2015 when 16-year-old Ameen heard the announcement of a $3,000 grant opportunity being offered to student entrepreneurs at his school, he leapt at the chance to start a business— even though he didn’t yet have a specific venture in mind. It was through conversations with his guidance counsellor that finally brought about an ‘a-ha’ moment.

“After having a hard time coming up with my big idea, it was my guidance counsellor, whose son I played hockey with, who finally reminded me how great my mom’s Fattoush salad dressing was after having tasted it on a couple of occasions,” says Ameen. “She reminded me of the time that another mother of a player on the team had told us we should bottle the dressing, and at the time we just laughed. This was the moment when we realized that we had our concept right in front of us.”

TRIAL AND ERROR At last, Ameen had his big idea, and it was time to build a business. Initially the secret sauce wasn’t so much of a secret as it was a mystery — even to the Fadels.

Surria admits that before the business, there wasn’t one specific recipe she had been using for the now perfected formula — ingredients were added and measured intuitively, which ensured a delicious, albeit inconsistent end result. Ameen knew that his product needed to be standardized, and so him and Surria undertook a series of experiments to determine what would become his flagship dressing.

Surria and Ameen Fadel

“Ameen’s locker was filled with dressing, which teachers were buying from him at school,” says Surria. “At work, my own colleagues couldn’t get enough of it — we were selling bottles by the caseload when we finally decided to try moving to a Farmer’s Market in spring 2017”.

FROM RECIPE TO RETAIL When asked about the transition from locker-sales and Farmer’s Markets to corporate stores, Ameen talks about the first location his product was ever stocked in — Wayne White’s Fresh Meats and Deli, which is incidentally right next to his high school.

“I was incredibly nervous to pitch it. I remember walking in and essentially saying ‘Hi, I have this product. Want to sell it?” to which he essentially said ‘Yeah, sure,’” says Ameen. “It was really cool, but scary to have them take a chance on me. It was just so amazing that our product was there for people to buy. “ At the time, Ameen could have never imagined what other shelves his product would one day line.

They searched around for other Fattoush dressing products to include in their taste tests, finding that there were none locally in Canada — with the closest options being in Dearborn, Michigan.

Using several of their own recipes and the externally purchased competition, Surria and Ameen administered a blind taste tests to friends and neighbours, opting against including their own family members in the trial.

“I never thought that we would ever be in Sobeys or stores across Canada. I just wanted to prove the concept, so the fact that he brought it into his store made me believe others would too.”

“We really wanted to use the palate of non-Lebanese people to get a sense of what the general market would prefer,” says Surria.

“Just like I did when I walked into my very first sales pitch, I went up the manager at our local Sobeys in Tecumseh and told him about our products and asked if there was any interest in carrying them. As a big supporter of locally produced products, he was on board immediately,” says Ameen. “He initially ordered 10 cases of both our pita chips and Fattoush dressing, and I struggled to keep my face straight in the meeting.”

Six months of such experiments led to the creation of a recipe that is now Cedar Valley Selections Fattoush Dressing — the product of hard work, community support and family tradition.

Once bottled, it didn’t take long for the product to move.

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When asked about how he managed to do just that — get his product into the grocery chain, he shares that it was simpler than one would have expected.

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eatdrink: The Local Food & Drink Magazine

“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing when he came back with the news — it was the biggest order we had ever received,” laughed Surria.

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Our Wine, Your CREW

This was in early 2018, and soon after, other locations across the region started stocking Cedar Valley Selections — from the original Tecumseh store to Amherstburg and London, before receiving a call from Sobeys’ corporate operations offering a chance to become part a local product program. This meant that by April 2019, they were in Sobeys Ontario — where over 200 stores would have the option of stocking Cedar Valley Selections in-store.

Our Wine, Your CREW The new CREW Winery & Gallery is officially open!

“It was a really big moment for us,” explains Ameen. “It made us think that this could be something big.”

THE SECRET SAUCE

The tasting bar is open year round, and a new galley

Join us at the new CREW Winery

Today, Cedar Valley Selections has grown from a single salad lunch menu launches March 4. Taste local wines, see dressing to ten different products, including the brand’s pita chips original art, and take in our vineyard views.

— originally created as a compliment to Fattoush, of course.

When we discuss what has made Cedar Valley Selections a success, both Ameen and Surria credit the importance of finding community. The pair agrees that networking has been a major focus in helping to grow their business — they’ve made it a priority to connect with likeminded entrepreneurs, particularly those in the food business.

Experience local food and wine fusion in a gallery-like atmosphere overlooking our lush vineyard.

Delivery available throughout Windsor/Essex.

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we’ve found to be very beneficial,” says Surria.

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As well, leveraging each other’s unique skills has worked to the advantage of the business-owners — Surria manages what’s ‘in the package’, including research, product testing and development, whereas Ameen’s oversees what’s ‘outside of the package’ — namely branding, distribution and sales.

For any others, particularly young people considering the path of entrepreneurship, Ameen is happy to pass along advice garnered from his own journey.

“Ask as many questions as possible, and don’t be afraid to do so.

Network as much as possible. There’s been a lot of people in your shoes, do your best to find them. Ask for insights, guidance, and learn from the mistakes and triumphs of others to expedite your growth,” says Ameen.

“Look at the big picture. Try to look at the long term rather than the short term. Technically our idea formed in 2015, but our first year of big-picture thinking happened in 2019-2020 — sometimes I wonder what could have happened if we had started even earlier.”

Surria champions the importance of the mental game when it comes to making it as an entrepreneur, and in her case, moving from recipe to retail.

“If you believe in what you’re doing, avoid the negativity of people trying to bring you down. Be prepared to fail, that’s how you learn” says Surria. “It’s a tough ride, but try staying around other entrepreneurs that understand the journey. Keep people close to you that will pull you forward, — we’re all in this together.”

Interested in supporting local? Shop Ameen and Surria’s products online and use Cedar Valley Selections’ retailer finder via their website to discover stockists near you. D 58

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INNER-VIEW

CUP OF JOE

WITH JOE HERALDO Introducing a person who “walks the walk” and “talks to talk” — a new voice coming to The Drive Magazine

By Matthew St. Amand Photography by Trevor Booth

People were dying and Joe Heraldo was part of the team tasked with creating a plan to prevent any more from happening. A mining operation in remote Canada averaged 13 deaths a year, and needed a strategy for creating safer working conditions. With a background in Mechanical Engineering, analyzing data and designing processes was what Joe did.

“We created a plan, but on its own, a plan wasn’t enough,” Joe says. “You have to inspire people to follow through, to be invested.

We did that, and for the next six years, there wasn’t another ‘lost time incident.’”

Today, Joe brings this insight and outside-the-box thinking to anyone who needs it.

So, what does Joe do? Is he a life coach? A super hero? Just a really good guy?

Pretty much all the above. However, Joe explains Joe best: “As a business-entrepreneurial coach, I have dedicated the last year offering business consulting from a globally recognized financial brand, which built a network of over a thousand businesses. My true passion is not limited to just advising, but being an active participant of the leadership team.”

OK, Joe was an effective analyst at the mining operation, but what does he know about actual business? Turns out, quite a lot.

“One of my first businesses was a software company that I started from the ground-up,” Joe says. “I can’t write code. I design processes.

As a result of the work I was doing, I needed a communication tool that people would actually use.”

Joe thought: “If we need a tool like this, maybe others do, too.”

After doing some research, he found that utilities were his target market.

“Selling the tool from my website was not going to work,” Joe continues. “One day, I was away, attending a conference. While 60

running on a treadmill in the workout room, I noticed a guy on the treadmill beside me. We struck up a conversation and he turned out to be the CEO of Harris Computer Systems which is dedicated to utilities and owned by Constellation Software, the second largest enterprise level software provider in North America.”

The CEO gave Joe a 15-minute sit down meeting. Joe nailed that, which led to him presenting his software concept to 12 of the CEO’s business leaders.

“After I told them about my product, one guy said, ‘We’re going to bolt your offering onto our product.’”

For those of us who do not sell ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) level solutions, this is equivalent to being a T-shirt vendor at the World Series, convincing a team owner you’re good enough to play in the majors, getting a single at bat during the game, and then hitting a grand slam while on the playing field.

“That took us into municipalities and utilities across North America,” Joe says. “The interesting thing is, our tool didn’t succeed because it just had a groovy interface or great functionality. It facilitated communication and made people accountable.”

Joe also understands people and sifts his experience to apply these lessons to almost any other business.

So, it’s amazing news that Joe will bring this vision and experience to a recurring column at The Drive Magazine.

“I knew this would be something unique for the publication and that Joe would be an asset to our readers,” says The Drive Magazine Vice President of Sales, Dave Hunter. “His direction, sense of encouragement, and positive attitude makes people gravitate towards him.”

As a sort of sneak-peak, what can Joe tell us now? What are the most common barriers holding people and businesses back from achieving their targets and goals?

INNER-VIEW

You have to inspire people to follow through, to be invested.

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INNER-VIEW

“You have to be humble enough to accept the help you need,” Joe says. “That takes vulnerability, and that’s sometimes difficult for people who run companies. Because, let’s face it, it takes a certain amount of ego to lead a company. People of vision often have strong personalities. They are used to going up against the impossible and are geared to proving people wrong. To truly succeed, you need to get beyond that. You have to be vulnerable.”

Joe relates a story of when Apple Computer founder, Steve Jobs, had been forced out of Apple and was searching for his next great idea. That came in the form of Pixar. Although Jobs did not create or run Pixar, he famously financed them after 45 other organizations refused to take a chance. During negotiations between Pixar and Disney on a collaboration deal, the two high-powered personalities of Steve Jobs and Disney as a corporation had trouble seeing eye to eye. They disagreed, at first, and talks broke off. Robert Iger taking over as the new chairman for Disney presented a new way to rebuild that relationship with one pitch.

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“It took Iger to be humble enough to approach Steve Jobs in a way to rekindle the relationship,” Joe explains. “He said, ‘Let’s white board this,’ and they did. They made a list of Pros and Cons. When they finished, they saw there was a laundry list of Cons and only three Pros. Although the Cons far outnumbered the Pros, Steve Jobs had the humility to say, ‘I believe in the three Pros.’” And the deal was done.

The message Joe takes from that story is: “Focus on reasons why we ‘can’, even though it appears there are more reasons why we can’t. That’s the true spirit of collaboration, and that’s the difference between good and great companies.”

He continues: “In order to negotiate in these settings, you need to have an ‘abundant mindset’. You must think of solutions where everybody wins, not just you. That’s how Facebook ideas and LinkedIn ideas are created. Combine vulnerability with abundant mindset, and that’s where you take the luck out of the magic.”

During the COVID-19 global pandemic, Joe had to take a lot of his own advice.

Whereas the bulk of his interaction with clients was conducted face-to-face, he had re-invent his way of doing business, as so many did. Joe took to Zoom, and veering from what he normally did— assembling groups of 30 – 50 business leaders in a room for group sessions—he transitioned to one-on-one virtual sessions.

“I found 210 target market pros,” Joe says, “and met with every single one for one hour over the course of thirteen weeks. That was ten to thirteen meetings a day. It was what was needed. I needed that. People really opened up and some very deep connections were made.”

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This is just a glimpse of what Joe will bring to The Drive Magazine.

“Joe’s experience and savvy to engage people is something special,” says Dave Hunter. “We would like to see Joe in several of the upcoming calendar issues of The Drive. His columns will encourage readers, and motivate people to be better people, better business owners, and better leaders within our community.”

Look for Joe in upcoming issues and an exclusive podcast episode sponsored by The Drive. In the meantime, you can listen to a podcast Joe hosted at www.inspiredconnectionspodcast.com or visit him online at www.josephheraldo.com. D 62

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HEALTH

LIVING HER PURPOSE

MADDIE SIMONE How working through survivor’s guilt led Maddie to refocus her life and find purpose in helping others

By Alley L. Biniarz Photography by Trevor Booth

When Maddie Simone lost her two brothers to the congenital heart defect, they all share, she could not help but wonder, “why not me?”

Their genetic condition “FTAAD: familial thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection disorder, means they are all prone to aortic rupture. Maddie’s older brother initially survived a partial tear, only to lose his life four years later to Duodenal Cancer, a disease related to the genetic mutation. Their younger brother died four years after that, he died instantly of a full aortic rupture.

Receiving the genetic testing and finding out that she lived with the same condition, halted Maddie’s life. Survivor’s guilt consumed her, leaving her wondering what she brought to this world. The journey through living with fear was a long one, but then she found hope.

“For so long, I was scared that I was next to die.

Then, I came across the Dr. Wayne Dyer quote, ‘If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.’ So, I decided that instead of focusing on ‘I have this condition,’ I focused on: ‘what’s next?’”

If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

Wanting to do something in honour of her brothers, Maddie initially thought of her older brother and the care that he needed through his time with cancer. Having completed school for Massage Therapy, Maddie brainstormed the idea for bringing her work to those who were too sick to leave home. But when the complications of this idea took hold of her, she looked up and asked her brother for a sign. That next morning, she woke thinking of lymphatic drainage.

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“Manual lymph drainage, amongst other things, treats those with a condition called Lymphedema. This is when there is damage to your lymphatic system, either born with or acquired through post-surgery or cancer treatment.” Maddie says that the lymphatic system functions as a cleansing system, which helps to take away impurities, infections, or broken tissues through lymphatic fluid. This fluid (clear fluid that you see when you get a cut) takes away all of the damaged tissue and leaves nutrients for encouragement of new cell growth.

“It’s a wonderful system, but damage to it can cause chronic and severe swelling, so I work with your lymphatic system to help encourage movement to drain those areas,” Maddie explains that lymphatic drainage involves a light, rhythmical skin-stretching massage onto the skin, and she combines this therapy with compression bandages or garments.

As of now, there are only two full-time therapists of this kind in the Windsor area and it isn’t enough to keep up with demand. “It’s difficult as a therapist to speak to someone who is in pain and discomfort and want to get them started, and then have to tell them that they have to wait three months for treatments,” Maddie says. This is why she’s been in talks with the Dr. Vodder school, where Maddie did her own schooling, about bringing the first round of training to Windsor in the Spring/Summer of 2021.

HEALTH

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Increasing the number of trained therapists will eventually help alleviate the wait time for patients in the long run, but in the meantime, Maddie empowers those on her waitlist to perform some of the self-care treatments at home. She’ll send video demonstrations, explanatory texts, or anything that will help people through this current waiting period, “I always say, you don’t have to see me forever… I’m just the beginning of your journey.”

Maddie often offers additions to her services such as self-care training, lymph tapping, and video calls because she believes that finances should never be a boundary between someone in pain and their self-care treatment. She also hosts a monthly Support Group followed by a community walk. Once a year in September, Maddie hosts a fundraiser walk to raise money for the Lymphedema Association of Ontario’s Compassion Fund. They’ve raised over $16,000 to date for recipients to use towards treatments not otherwise covered by insurance.

This drive to bring self-care awareness and access has also led Maddie to launch an online store, which is filled with products not offered through clinics, named Angelone Health after her brothers.

On this site, folks can find compression garments, dry brushes, and other items which help with circulation, inflammation, and all things self-care for those with lymphedema.

Maddie also uses her site and online platforms as an access point to educate the public on lymphedema. “The biggest misconception is that lymphedema can go away if someone stops eating so much or just takes a water pill. This doesn’t have anything to do with either.

Their lymphatic systems aren’t filtering or functioning properly.

Celebrities who have come out and shared their stories of having lymphedema has helped in shedding some of those misconceptions.”

Through these endeavors, Maddie lives her purpose of being a local resource for lymphedema every single day. Whether someone is a patient of hers or not, Maddie will go the distance to help them access the resources that they need. She has supported those who have gone years unnoticed, ignored, and untreated, and hasn’t given up until that person has received the treatment they deserve.

Maddie doesn’t just promote self-care work for others, but while living with her own condition, she has to be mindful of her own health too. “I don’t want to put my parents through having to bury another child, and I have small children of my own now, and I have to stay healthy for them.”

Deciding to have children in her 40s, Maddie was already at risk with an advanced maternal age pregnancy. Factoring in the element of her heart condition, she was advised not to increase her thoracic pressure, but she always knew that this was her other purpose.

“I knew I was meant to be a mom. And now I’m first on medical record in Canada to not only have one child, but first on record to have two with this condition and survive.”

So, along with working out and eating well, she also meditates and practices gratitude every day for not only finding one purpose in life, but two. She is so grateful every day that she found this talent for helping others, and for her two babies who allowed her to guide and raise their beautiful souls.

You can find more online resources from Maddie on Angelone Health, at Valero Wellness, or Active Body Physical Therapy. All resources are linked through her Instagram: @maddielymphtherapist. D 66

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CHARITY

CHASING INCLUSION Stephanie Seguin and The Chasing Hazel Foundation

By Alley L. Biniarz Photography by Trevor Booth

Local mom, Stephanie Seguin, thought she had been Punk’d when she found out that she’d been nominated for, and later won, NFL Canada’s Fan of the Year Contest for 2021. It wasn’t until the money showed up in her account that it actually hit her.

Stephanie was nominated by her friend Jen Williams for the work she does with The Chasing Hazel Foundation, an organization rooted in inclusivity, acceptance, and 68

creating a better world for individuals with Down syndrome.

into it, I didn’t know what to do. Money isn’t the reason we do this,” she adds.

“I was pumped to have the chance to speak to a larger audience about the work we do,” Seguin explains her interview process with NFL Network’s Nate Burleson, which was when they narrowed the nominees down and finally announcing her as the winner.

“When they told me that the money was for our work and the emotional labour that goes

The driving force for Steph and her husband Matt has never been money. The backbone of The Chasing Hazel Foundation has always been the many people who make it possible. It’s their community, and their collective passion for creating a more accepting world, that gets Steph and Matt going in the morning. Their mission has

CHARITY

always been rooted in community – even long before the foundation was established.

The spark was lit by a baby named Hazel and spread to a group of people who instantly fell in love with her story.

Chasing Hazel began as a blog that Matt encouraged Steph to start post-partum when their daughter Hazel was born with Down syndrome. They wanted to keep friends and family in the loop with their busy lives, all things Hazel, and the realities of parenthood – especially the realities of raising a child with exceptionalities. “Hazel was already this little magnet. This was when our community started,” Steph says about the blog taking off and suddenly attracting the attention of those outside of their immediate bubble.

Eventually, the blog reached professors of the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program at St. Clair College, who wanted Stephanie to come in and speak to future ECE workers. This was the perfect first step into advocacy for Steph, because she knew the work of inclusivity and acceptance had to stretch beyond their home. She wanted to empower education workers with the resources, wording, and approaches to reflect into their classrooms and to their students.

“This was the ideal audience – future educators – listening to me talk. I thought, Hazel could be in their class one day. Many times, you don’t get the full picture of what a person’s life looks like when they live with a disability,” Steph explains the significance of this opportunity, which was followed by many more, and very quickly turned into speaking in even larger spaces.

“The internet paints such an ugly picture of people with Down syndrome and other disabilities, and I wanted people to see that Hazel does the same things as everyone else, and you’d miss that if you didn’t have a front row seat to her life. She’s a sister, a cousin, a granddaughter; she’s not just a diagnosis.”

Fast forward nine years, Steph and Matt, along with their daughters Hazel and Nola, still focus on community outreach and public speaking in order to help others add value to their own spaces. Though now, as a registered charity, they also raise funds to help fill in the gaps for services, like speech pathology, for those who have outgrown government funding.

When it comes to community outreach, there is always learning to be done, and that THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM

goes for Steph and Matt. Being a part of, and more importantly, listening to members in the Down syndrome community, is where they learned to evolve their own advocacy.

Steph says that as an able-bodied, neurotypical person, she wanted to know how she could advocate without causing harm to the community, or to her daughter. She learned that she didn’t have to be an expert, she just had to be willing to get uncomfortable, let go of biases, and do the work of re-learning.

It takes a village, and many community partners, to make these things happen.

“I’ve been uncomfortable, and I don’t always like it, but there’s also always been respect and growth at the end. If we’re always comfortable, there will never be change.”

This is what motivated Steph to look around her own spaces and help make them more inclusive. “We have a responsibility to advocate for more inclusive spaces,” she says, having approached her All-Levels CrossFit gym about expanding the Adaptive Athlete program. This would create the space for those with disabilities to enter the gym community, as well as, the competitive side of CrossFit – and not in a separate division or category or class – but to workout and compete alongside everyone.

“We weren’t after participation medals… no ‘great jobs.’ We wanted to fairly include all individuals within the gym environment,” Steph explains. The addition of the Adaptive Athlete categories for the “CrossFit Open” not only led the opportunity for further advocacy in the CrossFit world, but resulted in one of the girls at their gym, Julia Lane, placing first worldwide in her category, Iesha Ellwood placing 8th, Adam Fase placing 13th, and Jaden Youssef placing 24th on the worldwide leader board.

“It takes a village, and many community partners, to make these things happen. We don’t have to make changes or learn alone,” Steph says. “That’s always the scary part; we open our doors and think that we need to have all of the answers, but there are other people who can help.”

This is one of the main missions of The Chasing Hazel Foundation: to empower others to change their own spaces. Steph couldn’t bear the thought of Hazel – or anyone else – coming into a space like the gym, walking through its doors, and not being welcome.

“And that’s what this work is about.

We need people to brighten the spaces that they’re in. People need to understand that they have the power to bring up the conversation. We need others to look around and ask who’s missing in their spaces. Which voices are being left out?”

Steph says that a person is always worthy of a space – whether that’s a place in the classroom or a position on the soccer team – and we need to make sure there aren’t obstacles or separateness tied to this invitation.

“We need to provide supports and accommodations for people to be as successful as they can be within that space.

The goal shouldn’t be about changing people with disabilities or for them to fit in; they’ve adapted and adjusted to our world for too long, it’s time for the rest of us to shift.”

Her advocacy has changed so much throughout the nine years, but the current lesson for Steph is that we need to accept people as they are in the moment that they come. “I don’t look at you as, ‘you’re great, but only because you’ll be a certain way in the end.’ No! You’re welcome here just as you are. You’re enough as you are.”

Steph wants to remind everyone that it’s okay to make mistakes, and it’s okay to say that you spoke too soon while learning, as long as we’re willing to seek out help, break down our personal biases, and then do better next time. Find your local community shakers, educators, and influencers and learn from them. Be sure to listen to a variety of voices, ask for permission to enter a space, and approach with kindness and empathy, always.

To learn more about inclusion, Steph recommends looking to: Shelley Moore and Paula Kluth. D 69

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EDUCATION

The Drive magazine in partnership with Libro Credit Union is challenging Grade 12 students to write an essay focused on their day-to-day lives.

Once a school is selected, the top five articles chosen by the teacher are further reviewed by our editorial team and the winner receives a $500 RESP from Libro Credit Union, along with publication of the essay in our issue.

Congratulations to Tatiana Cahur for being our May-June winner!

We are proud of all the participants and will continue to support our community through continued literacy and a path to higher education.

THE IMPACT OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT ON CANADIANS

By Tatiana Cahur

our growing economy. In addition, it deters individuals from interacting within the community, decreases their overall motivation, and many times, their mental health. If these adverse effects from youth unemployment continue, it is safe to assume that our future generations will be left behind. Not only does it affect their financial goals, but it also prevents them from gaining valuable life experience.

There is no doubt that currently, and more than ever before, Canadian youth have been greatly affected by unemployment.

This deprives them from learning life-long transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills which are all critical factors that impact 72

In 2020, about 16.7 percent of 15 to 24 year-olds were unemployed in Canada.

This average is significantly higher than the previous year. As a part-time cashier since the age of 15, who is actively involved in the community, I can confidently say that being employed has helped me in several different ways. For example, over the course of my employment, I have learned new skills, and I continue to enhance and practice others. These include, but are not limited to: time-management, problem-solving, communication, teamwork, organization, interpersonal, and analytical skills. With that being said, I strongly believe this experience will only prove to help me in the future when I begin working full-time in my chosen profession.

Furthermore, I think that it is crucial and extremely important to start developing important life skills early on and

apply them in daily life and community.

This is where youth employment is helpful.

However, as a result of this pandemic, the youth unemployment rate is now even higher than it was in previous years. Even those that are actively looking for a job are finding that opportunities are scarce. Youth unemployment creates many problems in our society and because of this, young people are feeling defeated and are quickly giving up. They are resorting to distractions such as substance abuse and other destructive behaviour. In particular, mental health issues have escalated to record high levels in young people since the COVID-19 pandemic. Depression, feelings of isolation, and even suicide are on the rise because of youth unemployment. This puts our future health and prosperity as a nation into jeopardy.

Clearly, the fact that youth unemployment is very high in Canada means that it is negatively impacting individuals and in turn, everyone as a whole. They are being left behind at a time when they should be building and contributing to their communities. However, I am hopeful that with proper leadership and support, our current youth unemployment rate will decrease, and we will have more opportunities for this sector. D

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