7 HE SAID/SHE SAID: The news and views of area executives on pertinent business issues of the day.
16 CORPORATISM:
Jim Blasingame says seeking efficiencies will lead to the best strategies for your business.
ASSEMBLING
TBy Ron Stang
2 AT A GLANCE
A look at how much Canadian households can comfortably afford for housing.
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.
8 PRIME PROPERTY
A look at recent commercial property transfers in the city of Windsor.
10 PRIME HOME
A look at recent residential property sales in Windsor and Essex County.
12 BUILDING PERMITS
A compilation of construction activity in the Windsor and area market.
13 WORLD OF WORK:
A career advice column by two workplace consultants and career coaches.
14 START UPS
Newly incorporated firms launched in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.
he building that housed The Kent, an elegant banquet and event hall near downtown Chatham, has been purchased for $1.125 million for an undisclosed purpose.
Originally the Chatham Baptist Church, built in 1874, The Kent opened in 2015 to great fanfare by Stephen and Stephanie Keating and Michael and Melanie Fry. The two women are sisters. Stephen Keating was a Toronto-based developer, according to a Chatham press report at the time.
Attempts to reach either couple were unsuccessful, and an attempt to reach the new owner, Gurjit Kaur, was also unsuccessful.
The seller was an Ontario numbered company based at a Chatham residential address, and Kaur is listed as being located at the former The Kent’s address of 124 William Street South. The sale was completed in November.
Continued on page 4
A former event space in an old Chatham church, The Kent, was purchased again.
AT A GLANCE
JUST THE FACTS:
• A recent survey conducted by Leger for EveryRate.ca sheds light on just how challenging things have become regarding housing costs.
• 67 percent of Canadians can’t comfortably afford housing costs above $1,749 per month. Yet the average monthly mortgage payment, as reported by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, sits at $1,829 per month.
• 38 percent of survey respondents said the maximum they could comfortably afford for housing each month is $1,000 or less.
• 67 percent said they could not manage anything over $1,749 per month.
• The numbers are showing a disconnect between what Canadians earn and the actual costs of housing, with even higher-income Canadians feeling the pinch.
• 42 percent of respondents earning more than $100,000 a year said they could not comfortably pay more than $1,749 per month for housing. 1. What is the maximum you can comfortably afford for mortgage or rent payments on a monthly basis?
2. If your mortgage or rent increased by 15 percent, how long would you be able to manage the increase before you would decide to move or sell?
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE AN IMAGE PROBLEM.
THE PUBLIC PERCEIVES YOU NOT ONLY AS BLOOD-THIRSTY SHARKS, BUT AS A BUNCH OF HAMMER HEADS AS WELL...
BUSINESS BOOST
“Unfortunately, what many managers view as a punishment to an employee may not be a punishment to the employee. Have you ever seen an employee’s personnel folder bulging with reprimands and lowperformance appraisal ratings, yet the employee is still on the job performing badly? The manager passed out what appeared to be punishment, but it did not seem to have any effect.
”Close examination may even reveal that bad performers receive raises and choice work assignments according to seniority, in spite of their bad performance.
“Written and verbal reprimands are only a part of what is referred to as progressive discipline. The assumption is the discipline progresses in severity from warnings to reprimands to time off without pay, as the performance discrepancy continues. In many companies the paperwork piles up in the employee’s folder, but the severity of the discipline does not increase. Also, for some people, being told to go home for three days without pay is not punishment.
“When you are trying to understand why your employees don’t do what they are supposed to do, the reason may be there is no negative consequence to them for performing badly.”
VOLUME 28, ISSUE 9 • WINTER 2024/2025
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
THE EDITOR’S
NADIA H. SHOUSHER
I’ve been accused of it often enough, so I am going to confess to something here. Hold on to your hat: I am a bit stuck up. Yep, I’m a full-out, unapologetic snoot when it comes to business ethics. Frankly, it is the characteristic I prize most in myself.
I’ve recently accepted I do not want to associate in any way with those who are small-minded, boorish, self-absorbed, uncivilized or arrogant upstarts. I could go on (I love words!), but I won’t.
When one is surrounded every day with the most distressing and depressing evidence of unscrupulous and dishonorable behavior, one has no choice but to erect and maintain a protective shield around oneself. For me, this includes being more than choosy about how, where and with whom I spend my time, especially in business.
Sure, sometimes we don’t have a choice. Since we don’t live on an island, we are required to interact with other human beings on a regular basis. But to what extent must we be subjected to the shady tricks of those less conscientious than ourselves? Life – and business – are hard enough. Preserving one’s principles while somehow earning a living should not be difficult, yet the distance between the two is ever-widening. Ethical executives are truthful and transparent in their transactions, even when no one is around to notice, or when under pressure to do otherwise. Ethical executives will not deliberately mislead others by misrepresenting or omitting facts, over-promising results, or manipulating data to get what they want. In fact, an ethical executive goes to the other extreme to ensure his or her dealings are moral, genuine and honest. I do try not to judge, truly. But when the evil of greed at any cost oozes out from your world into mine, I must protest. I like to keep the physical and emotional area around myself pristine, unsullied by dishonesty, selfishness and ignorance.
Have you ever noticed the most oblivious to ethical considerations are the ones rolling in the dough, and sleeping the sleep of the innocent? How is that, I wonder?
Ethical executives have personal integrity and the strength to stand by their convictions, even if it costs them. They are not hypocrites, users or shysters. They will walk away before caving in, and there is tremendous power in that.
No amount of money is worth your self-respect. I often remind myself the offender needs me, my services, or an association with my aura much more than I need the punishment of having to deal with him. So, please, be off with you. Don’t remember me fondly, don’t mention my name. Don’t think of me at all. That, my friends, is power.
Nadia
Rewire your brain for success Yes, I’m a real snob about ethics
TH. Shousher is Editor-in-Chief of Windsor Business, a division of The Page Publishing Corp.
ESSEX ECONOMICS
MARGARET GRAZIANO
he human brain is incredibly adaptable. It holds the potential to change, learn and grow throughout our lives. However, many people unknowingly sabotage this by operating with a fixed mindset, the belief that abilities are static. Research shows this mindset limits success, as well as discourages any positive change. On the other hand a growth mindset, the belief that skills can be developed, unlocks boundless possibilities.
The key to shifting from a fixed to a growth mindset is in the chemistry of our brains. The chemicals dopamine, serotonin, endorphins and oxytocin all play a role in our motivation, emotional resilience and adaptability. If your brain has lower levels of these chemicals, change becomes a challenge. Adding some simple self-care practices to your life can increase these neurotransmitters and prime your brain for growth. Here are some:
• Improve Your Sleep Habits. Sleep is foundational for health. During sleep, the brain clears toxins, consolidates memories and prepares for new learning. Aim for consistent, high-quality sleep by establishing a bedtime routine, avoiding screens before bed, and creating a relaxing sleep environment.
• Eat for Brain Health. Nutrition profoundly impacts the brain. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and complex carbohydrates supports the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin. Avoid processed foods and sugars, as they can disrupt your gut microbiome and negatively affect cognitive function.
• Get Moving. Regular physical activity boosts endorphins, reduces stress and improves overall brain function. Even moderate exercise, like walking, swimming or yoga, oxygenates the brain and strengthens its adaptability. Consistency is key, so find a form of movement that feels enjoyable and sustainable.
• Calm Your Mind. Chronic stress impairs the brain’s ability to adapt and grow. Counteract stress by engaging in calming activities like nature walks and deep breathing exercises.
• Cultivate Gratitude. Gratitude directly impacts brain chemistry by increasing dopamine and serotonin levels. Start a daily gratitude journal to focus on the positive aspects of your life. Gratitude also enhances your relationships, which strengthens social bonds and further supports emotional health.
Rewiring your brain is not an overnight process. It requires discipline and the development of the right habits. By incorporating even just a few of these self-care strategies into your life, you’ll create the foundation for sustained personal and professional growth.
Margaret Graziano is the founder and CEO of KeenAlignment, as well as a Wall Street Journal BestSelling Author for her book “Ignite Culture.” Visit www.MargaretGraziano.com.
Ferdinand F. Fournies in Why Employees Don’t Do What They’re Supposed To, McGraw-Hill.
Equipment supplier takes over J&J Mold building TRANSFERS
The one-time J & J Tool & Mold Ltd. property on Blackacre Drive in Oldcastle has been sold to a Hamilton-area investor.
Stoney Creek Capital Inc., also known as Vermeer Canada, purchased the two-acre site for $2.2 million last October.
The mold company closed and filed for bankruptcy a few years ago, and an auction of the firm’s equipment was held last year. The company had been run by family members after the 2013 death of long-time owner, Jack Altenhof, a legend in the local industry. He started the company in 1951. Generations of mold makers can trace their roots to the venerable firm.
“WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT OUR INVESTMENT BRINGS TO THE AREA AND BEING A VALUABLE PART OF ITS GROWTH.”
Vermeer has several outlets in Ontario, including one in Windsor on Croft Drive. It specializes in a variety of niche industrial and agricultural equipment, from bailers and tanks to pumps and drills.
The multinational company is based in Pella, Iowa, its manufacturing site.
“We at Vermeer Canada are very excited about the southwest-
ern Ontario Market including the Windsor and Essex County area," said Craig Drury, VP Operations. The investment being made in the area is significant, and we know we are able to help this community grow well. We are looking forward to what our investment brings to the area and being a valuable part of its growth.”
Meanwhile, the nearby Southwood Lakes Extendicare long-term care home, has always been owned by Extendicare, despite recent sales information which might indicate the contrary.
The facility on North Talbot Road near Highway 401 is one of five local Extendicare sites.
Extendicare is one of Canada’s oldest and largest corporate longterm care providers. It operates 123 facilities and provides home care through its ParaMed division.
In Windsor-Essex, Extendicare has facilities at Riverview Place, Essex and Tecumseh as well as a ParaMed office.
RealTrack, which tracks commercial real estate transactions, reported a financial transaction of the North Talbot property by Toronto-based Prit Long Term Care Facilities Inc. to Markham-based Extendicare for $2.9 million.
An Extendicare company representative said “this relates to a financing arrangement dating back several years. Extendicare has always had possession and operation of Southwood Lakes.”
The facility has 150 rooms.
BY RON STANG
Elegant event space in Chatham sold for $1.125 million to investor
Continued from page 1
Back in 2015, Michael Fry and Stephen Keating reopened the former Chatham Baptist Church building after “months of hard work,” according to The Chatham Voice
The couples undertook a major overhaul of the building.
“Gone is the tile floor and drop ceiling and fluorescent lighting. In their place is wood flooring, a high ceiling complete with fine metal-
work at the top of each support pillar, and warm light fixtures,” the Voice said.
But most of the church’s “classic features” were retained including a large pipe organ, stained glass windows and grand piano used by Kiwanis Music festival students.
The last post on the business’s Facebook page is from November 2019, advertising a craft brewery event.
At the time of the opening, local publicist Alysson Storey was hired
to manage the marketing and promotions. “This fits a unique niche. We’re a private hall, which allows us some nice flexibility,” she told the Voice
Windsor Business contacted Storey, currently a Chatham-Kent municipal councilor, who attempted to reach the former owners. She declined a personal request for an interview.
The response to an Email sent to the business was: “Please leave us alone.”
BY RON STANG
Former flooring store site has new owner
The one-time Hardwood Outlet & Design property at 5189 Tecumseh Road East has a new owner after the store, or the chain it was part of, went bankrupt.
The seller was a Mississauga numbered company located at the same address as Steeles Flooring, which appears no longer in business and had a non-working phone.
As well, several Ontario outlets with the same name and logo as the Windsor store, are no longer operating. These include stores in Brampton, Vaughan and Ottawa. Unreturned messages were left at the seemingly still-open Etobicoke and North York stores.
The Windsor property was bought by a family associated with a similar product in Sudbury. But an owner said they are not opening a second outlet in Windsor, but simply purchased the 6,100-square-foot building as an investment.
Madami Properties Inc. paid $1.12 million in November for the building.
“Whoever leases it is going to have to make it their own,” said Madami COO Dave Khouri.
“There’s a doctor’s office looking at it right now. We didn’t buy it because it was a tile store; we bought it because of the building.”
The family owns Khouri Service Depot in Sudbury which sells stone, tile, vinyl and laminate flooring.
“We have family (in Windsor) so we’re always down there,” Khouri said.
The family has long invested in residential properties; this is its first local commercial buy.
Khouri said his understanding of what happened to the previous business was the seller bought the building in June.
“Him and his partner broke up and the company went belly up after that,” he said. Asked about the other Ontario outlets, Khouri said his understanding it was just the Windsor owner that went out of business.
“When my lawyer went through it, it was only one guy who owned it. It was that guy who owned the building and that company that was there,” Khouri said. “He put it up for sale, a week later we put in an offer, and he accepted it.”
CONVERSION
BY RON STANG
Hindu temple buys swath of land
Amajor Hindu temple is coming to west Windsor. Etobicoke-based Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha Inc. has purchased a 3.3-acre vacant property at 1930 Ambassador Drive, just west of Huron Church Road.
Several years ago the property housed the Zap Zone Family Fun Centre, which is now on Lauzon Road. Made up of two parcels, the site was sold for $2.2 million in mid-November, after a listing price of $2.63 million.
The seller was Black Spruce
Management Corp., which did not respond to requests for comment.
Attempts to reach the spokesman for the temple were unsuccessful, as he was in India, a temple representative said.
Of the two parcels, Zap Zone and a go kart track were located in the southern portion.
The Hindu group has a huge temple on Claireville Drive in Toronto known as BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. Re/Max Commercial broker Mark Lalovich said the Zap Zone building “was taken down five or
INVESTMENT
BY RON STANG
six years ago.” He said there was “quite a bit of interest” by prospective buyers in the property. A Toronto broker acted for the buyer. Mark Bloomfield, a broker with Royal Lepage, said the temple had been looking at the former Teutonia Club soccer field site on Edinborough Street, but found it too small. “The one on Ambassador has a little more options for the location and parking,” he said.
The former Teutonia site was subsequently purchased by Evola Builders for $1.7 million.
Two central properties change hands
Investor Walter Francic of FPS Holdings has purchased a commercial and warehouse building at 2490 Central Avenue, with the aim of renovating the long-time warehouse in the back. Meanwhile DigiPrint continues to operate from the storefront. FPS paid $1.1 million for the half-acre property, sold by T. J. Watson Land Development Inc. of
Windsor. No one there could be reached for comment.
But Francic said FPS purchased it “as an investment” and “we’re just cleaning up the property. There’s some empty space there, and we’re just trying to get it leased out.”
There is an attached empty warehouse, to which the investors plan to add a couple of rear bay
doors and “hopefully attract some new tenants,” Francic said. “It’s basically a small storage space.”
The total building is about 10,000 square feet. “More than half the building has been sitting empty,” Francic said; the previous owner may have used it for its own storage. “I think it’s a good
Continued on page 14
BY RON STANG
Developer seeks single-family homes on former church location
The owner of the former St. Vincent de Paul church property in east Windsor is still waiting for city approval for a plan to subdivide the site for single-family homes.
This comes after the owner, Constantin ‘Costa’ Apatsidis, originally planned to develop a seniors’ community there, but met with opposition from neighbors around the Balfour Boulevard location.
“We had disagreements with the neighbors and all kinds of issues, so we decided to take this church down (demolish it), and make it into lots because the neighbors prefer that,” he said.
The church building, which was constructed in 1957, also suffers structural problems and the owner said there are a “lot of things that had to be fixed.” No date has been set for demolition.
“I spent $50,000 in architectural (fees) to use the shell of the
church,” he said. The original plan was to call it the St. Vincent de Paul Residence. The new plan could see eight lots, each 43 feet wide by 90 feet deep.
THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO CALL IT THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL RESIDENCE.
Apatsidis owns several local companies including Windsor Food Distributors, the Good Time Charly bar and grill, GM Developments (which would develop the property) and the Gyros & More franchise, which just opened its eighth location on Walker Road. Apatsidis purchased the former church property for $925,000 from previous owners, who had in turn purchased it from the Diocese of London in May
2023. Public records show it paid $775,000 last year.
The diocese issued a Decree in 2022 to close the church due to issues including a decline in parishioners, and the inability for the parish to maintain repairs.
“In effect, there are simply not enough parishioners to make this parish viable, as reflected not only in the regular attendance figures but also in the overall financial contributions received,” said Bishop Ronald Fabbro in the Decree. In 2021, the church’s operating deficit was almost $27,000. Church records have since been transferred to nearby Our Lady of the Atonement Parish Lawyer Michael Stocks represented the seller, a numbered company which was the same one which bought the property from the diocese. One of those buyers, who had invested widely in local real estate, has since died, Stocks said.
BY RON STANG
U of W imaging institute on the move elsewhere
Abuilding that for years has housed one of the University of Windsor’s premier research facilities is now up for sale.
The 10,000-square-foot building on the corner of University Avenue West and Caron Avenue has been the home of the muchlauded Institute for Diagnostic Imaging , headed by Dr. Roma Maev.
The property is listed by Royal LePage for $1.5 million; the seller is unnamed. The listing describes the site as “Ideal investment opportunity in the heart of downtown Windsor with 10,188 square feet of office/retail/industrial space that can be utilized in many different ways.”
Royal LePage broker Mark Bloomfield told Windsor Business there has been one offer on it, but the buyer “pulled out because of the past history.”
At one time it was a gas station, and so subject to environmental remediation. After that it was longstanding Mayhew office supply
outlet.
The realtor said the offices are “really nice” and the building has an industrial setting, because of welding robots that were testing there. He said he believes the Imaging center may be returning to the main university campus. (The university is looking at a $30 million deficit this year and has had to axe programs). “I know they were planning to move,” he said. The university never owned the property.
University officials did not reply to requests for comment by deadline.
Meanwhile, in another sale, a numbered company associated with Mostafa Alturej has purchased a commercial building at 506 Hanna Street, just east of Howard Avenue, for $890,000. A battered sign on the building identified it as Canadian Checker Cab (which has a different location now) and another as Discount Auto Clinic. The buyer, Alturej, did not respond to several requests for comment.
COMMERCIAL
BY RON STANG
Ownership of business center changes hands
The Rhodes Business Centre, the well-known commercial campus on Rhodes Drive adjacent to the EC Row Expressway, was sold by unknown individuals to local businessman Stan Francic. The price was $8.6 million.
The campus has several standalone buildings and includes numerous private and government facilities. Among them are Factory Auto Sound , the Ministry of Environment, Public Health Ontario, BRS Lab Services and GDP Electric Wholesale Supply Attempts to reach Francic were unsuccessful.
The almost 11-acre campus has been a Windsor business mainstay since the 1990s and, in part, reflected an initial trend of professional offices moving from the city core to the suburbs.
Many tenants are in the health or biomedical fields, including Apex Performance and Wellness whose mission is to “provide a wide range of services that nurture your body, mind, and spirit, helping you achieve holistic wellness.”
Another firm, Biological Research Solutions (BRS), an almost four-decade old company, provides lab testing and R & D to private commercial clients. It works to detect microbial contamination in product and environmental samples.
Long-time local business Factory Auto Sound specializes in installation of audio, security systems and vehicle tracking, and has been at the campus since “just before the pandemic,” a representative said.
A newer firm in the park is GDP Electric Wholesale Supply.
Qaiam, one of four partners and who preferred to provide just his first name, said the firm moved to Windsor a few months ago after servicing the area from London. The independently owned store sells electrical equipment wholesale to industrial, commercial and residential customers.
“We were already doing business here from London, and that led us to making a decision to open our doors here. And that led to me moving down here,” he said.
“The Canada Post strike did not totally affect my business. I am shipping with UPS or CanPar to offset the effect, as our orders still needed to go out.”
“We almost missed payroll, inconveniencing many of our employees. Cheques from our payroll service usually arrive by midday on Thursdays, but due to the increased demands placed on couriers by the postal strike, they did not arrive until late Friday.”
Rick Wilkinson, Walkerville Candles.
Joe Ciaravino, Owner, Antonino’s Original Pizza.
“In our business, the cost of supplying services is nearly 65 percent, so we depend on a steady stream of payments to operate. We are losing our profits on courier costs, and the time required to send our invoices manually.”
Dejan Todorovic, Owner, KELCOM - Revolution IP.
“With Canada Post out of the picture, we experienced a significant surge in demand. Working with all major carriers, our challenge was finding which carrier would be able to service each region of the country.”
Lisa Bisciotti, Franchise Owner, Courier and Freight Consultant, InXpress 147.
“As a business owner, I realize the importance of proper and fair compensation for employees. With that said, the inconvenience of the postal labor dispute forced us precious time, travel and fuel to physically retrieve payments at the source.”
Ryan Jordan, Owner, RJ Steel & Copper Co.
THE FOLLOWING, PROVIDED BY REALTRACK.COM, REPRESENT SOME OF THE TOP COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TRANSFERS IN THE WINDSOR AREA:
SOLD
Address: 506 Hanna St.
Selling Price: $890,000
Vendor: 2541806 Ontario Ltd.
Purchaser: 1001043304 Ontario Inc.
SOLD
Address: 1155-1157
McDougall St.
Selling Price: $1.565 million
Vendor: Named Individuals
Purchaser: 1000307758 Ontario Inc.
SOLD
Address: 5189 Tecumseh Rd. E.
Selling Price: $1.125 million
Vendor: 2456657 Ontario Ltd.
Purchaser: Madami Properties Inc.
SOLD Address:7555 Wyandotte St. E.
Selling Price: $2 million
Vendor: Bella Terra Investments Inc.
Purchaser: 7555 Wyandotte Inc.
SOLD
Address: 3019 Dougall Ave.
Selling Price: $950,000
Vendor: Heading North
Investment Inc.
Purchaser: 1603930 Ontario Inc.
SOLD
Address: 1255 North Talbot Rd.
Selling Price: $2,939,758
Vendor: Prit Long-Term Care
Facilities Inc.
Purchaser: Extendicare (Canada) Inc.
SOLD
Address: 57 Edinborough St.
Selling Price: $1.75 million
Vendor: 55 Edinborough
Business Centre Inc.
Purchaser: 823821 Ontario Inc.
SOLD
Address: 9155 Wyandotte St. E.
Selling Price: $7 million
Vendor: 1156785 Ontario Ltd.
Purchaser: Baker Investments Ltd.
PRIME PROPERTY
THE FOLLOWING, PROVIDED BY REALTRACK.COM, REPRESENT SOME OF THE TOP COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TRANSFERS IN THE ESSEX & CHATHAM-KENT AREAS:
SOLD
Address: Sandwich W.
Parkway/Heritage Dr., LaSalle
Selling Price: $8,242,200
Vendor: Head Construction & Supply Co. Ltd.
Purchaser: LaSalle Heritage Group Inc.
SOLD
Address: 344-396 Manning Rd., Tecumseh
Selling Price: $5.4 million
Vendor: 2474445 Ontario Inc.
Purchaser: 1000982569 Ontario Inc.
SOLD
Address: 6314 6th Conc. N., Amherstburg
Selling Price: $890,000
Vendor: Named Individuals
Purchaser: 2739914 Ontario Inc.
SOLD
Address: 10th Conc. Rd., Kingsville
SOLD
Address: 5125 Girard Line, Chatham-Kent
Selling Price: $931,000
Vendor: Named Individuals
Purchaser: Flatland Farming Ltd.
Selling Price: $2.6 million
Vendor: Named Individuals
Purchaser: 2769993 Ontario Ltd.
SOLD
Address: 251 Simcoe St., Amherstburg
Selling Price: $2.5 million
Vendor: 1243470 Ontario Ltd.
Purchaser: 1000899556 Ontario Inc.
Address: 519-525 Essex Rd. 14, Leamington
Selling Price: $1.9 million
Vendor: Peter Quiring Holdings Inc.
Purchaser: 2229062 Ontario Inc.
SOLD
Address: 345 Seacliff Dr. W., Leamington
Selling Price: $6,204,600
Vendor: Union Acres Ltd.
Purchaser: 1001059939 Ontario Inc.
PRIME HOME SALES
Where 3653 Bloomfield
Property Size: 45’ x 96’
# Bedrooms: 4 + 1
# Bathrooms: 2
Taxes: $1,910
Listed For: $469,900
Sold For: $465,000
Where: 577 Allendale St.
Property Size: 32’ x irr.
# Bedrooms: 2 + 1
# Bathrooms: 2
Taxes: $1,910
Listed For: $315,000
Sold For: $310,000 SOLD
Where: 1472 Central Ave.
Property Size: 40’ x 102’
# Bedrooms: 4
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $2,134
Listed For: $279,900
Sold For: $310,000 SOLD
SOLD
Where: 3950 Myrtle Ave.
Property Size: 50’ x 100’
# Bedrooms: 2 + 2
# Bathrooms: 2
Taxes: $4,248
Listed For: $499,000
Sold For: $525,000 SOLD
Where: 3301 Mark Ave.
Property Size: 60’ x 110’
# Bedrooms: 3
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $3,130
Where: 816 Dawson Rd.
Property Size: 30’ x 96’
# Bedrooms: 2 + 1
# Bathrooms: 2
Taxes: $2,358
Listed For: $399,900
Sold For: $381,000
Sold For: $355,000 SOLD
Listed For: $499,500 Sold For: $480,000
SOLD
Where: 3480 Dougall Ave.
Property Size: 70’ x 135’
# Bedrooms: 2
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $3,334
Listed For: $489,900
Sold For: $505,000
SOLD
Where: 1922 Balfour
Property Size: 40’ x 196’
# Bedrooms: 2
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $2,520
Listed For: $429,900
PRIME HOME SALES
SOLD
Where: 91 Virginia Ave., Amherstburg
Property Size: 51’ x 115’
# Bedrooms: 3 + 1
# Bathrooms: 2
Taxes: $3,270
Listed For: $499,888
Sold For: $520,000
SOLD
Where: 557 St. Pierre St., Tecumseh
Property Size: 50’ x 155’
# Bedrooms: 2 + 1
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $2,429
Listed For: $499,900
Sold For: $490,000
SOLD
Where: 7121 Highway 3, Tecumseh
Property Size: 165’ x irr.
# Bedrooms: 2 + 1
SOLD
Where: 165 Fort St., Amherstburg
Property Size: 60’ x 115’
# Bedrooms: 3 + 3
# Bathrooms: 2
Taxes: $3,525
Listed For: $569,900
Sold For: $560,000
SOLD
Where: 120 Bellcreft Dr., Harrow
Property Size: 75’ x 88’
# Bedrooms: 3 + 1
# Bathrooms: 2
Taxes: $3,325
Listed For: $549,000
Sold For: $533,500
SOLD
Where: 104 Canal St. E., Tilbury
Property Size: 52’ x irr.
# Bedrooms: 3
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $2,200
Listed For: $699,000
Sold For: $600,000
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $2,431
Listed For: $339,900
Sold For: $350,000
SOLD
Where: 385 Erie View, Colchester
Property Size: 100’ x 286’
# Bedrooms: 3
# Bathrooms: 2
Taxes: $4,411
Listed For: $875,900
Sold For: $830,000
SOLD
Where: 168 Coghill Dr., Kingsville
Property Size: 120’ x 52’
# Bedrooms: 3
# Bathrooms: 3
Taxes: $2,600
Listed For: $434,900
Sold For: $400,000
BUILDING PERMITS
MUNICIPALITY OF CHATHAM-KENT COMMERCIAL:
• Individuals are erecting a new agricultural building on Pinehurst Line. Value of construction: $250,000.
• OCI Group Canada Inc. is building a lodging house on Green Line. Value of construction: $400,000.
• Vince Ferro Construction is doing renovations to a manufacturing plant on Bloomfield Rd. Value of construction: $300,000.
• Haliburton Solar and Wind is making mechanical changes to an agricultural business son Base Line Rd. Value of construction: $305,000.
• Rocky Gauldrault-Junctura Group is building an addition to an office on Forest St. Value of construction: $350,000.
• Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence is doing renovations to a school on Notre Dame St. Value of construction: $2.2 million.
MUNICIPALITY OF CHATHAM-KENT RESIDENTIAL:
• Individuals are building a singlefamily home on Wood St. Value of construction: $100,000.
• Mi Cazza Construction Inc. is building two units of a semidetached dwelling on Cornerstone Pl. Value of construction: $400,000 each.
• Bouma Builders Inc. is doing an addition to a single-family home on Bates Line. Value of construction: $300,000.
• JLS Building Inc. is doing renovations to a single-family home on Opal Crt. Value of construction: $140,000.
• Depencier Builders is building a single-family home on Leisure Lane. Value of construction: $675,000.
• Maple City Homes Ltd. is building a single-family residence on Ironwood Trail. Value of construction: $400,000.
TOWN OF ESSEX COMMERCIAL:
• Individuals are building a pole barn on a property on County Rd. 15. Value of construction: $100,000.
• Petretta Construction is building a new commercial building on Talbot St. N. Value of construction: $2.2 million.
• Individuals are building a pole barn on a property on County Rd. 13. Value of construction: $104,000.
• Individuals are doing renovations to a commercial building on Talbot St. N. Value of construction: $432,000.
TOWN OF ESSEX RESIDENTIAL
• Individuals are building an addition to single-family residence on County Rd. 18. Value of construction: $575,000.
• Coulson Design Building is building a single-family residence on Island View Lane. Value of construction: $1.13 million.
• R. Savard Construction is building an addition to a residence on Cloverdale Beach. Value of construction: $310,000.
• Noah Homes is building a single-family dwelling on Beach St. Value of construction: $1.5 million.
TOWN OF LASALLE COMMERCIAL:
• CDG Properties Inc. is constructing a multi-unit commercial plaza on Malden Rd. Value of construction: $2.4 million.
• An individual is building a 19-
unit apartment building with commercial units on the main floor on Sprucewood Ave. Value of construction: $8 million.
TOWN OF LASALLE RESIDENTIAL:
• Individuals are building an addition to a residence on Bouffard Rd. Value of construction: $1,210,850.
• Birch Custom Homes is building a single-family dwelling on Caterina Cr. Value of construction: $900,000.
• Individuals are building a single-family residence on Mayfair Ave. Value of construction: $550,000.
• Individuals are building a single-family residence on LaSalle Woods Blvd. Value of construction: $750,000.
• 2544236 Ontario Inc. is building a single-family residence on Mayrand St. Value of construction: $593,000.
• BK Cornerstone building a three-unit townhouse on Tullio Lane. Values of construction: $539,200, $694,610 and $539,200.
• 525222 Ontario Inc. is building a single-family residence on LaSalle Woods Blvd. Value of construction: $936,950.56
• Royal York Luxury Builders Ltd. is building two units of a semidetached on Surrey Dr. Values of construction: $341,497.50 each.
• Individuals are building a single-family home on Lark St. Value of construction: $1.5 million.
• Individuals are building a single-family residence on Laier Lane. Value of construction: $1,020,180.
• 2601370 Ontario Inc. is building a single family home on Chestnut St. Value of construc-
tion: $841,150.
• Hadi Custom Homes Inc. is building a single family home on Firorina St. Value of construction: $964,789.70
• Timberland General Contractors is building two units of a semidetached residence on Vel Lane. Values of construction: $624,780 and 542,669.50.
• 2601370 Ontario Inc. is building two units of a semidetached dwelling on Laier Lane. Values of construction: $1,012,670 and $988,120.
• Individuals are building a single-family residence on Laier Lane. Value of construction:
$1,030,491.94
• 2544236 Ontario Inc. is building a single-family home on Mayrand St. Value of construction: $548,876.47.
TOWN OF KINGSVILLE COMMERCIAL:
• Architecttura Inc. is constructing Part 3 of an institutional building on Fox St. Value of construction: $2.5 million.
• Architecttura Inc. is constructing Part 3 of an institutional building on McCain Sideroad. Value of construction: $6.8 million.
• A contractor is building a new agricultural structure on County Rd. 20. Value of construction: $140,000.
TOWN OF KINGSVILLE RESIDENTIAL:
• Beachwood Homes Inc. is adding accessory structures on Mill St. Value of construction: $280,000.
• Laneway Homes is building an Additional Dwelling Unit on Pearl St. W. Value of construction: $170,000.
• Noah Homes is building two units of a semi-detached
dwelling on Gaffan Dr. Values of construction: $750,000 each.
• N. J. Peralta Engineering Ltd. is building an accessory dwelling unit on McDonald St. Value of construction: $125,000.
• A contractor is building a single-family home on Heritage Rd. Value of construction: $300,000.
• A contractor is building a single-family home on County Rd. 4 W. Value of construction: $500,000.
• Brady Homes is building a single-family home on Arner Townline. Value of construction: $804,000.
• Noah Homes is building two units of a semi-detached residence on Gaffan Dr. Values of construction: $700,000 each.
MUNICIPALITY OF LEAMINGTON COMMERCIAL:
• Individuals are installing a new sewage system on Highway 77. Value of construction: $40,000.
• Individuals are installing a new sewage system on County Rd. 37. Value of construction: $109,999.
• Individuals are erecting a new agricultural building on Mersea Rd. 7. Value of construction: $380,000.
• Individuals are building a greenhouse and another agricultural building on Mersea Rd. 7. Values of construction: $10 million and $1.9 million.
• Individuals are doing renovations to a commercial building on Seacliff Dr. E. Value of construction: $140,000.
MUNICIPALITY OF LEAMINGTON RESIDENTIAL:
• Individuals are starting construction on a townhome on Eagle St. Value of construction: $500,000.
BY JEANINE “J.T.” O’DONNELL
Eric: I am trying to find a job and think something is wrong with my résumé. It’s three pages long and I’ve made sure everything I’ve done is on there. Why can’t I get an interview?
J.T.: You’re not alone in thinking that listing everything you’ve done is the key to creating a strong résumé. But in today’s competitive job market, a lengthy résumé that includes every detail of your work history might be doing more harm than good. The truth is, hiring managers and recruiters don’t have time to sift through pages of information. Instead, they need something quick, clear and easy to digest. This is where the concept of a skimmable résumé comes in.
A skimmable résumé is to be quickly scanned. It’s structured in a way that highlights your most relevant skills, allowing recruiters to instantly see that you’re qualified for the position. Think of it as a highlight reel – concise, impactful and to the point. Let me tell you why a three-page résumé filled with every detail can backfire:
1. Recruiters are overwhelmed: With hundreds of résumés to review for a single job posting, hiring managers simply don’t have the time.
2. They need to see the important stuff fast: If a recruiter can’t quickly scan your résumé and identify how you meet the key qualifications, your résumé could get tossed aside. Even if you’re the perfect candidate.
3. Fancy designs can be distracting: Some job seekers think a flashy, highly stylized résumé will help them stand out, but that can actually work against you. If the layout is too complicated, it makes it harder for recruiters to find what they’re looking for.
To create a résumé that’s skimmable and recruiter-friendly:
1. Keep it to one or two pages. If you have a lot of experience, focus on the most recent and relevant roles. Focus on what’s most important for the job you’re applying to.
2. Use plenty of white space. A résumé crammed with text is difficult to read, and overwhelming. White space helps break up the content, making it easier to scan.
3. Choose a clean layout. Use a simple layout that’s easy to read. Stick to basic fonts and keep
your font size between 10 and 12 points. Sections should be clearly defined (e.g., work experience, skills, education).
4. Be concise. Use straightforward language. Avoid lengthy paragraphs or unnecessary details. For each job, include three to five bullet points that highlight your key responsibilities and achievements.
5. Stick to the facts. This isn’t the
place for opinions. Focus on quantifiable achievements, like “Increased sales by 20%” or “Managed a team of 10.” Recruiters are looking for results, not fluff.
6. Focus on key requirements. When writing your résumé, think about the five to six most important skills or qualifications the job posting is asking for. Tailor your résumé to show how you meet those key require-
ments. This is what will catch a recruiter’s eye.
The advantage of a skimmable résumé shows you respect the recruiter’s time and understand what they’re looking for. While others are frustrating recruiters with complex résumés, yours will be a breath of fresh air. And that makes a lasting impression.
The reason you’re not getting interviews likely has nothing to do with your qualifications – it’s all
about how you’re presenting them. Remember, your résumé isn’t meant to be an autobiography; it’s a marketing tool designed to showcase the most relevant aspects of your professional experience.
* * *
J.T. O’Donnell is the founder and CEO of the job search career coaching platform Work It Daily. Visit workitdaily.com to submit your questions.
USEFUL WEBSITES FOR EXECUTIVES:
• DC Velocity, with the website dcvelocity.com, is a resource providing useful information for logistics and supply chain managers and executives, with comprehensive coverage of distribution center internal logistics, information technologies supporting the industry, external logistics relating to the transportation of goods and freight, and strategies to optimize logistics and company competitiveness. The site covers best practices, emerging technologies, labor issues, trends in management, new products and services, material handling, equipment reviews, professional development, special reports and opinion pieces.
• The Evil HR Lady website, evilhrlady.org, is provided by “Evil HR Lady” Suzanne Lucas. The site has articles on all aspects of HR practices and issues, such as hiring discrimination, salary issues, cultural fit, working from home, interviewing, attracting candidates, making the workplace better, job burnout, office romance, supporting employees during a crisis, disruptive employees, workplace lawsuits and much more.
• BetterUp, at betterup.com, a personal and business coaching organization, offers a blog with a number of very useful articles on unlocking human potential and promoting personal and professional growth. The blog has very informative searchable section headings including research and insights, leadership
and management, well-being, coaching, diversity and inclusion, culture, hiring, customer stories, professional development, collaboration and sales.
* The HDT Trucking website, at truckinginfo.com, is a source for news and information on the heavy duty trucking industry. Executives managing commercial truck fleets, truck and trailer dealership managers and related truck fleet professionals receive daily news on all aspects of the industry. It also provides information on new equipment, operations, government regulations, environmental issues, emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles, labor and employee issues, fuel costs, new products affecting the industry and more. Headings hold articles under news, equipment, fleet management, safety, electronic logging devices, drivers, maintenance, products, fuel smarts and aftermarket.
• Business Travel Magazine, with the website thebusinesstravelmag.com, is a U.K.-based publication with articles of general interest to the global business travel industry, aiming to inform and educate corporate travel managers and those who book business travel, hotels and destinations. Now that the travel industry is opening up again, the magazine informs readers about travel rules, Covid testing requirements, changes in mask rules, business travel policies, travel risk management, trends in managing corporate travel,
sustainability, news about various airlines and developments in the hotel industry.
• Coverings, Canada’s floor covering magazine, can be found at coveringscanada.ca, informing flooring business owners and professionals on developments in the commercial, institutional, residential and recreational categories. The magazine and website are dedicated to the country’s flooring industry, including wood, tile and stone, vinyl, laminate, carpet, outdoor and specialty flooring materials. The site offers news, trends, new products, company news, style and design tips and trends, technology advances, marketing and profitability advice. It is searchable under headings of sectors, flooring, installation, sustainability and business insights.
• The website procurementmag .com is provided by Procurement Magazine, a resource for procurement executives and professionals with industry news, insights, company developments and influential projects. As the industry undergoes a technology and digital transformation, and copes with the current challenges of the global supply chain, the magazine features interviews with procurement experts from leading companies, company news, articles on industry issues, and categories including procurement strategies, digital procurement, indirect procurement, technology and AI, risk management and sustainable sourcing. WB
START UPS
THE FOLLOWING WINDSOR, ESSEX COUNTY AND CHATHAM-KENT COMPANIES WERE RECENTLY ISSUED CERTIFICATES OF INCORPORATION UNDER ONTARIO’S BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT:
• Abbott Rubber Company Canada Inc.
• Ad Realty Solutions Inc.
• AMS Bakeries Holdings Inc.
• Bars Soap Company Inc.
• Breakwall Specialist Inc.
• C.O.S Butcher Shop Ltd.
• Coez Construction Inc.
• Curbside Creations Inc.
• Dana Auto Repairs Inc.
• Datec Coating Technologies Ltd.
• Dr Iskandar Said Dentistry Professional Corp
• Edgetrade Hub Inc.
• Elizabeth Allevato Psychology Professional Corp.
• Fleet Fit Truck Parts Inc.
• G. Otun Medicine Professional Corp.
BY RON STANG
• H.K Royal Company Inc.
• H.K Royal Vapes Limited
• Hani Jajjawi Publisher Ltd.
• HH Bakeries Holdings Inc.
• Karry & Laba Barristers & Solicitors Professional Corp
• Kor Canada Inc.
• Lakeshore Construction & Development Ltd.
• North 42 Aviation Inc.
• Ourhome Food Service Canada Inc.
• Rishika Health Services Inc.
• Serendipitous In Joy Investments Inc.
• Triple T Automation Support Service Inc.
• Viscom Investments Inc.
• Walker Gates Pharmacy Inc.
• Western Maple Logistics
Central properties sold INVESTMENT
Continued from page 5 location, and a good opportunity. A lot of that smaller warehouse space is pretty easy to rent and there is a great demand for it,” he said.
FPS has various holdings including commercial, retail and industrial. One of the investors owns R Value Insulation and is taking one of the units.
Meanwhile, the former Gardaworld security building at 5795 Tecumseh Road East has been
sold to investor Aleksander Konakov, who said a retail blinds store will “most likely” operate from there. Gardaworld has two other locations in the city. There are also tenanted apartments in the brick two-storey building just west of Jefferson Boulevard. The seller was an Ontario numbered company based in Markham, and the property sold for $1,085 million.
Konakov owns several commercial and residential units in the Windsor area.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
WE WISH ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS, SUPPLIERS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS A HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!
We are truly humbled, grateful and amazed to have so much support from people all over Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent and Lambton, Middlesex and Elgin counties and beyond. We are truly blessed!
ALL THE BEST FOR A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!
Rob and Yongli (Susan) Ghione, Proprietors
Wilton’s Mini Mart • Richmond Convenience • Fleur de Tende Holdings Ltd. • Robert Ghione Holdings Ltd.
A special thank you to my wife, Yongli, a dedicated and hardworking partner in all of our companies. I am grateful for her continued love and support. Yongli’s work ethic is the reason for our success!
Efficiencies will lead to the best strategies for you
Biutou Doumbia is a wife and mother from Sanankaroni, a tiny village in the West African country of Mali. Biutou (pronounced Be-oo-too) and her family live in poverty, very close to the line between surviving and, well, you know.
But Biutou is a small business owner; she makes and sells peanut butter. In Mali, peanut butter is made, as Roger Thurow writes, the same way African women have made flour and other grain staples
for millennia: by grinding the seeds on a rock with a large wooden pestle. The thump-thump rhythm of the pestles, Thurow says, is “a trademark sound of the African bush.”
As we might say in the industrialized world, Biutou’s operation is vertically integrated: She grows the peanuts, and then manufactures, markets, sells and distributes her peanut butter. But it’s doubtful Biutou considers what she does to feed her family a business.
Over two centuries ago, in The Wealth Of Nations, Adam Smith explained how markets are made by the division of labor. And free markets have created what Ayn Rand called “the only system geared to the life of a rational being:” capitalism.
Biutou doesn’t know Smith or Rand from a warthog. She’s illiterate. But she is one of Rand’s rational beings and, as such, recently recognized the efficiencies of division of labor when someone made
a diesel-powered grinder/blender available. Now, for 25¢ and a 10minute wait, Biutou’s 15 pounds of peanuts turn into better peanut butter than she would have made grinding all day with a pestle.
Intermediation, a kind of fancy modern-day word for division of labor, is the process of adding middlemen, or intermediaries, to facilitate business. It’s a valid business strategy, as is its opposite disintermediation – the process of removing middlemen in order to become closer to customers.
Uncovering
These two strategies are as different as chocolate and vanilla but, like ice cream, choosing one doesn’t mean the other is wrong, just different. Biutou had practiced de facto disintermediation only because she didn’t have a choice. But when the opportunity to add a middleman created efficiencies, like improving her product and getting back several hours of her life in the bargain, she became a practitioner of intermediation.
Sure, her intermediation decision is a pretty dramatic example of low-hanging fruit. Who wouldn’t reach out and pluck so much efficiency?
Let’s look a little deeper into our own operations to see if there are efficiencies we can find, like Biutou did, to improve our products and get back some time.
As outsourcing has come of age in the past quarter century, we have discovered there are very few operating tasks that can’t be intermediated. Indeed, an entire industry of intermediation services has been born, and that envelope is being pushed further each year.
All of which is good news for small business, because as outsourcing evolves, intermediation services are becoming more bitesized to fit our requirements and budgets. We have resources and information available to us today that as recent as five to 10 years ago were the proprietary property of our big business cousins.
How much should we do ourselves, and what resources are required? If we decide to outsource, how much control do we lose? What about personnel, capital constraints, market resources and market forces? But any discussion of whether to intermediate or disintermediate would not be complete without asking how either strategy affects our customers. Before you take steps either way, ask: “How will this affect my customers?”
Write this on a rock: Both intermediation and disintermediation can create efficiencies. Seeking efficiencies will lead you to the best strategy for you and, I predict, more time to contemplate your entrepreneurial possibilities.
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.
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