Windsor Business June 2024 Issue

5 HE SAID/SHE SAID: The news and views of area executives on pertinent business issues of the day.

12 CORPORATISM:

Jim Blasingame says entrepreneurs, like cowboys, are not wrong. They’re just different.

2 AT A GLANCE

A look at stagflation and the “socio-economic barbell” Canada may be facing.

2 CROSSWORD

Take a coffee break from work and challenge yourself with our crossword.

3 ESSEX ECONOMICS

A series of guest columns by business executives on various trends in the region.

6 PRIME PROPERTY

A look at recent commercial property transfers in the city of Windsor.

W8 PRIME HOME

A look at recent residential property sales in Windsor and Essex County.

9 PRIME HOME

A look at recent residential property sales in the Chatham-Kent area.

10 BUILDING PERMITS

A compilation of construction activity in the Windsor and area market.

11 START UPS

Newly incorporated firms launched in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.

indsor-based Valente Group has purchased the iconic General Amherst High School building in Amherstburg, which closed last year after more than 100 years of service.

Valente paid $3.3 million for the property on Sandwich Street, right in the middle of Amherstburg. The school closed after the board built the North Star High School, combining former General Amherst and Amherstburg’s rural Western Secondary shop school students.

The school encompasses buildings from different eras and, after it closed, speculation centered on its potential uses. These included housing, a hotel or even new municipal offices for the Town of Amherstburg.

Peter Valente, broker of record with Windsor’s Remo Valente Real Estate (1990) Ltd., only said the company was proud to have acquired the school from the Greater Essex County District School Board.

Continued on page 4

Area developer Valente Group is planning “something sensational” on the site of the former General Amherst High School in Amherstburg. By Ron Stang

AT A GLANCE

JUST THE FACTS:

• Stagflation is best described as the condition of material, positive annual inflation combined with nominal growth which is lower or negative, resulting in negative real growth.

• The consequences of stagflation are detrimental to the middle class and, in turn, to investors in general.

• Unless the economy grows in real, per capita terms, it is stagnating. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) forecasts Canada is expected to have the lowest real growth rate in the OECD over the next three decades.

• Current account deficits are a sign an economy is not sufficiently focused on producing goods and services the world requires and is, in effect, living beyond its means. Other than the momentary COVID improvement, Canada’s current account deficit has been consistently in the range of $40 billion to $65 billion for a decade.

• Household savings are a raw material for economic growth – capital. Savings are recycled by intermediaries ideally into investments in productive assets. Our household saving rate has collapsed. By becoming a nation of consumers, we steal from future growth potential.

• When a population grows so fast all available savings are needed to maintain the existing capital–labor ratio, making any increase in living standards impossible, it has entered a population “trap.” According to a report published by National Bank, Canada is now caught in such a trap, with immigration set at unprecedented levels by current administrative policies.

I WAS TOLD ON THE PHONE I WAS ALLOWED TWO PIECES OF CARRION LUGGAGE.

BUSINESS BOOST

“Even when we have positive proof a change will be good for us, we don’t like it. Resisting change is a built-in part of human nature. Every manager who has had to bring about a major change in an organization knows this resistance is not just on the surface.

“It runs deep, and works on both conscious and unconscious levels. Even after people understand and agree with the planned change, there is something within them that makes them drag their heels, or even actively try to sabotage it.

“Paradox in human nature extends beyond our behavior; it is also evident in our language. Popular jargon is filled with expressions that demonstrate our familiarity with paradox. One form of language paradox is the idiomatic expression. By definition, idiomatic expressions are phrases that do not mean what they say. For example, when we say ‘He knows which side his bread is buttered on,’ there is actually neither bread nor butter involved.

“I will not speculate on the reasons for idiom and its popularity. I merely observe paradoxically, we seem to prefer to communicate information by saying something that is not what we mean. The second paradox is that it works. Others understand what we mean. They are not confused by our words.”

VOLUME 28, ISSUE 2 • JUNE 2024

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nadia H. Shousher

ART DIRECTOR David Cowx

CONTRIBUTORS Jim Blasingame, Mike Chase, Dale Dauten, Paul March, Devan Mighton, J.T. O’Donnell, Ron Stang, Joe Symchyshyn

Windsor Business is published monthly by The Page Publishing Corp. and is distributed through Canada Post to every business address in Windsor and Essex County and Chatham-Kent. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publisher. Copyright The Page Publishing Corp., 2024.

THE PAGE PUBLISHING CORP.

552 PITT STREET WEST, SUITE 101

WINDSOR, ONTARIO N9A 5M2 TEL: (519) 255-9775

info@windsorbusiness.net • www.windsorbusiness.net

NADIA H. SHOUSHER

Executives must guard against myopia

Iwas having lunch recently with a few business friends. As is usual when dynamic executives gather in the same room, the conversation immediately turned to new and novel opportunities within our community.

I just love how a creative thinker will see a fortune in a handful of change, while another sees exactly 30 cents and some pocket lint. I love it. It reminds me the main difference between success and failure is perspective. You will either try or not. Struggle or not. Gain or lose. Increase business or lose it. Or – God forbid – stay stagnant. There is always a better, more interesting picture than what is visible and obvious, if one looks hard or long enough.

I’m not suggesting we should we twist reality or hide our heads in the sand. I do believe, however, there are many ways of looking at the same thing, each offering a unique angle.

Do you not find black-and-white thinking enormously limiting? I do, and especially so in business.

Sure, the bottom line is the bottom line, but beyond it are innumerable other issues that are submerged in hazy shades of grey. We shouldn’t risk overlooking all possibilities because our perspective is habitually myopic or status quo.

The risk is we would be unable to detect potential problems lurking around the corner, and would therefore be unprepared for them. We also wouldn’t recognize – in order to be able to act upon – a new market, a good hire or an amazing prospect if we focus too narrowly on what’s right under our noses.

Savvy professionals guard against complacency, because they know it is a minefield of danger. They know complacency is a small misstep away from boredom, and boredom is the death of creativity. What would business – or life, for that matter – be without creativity?

I admit I get bored when things are going too smoothly, when there isn’t a problem or a good idea percolating at the back of my mind. When I don’t feel that familiar impatience to get the next project underway or, much worse, when I don’t even have a next project waiting in the wings.

That tells me I’ve done everything there is to do that matters, and it’s time to move on. I believe there should always be something else to fix, improve, grow or develop. Because, if you’re not moving, you’re standing still. And since when is such immobility a good thing?

Nadia H. Shousher is Editor-in-Chief of Windsor Business, a division of The Page Publishing Corp.

ESSEX ECONOMICS

JULIE BEE

It’s too early

in the year to be frazzled

If you’re like many business owners, Q1 was busier than expected. On the surface, that’s a good thing. What entrepreneur doesn’t welcome new opportunities, increased business and rising revenue?

There’s just one problem: it’s only spring and you’re already feeling burned out.

While many of us want to grow, it’s possible to grow too quickly. As your to-do list increases, so does your stress. You lack the bandwidth to give your company, your employees and your clients the consideration they need. When burning the candle at both ends, it’s easy to go down a path that’s wrong for your company, or spend time and resources on projects that really aren’t profitable. Or just make a good old-fashioned mistake.

The past four years have conditioned you to expect bad news. From the pandemic and the Great Resignation to recent inflation, the years haven’t been easy for business owners to navigate.

When you’re expecting bad news and barriers and, instead, get good news and a chance for growth, saying yes to everything is a knee-jerk reaction.

Uncertainty about the future prompts you to hedge your bets. If there’s one thing entrepreneurs know well, it’s that nothing is ever guaranteed. Your top salesman might resign unexpectedly. A major client might be wooed by a competitor. Your facility might be damaged by a storm.

No wonder many business owners are operating from a place of fear.

You may believe if you’re not growing, you’re dying. Many entrepreneurs say dialing it back even a little bit feels like failure. Whether by hustle culture or their own struggle to pull themselves up by the bootstraps, they’ve been conditioned to believe they must always be striving for more, more, more.

It may be hard to see, but sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself and your business is to press pause. The more overextended, overbooked and overstressed you become, the more likely you are to drop all the balls.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not knocking growth. I’m just cautioning you not to become so overcommitted that it costs you.

If you feel like you’ve been drinking from a fire hose, the next time an opportunity comes along, triangulate your gut instincts with research and the advice of your support group.

Opportunities are rarely once-in-a-lifetime. Far more often, the opportunity will be there tomorrow, next month or next year.

Julie Bee is the author of Burned: How Business Owners Can Overcome Burnout and Fuel Success Visit https://www.thejuliebee.com

H. Evan Woodhead in The Power of Paradox: Using Contradiction, Conflict & Chaos to Achieve the Impossible, University of Toronto Press.

Area developer plans “something sensational” on Amherstburg site

Continued from page 1

“I believe this is one of the most important pieces of property in downtown Amherstburg. I have strong family roots in Amherstburg, so we plan on creating something sensational the entire town can be proud of,” he said. “We are currently in the design stages for a redevelopment of the property. Once we have finalized initial concepts, more information will be shared with the public.”

In mid-April the company’s logo replaced the traditional school board sign on Sandwich.

Ron Le Clair, the school board trustee who represents the town, said while the building hosted generations of students who have great memories of their times there, its days were over.

“The unfortunate reality is the building required so much in terms of renovations to bring it up to current standards,” he said. Le Clair said the building was also “oversized” for the current student population, “which resulted in us making a business case to close Western Secondary and General Amherst, and bring them together into a new school.” The trustee said the location is prime, and “I’m hopeful it’s going to be used for additional housing given we have housing demand all over the country, not just locally,” he said.

QUESTION: What type of professional development do you participate in, such as seminars, conferences, off-site training or continuing education?

“Self improvement is one of the integral keys to business success. While I tend to take advantage of free courses as they become available, there is also a plethora of free online training available for just about every subject matter under the sun.”

Mike Chase, Owner, Windsor Aerial Drone Photography.

“I actively participate in seminars, conferences and continuing education courses to stay updated with industry trends and enhance my skills. My organization promotes these activities, ensuring I remain a trusted advisor and stay on top of business developments.”

Michael Tehan, Senior Account Manager, Business Development Bank.

“I highly recommend people join their sector association for professional development. Also, sit on your industry-related advisory committees at colleges, universities and training associations. Lastly, join a service organization such as Rotary or Kiwanis Club.”

Mike Hicks, Director of Sales, Diemould Service Company (Canada) Ltd.

“I am a huge fan of local connections, podcasts, business groups and events for professional development these days. As well, it's nice connecting with people outside of a business setting, like going for a run or a walk.”

Zane Hengsperger, Corporate Development Officer, Radical Capital Management.

“I earn educational credits which cover compliance and development. There are weekly seminars, so I am getting educated by analysts from around the world. My designations may just look like letters, but they mean I have the skills to help people maintain healthy financial standards.”

Julie Charrette, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones.

Address: 3275 Deziel Dr.

Selling Price: $3.4 million

Vendor: Milacron Canada Corp.

Purchaser: 3275 Deziel Drive Inc.

Address: 3400 Ontario St.

Selling Price: $2,675,500

Vendor: J & C Tool & Die Ltd.

Purchaser: Crest River Estate Ltd.

Address: 7786 Wyandotte St. E.

Selling Price: $2,775,000

Vendor: 1974436 Ontario Inc.

Purchaser: Meadow Group Ltd.

Address: 6125 Howard Ave.

Selling Price: $4,468,630

Vendor: Franco & Angelo Meo

Investments Ltd.

Purchaser: Amico Dominion Golf Inc.

Address: 5265 Howard Ave.

Selling Price: $1.3 million

Vendor: Faith Community Church - LaSalle

Purchaser: Khemara Buddhist Temple

PRIME PROPERTY

THE FOLLOWING, PROVIDED BY REALTRACK.COM, REPRESENT SOME OF THE TOP COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TRANSFERS IN THE ESSEX & CHATHAM-KENT AREAS:

SOLD

Address: 13090 Conc. 13, Essex

Selling Price: $960,000

Vendor: Named Individuals

Purchaser: 2831744 Ontario Ltd.

SOLD

Address: 1615 Union Ave., Kingsville

Selling Price: $4.61 million

Vendor: The Corporation of the Town of Kingsville

Purchaser: Union Water Supply System Inc.

SOLD

Address: 273 Dalhousie St., Amherstburg

Selling Price: $1.575 million

Vendor: 2253668 Ontario Ltd.

Purchaser: 1000826019 Ontario Inc.

SOLD

Address: 144 Keown St., Essex

Selling Price: $1.3 million

SOLD

Address: Seacliff Dr. E., Leamington

SOLD Address: 650 Park St.,

Selling Price: $3.05 million

Vendor: Roma Club of Leamington

Purchaser: 1000813844 Ontario Inc.

Chatham-Kent

Selling Price: $1.2 million

Vendor: 2615412 Ontario Inc.

Purchaser: 1000728019 Ontario Inc.

Kingsville

Vendor: Claren Enterprises Ltd. Purchaser: 2575885 Ontario Inc. SOLD Address: 749 Road 3 E.,

Selling Price: $1.95 million

Vendor: Named Individuals Purchaser: 2068893 Ontario Ltd.

SOLD Address: Highway 77, Conc. 9, Leamington

Selling Price: $4,099,402

Vendor: 2250286 Ontario Ltd.

Purchaser: Under Sun Acres Inc.

PRIME HOME SALES

Where: 3509 Giradot St.

Property Size: 39’ x 100’

# Bedrooms: 5

# Bathrooms: 1

Taxes: $1,997

Listed For: $384,900

Sold For: $380,000

Where: 1791 Hall Ave.

Property Size: 33 x 120’

# Bedrooms: 2

# Bathrooms: 1

Taxes: $2,075

Listed For: $319,000

Sold For: $342,000 SOLD

Where: 1672 Central Ave.

Property Size: 40’ x 90’

# Bedrooms: 4

# Bathrooms: 1

Taxes: $1,765

Listed For: $349,900

Sold For: $403,000

Where: 524 Riverdale

Property Size: 40’ x 232’

# Bedrooms: 2

# Bathrooms: 1

Taxes: $2,366

Listed For: $399,000

Sold For: $385,000 SOLD

Where: 3879 Poplar Ave.

Property Size: 42’ x 127’

# Bedrooms: 3 + 1

# Bathrooms: 2

Taxes: $2,618

Listed For: $459,900

Sold For: $515,000 SOLD

Where: 3681 Charlevoix

Property Size: 60’ x 105’

# Bedrooms: 3 + 2

# Bathrooms: 2

Taxes: $3,452

Listed For: $499,900

Sold For: $582,000 SOLD

Where: 3755 Virginia Park

Property Size: 70’ x 109’

# Bedrooms: 3

# Bathrooms: 1

Taxes: $3,646

Listed For: $443,775

Sold For: $527,338

SOLD

Where: 1229 Belle Isle

Property Size: 49’ x 108’

# Bedrooms: 3

# Bathrooms: 1

Taxes: $3,239

Listed For: $449,000

Sold For: $490,000

PRIME HOME SALES

SOLD

Where: 1267 Front Rd. S., Amherstburg

Property Size: 56’ x 99’

# Bedrooms: 3

# Bathrooms: 1

Taxes: $2,410

Listed For: $379,000

Sold For: $365,500

SOLD

Where: 1328 Poisson St., Tecumseh

Size: 80’ x 103’

# Bedrooms: 3

# Bathrooms: 1

Taxes: $2,255

Listed For: $499,900

Sold For: $531,000

SOLD

Where: 151 David Cr., Tecumseh

Property Size: 67’ x 120’

# Bedrooms: 3

SOLD

Where: 187 Murray St., Amherstburg

Property Size: 48’ x 60’

# Bedrooms: 2 + 1

# Bathrooms: 2

Taxes: $1,985

Listed For: $439,900

Sold For: $405,000

SOLD

Where: 122 Washington Cr., Colchester

Property Size: 107’ x irr.

# Bedrooms: 2 + 1

# Bathrooms: 1

Taxes: $2,277

Listed For: $499,900

Sold For: $483,000

SOLD

Where: 27 Canal St. W., Tilbury

Property Size: 46’ x 128’

# Bedrooms: 3

# Bathrooms: 2

Taxes: $4,186

Listed For: $749,000

Sold For: $680,000

# Bathrooms: 1

Taxes: $2,129

Listed For: $349,900

Sold For: $360,000

SOLD

Where: 1624 Regent St., Ruthven

Property Size: 65’ x 130’

# Bedrooms: 3

# Bathrooms: 2

Taxes: $2,462

Listed For: $499,000

Sold For: $470,000

SOLD

Where: 120 Queens Ave., Leamington

Property Size: 63’ x 111’

# Bedrooms: 2 + 1

# Bathrooms: 2

Taxes: $2,800

Listed For: $470,000

Sold For: $460,000

THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTS RECENT CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY IN ESSEX COUNTY AND CHATHAM-KENT:

TOWN OF LASALLE COMMERCIAL:

• Urban Selections Inc. is doing interior fit ups at a pharmacy and medical office on Malden Rd. Value of construction: $315,000.

• 2467847 Ontario Inc. is doing

interior renovations at two restaurants on Talbot Rd. Values of construction: $95,000 and $150,000.

• Frontlines Christian Fellowship Inc. is doing renovations and adding an elevator on Snake Lane. Value of construction: $90,000.

TOWN OF LASALLE RESIDENTIAL:

• Individuals are building an addition to a residence on Hollinger Ave. Value of construction: $910,433.81

Continued on page 11

Continued from page 10

• Individuals are building an addition to a residence on Disputed Rd. Value of construction: $125,000.

• An individual is building a single-family home on Harmony Crt. Value of construction: $1,199,263.11.

• Samana Homes Inc. is building a single-family residence on Lyons Ave. Value of construction: $541,154.

TOWN OF KINGSVILLE COMMERCIAL:

• A contractor is renovating a commercial building on Wigle Ave. Value of construction: $100,000.

• Marchovecchio Construction Ltd. is building an industrial building on County Rd. 34 E. Value of construction: $4.2 million.

• Pow Peterman Consulting Engineers is doing repairs to an institutional building on Main St. E. Value of construction: $65,000.

• A contractor is doing alterations to a commercial building on Division St. N. Value of construction: $270,000.

• A contractor is doing renovations to a commercial building on Main St. E. Value of construction: $50,000.

• Knelco Construction Inc. is building an agricultural structure on Division Rd. N. Value of construction: $169,624.

TOWN OF KINGSVILLE RESIDENTIAL:

• Belcasa Inc. is building a singlefamily dwelling on Villa Canal Dr. Value of construction: $750,000.

• A contractor is building a singlefamily residence on Heritage Rd. Value of construction: $1 million.

• A contractor is building two units of a semi-detached residence on Glass Ave. Values of construction: $350,000 each.

• Homes of Integrity is building a single-family home on Redwood Ave. Value of construction: $500,000.

• Cascades Design-Build Ltd. is building a single-family home on Cherry Ave. Value of construction: $500,000.

MUNICIPALITY OF CHATHAM-KENT COMMERCIAL:

• The Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent is building a new clinic on McNaughton Ave. W. Value of construction: $45.574 million.

• Hensall District Co-Operative Inc. is building a new warehouse on Wheatley Rd. Value of con-

struction: $600,000.

• Individuals are erecting an addition to an agricultural building on McLean Line. Value of construction: $250,000.

• Martinrea Metallic Canada Inc. is erecting an addition to a manufacturing building on Golf Course Line. Value of construction: $12 million.

• Tellier Cattle Farms Ltd. is erecting a new agricultural building on McDougall Line. Value of construction: $300,000.

• 2514475 Ontario Inc. is building

Continued on page 12

• DCJ3

• Erie Edge Inc.

Inc.

• Ghost Rocket Publishing, Inc.

• GJD Property Investments Inc.

• GS Naaz Trucking Ltd.

• Gurm Logistics Inc.

• Hamad Construction Corp.

• Hashemi’s Renovation & Landscape Corp.

• Healthy Foodies Inc.

• Iffy’s Kitchen Inc.

• J. Thomas Psychotherapy Professional Corp.

• Kadgill Trucklines Inc.

• Keifuku Sushi Restaurant Ltd.

• Kings TT Business Inc.

• Kingsone Farms Inc.

• Konrads Contracting Inc.

• Lakeshore Express Truck & Trailer Repair Inc.

• Lakeshore Short Term Accommodation Association

• Lakeside Web Designs Inc.

• Landlord Pro Legal Services Professional Corp.

• LaSalle Professional Firefighters Association

• Ljubovo Selo Investments Inc.

• Loebach Landscaping Ltd.

• Osei Family Foundation Inc.

• Professional Appliance Service

• Rakonai Business Solutions

• RDM General Contracting Inc.

• Shine Media Infrastructure

• Singh’s Truck Care Inc.

• Somewhere Else Experience Inc.

• South Windsor Asian Cultural Club

• Southwest Tree Service Inc.

• Southwestern Power Inc.

• Spark Manufacturing Ltd.

• Structured Networks Consulting Inc.

• Timbershores Group Inc.

Entrepreneurs are not wrong, they’re just different

If you’re a country music fan, you’d recognize the opening passage from the Ed and Patsy Bruce song, “Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys.” The hook lyric goes like this:

He ain’t wrong, he’s just different, And his pride won’t make him do things

To make you think that he’s right.

I’d be rich if I had a nickel for

every time someone contemplated an entrepreneur, then asked: “What’s wrong with him?” Entrepreneurs are a lot like cowboys; they’re not wrong. They’re just different, and the world is a better place for it.

My friend, the late Jim Houtz, had a lot to say about how entrepreneurs are special. Below are some of the special traits of entrepreneurs Jim identified, followed by a thought from me.

Houtz: Entrepreneurs do what

they do because they are trying to prove or build something; very few are doing it for the money.

Make no mistake, entrepreneurs like financial rewards as much as the next guy. It’s just that to most entrepreneurs, money is a byproduct. It’s a means to an end. What drives them is “to create something from nothing.”

Houtz: Entrepreneurs have above average or super intelligence.

Entrepreneurs are usually smarter than the average bear but,

more importantly, they have a special kind of intelligence that allows them to see things before they exist. It takes an entrepreneurial mind to turn a “what if?” into something you can hold. But don’t confuse intelligence with education; one of the greatest entrepreneurial minds I’ve ever observed had a poor formal education.

Houtz: For entrepreneurs, rules are not etched in stone but are written to be modified when necessary. If you want to see an entrepre-

neur in the bud, go to any third grade class and look for the munchkin who won’t color inside the lines. People who need to operate in the comfort of a known world create lines. Lines create paradigms, and entrepreneurs eat paradigms for lunch.

Houtz: Entrepreneurs work longer and harder than anyone else. Entrepreneurs don’t have “hours.” They do whatever it takes. When someone says, “Thank God it’s Friday,” entrepreneurs say, “Only two more working days til Monday.” It’s not that entrepreneurs are workaholics; it’s just that they don’t actually think of what they do as work. People who work think about quitting time, their vacation and how long they have until retirement.

Entrepreneurs quit when someone – or something – makes them. A vacation for an entrepreneur is forced separation from their passion. Entrepreneurs know if you love what you do, it’s not work. So, should mamas let their babies grow up to be entrepreneurs? Absolutely. Entrepreneurs are beautiful people whom the world cannot do without.

Write this on a rock: Like cowboys, entrepreneurs aren’t wrong. They’re just different.

Jim Blasingame is the author of The 3rd Ingredient, the Journey of Analog Ethics into the World of Digital Fear and Greed. Visit jimblasingame.com.

Continued from page 11 a new manufacturing plant on Victoria Rd. Value of construction: $6 million.

• Individuals are renovating an agricultural building on Gore Rd. Value of construction: $515,000.

MUNICIPALITY OF CHATHAM-KENT RESIDENTIAL:

• Shama Estate Inc. is doing renovations to an apartment building on Erie St. N. Value of construction: $55,000.

• Individuals are doing an addition to a single-family residence on Oakdale Rd. Value of construction: $250,000.

Labiak (Client Service Associate),

Abraham (Senior Investment Advisor), Lori Seguin (Client Service Associate)