W.O.W - Women of Windsor-Essex Magazine - Premier issue

Women of Windsor-Essex

We All Have Scars”

Amy Mullins talks life after loss.

Not a Dry Eye in the House

Lasalle Vision Offering State-of-the-Art Treatment for Chronic Condition

By Jen Brignall-Strong Photos by Trevor Booth

With a specialized clinic offering relief to patients suffering from a condition that often goes overlooked, all eyes are on Lasalle Vision.

While the modern optometry office has offered vision exams, prescription glasses, and more for the last five years, it’s their latest endeavour that is changing lives.

The Restore Dry Eye Clinic, located inside Lasalle Vision, offers a variety of specific diagnostic and treatment options to patients suffering from dry eye; a chronic, progressive disease which is caused by a lack of moisture in the eye. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and include itching, burning, and redness, as well as sensitivity to light, fluctuating vision, foreign body sensation or ‘grittiness’ in the eye and even sharp, shooting eye pain.

“We have invested in some very advanced technology which has been revolutionary when it comes to the treatment of dry eye disease,” says clinic owner Dr. Krishna Khatri. “We were one of the first in the area to implement this and we’re the only office that offers three different dry eye treatments.”`

The concept of the clinic evolved from Dr. Khatri’s own personal passion for treating the condition, as well as a trend she was noticing at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There was a big increase in patients presenting with dry eye symptoms after 2020; the amount of screen time for everybody had gone up significantly and people were spending more time indoors,” recalls Dr. Khatri. “Almost every single patient I would see, including children as young as seven years old, was suffering from dry eye; from mild to more severe presentations.”

Dr. Khatri began researching what treatment options were available aside from the usual eye drops and hot compresses that are often recommended.

“Dry eye sometimes gets written off when you go for a regular eye exam. We decided that we needed to do more justice to our patients who present with more advanced symptoms because dry eye can truly be debilitating,” she says.

Once they started implementing the new treatments, patients were noticing fantastic results, says Dr. Khatri. After that, the office began fielding an influx of phone calls.

“We’ve been getting a lot of referrals. People seek us out based on what they’ve heard from others who have seen results,” she shares.

Restore Dry Eye clinic now offers a full panel of treatment using state-of-theart equipment including Optima IPL, the Systane iLux MGD Thermal Pulsation System, and their latest and most popular treatment, FORMA-I radiofrequency.

“Patients love it because it feels like a hot stone massage and there’s zero downtime,” notes Dr. Khatri. “It also enhances collagen production, so as a positive side effect it tightens the skin around the eyes, making them appear more youthful.”

Before a treatment option is determined, Dr. Khatri sits down with each patient for an in-depth consultation which allows her to get to the root cause of a patient’s dry eye.

“It’s a specialized dry eye exam which is very different from a regular eye exam,” she explains. “We focus on symptoms and lifestyle and we have advanced diagnostic equipment which allows us to look at your tear film and your meibomian glands. Based on all of that, we make a diagnosis and come up with a custom treatment plan. Everybody’s treatment is different depending on their needs.”

Dr. Khatri says the best time to treat dry eye is as soon as you notice it so that it doesn’t progress. She encourages people to book a consultation if they’re experiencing symptoms.

“We’re here to listen,” she adds. “Dry eye is all we do at this clinic and we’re here to help.” WOW

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On the cover:

We All Have Scars.

Amy Mullins talks life after loss.

Story by Jennifer Brignall-Strong. Photo by Syx Langemann.

David

Breanne McGinty – Account Manager 519-819-4697 bmcginty@thedrivemagazine.com

Mel Monczak – Account Manager 519-903-1353 mel@thedrivemagazine.com

POST Delivery agreement no. 43497602.

in

All

Contents

Premiere Issue

16

Finding Purpose in Grief. Amy Mullins opens up about life after loss and her path to healing.

Story by Jennifer Brignall-Strong.

44

Female President has a Ring to it. Baron Championship Rings is revolutionizing the celebration of sports. Story by Devan Mighton.

Photo by Trevor Booth.

20 Community Driven Impact with YQG’s powerhouse leaders.

Story by Layan Barakat.

Photo by Syx Langemann.

34 Fitness Fashion. From the studio to the streets with Rain Fitness Boutique.

Photos by Trevor Booth

38 Spring Salad with Tahini Beet Dressing by Oh So Mona.

Photo by Vicki Bartel

54 Creating Hope. One family at a time with Project Hope. Story by Sarah Smith.

Photos by Steve Pomerleau.

58 WEST Wants it #EqualForAll. Local non-for-profit is putting women in the workplace.

Story by Devan Mighton.

Photo by WEST Inc.

62 One Woman. One Step. One Movement.

Story by Devan Mighton.

68 Champions for Change. Supporting Windsor’s female leaders.

Story by Layan Barakat.

72 Simple Steps to achieving a more organized home.

Story and photo by Mouna Arabi.

76 Inspiring Growth through the power of art.

Story by Layan Barakat.

Photo by Trevor Booth.

Photo by Syx Langemann.

A Note From Our Publisher

Welcome to the highly anticipated premier issue of Women of Windsor (W.O.W) Magazine. Our team is so incredibly proud of the quality and substance of this inaugural edition and we are eager to share the many uplifting and empowering stories within these pages with you, our readers.

This quarterly specialty publication was born from a need in our community. Our own dynamic team of females saw an opportunity to do something that had never been done before in our region.

Backed by The DRIVE Magazine’s 23 years of publishing excellence and with a clear vision in mind, we set out to create a magazine that would highlight the struggles and triumphs of the countless strong female figures in our community: influencers, executives, mothers, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, daughters, and creators.

W.O.W is dedicated to amplifying these voices by sharing their stories and focusing on current hot topic issues through a uniquely female perspective; mental health, physical wellness, commerce, diversity, business trends, social media, parenthood, and more.

The outpouring of support for this project has left us truly speechless. The number of phone calls, messages, and emails we received upon announcing W.O.W far exceeded our expectations. It seems we weren’t the only ones who thought it was time to showcase our wow factor.

Thank you to our creative team for their exceptional work on bringing this concept to life, and thank you to our valued advertising partners for sharing in our vision. Lastly, we wish to extend our gratitude to all the incredible women who’ve allowed us to share their stories; you are blazing a trail for many more powerful, vivacious local women to follow.

Yours truly,

Paul St. Pierre Publisher

CLOSET CRAVINGS Upscale Consignment Boutique

Closet Cravings Upscale Consignment boutique in Tecumseh, Ontario, is a fashionable woman’s dream. At Closet Cravings, we believe that fashion should be accessible to everyone, and that’s why we offer a mix of mall and luxury brands at a fraction of their original prices. We offer a range of brands from Lululemon to Louis Vuitton. All of our luxury pieces are authenticated by a third-party expert and include a certificate of authenticity. Our collection is carefully curated to include everyday wear for women who value style and quality.

You can shop guilt-free, knowing you’re saving money and contributing to sustainability by buying consignment. This approach to fashion is both budget-friendly and eco-friendly, as it reduces textile waste and carbon emissions associated with new clothing production.

Lisa Berbynuk, a woman passionate about fashion and a commitment to sustainability, proudly owns Closet Cravings. Lisa’s vision for the boutique was to create a welcoming space where women could find affordable high-end fashion while supporting charitable causes. As a female-owned business in Windsor, Closet Cravings is part of a growing community of women entrepreneurs who positively impact the local economy.

Our boutique offers handbags, shoes, accessories, and clothing, all in excellent condition and carefully inspected by our knowledgeable staff. We also provide personal shopping and styling services to help you put together the perfect outfit for any occasion. In addition to providing unique fashion finds, Closet Cravings is committed to giving back to the community. We see every opportunity to donate and support local charities with the help of our clients and customers.

If you can’t make it to our boutique in Tecumseh, don’t worry. Our website ships locally and across North America, so you can still shop our collection from the comfort of your home.

To stay updated on our latest arrivals and fashion inspiration, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @closetcravingsinc. We love to engage with our customers and share our passion for fashion with everyone.

Closet Cravings is more than just another consignment shop. It’s a destination for women who value quality, style, and sustainability. So visit us at 25 Amy Croft Drive in Tecumseh, or shop our collection online, closetcravings.ca, or you can scan the code below to start shopping. We can’t wait to help you fulfill your closet cravings!

Business is booming for the sisters behind Deerbrook Realty

Jenn Pavao and Kelly Schroth are today’s face of Deerbrook Realty Inc. and know what it takes to grow and to remain dedicated to Windsor and Essex County. Since taking over the brokerage in the mid-2000’s, the sisters have brought the family business to new heights in an ever-evolving industry, growing Deerbrook to the largest locally owned and operated brokerage in Windsor-Essex.

Founded in 1987 by their father, Sam Zlotnik, the sisters have always been a fixture at the family business in one way or another.

“Kelly and I grew up in real estate,” explains Jenn. “When our dad opened it, we’d be in the office as young girls. We were always around it and it was part of our lives”.

Jenn Pavao and Kelly Schroth

Kelly Schroth

Jenn Pavao

She explains that her father started them off answering phones, but soon gave them the deep dive. Jenn was pointed in the direction of accounts payable, deals while Kelly worked on developments with her dad. Jenn and Kelly both became licensed realtors. They both gained experience selling real estate and are able to run every aspect of the business from answering phones to doing payroll.

“Little did we know, he was molding us back then to know every aspect of the company,” says Jenn. Soon after, both be came licensed brokers.

As their father edged towards retirement in the mid2000’s, Kelly became broker of record, and eventually they be came co-owners.

The pair were most likely the first all-female brokerage ownership in the City of Windsor and have built their busi ness by aligning themselves with amazing people within the organization. The pair are always accessible to their team and understand that everyone is an extended member of the Deer brook family.

“I feel that we’re a very caring, very appreciative, very sup portive brokerage—all the way around,” says Kelly. “The ener getic atmosphere in our office is unlike anything around and that resonates throughout the halls”.

The bond between the sisters is very evident. They con stantly finish each other’s sentences like it is a single stream of thought. At one point, they had separate offices, but elected to share an office together because they couldn’t be kept apart. Outside of work, they still live around the corner from each other, go on walks, and talk constantly.

“We’re a family, we’re a team, and we work together,” states Jenn. “It’s not just work, and I think that’s what makes the at mosphere here comfortable as well.”

“We’ve been around long enough where we have the knowledge—we know a lot about real estate,” says Kelly. “I feel like we’re in our prime as a company, because we are still young enough where we have the energy to bring in other tools and we’re constantly evolving, constantly changing, but we also know we have longevity. We’re not going anywhere, anytime soon.”

“What sets us apart is that Kelly and I run the company our father started, and we care about this company—we care about its success,” Jenn continues.

“We’ve grown, but I also feel like we’ve evolved,” says Kelly. “Deerbook Realty is a company that collaborates with our entire team which allows our realtors to become successful in this industry.”

The sisters have also elected to rebrand—going with a sleeker, more modern logo and a new website launching soon.

“We are a company that has our customer service values based in 1987,” explains Jenn. “Our staff are over-the-top friendly, we’re helpful, and we do everything a salesperson needs to do when it comes to support and appreciation, but it’s 2023 and our company reflects that in our technology, our tools, and our branding.”

Furthermore, the company culture encourages collaboration and provides great opportunities for professional development. All of these factors make working for Deerbrook Realty a brilliant career move. WOW

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Finding Purpose in Grief

Amy Mullins opens up about life after loss and her path to healing.

By Jen Brignall-Strong Photo Syx Langemann

“I’m normally the one interviewing people,” jokes Amy Mullins nervously. “I’m the therapist.”

The Social Worker and Realtor® is used to being on the listening end of the conversation; whether it’s assisting her patients with overcoming their mental health struggles or counselling homeowners through a real estate transaction. Now, she’s ready to do the talking, sharing her personal journey through trauma in hopes of helping others who may be facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Hers is the story of a young mother navigating the challenges of an unexpected pregnancy and a child born with a facial difference. It’s the story of a wife left widowed by suicide and a woman determined to make sense of tragedy; ultimately finding some peace through purpose.

“Whenever I have talked about my life, it’s always been my husband’s story or the story of my son; but this is my story,” she explains. “I’ve never done this before; it’s scary.”

While Amy’s life has been filled with dark moments and periods of sadness and overwhelming grief, she wants people to know that it’s really a story of victory and hope.

“I feel like a very fortunate person; I have a great life,” she says. “But we all have scars; everybody has experienced trauma, it’s just how it affects you and if you’re willing to go to that dark place to heal it. We don’t get through life unscathed.”

As we settle into our conversation, Amy begins the emotional recounting of her story with the birth of her son Jake in 1999. She was just 20 years old when she conceived a child with her high school boyfriend, Joe Mullins. Unmarried and still living at home with her parents, Amy was not planning to become a mother at such an early age.

“At the time, my sister who is eight years older than me was also expecting. She was six months further along than I was and she was married, educated, and had her career,” she recalls. “I just was not in the same position she was and I was so ashamed. I felt so stupid for letting this happen and that I was somehow taking the spotlight away from her. She was just so excited to become a mom.”

When Amy gave birth to her son, she learned he was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, presenting a whole

new set of challenges. It was a shock to both Amy and Joe, she shares, noting the couple was overcome with emotion and fear of the unknown.

“All of a sudden I was responsible for caring for a child with a physical disability,” she reflects. “I felt guilty because at the time I didn’t know why this happened and I thought, ‘did I do something wrong?’ I never really talked about it at the time though because I was just in go mode and all I could think about was, ‘I love this baby and I have to take care of him.’”

live in Canada because really everything was taken care of.”

While the experience tested Amy’s resilience, nothing could prepare her for the darkest chapter of her life: the loss of her husband Joe.

Amy and Joe married in 2003, but as Amy was busy caring for their young son, she hadn’t noticed the extent of her husband’s growing dependency on painkillers, which he was prescribed after sustaining injuries in a dirt bike accident.

“It took a huge toll on our marriage,” she shares. “I was so busy taking care of Jake that I didn’t realize there was an addiction problem and how bad it was until he had to go to rehab.”

Joe was in and out of rehabilitation programs for many years, she says, trying unsuccessfully to beat his addition. While she struggled with feelings of anger and resentment, she was also riddled with fear and concern when her husband just wasn’t getting better.

The first few months of Jake’s life were a blur of specialist appointments and surgeries. There were 15 surgeries in total, and Amy credits the team at the John McGivney Children’s Centre for their swift intervention and support.

“They came to the hospital right away and said, ‘We’re going to help you through all of this.’ They set up all the surgery dates and assisted us and that’s when I realized how grateful I am to

“I remember driving out to Thamesville one time while he was in rehab. I was so angry inside and was thinking to myself, ‘This is not what I thought my life would look like,” she says. “But at the same time I loved him and I knew him. He had a lot of stuff from his past that really weighed on him, and he was also very ashamed of the state he was in. He didn’t want his son seeing him like that, so he was rarely home and tried to keep it all very private.”

Unable to overcome his addiction, Joe took his own life in the basement of his mother’s home, where he was living as he attempted rehab, yet again.

“July 15th 2008 was the worst day of my life,” Amy says through tears.

“I remember being in a fog and that feeling of your heart just dropping into your stomach,” she recalls the moment

Whenever I have talked about my life, it’s always been my husband’s story or the story of my son; but this is my story. I’ve never done this before; it’s scary.

she received the devastating news. “I was bawling and the first thing I thought was, ‘Everyone who loves him is going to hate me. They’re going to blame me. How could I let this happen?’”

Thankfully, Amy says, that was not the case at all, as Joe’s family and friends consoled her through her grief. It was through their support, the support of her own family, and therapy that she was able to navigate the unimaginable emotions that come along with becoming a widow at 30.

“I sought therapy right away for myself and my son. I remember reaching out because I was like, ‘How do I tell my nine-year-old what happened?’”

Jake remained outwardly stoic when Amy shared the news of his father’s passing, never showing emotion in front of her.

“When I told him, he looked shocked and went into the bathroom, locked the door, and cried. Then he came out and I did not see or hear him cry again,” she shares.

It was the months and years after when Jake’s struggles with the loss became apparent. Amy says he began sleeping on the floor of her room, as well as his own (which she later learned was a trauma response.) He also began experiencing panic attacks and by the time he entered high school, he had slipped into a deep depression, often missing school and not wanting to leave his bedroom.

Despite therapy, he was unable to cope and experienced an episode of psychosis at age 17.

“One morning I walked into his room and he was hallucinating and delusional. He wasn’t making sense; he thought I was recording him. Very strange behaviour,” she recalls.

Jake was hospitalized three times over the next few months and was referred to an Early Intervention Program

with the Canadian Mental Health Association.

“The CMHA saved my son’s life,” she says. “For three years, we had a nurse come to our house weekly, a social worker, occupational therapy and an amazing psychiatrist. We had every resource available to us, thank God. They were able to educate us on recovery.”

For Amy, seeing her son’s battle with mental health was the scariest period of her life.

“I thought I was going to lose my son,” she says, her voice cracking as she fights back emotions. “But he’s such a smart kid and he just had that emotional intelligence and was really receptive to treatment.”

It is likely Amy’s own emotional intelligence that has kept her going over the past two decades, despite experiencing more than her fair share of traumatic events. Determined to overcome her own mental health struggles and heal herself, Amy went back to school to pursue a degree in social work, even as she continued to work in real estate; a career she’s loved since becoming a Realtor® in 2004

“I went back to university shortly after my husband died. I had to make sense of what the hell just happened,” she explains. “Like, if he was a person who loved his family so much, why did he do this? I had to understand the addiction and I was really compelled to honour his memory and maybe help others understand as well.”

Amy graduated from the University of Windsor Social Work program and began her counselling practice, VistaAn Extensive View, in 2012.

“A lot of people said, ‘You can›t have two careers,’” she recalls. “I heard it all.”

Amy has spent the last decade skilfully balancing both careers, as well as volunteering her time through var-

ious charitable works and becoming a CMHA Ambassador. But, she recognizes, her busy lifestyle at times has become her own coping mechanism.

“When I got really busy with my career, I realized that I was inadvertently burying my trauma wounds,” she explains. “I people-pleased and piled on achievements and good deeds to make myself feel valuable because I lived with so much guilt. The achievements helped me push through and build my confidence, but they also gave me a false sense I’d been healed.”

She had a hard time saying no, she says, because she was so afraid of losing people.

“It was easy for me to fall into the pattern of co-dependency since I lived many years with loved ones who had addictions and mental health issues. I’m still working to heal these patterns as well as my abandonment triggers so they don’t interfere with my life so much. That’s my personal goal.”

“When I say you can be victorious in your life but you have scars; those are my scars,” she continues. “No one is immune to trauma. I’m a therapist and I’m not immune.”

Amy’s motivation for sharing her story is to not just talk the talk, but to walk the walk. To show her clients and anyone reading this that there’s no need to hide those scars, whatever they are. There’s no shame in reaching out for help, and it’s only through giving yourself the grace to heal that you can truly change the narrative around your life and give it meaning.

“I’m done with being ashamed. If I’m going to preach to my clients that shame doesn’t belong here, and that you’ve got to be vulnerable to get better, then I’d better show them how this works,” she says. “This is my hope. I want people to know they’re not alone.” WOW

Community Driven Impact

with YQG’s powerhouse leaders.

By Layan Barakat

Photo by Syx Langemann

It comes down to generosity, the word sung like a chorus among the powerhouse leaders who have dedicated their lives to creating sustainable change in the Windsor-Essex region and beyond. Each modestly accepts praise for their efforts before returning the credit to the YQG community for their hospitality.

“We know Windsor-Essex is so incredibly generous,” said Kim Willis, Director of Communications at the Canadian Mental Health Association “[they] rally around the cause when it presents itself.”

A common thread of benevolence weaved through stories and milestones shared by each woman to create a mosaic of our region’s unique people, initiatives, and achievements. With their feet on the ground and their hearts on their sleeves, they’ve worked collectively and individually to achieve their goals of creating impactful change.

“I think you’ll find that there are a lot of people in the nonprofit sector who have lived experience related to the work they’re doing, and I think that it is profoundly transformational in how well we do our jobs and how well we relate to the communities we serve,” said Fiona Coughlin, Executive Director and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex.

“When you or your family have been impacted by a diagnosis, you tend to relate on a completely different level. It empowers you to work tirelessly to raise funds for members of our community that have also been impacted by a diagnosis. We share a similar passion that not only drives us but motivates us to make a difference,” said Houida Kassem, Executive Director at the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation.

Each woman’s story highlighted the monumental highs and industry-specific barriers. Still, one common theme among all sectors was the need

to provide resources even in the face of adversity - namely, a global pandemic that affected every person, business, and the organizations put in place to support them.

“We were all highly impacted by covid; we had community leaders calling us in a panic because they were forced to close,” said Lisa Kolody, Executive Director with the WindsorEssex Community Foundation. “There had to be a lot of adaptation of services. We pulled together a group of people to see what we could do. We surveyed the charities and found that needs were up, donations were down, and people couldn’t go to work all the time. So the charities had to pivot and adapt. Covid showed the areas that need attention, like mental health and food security. But it really brought a sharper focus when we saw what needed improvement”.

Housing

Meeting the community’s needs lives at the core of each project implemented through the region’s nonprofits. Rukshini Ponniah-Goulin, Executive Director of the Downtown Mission of Windsor, experienced this firsthand at the height of the pandemic.

“I’m proud that the Mission has continued to evolve over the past 50 years to meet the needs of our community regardless of what is happening. This was predominant in the past two years when we had to continue providing shelter, food, and support to hundreds of hurting Windsorites daily. Some organizations had to shift their services to a virtual model. But, of course, providing a bed or a meal for someone isn’t possible virtually, so we had to figure out how to continue doing that safely, and we did with the help and partnership of so many others, including The City of Windsor and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. We proved together that Windsor

continues to be a strong and compassionate community for all!”

The need for shelter and affordable housing took on an entirely different meaning when the University of Windsor and The Bridge Youth Resource Centre came together with Habitat for Humanity Windsor Essex and made national history for taking on a project tackling this issue in our region and beyond.

“We just completed Canada’s first 3D printed home for residential use,” said Fiona Coughlin “it’s North America’s first multi-unit, 3D printed home that was printed with concrete. I’m most proud of the collaboration and how that translates into impactful projects”.

Healthcare

Amber Hunter, Executive Director of Transition to Betterness, aims to bring the organization’s mission of comfort to every project they take on. “Transition to Betterness (T2B) is a movement of Kindness, Comfort, Compassion, and Community. What binds us is sharing a united goal of comforting those around us. The family we have created is what makes T2B so special. We are a family of donors, volunteers, and supporters – everyone lends a helping hand. All of our programs have focused on seeing patients as family. We often ask ourselves, “what would we do for a family member facing a difficult time?” The answer is simple, “we comfort them in any way possible.” This question became a mission, and through small acts of kindness, our mission of comfort has made a difference in so many lives”.

Providing comfort to families in need lives is at the core of many of these nonprofits’ values. “At hospice, we focus on improving our clients’ and their families quality of life. We can’t change the outcome, but we can affect the journey, and the support we receive from our community allows us to do

this important work. It truly takes a village to provide specialized palliative care, from staff to volunteers, to donors and community partners – and we are so appreciative of the support we have received over the past 44 years,” said Nancy Brockenshire, Executive Director of The Hospice of Windsor & Essex County Inc.

holders; it goes back to the people who make this community what it is. “I have the opportunity to speak to the patients and hear their stories. They really inspire the work we do here at the foundation,” said Cristina Naccarato, Executive Director at the Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation. “I see the impact of our work every day. I have strong relationships with the chiefs of the departments, doctors, and frontline workers, and I just hear firsthand how the foundation supports them and how they wouldn’t be able to provide the level of care they’re able to if it wasn’t for our fundraising efforts.”

Mental Health

which would have seemed unfathomable 10 years ago. It reflects our community’s need”.

Community

“What I enjoy most is bringing people together and creating fabulous committees and friendships that last a lifetime,” said Gloria Cavenago, Development Officer for Erie Shores Health Foundation. “Our communities throughout Windsor-Essex are some of the most generous, and whether you’re a volunteer or a chequewriter, you show up at these events; it creates the whole picture. It takes everybody to get involved, and we are forever grateful for that support!”

With the immense support provided by so many organizations, community members have stepped up to give back. “We have very tangible examples of generosity on our campus,” said Barb Sebben, Executive Director HDGH Foundation. As a member of the Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare family for over 20 years, Barb has been at the forefront of the hospital’s fundraising efforts, “From taking part in our yearly signature events to making a meaningful donation to our Tree of Lights Campaign or dropping off fresh food for our healthcare teams to enjoy during the pandemic, the Windsor-Essex community always rallies behind HDGH. We just can’t thank them enough.”

The support of the foundations goes beyond the donors and share-

Having donor support is fundamental to the success of a non-profit charitable organization. This support allows the organization to focus on delivering the complex needs of those accessing services. “It is about meeting a client where they are at and wrapping services around them.  We are seeing such a need which is why we must ensure programs are available when a client is ready,” said Karen Waddell, CEO at House of Sophrosyne. “There is a crisis we need to face head on and through our barrier free continuum of addiction and mental health services, Sophrosyne is able to do just that”.

The understanding of mental health care has hit an all-time high, according to an article published by the CBC “54 percent of Canadians said their mental health had worsened during the past two years — with women faring significantly worse than men”.

“Mental health is so top of mind right now; my position from when I first started to now has really evolved,” said Kim Willis, “we found a real need in the community to grow awareness and education for mental health. Through that work, we’ve really ramped up our education portfolio. In the last few years, we raised over 1 million dollars

Ashley Weeres knows that feeling well. Since taking on the role of Executive Director at WE Care for Kids Foundation, Ashley has watched the foundation grow to help enhance the health and wellness of local children.

“When I started, we were able to support our local hospitals, the John McGivney Children’s Centre and WETRA. In the last 11 years, we’ve been able to expand the services we support and help over 9 different organizations. We’ve seen the results of our support, with the organizations we support being able to share the kids’ progress and development with the equipment we’ve provided.”

Together, these powerhouse leaders have helped provide funding, resources, and education to the Windsor-Essex community. Their adoration of one another and the community they call home is apparent in their tireless efforts to give back to the people in our region.

“I really do believe we are the way we are because of our community,” said Houida, “Our achievements are our community’s achievements. When our community does well, we all do well together - we’re stronger together.”  WOW

We know Windsor-Essex is so incredibly generous, [they] rally around the cause when it presents itself.

The ONLY auto loan preapproval centre in Ontario that is not on a dealer’s lot. Why should they brag about that? Let’s dive in!

Marjie Gignac has been in the auto financing industry for 25 years and counting. If there was ever a person to tell you the good, bad or the ugly about the business, it’s her.

Born and raised in Windsor, Marjie started in the auto finance business in 1998 working for one of the busiest dealerships in Canada right here in Windsor. This is where her passion to help people began and where she would learn that women in this business don’t often make it. Marjie explains to me that at the time there were no other women doing what she was

We’re In This Together

people

doing. It was truly a club for men. The only women at dealerships were receptionists and a few service advisors. She was directly involved with the sale of vehicles to help customers with good credit and bad, get approved for their auto loans. That was unusual at the time. Of course, there were a few disrespectful moments, but she was neither deterred by this nor intimidated. When I asked her if she felt valued in this environment her answer was simple, she didn’t care! She could even be found cleaning the snow off cars in the wintertime. Not for the recognition of anyone else but herself.

After more than a decade of working for car dealerships, Marjie saw the bias that they could have at times towards people with challenged credit. She was working within a system that was not consistent with her own values of how customers who needed a reliable vehicle were treated versus those who could afford any car on the lot! This had to change.

There was a pivotal moment in her career when a young, single mother working 2 jobs came in with less than perfect credit. Marjie got her approved. But when the A/C broke in her car a week later, the dealership refused to help her until after 30 days when her warranty would kick in. They didn’t want to pay for it. This is when she saw firsthand that there was a definite need to take care of people who needed it the most. In 2009, Marjie opened Velvet Financing, at a time when we were facing one of the worst economic recessions in our lifetime. And why did she think she could do it? There was

a wrong that needed to be right and “I had the talent to do it,” she says. She is now in complete control of her own business, taking care of all warranty issues that have nothing to do with credit ratings. Her no-nonsense approach is only backed by her experience and passion. She wants to see people succeed.

She attributes her success to being laser focused, loyal customers and the amazing business group she has surrounded herself with. Marjie never felt a lot of pushback starting her business. but says she still gets nervous when the phone doesn’t ring.

But it’s never silent for long. Velvet Financing gets a ton of referrals, advertising is omnipresent, and walk ins are always welcome. The personal approach is not a gimmick. Marjie makes herself available because “trust is everything, the follow up with clients is so important because no one has done that with them, so if you call me on a Sunday, I’m picking up!” She refuses to let her clients get into financial trouble by making poor choices. She’s proved this having served over 10,000 local clients so far.

Marjie defines success not by money but says “if you’re really passionate about something and you’re able to make a living out of it, that’s fantastic and everything else will come.”

In ending our interview, I asked Marjie what advice she would give to a young entrepreneur. “Find someone who is amazing at what you’re trying to do and pick their brain, be savvy, the most successful people are very generous with their knowledge.” WOW

How one tenacious woman and her team is helping

get into reliable vehicles and find their way back to good credit, and changing the way people are financing vehicles.

Bana

Luciana RosuSieza- Living and leading by example both at home and at work.

By Leslie Gontarde

Eating disorders know NO age, NO race, NO economic status and NO geographic boundaries. Next to opioid use eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of ANY psychiatric diagnosis. Yes, that’s right, let’s say that again, the second highest mortality only to opioid use. The global prevalence rate estimates that 2.7 million Canadians exhibit symptoms of an eating disorder. Eating Disorders can leave one with feelings of hopelessness and isolation. Even after decades of awareness, the stigma and misinformation associated with eating disorders remain an obstacle to treatment and recovery. However, there is hope and you CAN recover.

So where do we begin, who do we turn to for help with this insurmountable issue? Windsor Essex has one motivated woman leading the way to push the message and create partnerships that move the narrative forward and give hope to anyone suffering, through an organization known as BANA-Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association.

“There’s no such thing as perfection, it’s all progress,” says Luciana Rosu-Sieza the Executive Director of BANA since 2012. Born in Romania and immigrated to Canada at four years old. Luciana has lived in Quebec City and Montreal but has spent most of her life right here in Windsor. She is married to her supportive husband Tony who believes she can do anything and has two children, Gabriela and Antonio, who she helps guide through their own lives using the skills she has acquired through her work and life. Before becoming the executive director, Luciana was the health promotion manager with BANA for eight years. So how does one tenacious woman preside over such an intrinsic organization?

Three words: Patience, Perseverance and Progress. Luciana’s personal and professional life intersects wholly but it’s her own positive perspective about that intersection that truly shines through. What makes a good mother?

Acceptance, patience, guidance. No one would disagree. What makes a good

leader? Communication, coaching, accountability, creativity, confidence. Luciana is proficient in all of it and believes that “many of the same qualities and skills required to be a great leader are transferable skills,” and those skills have helped her be a better wife and mother in her personal and professional life. She truly believes in BANA’s message and perseveres every day to create progress for those they serve.

Who is Bana?

BANA is an incorporated non-profit organization founded by parents Dick and Mary Moriarty in 1983 after losing their daughter to an eating disorder. Today, governed by an outstanding Board of Directors who trust and believe in the work; BANA has evolved through the years and now takes an interdisciplinary approach to preventing, educating and treating eating disorders in across the Windsor Essex region. An intake worker, social workers, a nurse practitioner, dietitians, health educators, public relations and administration support work collaboratively as a small but mighty team. Together, they provide a continuum of care for their clients and communities. “Having a team that is truly invested is inspiring,” say Rosu-Sieza, “it makes me proud to be the messenger and ambassador of their work.” “I can’t tell you how many times over the years, clients and family members have come to me with compliments about the people behind our programs.”

What are eating disorders?

BANA describes eating disorders as complex mental health challenges that can develop as an unhealthy way to cope with psychological and emotional distress. They are serious but treatable mental health illnesses. There are multiple types of eating disorders including, but not limited to Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorders and Avoidance and Restrictive Food Intake Disorders. The severity can range dramatically, which is why prevention and intervention are so

vital. BANA wants you to know while only designated professionals can diagnose eating disorders, it’s important not to dismiss early warning signs and educate yourself if you believe you or someone you know is at risk.

What are signs that someone is suffering from an eating disorder?

• Frequent comments about body shape, size, weight

• Sudden increase in weight gain or loss

• Frequent weighing or measuring of themselves or body avoidance

What are signs that I might be at risk of developing an eating disorder?

• Intense fear of weight gain

• Consistent dieting

• Exercising obsessively

Prevention

Prior to becoming the executive director Rosu-Sieza delivered hundreds of health promotion and education presentations for BANA. “We are all in this comparison trap,” she says. “We used to compare ourselves to the Jones’ of next door and now we compare ourselves to the Jones’ of the world.” BANA has many plans of action to get the message out early. Their health educators offer free presentations in schools as early as JK/SK As early as grade five they begin discussing the pressures of social media. “Prevention is key, we need to get in front of this before it begins. We can start by creating tools for our youth to combat the social and media driven pressures.” On average every year BANA delivers over 300 educational health promotion presentations that cover every topic from self-esteem, body image, nutrition, size acceptance and social media. The idea is to create several opportunities for anyone struggling to get educated and prevent an eating disorder before it gets to the point of needing treatment.

The cost of social media and the diet culture.

It is no surprise that teens and young adults are the most avid users of social media, a whopping 93% of people ages 14-34 use it daily. “There is a lot of pressure for young people and adults to get validation around their

is a very social part of our life.” Unlike alcohol or tobacco, people suffering from eating disorders cannot just abstain from eating. Food is essential to our lives; we need it for fuel, so teaching BALANCE is important, which is why working with the highly skilled multidisciplinary team at BANA works so well.

Treatment

appearance.” Nevertheless, how much time is validation worth to you? The average teenager spends 45 minutes to one hour on hair, make-up, outfits, and lighting just to create a snapshot of a life they’re not living. Why? Validation! The gratification someone gets when they have enough “likes” triggers a sense that they’re “good enough.” In addition, for someone struggling with an eating disorder this kind of culture can consume their lives. BANA wants to change that by developing creative initiatives and challenges. Through their ongoing efforts, BANA challenges people of all ages to take a critical look at media. Simple lifestyle changes like leaving comments on a post that are not appearance based or taking polaroid pictures of yourself instead of the smartphone with all the editing tools, are great places to start. “Beauty is looked at as an achievement,” says Luciana, “and it’s not. Instead of congratulating someone on their good grades or an act of kindness, we tell them how nice they look.” Social media and the diet culture are impossible to keep up with, which is why Luciana and the team at BANA do not advocate for restricting food but rather recommend balance as a way forward. “Food

While 85-90% of people who seek treatment are women, and that is a staggering number, BANA has responded with several treatment tracks based on best practices for anyone to access. If you are suffering, you can contact BANA directly through their website at www.bana.ca, toll free at 1-855-9695530 or get a referral from your doctor. Luciana wants people to know that “recovery is possible even though the eating disorder voice is very loud.” “We have seen this in early recovery as well as people who are chronically ill.” BANA understands that even after treatment life triggers happen. So even after you leave, they are always there to offer tools to help people cope. When you contact BANA their centralized intake specialist, who coordinates both youth and adult services for the region, meets with you and goes through a comprehensive intake evaluation using their team of professionals necessary to build an individualized plan for that person. “People can get their life back.”

Partnerships

BANA has partnered with several provincial, regional and local organizations and credits their success to those great relationships. They are proud of the work they have been able to accomplish since cultivating these networks, no one is more important than the others. Luciana is especially proud of their centralized intake service created in 2014. “We’ve been recognized by the province for how well this process has worked, it’s about being intentional in partnering and not letting clients fall through the cracks.” In May 2022 a partnership was launched between BANA, the weCHC -Teen Health and

Windsor Regional Hospital, known as the Windsor Essex Intensive Outpatient Program (WEIOP) for eating disorders, the first of its kind for this region funded through Ontario Health. Luciana and her team are excited to see this new program take shape, and what it means to individuals to remain in our region for care. Complementing the comprehensive treatment and local health promotion services at BANA, they have also continued to explore innovative trends in prevention and education. In partnership with Eating Disorders Ontario, BANA has recently been awarded a provincially funded host agency role to provide prevention, promotion and early intervention services throughout the Ontario west region. Luciana recalls, “Province wide prevention services have been a 20-year dream for me and it has been an honour both personally and professionally for BANA and myself to see this initiative come to fruition.”

Hope

Luciana is passionate about the work she does and extremely hopeful for the future. She believes 99% of problems are solvable. “It hasn’t always been the easiest journey. There were many closed doors over the years, but at BANA we rise to the challenge. We encourage our clients everyday to never give up. It is not in our nature either. While we have begun to reap the fruits of our labour, we know mental health is a long road. We are grateful for all those people over the years who have helped us along the way and look forward to creating new partnerships, finding supporters, new successes and helping more people. The outstanding individuals I work with and those we serve still inspire me. Do not give up, the best lessons come from challenges and recovery is possible. STAY

WOW

Toll free clinical intake for eating disorders in Windsor-Essex: 1-855-969-5530 Phone: 519-969-2112 bana.ca

HOPEFUL.”

There’s no such thing as perfection, it’s all progress.

Finding Relief with TMJ & Sleep Therapy

Dr. Lisa DiGioia: changing lives for the better.

By Dean Chasnoff

If you suffer from sleep or TMJ-related issues, you know how debilitating it can be. Symptoms may include exhaustion, headaches, chronic pain, difficulty concentrating, earaches, facial pain and issues with balance or dizziness. For many people, these issues have a negative impact on their quality of life often affecting their work, relationships, and overall well being. However, Dr. Lisa DiGioia’s treatment is changing peoples lives.

Dr. DiGioia has dedicated her career to helping patients suffering from sleep apnea, TMJ, and headache-related issues. Her patients speak of her with gratitude for their transformation. Dr. DiGioia understands the impact of chronic pain and poor sleep, stating that it can lead to depression and often leaves patients feeling dysfunctional. She believes that people should not have to live like this and that there is hope. Her commitment to her patients is evident in the way she works tirelessly to bring the best possible treatment options to them.

Dr. DiGioia is widely regarded as a leader by other health care professionals, including dentists, physicians, surgeons, chiropractors, and physical therapists who refer patients to her for help. She and her team work closely to provide a comprehensive treatment plan that address the root cause of the patient’s problem.

Dr. DiGioia’s passion for helping patients is undeniable, and her commitment to learning and staying up-to-date with the

latest developments in her field is unwavering.

For patients who suffer with sleep apnea and don’t like the CPAP machine, Dr. DiGioia offers alternatives. If snoring is a problem, she can help with that too.

Dr. DiGioia ensures that her patients receive the best possible care. She offers at home sleep testing which is a convenient way for a patient to get a diagnosis without having to spend a night in a sleep clinic.

Dr. DiGioia is always looking for new and innovative ways to help her patients. She is excited to announce that she has added an additional laser to her practice that is quick and painless to reduce snoring, and in most cases eliminate it. During treatment, the laser energy stimulates collagen, which helps tighten and tone the soft palate that is too relaxed. There are no side effects, no bleeding, and patients can resume their normal activities immediately. This state-of-the-art treatment is an alternative to traditional snoring treatments, and Dr. DiGioia is the first dentist in Canada to offer this specific laser.

If you are suffering from headaches, pain, snoring, and sleep or TMJ-related issues, schedule an appointment with Dr. DiGioia and her team to see how they can help you. Please call her office at 519-733-8888 or visit them online at tmjsleeptherapy.ca today. WOW

They Take the Stress Out of Changing Your Address

Danielle Wellings-Carriere gives peace of mind through ONESource Moving Solutions.

By Leslie Gontarde

With this go-getter mentality, in 2014 Danielle decided that it was time to invest in a business that she could eventually call her own. The license for ONESource Moving Solutions for Seniors for Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent was purchased and operated by Danielle. After six years of growing the business, in 2019 she purchased the company and transformed the idea into a franchise base model expanding their target audience to provide services for anyone in need thus creating ONESource Moving Solutions for Seniors, Professionals, and Families.

solution for everyone in any situation”. She can’t do it all on her own though, she has a strong and compassionate team of men and women behind her who are insured and have a police clearance. “Don’t underestimate the team in purple” because there is no problem too big or too small that she and her team can’t handle.

Danielle Wellings-Carriere knows all too well the stressors that come when owning your own business. She grew up in an entrepreneurial family learning what it takes to run a family business from a young age. Dinner table conversations often revolved around the day-to-day tasks that came with running the business, planting the seed of knowledge she would use to successfully operate her own business later in life. It was instilled into her from a young age by her father that nothing will ever be handed to her, “you go out and make it yourself.”

Expanding the company was an obvious decision since Danielle quickly realized the growth potential of operating an essential business. Danielle best describes ONESource as “ a one-stop shop, we do everything that is needed in a transition”. They have a variety of services from downsizing, personal organizing, donate and discard of contents, room to room moves, full packing and unpacking services, set up service on move day, space planning, estate services, online auction sales, moving and much more. With this key business idea, Danielle was able to expand the business across Southern Ontario operating in nine cities from Windsor to Peterborough. Danielle recently hired a new Director of Franchise Development to oversee new ventures for the company.

ONESource is expanding across Canada and has plans to expand to the U.S. in 2023 . Danielle wants people to know that, “behind every front door there’s a story to tell and there’s a moving

Along with many other accredited certificates, ONESource Moving Solutions is a member of the National Association of Senior Move Managers, the Ontario Retirement Community Association, the Canadian Franchise Association, and a Certified Relocation Transition Specialist. This is an important piece for the team, it ensures their reputation is upheld when dedicating their efforts to helping seniors, professionals, and families transition and move effectively.

ONESource Moving Solutions has made a significant difference in the Windsor community and it’s shown through the several awards accredited to Danielle such as : 2022 Best Moving Services for Windsor/Essex, International Women’s Day Award with In Honour of the Ones We Love 2023, nominations for the BizX Small Company of the Year award 2018 , Chamber of Commerce nominee for Small Company of the Year 2019, and recently nominated for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur award 2023

If you or a loved one needs a one-stop solution for your move or transition needs for any phase of life, you can contact Danielle and her team at onesourcemoving.ca or by phone at 519-984-2111. WOW

Sponsored Content

Photo by Trevor Booth

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Fitness Fashion From the Studio to the Streets!

Top picks for spring that bring style, comfort, and sustainability.

Luxury athletic boutique specializing in activewear and loungewear.

Curated for the alwayson-the-go active woman who wants comfort and performance for her workouts and elevated loungewear in between.

Photo feature by Trevor Booth

Hope O’Brien Pilates Instructor

Hope is wearing the #1 best-selling Spacedye Legging from Beyond Yoga in Blue Glow. The matching Cut To Bra features removable pads and adjustable straps for extra comfort and fit. Hands down the softest fabric you will ever touch, Spacedye is buttery soft, moisture-wicking, and extremely breathable making it perfect for hot yoga, pilates, and HIIT.

Kelly Henley Yoga Instructor

Kelly is keeping it casual in this athleisure look that is both soft and sustainable. The lightweight Momentum Pant from Lole and classic tee from Prana are made from recycled and responsibly sourced fabrics, and when paired with the micro-ribbed Rosanne Jacket from Varley, create the perfect look from running errands to brunch. We finished off the look with the vegan leather Sam Bag from Lambert that can be worn cross-body or on the shoulder.

Carly McArthur Yoga Instructor

Carly is wearing the Silverberry Bloom Legging from Beyond Yoga made with yarn created from recycled plastic water bottles. We’ve paired it with this incredibly soft, cashmerelike Smarten Up Pullover from Beyond Yoga in Mango Pop for a fun and bright spring look. Take this outfit from the studio to the street and keep comfortable during long walks, yoga, and even weekends at the winery!

SALAD Spring

With Tahini Beet Dressing.

INGREDIENT: FOR THE SALAD

3 cups of baby arugula and spinach mix

½ cup of spicy mustard micro greens for garnish

3-5 peeled French carrots

1 tbsp honey

Pinch of Salt and pepper to taste

¼ cup Fresh-shelled English peas

1/3 cup Feta cheese

FOR THE DRESSING

½ cup tahini

2 cooked and peeled beets

1 tbsp honey

¾ cup fresh lemon juice

2 tsp Himalayan salt

Serves 2

DIRECTIONS

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Toss carrots in a bowl with honey, salt, and pepper. After tossing, transfer the carrots to a lined baking sheet and bake for 20-30 min, or until the carrots caramelize on the bottom. Set aside to cool.

For the salad assembly, layer your ingredients starting with the baby spinach and arugula mix, then the mustard micro greens, English peas, and feta cheese, then top with your roasted carrots and dressing to enjoy.

Add all the dressing ingredients into a food processor, and blend until the elements are fully incorporated with a smooth consistency. WOW

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

Photo by Vicki Bartel

Dr. Pat Soulliere of Soulliere Financial Group

“It all starts with a Conversation – it’s all about setting a path to the future you envision…”

By Leslie Gontarde

Those are the words of Dr. Pat Soulliere, founder and senior advisor of Soulliere Financial Group. After 40 + years of consistent education and training, Pat has discovered that what she has worked towards giving her children is also what she strives to give her clients - generational financial success.

Pat’s entrepreneurial spirit first became apparent in her Toronto neighborhood at age 8. The eldest of five, she successfully negotiated with her parents and the Toronto Star to take over a paper route of 17 customers. By the age of 12 , she was also delivering the Toronto Telegram and with the help of her brother John, the Weston Times. As her customer base grew, over 350 papers were delivered daily after school by her and her team of siblings and friends.

Pat understands a family business, where every family member contributes to its success. At age 12 , Pat gave up her small empire to help her family in their new venture, a small industrial food service business with catering vehicles. Her parents were building towards their own future success and Pat was up at 6 AM to prepare food, and check-out food items for the drivers, then return as soon as possible after school to help check in the driver’s sales at the end of the day. She then relieved her mother in their small adjoining grocery store while also preparing food items for the next day. Somewhere in there was completing her homework. She would work until 10 PM, later on the weekends, seven days a week. Pat learned and grew in every aspect of the business experience; time management, sales, building relationships with suppliers/vendors and customers, leveraging, ordering, marketing, costing and assisting with the preparation of the books for the accountant. “I often did

Photo by Trevor Booth

How one woman’s change in direction lead her down a path to becoming a respected female leader and successful businesswoman.

resent that I didn’t have time for friends in my childhood but my life experiences, both good and bad, certainly prepared me for future challenges and successes.”

Later she managed another family location in Toronto with her husband and eventually she and her husband moved to his home city of Windsor and replicated the Toronto business model. They worked long hours and became an overnight success story.

After 15 years of building the business and her family, and now enjoying an upscale standard of living, Pat was suddenly faced with an unforeseen change of circumstances. Alone with her four children, she quickly learned about the power of company share structures, ownership, and the lack of rights for trusting spouses in those days, prior to the new Family Law Reform Act and the later reforms to support spouses.

Not educated for any other job with a potential future, and with no interest in the ones being offered by family friends, she was forced to make choices for their future. She enrolled herself into the spring session business programs at St. Clair College, and then in September, transferred to the University of Windsor‘s business program, searching for answers. With her business acumen and networking skills the life insurance business was recommended to her as a good fit. Pat learned quickly that this aligned with her passion and purpose in life.

“As I look back, this saved my life, and impacted my family on a positive level for generations to come. It also allowed for flexibility around family scheduling.

I was scared, deeply in debt, with a “commissions only” income and my back against the wall. I soon learned that I had been propelled into a man’s world and had to find ways to work differently. My strong math and reasoning skills, social mobility, ability to capitalize on past experiences and the work ethic instilled by my parents

carried me through the early years. The successful business people that became mentors all play a part of the huge appreciation I owe to others. Like I always say: At any given time you will be the sum of the books you read, the people you meet and your experiences to date!”

access to some of the best experts in her field who are drawn to her drive and determination and happily work with her to find the best solutions for her clients’ needs.

“First we learn who you are, what your dreams are, and then we educate you about long-term planning, risk tolerance, family and philanthropic planning with significant tax efficiencies to maximize your estate. We can create plans to accommodate many family dynamics and complexities and we surround ourselves with the top investment managers. At Soulliere Financial, we can meet your financial needs for banking lines of credit, GICs, annuities, life, critical illness and disability insurances. The team works closely with many financial institutions, banks, trust, credit unions, private wealth, and insurance companies and stick with a professional plan, uniquely, and specifically created for our client and their particular situation.”

After three years in the business, she started Soulliere Financial Group and later opened Canadian Money Brokers, staffed it to broker out money for the best term deposit rates. She had learned about this type of business at one of the many conferences she attended. The two businesses were later amalgamated.

Dr. Pat recalls the first several years as an exceedingly difficult time. For six years she was the only woman in Windsor working in the life insurance business. “I know that I was responsible for positive change in this industry but also know that it was difficult for men to adapt to the changes all those years ago. I did not have time for the “poor me” so I paid attention to overcoming my fears, taking care of my family and my clients and doing the best job I could.

She still does this by maximizing retirement and estate values efficiencies through the use of innovative investments and insurance concepts. Pat has

With all of Pat’s professional successes, the one thing that truly shines through is the pride she has that she has been able to provide worldly life experiences to her children. She has often taken them to earned global industry conferences, her international speaking engagements, etc., to give them those moments. All of her children and grandchildren are well traveled, two of them have careers that take them around the world and five children and grandchildren have spent one year of their education in Europe. Interestingly, all of this has added up to their own life‘s experiences affecting their generations to come, in a positive way.

These days you will find Pat at a client’s office, her board room or working at her desk in the firm she created more than 40 years ago. She loves what she does and has a talented team to support her. She finds time to enjoy her Rotary Club, a good game of golf, euchre, travel, keep fit and socialize.

“I am always open to start the next conversation!” WOW

I did not have time for the

“poor me,” so I paid attention to overcoming my fears, taking care of my family and my clients and doing the best job I could.

When you ask Drina Baron-Zinyk what makes a good ring, she will tell you that the best sports ring is the one you put a lot of thought into. Not the glam, not the glitz, but the ring that tells the story of how that athlete and their team got to this point.

“As long as that ring tells the story, all the way through from beginning till end, I feel that it ends up being a perfect ring,” she explains. “I find that every single ring that we design, when we work with a team, we put a lot of thought into. We’ll ask them, and it’s not just, ‘Do you want a big ring?’ It’s not about budget, it’s not about that. We say, ‘Tell us about your championship run. What does it take to get to that championship game?’ And, they tell their story.”

Baron-Zinyk, who is the president of Baron, is both a local trailblazer and a trendsetter in the championship ring industry.

“As the first female president of a championship ring company I want to continue to encourage and inspire female athletes to reach their full potential,” she says. “The confidence, strength and character gained through sports participation are the very tools girls and women need to become strong leaders in sports and life.”

Female President” has a RING to it!

By Devan Mighton

In 2019, when the Toronto Raptors finally fulfilled 24 years of promise to their fans and brought the National Basketball Association championship to Canada, Baron Championship Rings were thrust into the limelight. Their ring design, proudly declaring “NORTH” in front of the iconic CN Tower made international news and was highly sought after by fans of the team.

The road to the unveiling of that ring was long, with many twists and turns, but is something Baron-Zinyk speaks of fondly.

“Back in ‘82 , my parents had started the business but as a retail,” says Baron-Zinyk. “They did things like engagement rings. My dad (Richard)

Photo by Trevor Booth

Baron Championship Rings is revolutionizing the celebration of sports.

decided that he wanted to do something different and do school rings because there were no Canadian companies that manufactured school rings, they were all American. He was like, ‘Why isn’t there anything in Canada?’”

Over the years, the business, then known as Baron Insignias, started doing sports teams. Something that BaronZinyk says drew herself and her brother, Peter, into the fold.

“As he started doing sports rings, we got more interested in the business, got involved, and started getting teams in British Columbia, Toronto, and the Ontario Minor Hockey Association, which was actually one of the first associations we ever got,” she recalls. “With them, we said, ‘We want to be your official ring supplier so that in every championship, we have the rights to the OMHA logo,’ and it worked out well—so we started getting other associations.”

However, the siblings wanted to take the business even further—right into the mainstream.

“In 2015, my brother and I decided we wanted to take the company to the next level, so we asked my father if we could buy him out,” explains BaronZinyk. “We bought the business and we rebranded it Baron Championship Rings. We still do the school rings and everything, but we wanted to specialize in championship rings and do it well.”

Baron started actively pursuing US schools, and even though they kept hearing things like, “We’ve never heard of you—we’ve only heard of Jostens,” they started making in-roads.

“When the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA championship in 2016, we knew some people through Team USA Basketball because we’d done their rings, so we went and did a presentation,” says Baron-Zinyk. “We went outside the box, doing something that no one had ever done before with setting the diamonds in the “World Champions”—everything we did on

that ring had never been done before. Then, the Cavs called us and said, ‘We pick you!’ We were like, ‘Uh, what?’ So, we asked why they picked us and they said you gave us the best design.”

Part of what makes Baron’s rings so eye-catching is the story behind each ring—which Baron tries to capture in each one.

“They’ll say, this was our final score, but if they tell us they had a motto, or anything like that—even how many years it took to get them there—we put that all in the story, even if it’s just through stone counts, but put it with a certain image,” explains Baron-Zinyk.

She says that the Cavs experience was a door-opener for Baron. Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert purchased over 2,600 rings to give to everyone from the players, to the sponsors, to the concession staff. The other effect was that other teams were suddenly drawn to their designs, teams like the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League, New York FC, Los Angeles FC, and Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League, a number of NCAA programs, and the Toronto Raptors’ affiliate 905 Raptors.

However, landing the Toronto Raptors in 2019, when they won the NBA championship, may have been their biggest coup.

“We didn’t know—you don’t take for granted that you’re going to get it just because you’re Windsor and they’re Toronto,” states Baron-Zinyk. “We fought hard for that one, but it worked out well. It was kind of cool. Toronto is where my parents started their business and that’s where I was born and lived there until I was 10. I felt like I was coming full circle.”

The added success has allowed Baron to focus on giving back. Their charity, Leave No One Behind, has

given out, according to Baron-Zinyk, roughly 10,000 free rings to players on teams that could not afford to celebrate their team’s championship. Starting in 2017, they also started putting aside one dollar from every ring sold to go towards funding players and teams in need, providing jerseys, helmets, turf, basketball nets, and sports balls.

On a personal level, Baron-Zinyk sees herself and her company as advocates for women’s sports as well.

“When it comes to rings, you have your male versions of the rings, but the female ones are getting just as large—which is amazing to see,” she says. “Having two teenage daughters in sports, for me, when I think of the future, it’s all about recognizing more of the female sports with their rings. When you work with a team, just because they’re female, doesn’t mean they want a small, dainty ring.”

Baron will be bejewelling the Canadian Under-18 Women’s Hockey team that won the IIHF World Championship in January, but, they’ve also done the rings for Canada’s Olympic Soccer Team, the LA Sparks and Seattle Storm of the WNBA, Baylor’s NCAA Division I women’s basketball team, Wayne State, and a variety of national cheerleading and dance championships.

“When it comes to Baron and you talk about the future and legacy, what’s important to me with the business is showing my girls—my two daughters— never giving up,” states Baron-Zinyk. “It’s not just about working hard, it’s also about being honest and leading with listening to your employees.

“I find, sometimes, I’m looking at my girls and I think that in women’s sports, there’s so much unfairness in certain things and I want them to see that there is fairness out there, there is equality—you can be just as great as that boy right there. Be you, be true to yourself, and be strong.” WOW

Do you know what 23,000 FEET looks like? How about 115 hockey rinks or 2300 basketball nets stacked. That is the amount of wire shelving Mark and Robert Favaro installed last year alone. That is a lot of hard work, and they’re not done yet.

These two brothers from Closet Concepts and Cabinetry create luxury and function out of your spaces with custom-milled cabinetry and/or wire shelving to fit almost any room in your home, office, or commercial area. They tackle all your organizing needs and keep it trendy and on point.

Mark Favaro took over Closet Concepts from his aunt in 2017. He continued to provide Windsor, Essex, and Chatham with their madeto-measure wire shelving, which helps organize any closet or space. In 2020 Mark’s brother Robert came on board, and their services expanded from wire shelving to custom-milled cabinetry. Now, with their help, homeowners are no longer closing their doors on the disarray of old messy closets.

These brothers are both the designers and installers, so no more worrying about measuring or what shelves will work in your space. With their thoughtful approach to design, Mark and Robert offer free in-home estimates. They carefully evaluate your existing space and help you create an area that best suits your needs for new construction or renovation. They measure everything and create a design that fits your standards and use of space before ever putting a hole in the wall.

“No two closets are the same,” says Mark. Which is why they work closely with their customers. It’s essential for customers to “understand your space and how you use it, it’s a tangible experience to come to our shop and see, touch, and feel the products or samples before making your decisions.”

For residential homes, both new or redesigned, commercial, or industrial space, wire shelving is a “functional, practical and affordable way to go.” It is made to measure from 12 feet all the way down to two feet or less. Closet Concepts and Cabinetry are well stocked with various wire shelving options from which to choose. It is an organized system that maximizes your space. It can be efficiently designed and installed in one week. Talk about a remarkable turnaround.

The epitome of luxury, though, must be custom-milled cabinetry. Closet Concepts and Cabinetry specifically design your small spaces

How two brothers are designing your dream space while redesigning their business.

By Leslie Gontarde

Sponsored Content

for function and beauty and sometimes can even serve as a retreat from the rest of your home. Robert recalls that they have done everything from, “islands in closets, locker systems for mudrooms, kitchenettes, entertainment walls, bathroom vanities, dressers, sculleries, and much more. However, even though you might have a lot of space, it’s still easy to become disorganized. That is why Mark and Robert work face-to-face with customers to carefully plan your area and how it will be used before new construction. They want to create the best ideas for the needs and wants of their customers, providing them with digital 3D renderings for a complete picture of their beautiful new space.

Closet Concepts and Cabinetry do everything from residential, commercial, and industrial. “Anywhere there is a storage need, they have you covered. With the combination of multi-functional wire shelving and custom-milled cabinetry, there is no other place to find advice and direction than the Closet Concepts and Cabinetry experts.

The brothers are very grateful to have entered a business that already established community relationships. But don’t let their modesty fool you, it’s no small task to take a reputable company and continue to make it grow. Word of mouth has been the backbone to get customers through the door, but their “reliable service and their ability to provide customers with what they want” is the reason Closet Concepts and Cabinetry will continue to move forward, offering more options to their customers under the same reliable umbrella. WOW

Mark Favaro 519-981-3048

| Robert Favaro 226-344-7763

closetconceptswindsor@gmail.com closet_concepts_and_cabinetry

Sales Manger - Steven Carus Michael Campoli – Owner

As we continue to see the world change at the hands of women leaders, proof of this statement could not be more accurate. It is evident in our remarkable Canadian history of female change-makers such as Nellie McClung, Emily Murphy, and Viola Desmond; it is evident in the establishment of our local healthcare system with Jeanne Mance, the five Sisters of the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph, and the numerous women Officers of the Salvation Army; and it is more and more evident each day as strong, determined, and compassionate women show up for Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and the community we serve.

From cleaning equipment to processing paperwork; from providing direct patient care to forwarding phone calls; from telling our story to leading a team; from donating their hard-earned dollar to celebrating their successes; the women at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare impact every aspect of our organization in one way or another. These women are our organization’s backbone holding us upright, and our future guiding us to greatness.

“When women affirm women, it unlocks our power. It gives us permission to shine brighter,” wrote Elaine Welteroth in her book More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You

Are

(No Matter What They Say).

Today we want to affirm the powerful role each woman at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare has on her patients and clients, her colleagues, and her community. On behalf of the Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Foundation, we say thank you and we encourage you to shine brighter than ever before.

Barb Sebben Executive Director of the Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Foundation

“There is no limit on what we, as women, can accomplish”.

Former First Lady, Michelle Obama

Imagine working in an ordinary office—earning a good government salary, golden carrot pension dangling in the distance—enduring all of the stultifying barriers and bureaucracy, all of the “this-is-how-we’ve-always-done-things” stasis, and one day breaking away and creating a working environment that mirrors everything you think an office should be: open, inclusive, equitable, work from anywhere, work anytime. Doing work that is personally meaningful.

Most people dream of making such a leap. Almost nobody does. Kyra Cole is one person who did and the result is KLB Consulting.

In their 2023 list of “Top 40 Under 40” leaders in Canada, Business Elite Awards recognizes the Leamington-based CEO and entrepreneur, Kyra Cole, for her efforts.

Regarding the award, Kyra says: “I am grateful for recognition in this industry in which I love to work, and I could not do it without the incredible roster of clients and colleagues that we have the honour of working with on a daily basis. The work

Kyra Cole of KLB Consulting One to Watch

By Matthew St. Amand

we do is truly in service of others and I’m honoured to be included amongst the list of incredible folks doing great work across the country.”

So, who is Kyra Cole and where did these big ideas come from?

“I grew up in a military family, so I grew up around the world,” she explains. “I spent my formative years in Nova Scotia and moved to Ontario with my family when I was sixteen.”

She lived outside of Collingwood and went to school in North Bay. After completing her Bachelor of Education degree, Kyra lived for a time in China, teaching.

Eventually, upon returning to Canada, she landed a good job in government and could have coasted to retirement—but that is not how she does things. What inspired Kyra to leave a secure job and start her own business?

“For me, it was permission to believe in myself,” she says. “To believe that I don’t have to do things the way I’m told to do them. I left a cushy job and took a leap of faith because I felt that I could do things differently.”

Still in her thirties, charting a course through unmapped entrepreneurial terrain, Kyra has momentary doubts.

“There are days when I think to myself: ‘Oh my, what have I started here?’” she says with a laugh. “But I’ve learned that you need to be graceful with yourself if you’re starting something. My eternal

optimism has created an unhealthy lack of fea r: ‘It’ll work out!’”

So far, it has.

KLB Consulting is an economic development consulting firm that works with municipalities, First Nation communities, and global brands. The firm has operated for one year and already brought millions of dollars in funding to its clients. Further, Kyra has established herself as one of the region’s most active experiential tourism development coaches.

“Our clients range from restaurants to entire sovereign First Nations,” Kyra says. “We work with businesses founded by or who serve marginalized peoples, whether that is youth at risk, Indigenous populations, organizations trying to secure funding for food sustainability, housing. We have become a jack-of-all-trades to our clients. We want to work with organizations that we can wrap our arms around.”

KLB provides services in four broad areas: economic development, digital advisory services, experiential tourism and grant writing.

“I don’t see my job as simply making cash registers ring,” Kyra says. “We work in a space that values community over competition. All of our success are my clients’ successes. My team and I simply facilitate what they’re working on.”

To learn more about the amazing work KLB Consulting is doing, or to see how they can help with your endeavour, visit them online at klbconsultants.ca. WOW

A next level Leamington-based consultancy firm is looking for clients it can wrap its arms around.

Advanced Foot Care Nurse and Wellness Centre

Better Foot Nurses.

Better Communication. Better Organization. Better Outcomes.

By Leslie Gontarde

by Trevor Booth

As she plunged into the world of business Janis Boudreau recalls her biggest motivation was her family. Her husband, Steve was her biggest supporter and motivated her to assess her own quality of life both at work and at home with her sons. “Develop the kind of company you and other nurses want to work at,” he would say to her. That was enough to get her started and she took care of the rest. “My motivation seeks no end.”

After some years of working as a Registered Practical Nurse she recognized the need for a larger foot care company in the community. Driven to be the best, Janis went everywhere she could to learn and train about foot care. She came back to develop an innovative foot care business. Advanced Foot Care was formed, and Janis sought out the best foot care nurses and administrative staff to be able to serve her clients.

Janis uniquely positioned herself to make the change from a Registered Practical Nurse to a business owner as she recognized the shift that the nursing industry was making in foot care and realized nurses were the natural choice to perform evaluations and continuing care of routine foot care needs requiring extra time, experience and education. After working in many fields of the nursing profession and wearing many hats Janis saw the importance of dedicating herself to one thing. “The ability to reach more people is being an expert in your field.”

Photo

“Owning a business and offering the best in foot care services, shoes, orthotics, compression and products lets us work one on one with clients and develop much more of a relationship.” The individualized nature of the business became increasingly important to Advanced Foot Care when they began to offer in home services which allows them to meet the needs of 70% of their clients. This is one aspect that led to Advanced Foot Cares’ success and massive growth in a short time. They offer non invasive advanced and basic foot care treatments for diabetic feet, corns, calluses, verruca warts, athletes’ foot, cracked heels and fissures, arthritis pain, thick discoloured nail reduction, fungal nail treatments, ingrown toenails, nail bracing and injured or damaged nail reconstruction.

The growth of the business is no accident, Janis took actionable steps to make sure Advanced Foot Care would succeed. She recalls “I was blessed with being fully booked after 3 months of being in business. Hiring administrative office help to create a more efficient flow of clientele and hiring a foot nurse every 6 months allowed Janis to meet the needs of her clients.

Advanced Foot Care went from 1 contract to 23 contracts in Southwestern Ontario. They now serve the communities with 6 clinics, 3 office staff and 7 full time and 2 part time experienced foot care nurses. Janis leads her industry with her 32 years of experience. Education in practical nursing and post graduate training in foot and lower limb care, Janis has been recognized by many being asked to speak at several colleges on the topic of infection control standards. Janis has also facilitated nationwide entrepreneurial education via online workshops for many companies.

Janis understands that to continue to grow she must continue to educate herself and her staff with the most innovative solutions and care plans for medical foot care. They will, this year attend educational conferences and participate in specialty training and courses to keep updated.

As she set out on this path to helping others the goal was also to live a more meaningful personal life with her husband and her children and that’s exactly what Janis enjoys doing now. Her words of encouragement are empowering.

“When faced with challenges, unstoppable individuals defy odds, set new standards and consistently create outcomes that others say are impossible.

These super biz women have the courage and confidence to stand up when others are scared, confused and throwing in the towel. I love a tough business climate. I love big challenges, and so do my colleagues and foot clients. Remember the moments that allow us to grow and separate ourselves from the rest of the pack.

In 2023, you can crush your goals. While everyone else is figuring out of the race, you continue to grab the checkered flag! Unstoppable people are dedicated to constant & neverending learning, re-invention, & innovation.

This will be the keys to your business success.” WOW

The Large Bixby Basket Bag

Creating Hope. One family at a time.

It was a frigid winter night in 2019 when Taylor Gorick and her husband, Steve Pomerleau had a lengthy conversation about how they wanted to do something to help others as the Christmas season approached.

“We were feeling grateful for the warmth of our home and our full bellies, and we wanted to do something that would give hope to those struggling to meet their basic needs.”

They decided on creating care packages to deliver directly to those living without shelter in Windsor. Taylor settled on the name, “Project HOPE” (Helping, Others, Providing Essentials), and she took to social media to rally friends and family to join in the effort. After a couple weeks they had collected and purchased enough items to create 100 care packages with over 30 essentials in each one. Together with a small group of loved ones, they headed to Windsor and delivered the packages to those in dire need. Taylor was proud of the way people came together to lend a hand, but something still didn’t feel quite right.

Creating hope starts with one conversation.

“I felt that while our efforts were a positive gesture, it was really only a small band aid to a much greater issue: food insecurity. I felt in my heart that we needed to do better. We needed to create a more sustainable solution.”

By spring of 2020 Taylor and Steve decided to register Project HOPE Windsor Essex as a not-for-profit organization. Then 30-year-old, Harrow native, Taylor took the lead as Chairperson,

Photos by Steve Pomerleau

Project Hope by Sarah Smith.

We can do so much more together than one person can do alone.

with Steve as Director of Community Relations, Taylor’s Mom Teri Gorick as Director of Operations, and Taylor’s cousin, Catie Hildenbrand as Administrative Director.

As a secondary school teacher in Windsor, Taylor recalls working on Project HOPE as a welcome brightness that kept her feeling motivated during the difficult days as the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak.

“I allowed myself to dream and bounced many ideas off my family members until I came across a woman on social media who had set up a community fridge on a “take what need, leave what you can” system in Windsor – something a bit more sustainable.”

Taylor’s goal became establishing a community pantry in her hometown of Harrow, where she and her husband now reside. Once the Project HOPE team maybe their idea public and shared their passion and vision, the Windsor-Essex community was quick to jump onboard.

Essex Council quickly approved their site request at 243 McAffee against the Harrow Arena, with the advocacy of then councillor, now Mayor of Essex, Sherry Bondy. Steve also reached out to several friends in the business community. Bradly Smith, now Felix Culpa Architecture, didn’t hesitate to donate his time and architectural skills in designing the pantry for site plan approval, and the team at Fortis Group graciously dove in with enthusiasm, taking the lead on the build of the 100 sq. ft. heated and cooled pantry, resembling a tiny home, which took place in early October of 2020.

Taylor reflects with fondness on Thanksgiving weekend of 2020, as the grand opening of the Harrow Community Pantry still feels surreal.

“So many businesses, organizations, and individuals came together to create something that would help countless people over many years. I was adamant that the pantry celebrate its grand opening on Thanksgiving weekend, as I felt overcome with gratitude, that others heard my idea, believed in it, and that so

many selflessly worked together to make it come to fruition.”

Taylor describes the Harrow Community Pantry as a unique food resource for our region that is accessible 365 days a year to folks from across Windsor Essex, offering both non-perishable goods, as well as a wide variety of fresh produce, milk, bread, and eggs. The pantry works in a drive thru model, asking no questions, with the goal of maintaining patron anonymity and dignity. Rather than simply providing pre-made food hampers, patrons select what they need from a list of nearly 100 options.

The Harrow Community Pantry is fueled entirely through donations of goods and funds from businesses, organizations, and individuals, and is run by a team of approximately 20 volunteers headed by Taylor and her mother, Teri.

Taylor is consistently in awe of the way community comes together to support the pantry.

“From businesses such as Uptown Meats and Deli who host donation bins and incentivize food drives at our local schools, to organizations like the Full Circle Thrift Store in Harrow who consistently support Project HOPE with monetary donations, I am in a constant state of gratitude and in awe of the good of others.”

The pantry saw over 1700 visits in 2022, up over 50% from 2021 and is already on track to see even greater need in 2023. Costs sometimes reach $1500 a week as grocery prices increase alongside need in the Windsor-Essex region.

Working to help those facing food scarcity has become part of Taylor’s everyday life and meaningful work. She continues to lead the Project HOPE team with the hopes of eventually becoming a registered charity, but also meshes her philanthropic work with her professional life by ensuring her students are taken care of at school. She does this by self-funding what she affectionately calls a “care cart” at her classroom door as well as a classroom pantry. The care cart provides her students with menstrual products, fresh fruit, snacks, water, and basic school supplies, while the pantry allows students the opportunity to take food items for home if they are facing food scarcity.

“Everything about Project HOPE has been a learning process and what it has taught me that I want to pass onto others is to not be afraid to try something new and follow your heart. Share your ideas and dreams with likeminded people. We can do so much more together than one person can do alone. Creating hope starts with one conversation.” WOW

WEST wants it #EqualForAll

Local non-for-profit is putting women in the workplace.

By Devan Mighton

Last year, Business Today magazine declared that, “Women are the bedrock of a nation’s economic growth.” They couldn’t be more right. The days of single-income households dominating the landscape are all but over.

That article, written by Indian journalist Jai Maroo, cited a survey by the McKinsey Global Institute that tied equal opportunity for women in the workplace to a boost in the gross domestic product of India by, possibly, $770 billion by 2025. Yes, India might be a fair distance away, but it is true, nonetheless. The more workers you add to a talent pool, the better they are compensated, the better your economy will perform.

However, according to Statista.ca, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, only 64.7 per cent of women over the age of 15 were gainfully employed, as opposed to 73.4 per cent of men. Also, according to Statistics Canada, as of 2022 , Canadian women still only make 90 cents for every dollar a man does.

Obviously, some progress has been made, especially considering the percentage of women in the workforce in 1953 was about 25 percent and the numbers have rather steadily shot up since then. However, finding a good job that pays well has always been a struggle for many women in Canada.

Since 1987, Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc. (WEST), a community-based non-profit organization, has been beating the odds of situational barriers, helping women in the Windsor-Essex County region find employment, teaching them new skills, and providing orientation services for newcomer women.

Making alliances with local businesses, community organizations, and individuals, WEST’s programs and services have grown exponentially over the years and, currently, they offer a wide range of specialized training programs to support women, their community, and fill gaps in the local labour market.

Through a wide range of programs, WEST strives to meet the needs of women, girls, and newcomers. For example, their Women In Skilled Trades (WIST) programs have, to date, trained

260 women in search of apprenticeships and jobs in the skilled trades.

WEST works in cooperation with other community-based organizations and the business community to help achieve the goals of local women, helping them find a place in the Windsor-Essex workforce.

“We would like to be regarded as leaders in positioning women for success,” states WEST of Windsor Inc. executive director Rose Anguiano-Hurst. “We are fortunate to serve some of the most inspiring women in the world.”

WEST leads by example, featuring one of the most diverse female-led staffs in the region. In fact, 88 per cent of their board members are representative of diverse ethnic and racial communities. Their leadership team also features 65 employees representing Latin, black, multiracial, Asian, Southeast Asian and white backgrounds, and serves 1,600 participants from around the globe, including newcomers, women from racialized communities, women with low incomes, and Canadians as well.

Since 1987, WEST has been a game-changer and helping hand for approximately 50,000 women and girls through their various programs.

“Our job is not always easy, but the resilience, strength and passion of the participants motivates us every day,” says Anguiano-Hurst. “The work that WEST does to support women in the community would not be possible without the support of local businesses and community partners.”

For three decades, WEST has striven to bring awareness to gender equality and the plight of marginalized groups in the Windsor-Essex region. Through their resources, programs, and the help of community and business partners, they have helped to break barriers for the women that they help through programs like WIST, Introduction to Construction and Craft Trades, and Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship.

“Participants have described our WIST programs as life-changing,” states Anguiano-Hurst. “Building on our strategic partnerships and organizational strengths, WEST has become a leader in offering WIST programs.”

WEST’s newest endeavour is the launching of the #EqualForAll campaign. Always evolving and searching for dynamic strategic objectives, WEST aims to ensure that its programs and services are relevant and poised to meet the social and economic needs of their participants and their community.

With the goal of advocating, encouraging, and advancing gender equality, while promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion in the workplace, WEST is launching their #EqualForAll campaign in April.

#EqualForAll is supported by the Fund for Gender Equality fund, a collaboration between Community Foundations of Canada and the WindsorEssex Community Foundation. Partnering with St. Clair College, WEST will use #EqualForAll to highlight participant achievements and journeys, as a commitment to empower women, young girls, two-spirit, and gender-diverse people in the Windsor-Essex community, using digital formats to raise awareness of gender equality.

For more information on Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc. and its different programs, please visit their website at WestOfWindsor.com. WOW

We would like to be regarded as leaders in positioning women for success.

Dr. Kreeshna Rana of Rana Eyecare provides eye care services to patients as young as 6 months old. Along with her team, she maintains strong partnerships with local ophthalmologists and doctors, enabling them to confidently refer patients to other medical professionals as needed.

Rana Eye Care has the most cutting edge technology including, Tempsure Radiofrequency and IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) along with a vast selection of frames and contacts to meet all your eye care needs.

Dr. Rana and her team can’t wait to SEE you.

What’s more bad ass than a woman knowing what she wants? A woman getting what she wants, that’s what! Society often tells stories of the women who came before us, those trailblazers who have paved the way for others, well like it or not Shanna Hodgins is one of those women. Intrigued with the opportunity to become a mobile crane operator, she thought about it, for a minute, then went right after it!

Just a few short years ago, Shanna was working as a sales representative for Moir Crane, travelling from job site to job site. For Shanna to sell, she needed to understand more about the product. Understanding this, the crane operators offered their help, allowing her to understand more about the machines. What happened instead was not what she was expecting. The more Shanna learned about the cranes and how they operated, the more questions she had about the job. She learned that like most skilled trades, crane operators make a good liveable wage, good benefits and a pension. She started to believe maybe this was something she could do for herself. In her 30s, with a family to consider, she wanted to know more. So where does someone wanting to be a crane operator begin?

One Woman. One Step. One Movement.

Every

By Devan Mighton

There are a few options when looking for an apprenticeship in any skilled trade. You can go directly to the union or you can find an employer in your field willing to take you on as an apprentice. There, they will train you and sign off on your hours. You learn by working under a licenced tradesperson and while you’re working you are earning a good wage. If you play your cards right, a young person straight out of high school can finish an apprenticeship before the age of 25. For Shanna’s particular skilled trade, it takes 3 years or 6000 hours of working under a licensed crane operator, along with 12 weeks total of schooling. Once completed, the apprentice is responsible to write a test in order to receive their licence. Sounds great, right? So why aren’t more women taking advantage of these opportunities? What does it take, as a woman, to be in this industry?

“A strong mindset and a healthy dose of problem-solving skills,” says Shanna, “the job itself is teachable.” She believes that being a woman in a male dominated industry can be an advantage. “I may be physically weaker, but I bring more to the table as a multi-tasker and problem solver.” Shanna knows that having a “good mentorship, someone who really takes you under their wing and teaches

you,” makes all the difference in a person’s experience as an apprentice.

Shanna says “100%,” she would encourage young women to explore their options in the skilled trades. There are countless opportunities. Welders, boiler makers, millwrights, electricians, mechanics, woodworkers, heavy machine operators and let’s not forget the secondary jobs that are related to skilled trades. These jobs are readily available, most with 6-figure incomes, pensions and benefits, all giving someone, including women, a secure future.

Shanna wants young women to “try a little bit of everything,” until you find what you’re interested in. “At first it might be hard, but be strong and focus on the work, if I can do it anyone can.” In the future, she hopes high schools will start offering more workshops and opportunities for young people to explore their options in trades. “Offer a 1 week program in different trades, to give kids choices.” This could certainly give young people a leg up when deciding their future. There are, after all, 140 different trades to offer in Ontario alone. Shanna is a year and a half into her three year apprenticeship and she enjoys every minute of it. Her coworkers at Moir Crane are patient, kind and encouraging. The opportunities are endless. WOW

time a woman steps into a skilled trade, its another step forward for all of us. A positive story of one woman’s curiosity.

Women are making a difference in the male-dominated world of heavy construction. Just ask them! Their resilience, determination and grit are changing attitudes. And history. Major contractors are taking notice, requesting female apprentices from LIUNA!’s Construction Craft Worker (CCW) program for placement on job sites. Once they graduate Red Seal certified, those same contractors want them back, full time.

Now, in their final year of the Construction Craft Worker program at LiUNA! 625’s Training Centre in Oldcastle, Sean, Sienna, Kausandra and Katelin will have logged 1,000 hours in-class, combined with hands-on construction training, and employment with LiUNA!’s signatory contractors across the region.

Two years of rigorous training, racking up over 30 skills, and challenging work on construction sites like form-setting for building foundations, laying concrete pipe for municipal sewer upgrades, traffic control, operating heavy equipment, erecting scaffolding, and prepping for concrete pours atop 138'-foot-high towers at the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project. Yes! Those hard hat workers decked-out in hi-vis gear includes a new generation of women reshaping the construction landscape.

Having successfully completed their Level II in-class training and Red Seal certification in March 2023, and now back in the field, their advice to new students accepted into the 10-week Pre-Apprentice program: each skill learned is a confidence builder. Yes, there will be setbacks. But a daily boost of confidence plus self-determination are key to your success. Focus on graduating into Level I and achieving membership in LiUNA!. Now, you're ready to tackle Level II training and Red Seal certification, the gold standard of the construction industry.

Driven by a Membership 130,000 strong across Canada, LiUNA! is a powerful, proactive organization culturally and gender diverse, and fully inclusive. These four trailblazers see Union Membership as a game-changer. Their safety net for a secure future. Earning wages that increase with inflation. Exceptional benefits. Free skills training and upgrades to stay in demand. Mobility to work anywhere LiUNA! builds. And pension options that can lead to early retirement.

Their message of encouragement for female students undecided in a career path, single moms, women fed up with a dead-end career or those eager for independence and a solid footing to build on: “Go for it! We’ve got your back Sister!

Sean: St. Clair College graduate in Community and Justice Services; previously an Auxiliary Officer with WPD; completed WEST/LiUNA!’s construction trades program; accepted into CCW program; greatful to be LiUNA! Member employed while training.

From left to right; Construction Craft Worker (CCW) Level II, LiUNA!625 Members:

Katelin: graduate École Secondaire de Pain-Court; previously managed Standardbred breeding farm; urged by friend to explore construction trades; apprenticed at project sites in Windsor, Ottawa, Toronto; career goal-project foreman.

Sienna: St. Clair College marketing degree; licensed financial advisor; previously in retail management; researched CCW program online; focused on Red Seal Certification and future career with LiUNA!.

Kasaundra: single mom; previous light construction experience; encouraged by a 20-year, LiUNA! female Member to apply for CCW program; working towards a future as a forewoman with LiUNA! soon to purchase first home.

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D R . S H A N A D O W D E L L N D

N A T U R O P A T H I C D O C T O R

C h r o n i c S t r e s s C h r o n i c F a t i g u e B u r n o u t H a i r l o s s I B S , C r o h n s D i s e a s e , C o l i t i s , C o n s t i p a t i o n

A c i d R e f l u x

A u t o i m m u n e D i s o r d e r s P a i n M a n a g e m e n t

S A R A H W E S T B U R Y

F A S C I A L B O D Y W O R K T H E R A P I S T

M a n u a l f a s c i a l r e l e a s e c o m b i n e d w i t h f u n c t i o n a l m o v e m e n t h e l p s i m p r o v e o v e r a l l p o s t u r e , m o b i l i t y , t i s s u e s + p a i n R e - e d u c a t i o n o f m o v e m e n t p o s t - s u r g e r y S c a r T i s s u e M a s s a g e ( p o s t - m a s t e c t o m y , C - s e c t i o n + o t h e r s u r g e r i e s ) E n r o l m e n t o p e n f o r B i o m o t i o n W o r k s h o p s i n M a y 2 0 2 3

C H R I S T I N E H A M E L

R E F L E X O L O G I S T

R e f l e x o l o g y i s a s y s t e m o f m a s s a g e u s i n g g e n t l e p r e s s u r e o n s p e c i f i c p o i n t s a l o n g y o u r f e e t t h a t i s d e e p l y r e l a x i n g a n d n o u r i s h i n g H e l p s t h e b o d y a c h i e v e a d e e p s t a t e o f r e l a x a t i o n a n d h o m e o s t a s i s S t r e s s r e d u c t i o n , r e l a x a t i o n , p a i n r e l i e f , r e l e a s e s t e n s i o n

V a l e r o W e l l n e s s i s a w o m a n - o w n e d , w o m e n - o p e r a t e d w e l l n e s s c l i n i c w h e r e w e a r e c o m m i t t e d t o p r o v i d i n g t h e b e s t p o s s i b l e c a r e t o o u r p a t i e n t s W e a r e a g r o u p o f l i k e - m i n d e d h e a l t h - c a r e p r o v i d e r s w h o b e l i e v e t h e s e c r e t t o g o o d h e a l t h i s c o m p a s s i o n a t e , c o l l a b o r a t i v e , a n d i n d i v i d u a l i z e d c a r e .

W e l o o k f o r w a r d t o h e l p i n g y o u o n y o u r h e a l t h j o u r n e y ,

Dr Meighan Valero

D R . H A R R I S O N O A K E N D

N A T U R O P A T H I C D O C T O R

D i a b e t e s , P r e - d i a b e t e s , I n s u l i n R e s i s t a n c e

H i g h c h o l e s t e r o l , H i g h b l o o d p r e s s u r e

U n w a n t e d w e i g h t g a i n H o r m o n e s u p p o r t

W o m e n ' s H e a l t h , M e n ' s H e a l t h

H o r m o n e T h e r a p y

I n s o m n i a S p o r t s M e d i c i n e

D R . M E I G H A N V A L E R O N D

N A T U R O P A T H I C D O C T O R

F e l l o w o f t h e A m e r i c a n B o a r d o f

N a t u r o p a t h i c O n c o l o g y I n t e g r a t i v e C a n c e r C a r e

C h e m o a n d R a d i a t i o n S u p p o r t

P r e a n d P o s t S u r g e r y S u p p o r t

C a n c e r N u t r i t i o n S u r v i v o r s h i p C a r e

C a n c e r P r e v e n t i o n

M A D D I E S I M O N E

C E R T I F I E D L Y M P H E D E M A T H E R A P I S T

M a n u a l L y m p h a t i c D r a i n a g e ( M L D ) i s a s p e c i a l i z e d t y p e o f m e d i c a l m a s s a g e t h a t p r o m o t e s l y m p h a t i c f l u i d o u t o f a s w o l l e n l i m b U s e f u l f o r l y m p h e d e m a a f t e r l y m p h n o d e d i s s e c t i o n d u e t o c a n c e r , p o s t - s u r g e r y , p r e g n a n c y , v e n o u s i n s u f f i c i e n c y , f i b r o m y a l g i a + l i p e d e m a

D A N I E L L E C A M P O

S O C I A L W O R K E R + S P E A K E R

P a r a l y m p i c W o r l d R e c o r d H o l d e r D y n a m i c m o t i v a t i o n a l s p e a k e r

A u t h o r , " R e s u r r e c t i o n s " S u r v i v o r W o r k s h o p s a n d c o u r s e s o n H o p e a n d R e s i l i e n c e c o m i n g s o o n S p r i n g 2 0 2 3 a t V a l e r o W e l l n e s s

V a l e r o W e l l n e s s i s b r i n g i n g t h i s W o m e n s H e a l t h c o m m u n i t y i n i t i a t i v e t o t h e w o m e n o f W i n d s o r - E s s e x C o u n t y W e a r e c r e a t i n g a s i s t e r h o o d ; c o n n e c t i n g w o m e n t o t h e m s e l v e s a n d t o e a c h o t h e r T h i s p r o g r a m i s f o r y o u i f :

Y o u w a n t t o g a i n a d e e p u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f y o u r b o d y , y o u r h o r m o n e s a n d h o w t o o p t i m i z e y o u r h e a l t h Y o u a r e c r a v i n g s i s t e r h o o d a n d f e m a l e f r i e n d s h i p s t h a t h e l p e l e v a t e y o u t o y o u r f u l l p o t e n t i a l Y o u a r e t i r e d o f p l a y i n g s m a l l

Y o u a r e e v e r y t h i n g t o e v e r y o n e , a l l o f t h e t i m e a n d w a n t t o b r e a k f r e e o f t h i s c y c l e

B e s u r e t o f o l l o w u s o n i n s t a g r a m a n d f a c e b o o k o r s i g n u p f o r o u r m a i l i n g l i s t a t w w w v a l e r o w e l l n e s s c o m t o l e a r n m o r e a b o u t h o w t o j o i n u s f o r o u r S p r i n g c o h o r t o f t h e W i l d

C o l l e c t i v e - W i n d s o r - E s s e x

B R A N D I R I V A I T

L U S U I R E I K I M A S T E

C H A N T A L O S A D Z U K

G e t r e a d y t o g l o w f r o m t h e i n s i d e o u t ! T a k e

y o u r s k i n t o t h e n e x t l e v e l C h a n t a l u s e s h i g h

q u a l i t y m e d i c a l g r a d e p r o d u c t s & e q u i p m e n t ;

c u r a t e d f o r a l l s k i n t y p e s , c a n c e r s a f e , p r e g n a n c y + b r e a s t f e e d i n g s a f e

S U N D A Y S K I N M E D I C A L E S T H E T I C S m i c r o n e e d l i n g c u s t o m i z e d f a c i a l s s c u l p t i n g l y m p h a t i c d r a i n a g e

C U P P I N G T H E R A P Y

C o n d i t i o n s I V t h e r a p y m a y t r e a t : D R O T H E R A P Y

V i t a m i n S h o t s a v a i l a b l e :

V i t a m i n B 1 2 s h o t s

V i t a m i n D s h o t s

S u p e r B s h o t s

M i s t l e t o e I n j e c t i o n s

H Y D R O T H E R A P Y

C o l o n h y d r o t h e r a p y i s a c l e a n s i n g o f t h e l a r g e i n t e s t i n e u s i n g a g e n t l e f l o w o f w a r m p u r i f i e d w a t e r w h i c h s o f t l y m a s s a g e s t h e i n t e s t i n e a n d r e h y d r a t e s t h e c o l o n s t i m u l a t i n g t h e r e l e a s e o f b u i l t - u p w a s t e 1 c o l o n h y d r o t h e r a p y s e s s i o n m a y b e t h e e q u i v a l e n t o f h a v n g 2 0 - 3 0 r e g u l a r b o w e l m o v e m e n t s

C u p p i n g i s a n a n c i e n t T r a d i t i o n a l C h i n e s e M e d i c i n e p r a c t i c e w h i c h u s e s s m a l l c u p s a s s u c t i o n d e v i c e s p l a c e d o n t h e s k i n I t i s m u c h l i k e a n i n v e r s e m a s s a g e , i t u s e s g e n t l e p r e s s u r e t o p u l l m u s c l e s u p w a r d r a t h e r t h a n a p p l y i n g p r e s s u r e d o w n w a r d T h i s t r e a t m e n t i s e x c e l l e n t f o r r e l i e v i n g m u s c l e t e n s i o n a n d p a i n

T S A T V A L E R O W E L L N E S S

S A U N A

W e o f f e r 2 I n f r a r e d S a u n a r o o m s w i t h

b u i l t i n s h o w e r s t o b r e a k u p y o u r s a u n a t r e a t m e n t s w i t h c o l d c o n t r a s t

s h o w e r s Y o u g e t a s a l t s c r u b t o e x f o l i a t e d e a d s k n f i r s t a n d o p e n u p t h e p o r e s I m p r o v e s c i r c u l a t i o n & l y m p h a t i c f l o w

N E W ! F i r e & I c e T r e a t m e n t

S a u n a f o r

5 - 2 0 m i n s

1

C o l d P l u n g e f o r 2 - 3 m i n s S a u n a f o r 1 5 - 2 0 m i n s C o l d P l u n g e f o r 2 - 3 m i n s

A

T H T H E R A P Y

F A C I A L R E J U V E N A T I O N A C U P U N C T U R E H O L I S T I C N U T R I T I O N O S T E O P A T H Y L I V E B L O O D A N A L Y S I S M A S S A G E T H E R A P Y A D J U N C T I V E C A N C E R C A R E

Champions for Change

Supporting Windsor’s female leaders.

By Layan Barakat

The expression goes, “when women support women, incredible things happen,” That couldn’t be truer for the Windsor-Essex entrepreneurship network that has spent the past four years developing programming, creating resources, and supporting and nurturing women and women-identifying entrepreneurs in our region under the Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES). A strategy funded by The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to increase women-owned businesses’ access to financing, talent, networks, and expertise they need to start up, scale up, and access new markets.

As the Program Director of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy for the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre (a division of Invest WindsorEssex), Lee McGrath oversees the development and evolution of women-led businesses in the Windsor-Essex region.

“The goals were to support women to grow and evolve their businesses through training, resources, and networking. We know that women are looking for access to networking resources and ways to work in an environment that supports them and their needs. So that was a big part of what we did when we put the program together. It had different elements best suited to each of those partners,” said Lee.

The entrepreneurial ecosystem partners involved in this initiative included the University of Windsor EPICentre, Workforce WindsorEssex, WEtech Alliance, Build A Dream, and Windsor Essex Capital Angel Network (WECAN), all of which developed programming, training, and resources within their specific niche to help support budding women entrepreneurs.

“During the past four years, the attention and awareness of women’s entrepreneurship in our local economy have been at the forefront. This has created a platform for much-needed discussion and research and an enormous opportunity for the local ecosystem to collaborate and execute a series of programs, networks, and resources tailored to the needs of women entrepreneurs in the region,” said Sabrina DeMarco Executive Director, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre.

“One of the most empowering aspects of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy is having the support of other leaders, primarily other successful women, who can positively impact a person’s entrepreneurial success. “Said Sabrina “When your network contains others who can identify with your struggles, they can help motivate you and provide relevant support and advice. Having women entrepreneurs supporting other women entrepreneurs has been one of the great successes. In creating networks for women entrepreneurs, we are not only helping to reduce isolation but, more importantly, seeking to give women access to new alliances, knowledge, and resources that will help to facilitate further entrepreneurial growth and economic advancement.”

Sarah Herdman is one of the women who benefitted from the Womens Entrepreneurship Strategy when launching her business, AXOS Renewable Energy, a Canadian women-owned company specializing in providing smart solutions for progressive companies wanting to reduce their carbon footprint and achieve net zero emission targets. Sarah started her entrepreneurial journey in 2021 and has found guidance and support through the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre.

“My involvement with the Small Business Centre is a newer relationship, but they’re helping me get grants so we can do research, and they’re helping to position me so that when we are ready to start hiring more people, we have that kind of funding and that kind of system setup because we’re ready to go and we’re at that point now where we’re ready to bring on a lot of new faces and see this thing expand,” said Sarah “My connection is Lee McGrath, I cannot say enough good things about her. She is such a champion to me, and she has been so encouraging in my very short time of knowing her. She is such a woman to admire; she has done it all. Lee is someone I truly look up to because she’s been so supportive of me and helping me align where we can fit our company into these programs and help grow it.”

Working collectively on their mission to support small businesses, the Windsor-Essex entrepreneurial ecosystem has collectively interacted with over 4,300 women entrepreneurs and created 213 new jobs over the past four years, doubling the amount initially projected by FedDev Ontario. It’s programs like these that are helping to empower the people of WindsorEssex and give a voice to our community’s future leaders. WOW

Simple Steps to Achieving a More Organized Home

Strategies for decluttering your home and life.

By Mouna Arabi

Being organized in today’s busy world is not just about living in a neat and tidy home; it is about giving yourself peace of mind while dealing with everything life throws at you. Knowing that you have a messy kitchen island or piles of shoes near the front door will weigh on your subconscious mind until the problem is taken care of. Similarly, the lack of basic organization in your home can lead to a feeling of dysfunction, constant rushing, and can cause larger messes to accumulate because you have trouble finding what you’re looking for. Most people will live with the chaos, but the lucky few who decide to take ownership of their given situations will benefit tremendously. It starts with establishing the right balance, somewhere between having a perfect system and no system – I like to call this a state of “organized clutter”. This state is different for everyone, so it is important to establish what your standard is, and not to let things fall below this threshold.

In addition to this balanced approach, adopting a minimalist mindset is also very helpful. You don’t need to buy things “just in case”, or because there was a sale, and you don’t need to hold onto items just because they were expensive and the thought of getting rid of them gives you anxiety. You need to be completely honest with yourself – if you are keeping items that are serving you no purpose, then these items need to go, otherwise they are going to hold you back from reaching your full potential. Two key questions to ask yourself are: 1 . Do I have the space? 2 . How often will I use this?

As a home and business organizer, I try to give my clients the tools and knowledge to succeed in maintaining organized spaces on their own. My goal is to make it easy to form habits once a space is restored to a simplified system, which in turn will give you the peace of mind you crave.

Here are a few helpful tips to get you started on your organizing journey:

Don’t let your current situation deter you from getting started – make the decision to be more organized, and just start. I suggest starting in small, easy to organize places before tackling bigger areas so you can get some quick wins under your belt. Kitchen drawers or bathroom cabinets are great places to start.

space. Invest in larger baskets to conceal clutter and consider using clear trays or filing systems for important documents. Hooks are a quick and easy way to hang hats, bags or even your pet’s accessories.

After your purging exercise, you should have all your items sorted into similar groups and know what size containers you’ll need. The next step is to use tools such as drawer dividers and expandable shelf risers to compartmentalize your items before labeling your containers. Don’t be afraid to relocate items to areas that will serve you and your family best, with most frequently used items being the most accessible and at eye level. These areas are like prime real estate, hence the most valuable.

Don’t let items pile up. Staying organized is easy if you take the time to put your shoes or jacket away as soon as you get home and put your dirty clothes directly in the laundry hamper instead of on the floor. A few seconds of added focus in the moment will prevent hours of stress later.

Keep in mind that the entire purpose of doing this is to declutter and to reduce the number of unnecessary items you have. One side benefit of this activity is the ability to give back to your community by donating items you’ve purged.

Buying proper containers should not be overlooked. Purchase containers that are similar and cohesive in style. Most people don’t have a lot of unused space in their homes, so you need to be mindful of how you can create this space in a manner that works for you and your lifestyle. You can look for storage furniture and utilize unused vertical

Keep yourself on task by hanging a calendar in your house where everyone can see it and write down everything that is planned for the upcoming month. Schedules, events, appointments, chores, and meal plans are great examples of what to chart to keep your family on task and efficient with time. Lack of planning will cause you to rush and make poor decisions, which will inevitably affect the balance you are trying to achieve and lead to massive frustration.

Being organized requires patience and commitment. If you have difficulty implementing any of these suggestions, remember that something as simple as making your bed every morning will train your brain to become habitual, and eventually this single accomplishment will lead to more celebrated organizational victories. WOW

I suggest starting in small, easy to organize places before tackling bigger areas so you can get some quick wins under your belt. Kitchen drawers or bathroom cabinets are great places to start.

Our goal is to help business owners in providing corporate insured asset protection solutions addressing the areas of capital gains tax protection, solutions providing tax-sheltered accumulation of wealth, estate preservation and liquidity.

Group Benefits Solutions: Providing a comprehensive assessment the corporate group benefits program to ensure the most cost effective group benefit programs are available and align with the goals of the organization.

"This project is supported by the Fund for Gender Equality, a collaboration between Community Foundations of Canada and the Equality Fund, with support from the Government of Canada and the WindsorEssex Community Foundation"

Inspiring Growth Through the Power of Art

By Layan Barakat

Photo by Trevor Booth

“I know when I walk around the gallery. I see the city of Windsor - a young, diverse, energized, creative audience engaged with art,” said Jennifer Matotek.

With over 20 years of experience in the sector, Jennifer brought her unique knowledge of arts and culture to the Windsor-Essex commu nity since taking on the role of Executive Director at Art Windsor-Essex in April 2020. She began her journey into the art world, taking on roles as an educator and a curator. Then, in 2013, she took over the directorship of the Dunlop Art Gallery in Regina, Saskatchewan, an art gallery that runs as a department in the city’s public library.

“That opened my eyes to what you can do in a more open, community-centered environment. We would have an art opening at the Dunlop, and the whole community would come out,” said Jennifer. “It was a shift from events we would have at TIFF or The Power Plant [Contemporary Art Gallery], where you see many movers, shakers, arts, and culturemakers. It was different when I would have a reception at the Dunlop; it was all social classes, all walks of life, and everybody from different economic backgrounds. That was such an enriching opportunity for me. Bringing the lessons around engaging and inspiring a whole community to be excited about and contribute to your work has helped me since coming to Windsor”.

Jennifer began her role as Executive Director at the start of the Covid- 19 pandemic, forcing her and the rest of the team at AWE to reimagine themselves as an art gallery without a functional building.

“That quickly led to us hitting the pause button, and it allowed the board to work on our strategic plan and figure out what does art do? How does art function? How does art unite people in our region, whether vir tually

or physically outside? What’s our role as a presenter for art education? What do we actually want to be and mean to people? That’s when we landed on a new mission for the gallery: ‘inspiring growth through the power of art’ and our vision to be a person-centered and community-driven art gallery for the 21st century. It was challenging but also, in a strange way, exciting to rethink our identity and our role in such a strange and pivotal moment in human history”.

in the community are doing and even see the work they do from different perspectives.”

Recent exhibitions at AWE have tapped into various arts, science, and engineering sectors to create exhibitions. In May 2022, the gallery launched “Grey Matter: Your Brain on Art”, curated by Julie Rae Tucker, and Dr. Lori Buchanan, a neuroscientist at the University of Windsor. The exhibition, conceived as a research project, looked at what happens to the human brain when we look at art.

In February 2023 , AWE opened a digital, immersive art installation funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. The project, titled ‘Flowing Forces’ and created by Montreal’s multimedia entertainment studio Moment Factory, showcases selected artworks from AWE’s nearly 4000 -piece collection in new ways. “We’re thinking beyond what a more narrow definition of visual art might be. We’re not about art for art’s sake; we’re more about wanting to inspire growth through the power of art.”

Jennifer and her team at AWE welcome all community members to stop by and participate in their programs and events and immerse themselves in the local arts scene. They also encourage community members to step outside and take in the artworks from their collection placed throughout the community.

The AWE team aims to help Windsorites reimagine art by implementing multidisciplinary, citizen-engaged approaches to their exhibitions.

“There is so much creativity embedded in so many different professions in Windsor-Essex that go beyond visual arts,” said Jennifer. “These people are often creators, makers, and creative thinkers in different ways; there is an important way that the work we do at AWE can tie into different kinds of work people

“Walk around your neighbourhood and appreciate the public art outdoors. Some of the work we’ve been doing since I came here in 2020 has involved putting reproductions of artwork out in the community. We currently have 8 downtown, 11 on the St.Clair College campus, and 5 in Amherstburg. In the spring, we will put over 20 art reproductions in other BIAs across Windsor.”

For more information, please visitartwindsoressex.ca. WOW

We’re thinking beyond what a more narrow definition of visual art might be. We’re not about art for art’s sake; we’re more about wanting to inspire growth through the power of art.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT WITH HEART

Christine Hossack , President & CEO Property Hunters Inc.

People say that you have to love what you do That's especially true in property management because it's a 24-hours, 7-days-a-week passion, not a 9-to-5 job I pride myself on providing quality accommodations, great tenants and executive level customer service

Life is a series of defining moments, not all of them easy These moments can be daunting, if you let them or you can use them to help grow and strengthen your resolve. Born with health issues, I spent much of the first 10 years of my life in and out of hospitals As a sick child, I was happiest at home away from the hospitals and the realization of how much this affected my well being. Home became my refuge and where my heart was and because of this experience real estate was a natural fit for me

The opportunity to start my real estate career presented itself in 2005 as a sales representative working for a local brokerage firm One of the elective courses I chose was property management and discovered this was my passion This led me to open Property Hunters Inc. in 2006.

To keep up with the changing rental market I have continued m education to bring owners and tenants an exceptional experience. I completed additional property management classes, completing the four condominium license courses, real estate investing education, and business workshops My goal was to build an integrated property management company where customer service is key.

Success and the realization of my dreams is thrilling, but the real satisfaction is about how I got there. Perseverance. The bottom line is are you better today than you were yesterday?

Property management is one of the most exciting businesses in the world because no two days are the same If you love what you ' re doing, the rest is superfluous

Now, 17 years after moving into the Windsor property management market, I am driving the Property Hunters Inc brand and not slowing down

Real life inspiration?

My husband and business partner Todd Burns because he believed in me when I was no one

What is your #1 productivity tip?

If you have a vision, follow it

Favorite quote?

Never let anyone define who you are, for only you can make that decision

CCS Engineering and Construction provides its staff with a positive working environment and a welcoming, diverse, culture. Professionals in their own right, employees continue to innovate and master their individual fields of expertise under the CCS family. This is directly reflected in the type of customer care that CCS is able to offer to all clients. CCS will continue to strive for excellence within the construction industry providing the utmost level of efficiency and professionalism through each and every project. CCS is a leader in the construction industry providing exciting professional career oppurtunites. Additionally, CCS will maintain focus on social responsibility and continue to give back where they can. CCS Engineering and Construction will always stand for INTEGRITY, LOYALTY, PROFESSIONALISM and TRUST.

19 Amy Croft Drive, Unit 202 | Tecumseh, ON | ccsengcon.com

TRUST IS OUR FOUNDATION FOR EVERY PROJECT

CASS Caulking Inc. Cassandra Warren, President

CCS interior designs by KA Kelsey Auger, Interior Designer