A career advice column by a workplace consultant and career coach.
16 CORPORATISM: Jim Blasingame says there are similarities between spiders and small business owners.
A2 AT A GLANCE
A look at Canadian confidence in the country’s ability to handle U.S. tariffs.
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 Essex and Chatham-Kent area.
10 PRIME HOME
A look at residential property sales in Essex County and Chatham-Kent.
12 BUILDING PERMITS
A compilation of construction activity in the Windsor and area market.
14 START UPS
Newly incorporated firms launched in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.
14 INFORMATION
A useful roundup of business websites and resources for area executives.
barometer of the economic vibrancy of Windsor-Essex County may be the fact a long-time family business in Aylmer ON has opened its first area branch in Leamington.
Martin’s Lift Truck Service opened the showroom on Mersea Road 8, within the Blytheswood Auto shop. Martin’s has long served the Leamington greenhouse industry and, as its market kept growing, staff increasingly travelled back and forth for sales and service.
In particular, demand for China-made Heli forklift trucks has been strong. “It’s a very good product, with a more reasonable cost. And people started realizing that,” said general manager Tim Baelde.
The dealership sells to “all kinds of businesses,” but especially the farm sector. Greenhouses “all need forklifts and they all need a lot of them,” Baelde said. But Martin’s is also selling to Windsor factories and warehouses.
Continued on page 4
AT A GLANCE
JUST THE FACTS:
• After months of Canada-U.S. tension under President Trump, most Canadians say they view America less favorably than before Trump took office.
• At the same time, confidence in Canadian political leaders’ ability to manage Trump has risen to 59 percent since before the federal election.
• At least 60 percent of Canadians feel their personal financial situation will suffer because of Trump and his threats.
• More than 76 percent of Canadians intend to avoid travel to the U.S., and 72 percent say they now avoid purchasing American goods.
• While 60 percent of Canadians favor a subsidy program to protect workers and businesses from the adverse impacts of U.S. tariffs, 24 percent disagree.
I think less of America as a country because of Donald Trump’s threats against Canada.
I am confident that the political leaders of my country can manage President Trump.
My own personal financial situation will suffer because of President Trump.
• Sixteen percent of Canadians are not sure about this option. 1. Canadians less positive on America than early 2025 because of Trump’s
Source: Ipsos, July 2025.
I DO HOPE THE NEXT MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE GOES SMOOTHER THAN THE LAST ONE. WE NEED TO CONFRONT THE ISSUE OF DECLINING MEMBERSHIP HEAD ON.
BUSINESS BOOST
“Guerrillas understand the importance of tracking, measuring and analyzing all of their marketing efforts to ensure they get a positive return on their investments, and so they can double up on things that are working and discard ones that are not.
“You can use automation software to track offline campaigns, but it requires that you conduct some form of direct response advertising, which invites people to visit various landing pages that you’ve set up in advance. This process can get complicated so, if you’re a beginner, take it slow and start with one or two at a time.
”You should know how many people visit your site once and/or return two or more times, and the numbers who opt into your Email list. Then you’ll want to compare with the numbers who instantly, or eventually, become customers and which communications messages and vehicles worked best.
“When armed with the type of information your odds of succeeding are significantly improved, because your decisions are based on actual behaviors – the best predictors of future behavior – not random guesswork and intuition.”
VOLUME 29, ISSUE 4 • AUGUST 2025
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nadia H. Shousher
ART DIRECTOR David Cowx
CONTRIBUTORS Jim Blasingame, Dan Chase, 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., 2025.
Sometimes I watch amazed at how what I consider hearsay can take on gargantuan proportions. A little tidbit gets passed around and then enlarged upon so much that, the next thing you know, the buzz has become fact in the minds of everyone who hears it.
The latest bit of ridicule to get under my craw is this idea – totally an Essex County-bred urban legend – that “no one does business in the summer.” I guffaw at that. What, we all just close our doors for two months because some in the auto sector take a much-need shut down?
I would loudly argue this “summertime blues of business” is not an economic fact, merely a reaction to the expectation of a downturn. Business is cyclical, and only a fool thinks what is up will stay up regardless of any external factor or fluctuation in the global marketplace. It is not the natural order of things.
On the other hand, believing something to be true is one step before finding evidence of it. In psychology circles, it’s called a self-fulfilling prophecy: people think it will be a slow summer and their business will suffer, so it becomes a slow summer and their business suffers. Realistically, if everyone thought like that, the entire world economy world crash. Talk about a negative perspective.
So many manufacturers and their suppliers operate at such high-output levels throughout the year, a few weeks off to revamp is required – and deserved. But does the world stop turning between July 1st and September 1st, because of it? I think not.
I only have to cough on the exhaust of the thousands of trucks on our city streets to realize things are still moving. Gasp! Even in July! What are those trucks carrying, if not goods for sale? Where are these trucks going, if not to market? And whoever ordered those goods and the transport of them will use funds generated from their own operations to pay for them.
Does retail stop in the summer? What about the stock market? What about hospitality, the insurance industry, property transfers, construction, telecommunications, transportation or non-automotive manufacturing? Doesn’t anybody look for a job in the summer? Don’t people have babies, get married or divorced, move or decorate, study or graduate or travel in the heat of summer? Has everyone left the building?
Most executives use this “slow” time to get organized, plan for the year end, try out new marketing ideas, follow up on leads, hook up with new clients and nurture current ones. Sure, some even take a vacation over the summer.
But there’s no business to be had out there? Please. Get off your backside and go after it.
Nadia H. Shousher is Editor-in-Chief of Windsor Business, a division of The Page Publishing Corp.
ESSEX ECONOMICS
REV. DR. ROBERT TURNER
How to find your way back
In the midst of a busy workday, with attention divided among so many responsibilities, it’s easy to lose sight of what in our jobs truly brings us joy. Bridging the separation from joy can yield a high Return on Investment, not just in levels of satisfaction and fulfillment, but in creativity, productivity and performance.
It’s important to recognize the interpretation of joy as a state of well-being is an internal process. Therefore, the real barrier to joy lies within yourself. Behind that wall lies the negative emotions you experience in the form of anxiety, overthinking, anger, trauma and unforgiveness. Some will say: “But stuff happens!” Yes, that’s true, but ultimately, you have control over how outside circumstances impact your joy. You determine the extent to which joy is surrendered to adversity.
Here are steps to find your way back to the joy in a job you love:
to joy
Contrast Theory. Often, joy and happiness are used interchangeably since they both carry a similar positive emotional connotation, but joy is a much more profound experience than simple happiness. Remember why you got into your profession, and rediscover your true purpose.
Joy-Centric Organizational Cultures Joy is an essential human experience; it fosters the resilience needed for goal achievement and shaping meaningful stakeholder connections that drive financial growth. Prioritizing joy, positivity and well-being in leadership, and reflecting this in an organization's mission and values, yields positive results. Joy-centric cultures gain a competitive edge by recognizing that people and relationships are their core business, regardless of products or services. Therefore, joy must be intentionally integrated into every area – from customer and employee experience to marketing and product development – to build brand loyalty and ensure sustainable success.
Conscious Recognition Joy cannot exist without a hunger to embrace life, which means we must have the capacity to be curious, interested, enthused and excited … about nearly everything. Ask yourself: What do you look forward to? Is it that next team meeting? A company retreat in the mountains? Whatever it is, dive in with sheer abandonment! And beyond business hours, explore new hobbies or interests, even those that you doubted in some way, because we never know when depthless joy is ready to spring upon us.
Like a slender shaft of sunlight, joy is there, waiting for our conscious recognition. The disconnection with self is the greatest enemy to cultivating joy. It is within self that we find a connection and purpose. Those who have not found their purpose are subject to chance experiences of joy.
We can cultivate a deeper appreciation for the everyday blessings that make life special and, in doing so, tap into the divine presence within ourselves, lowering the barriers to the joyful life that awaits us.
Rev. Dr. Robert Turner, PCC, BCC is a speaker and executive coach.
Jay Conrad Levinson, Mitchell Meyerson and Mary Eule Scarborough in Guerrilla Marketing on the Internet, Entrepreneur Press.
Massive project to link Walkerville and Ford City
It’s been a 20-year dream for local developer and business owner Ashok Sood, but now he has possession of the final piece of land for his 1,000-unit, multibuilding low-rise residential complex.
The last piece – 5.3 acres – was sold by Imperial Oil Ltd. last spring for $1.3 million, completing the 20-acre parcel bordered roughly by Walker Road, Richmond Street, St. Luke Road and Edna Street. The entire property is sandwiched between trendy Walkerville and the fast-growing Ford City boutique restaurant area, and would help link the increasingly popular urban area for entertainment, housing and work.
“Our first priority is making sure the land gets a proper cleanup and contributes towards a vibrant, healthy community for generations to come,” Sood said.
The City of Windsor said the site had been used for bulk fuel storage; the tanks have been removed. Sood, also owner of Champion Products and who is just completing the 24-unit Walkerville Brownstones across Walker Road, said there would be condos and retail, with an emphasis being neighborhood accessibility via walking and access to transit.
“It’s going to be a whole new community. We’re just waiting for building permits; we might be digging by the end of the year,” he said, adding the new land was “the missing piece.”
There would be entrances off Walker and Richmond. Whelpton Street to the east would be extended across the property to Walker, creating an attractive central promenade. It’s also partly behind the City Market , which Sood also developed.
BY RON STANG
Aylmer-based forklift company expands into Essex County region
Continued from page 1
The Heli brand was “the first on board with a lithium-powered product,” he said. Other manufacturers may have the same, but at “double the cost,” he added. So “all of a sudden now we’ve got a product that’s good, in demand and cheaper.”
Forklifts come in all shapes and sizes, from the forklift commonly seen in warehouses to smaller models such as pallet jacks and scissor lifts.
Besides electric, Martin’s sells propane and diesel machines. But “Heli is by far the leader at this point,” Baelde said.
The housing will be 10 to 12, four- to six-storey buildings with “pretty reasonably priced” units catering to all segments of the population. He has had this project, Walkerville Village, in mind for a long time and now “the timing seems to be right. Walkerville is so popular; there’s nothing else out there like this.”
The new complex units will be “smaller in size” at 500 to 800 square feet.
Ward 5 councillor Ed Sleiman, who represents the area, called it a “good concept” and liked the fact it will help link Walkerville to Ford City. “It’s something for the community to look forward to.” He hopes it draws larger retail, such as supermarkets.
ing on autos and farm equipment, and found there was a need for forklifts. He decided it was a profitable business to enter. “I thought, you know, I can do this. I can do this every bit as good or better,” he told Windsor Business
Tim Baelde said a lot of local greenhouses prefer electric forklifts “because they don’t want the emissions.”
There are less than half a dozen competitors in the market.
“I think we’ve carved out a niche within that market,” Baelde said. This is especially true for agriculture and for economically priced machines.
The business was started in the 1980s by Tim’s father, Martin Baelde. He was a mechanic work-
BY RON STANG
Martin’s also offers training where operators must be certified, renewable every three years. “The heavy machine is different than
your car. If you’re not trained, it’s very easy to tip a forklift and very easy to get killed if you’re lifting heavy loads.”
Competitor Essex-based forklift dealer Liftow, carrying the Toyota brand, has long had strong sales in the area market. Branch manager Doug Van Dube said both agriculture and manufacturing are “still strong. What’s hurting is we’re finding a little bit of slowdown in the automotive, because of the uncertainty” around tariffs.
Van Dube said Toyota has been number one seller in North America “year after year.” Though not the most expensive or cheapest, “it’s a good truck and that’s what (the market) chooses to buy.” Meanwhile, he said, “we welcome competition. It is good.”
Area properties change hands
KB Components Canada, a Swedish-based firm, has purchased the former Ultimate Manufacturing Systems Inc. building on Deziel Drive. KB already has its “Plant 1” around the corner on St. Etienne Boulevard.
The phone for Ultimate was out of order, and a rep for KB did not respond to requests for comment.
Ultimate made racking and conveyor equipment. KB, which also acquired Maidstone’s Lakeside Plastics in 2021, is an injection molder for light and heavy vehicles, medical, furniture and the lighting industries.
The property seller was Jin Ju Holdings, based at the same
address as Standard Tool & Mold Jin-Pei Hu was unavailable for comment. The sale closed on June 30th for $8.8 million.
Meanwhile, two side-by-side strip plazas at 5960 and 5980 Tecumseh Road East have been purchased by a local dentist. A numbered company associated with Dr. Matthew Duronio, owner of Little River Dental, paid $2.5 million. The seller, also a numbered company, was based in Palgrave ON. Duronio did not respond to requests for comment.
In Leamington, an Ontario numbered company operating as Neumar Corp. sold the small L-shaped plaza at 129 Erie Street South to
London ON-based Ashia Sharmin for $3.1 million. Neither party could be reached.
Finally, the downtown An-Noor Private School building on Janette Avenue has been sold for $2.5 million to the Islamic Academy Windsor. And the Greater Essex County District School Board in turn sold the former Western Secondary School building in Amherstburg to the Windsor Islamic Association Foundation for $6.7 million. The board put the property up for sale last fall without an asking price. The building has been vacant since 2022; students now attend North Star High School in Amherstburg.
Language school buys downtown property
Xyna International , an Ontario governmentapproved high school teaching students grade 9 through 12, has purchased the Shoppers Drug Mart building at 600 Ouellette at the corner of Wyandotte Street.
The drug store is on the bottom level, and there are offices on top. No one from Vaughn-based Xyna responded to requests for comment. The school offers courses to full- and part-time students, including online learning.
The sale of the strategic corner property and neighboring parking lot took place last spring for $5.5 million. The seller was a Mississauga-based numbered company.
The purchaser is identified in records as Amandeep Sethi of Windsor Developments Inc., at the same address as Xyna.
last winter. Prospiant boasts it has three “legacy” greenhouse companies in its fold: Thermo, Rough Brothers, and Nexus Greenhouse Systems
“We have unmatched greenhouse and indoor grow manufacturing, design, engineering, construction and maintenance capabilities,” its website says.
Attempts to reach management were unsuccessful.
BY RON STANG
Trucking firm buys another property
Morrice Transportation has acquired nearby 3110 Marentette Avenue, long the home of Colonial Coffee, though there is no change in Colonial’s business and it will keep operating from the address.
“They’re not leaving. They’re just a tenant of ours now,” said president Rob Morrice. “It was just the perfect acquisition for us” given its proximity to the trucking headquarters.
This follows Morrice’s purchase last winter of the former IGB
Automotive plant immediately next door, for possible future expansion. But, “Colonial is there as long as they want to be. When they’re done we’ll figure it out at that point,” he said.
The purchase was $3.1 million.
Colonial has been at the location behind Devonshire Mall since it was forced to leave the downtown in the 1990s, to make way for the permanent casino, at the corner of Glengarry near what used to be the Windsor Market. “It’s business as usual,” said
Colonial owner, Leah Ohler. “It was strictly a real estate deal.” The business has been on Marentette for almost three decades. “We were expropriated for the casino before that,” she said.
The venerable family firm was founded in 1965 by Jack Ohler and has roasted Arabica coffee ever since, its customers in the food service and vending industries. It offers a wide variety of single-country-sourced coffees as well as a variety of blends, decafs and espressos.
The school trains newcomers in English through its Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP). It’s a language course “accepted by a number of governments, professional organizations, universities, colleges and employers as proof of English language proficiency.”
The school also administers the CELPIP test “accepted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada” for Canadian citizenship.
Meanwhile in LaSalle, a small single-storey office building at 1400 Front Road was sold by Windsor-based Douron Holdings Inc. to a Windsor numbered company for $1.1 million.
The building houses Edward Jones, the LaSalle Hangout for Youth , and an orthodontist. Neither seller nor buyer could be reached.
The building, set back from the road, is immediately next to a larger commercial plaza with tenants OPG Pizza and Primerica Finally, in Leamington, a major greenhouse manufacturer has continued on a consolidation spree by taking another firm under its umbrella.
Prospiant acquired ThermoEnergy Solutions for $9.5 million
Real estate broker Goran Todorovic has moved into a new real estate practice, unique in this area and a rarity anywhere. His “Re/Max Care Realty –Team Goran” moved into the former Marcotte Funeral Home building on Tecumseh Road East in Tecumseh, which was converted to a “vertically integrated” realty center. It combines real estate services with related businesses – a onestop shop.
The building is five times the size of Todorovic’s former office on Sylvestre Drive in Tecumseh, which was recently sold to Richard Spencer of consulting engineering firm RC Spencer & Associates for $2 million. RC Spencer has been at 800 University Avenue West in Windsor.
Todorovic invested over $8 million in the new 20,000-square-foot property. The “state-of-the-art” building has not only offices but,
for employees, a gym, café, kitchen, training center and even a sauna. For customers, there are services such as a lawyer, mortgage broker, staging and moving companies.
Conversion of the building took just over a year, with Team Goran moving in this month. “It’s not only unique in Windsor it’s very unique across North America,” he said.
Besides state-of-the-art technology, there are services “that agents need, and services that complement our business so we can help each other,” he said. “When you
financing is important, getting car and home insurance. Property management is also important as some buy for investment. As well as a financial advisor, to help with their financial needs.”
The building was renovated inside and out.
Todorovic said workplace culture is “very important,” so agents will have the technology “to learn, be better agents and also provide a sense of belonging. That’s why we’re putting a gym on the lower level, and that’s why we’re hiring a chef.”
BY RON STANG
Partly-serviced land in south Windsor sold HOUSING
Alarge swath of land in south Windsor has changed hands in a Power of Sale, after the former owner was unable to complete servicing the seven-acre site.
Anis Khan of Southland Development purchased the land on North Talbot Road, between Highway 401 and 6th Concession, for $5.5 million. The land was previously owned by Tosin Bello, owner of Turn Key Real Estate
As published in the March 2025 edition of Windsor Business, Bello had big plans for the mostly serviced property, but ran into financial problems when a contractor called payment and stopped work “ahead of schedule,” Bello said.
He said his dream was to build a new type of affordable housing, where buyers could live in the house and rent out another part to earn income with a “traditional”
home profile.
Bello said he’s also owed $1.4 million from the City of Windsor; it was a deposit which was to be returned upon “substantial completion.”
Meanwhile the buyer, Anis Khan, plans to build mostly semidetached homes on the site.
“The intent is to convert these lots into semis,” he said. There are 33 lots now approved by the City, and he’s applying for rezoning to double the number “and then sell those lots to builders.” Two thirds of the servicing has been completed, but more work will be needed with the lots doubling. This will be his first residential development.
His realtor, Sahil Khan with Re/Max Capital Diamond, said the land “is one of the prime areas” adjacent to Southwood Lakes. When the property came up for sale, “we jumped on it.”
BY RON STANG
Unique art deco building on Walker Road sold INDUSTRY
Brave Control Solutions , which in recent years generated much fanfare with business growth and a remake of a heritage art deco building, appears to have ceased operations in Windsor.
There was no answer at the company’s offices, but its website remains up. Messages to the company’s Warren MI offices were also unreturned.
IN 2020, BRAVE SOUGHT CITY INCENTIVES TO EFFECT THE BUILDING’S RENOVATIONS; THE STATUS OF THOSE IS UNKNOWN.
RealTrack reports the building, on the city’s heritage register, was sold last spring for $3.75 million to a numbered company associated with Randall Koop, located at the same address as the CIBC Banking Centre in downtown Toronto.
But a CIBC official said the purchase had nothing to do with the bank: “I don’t have any info to share on this one, but thanks for
checking with us,” said CIBC spokesman, Tom Wallis.
The firm, an auto tech company, was started by Brent McPhail in 2008; McPhail couldn’t be reached. “The company’s DNA was forged from a love of new technology and the courage to take risks,” says its website. Its niche was custom robotic solutions.
In 2020, McPhail announced the company was moving into the “incredibly cool” art deco building at 1785 Walker Road. The plan was to expand from 30 to 60 employees. At the time, the building was owned by a numbered company owned by Scott Woodall, also vicepresident of Lester Group construction. A Lester rep said, “Lester Construction Group Inc. does not own this property or business.”
Michael DiMeo at Royal LePage Binder, who handled the sale, said the building was two stories and 18,000 square feet, and partly furnished. Currently, the first floor is leased by Sterling Ridge construction. It was originally a Teron billboards company building.
In 2020, Brave sought city incentives to effect the building’s renovations; the status of those is unknown.
BY RON STANG
Landmark church gets custom cross FABRICATION
One of the city’s landmark churches, St. John’s Anglican in Old Sandwich Town, is now sporting a new custom fabricated copper cross expected to last 200 years.
The church at Sandwich and Brock streets, founded in 1802, already goes back more than 200 years. Windsor’s RJ Steel & Copper Co. replaced what had been a broken wooden cross with the new 150-pound cross over two days.
“THE PARISHIONERS ARE “OVERJOYED” WITH THE NEW CROSS “BECAUSE OUR CHURCH IS A VERY OLD HISTORIC PLACE.”
The earlier cross was damaged in a bad storm two years ago, and so was bent at a 45-degree angle. “It was rotten and didn’t hold up,” said RJ Steel owner Ryan Jordan. RJ “coppersmithed” the new cross and hoisted it into place upon the steeple, which is also getting refurbished. “It looks small from the ground, but it’s eight feet by four feet,” he said.
RJ, in business for 25 years, has
done several crosses for churches across the province.
OLYMEL - Brampton,
The “scariest” and most “laborious” part of the St. John’s project was hoisting the cross into place. He used a system “that went outboard almost on to the sidewalk, and then with rope and pulley, was pulled up. It was an old-fashioned way to install, but it was successful,” Jordan said.
Carol Bishop, the church’s Rector’s Warden, said parishioners are “overjoyed” with the new cross “because our church is a very old historic place.”
WB
PHOTO BY WINDSOR AERIAL DRONE PHOTOGRAPHHY
SOLD Address: 3026 Sandwich St.
Selling Price: $1.1 million
Vendor: Named Individuals
Purchaser: Corporation of the City of Windsor
BY
Address: 1480 Janette Ave.
Selling Price: $2.5 million
Vendor: Windsor Islamic Association
Purchaser: Islamic Academy Windsor
SOLD Address: 2940-2950 Elsmere Ave.
Selling Price: $7.25 million
Vendor: 1441997 Ontario Inc.
Purchaser: 1001254957 Ontario Inc.
SOLD
Address: Catherine St., Conc. 1, Part Lots 119-121
Selling Price: $34,438,301
Vendor: Rock Developments East Windsor Inc.
Purchaser: Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd.
SOLD
Address: 201 West Grand Blvd.
Selling Price: $1.95 million
Vendor: 2405993 Ontario Ltd.
Purchaser: 1001163862 Ontario Inc. SOLD
Address: 1350 Provincial Rd.
Selling Price: $5.5 million
Vendor: Red Scorpion
Investments Inc.
Purchaser: 1001232389 Ontario Inc.
SOLD Address: 2855 Deziel Dr.
Selling Price: $8.8 million
Purchaser: KB Components Canada Inc. SOLD
SOLD
Address: 7100 Cantelon Dr.
Selling Price: $2.6 million
Vendor: Jin Hu Holdings Inc.
Vendor: 5021062 Ontario Inc.
Purchaser: 1001116198 Ontario Inc.
PRIME PROPERTY
THE FOLLOWING, PROVIDED BY REALTRACK.COM, REPRESENT SOME OF THE TOP COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TRANSFERS IN THE ESSEX & CHATHAM-KENT AREAS:
SOLD
Address: 7091 Smith Industrial Dr., Amherstburg
Selling Price: $4.4 million
Vendor: Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Purchaser: DML Enterprises (LaSalle) Inc.
SOLD
Address: 280 Talbot Rd., Essex
Selling Price: $1.73 million
Vendor: 280 Talbot Essex Inc.
Purchaser: CGL Developments Ltd.
SOLD
Address: 2400 Graham Sideroad, Kingsville
SOLD
SOLD
Address: 5791 North Town Line, Amherstburg
Selling Price: $6.75 million
Vendor: Greater Essex County District School Board
Purchaser: Windsor Islamic Association Foundation
Selling Price: $4.7 million
Vendor: J-D Marketing (Leamington) Inc.
Purchaser: 1001248376 Ontario Corp.
Address: 10423 Pioneer Line, Chatham
Selling Price: $2.193 million
Vendor: 2315086 Ontario Inc.
Purchaser: 1001235755 Ontario Inc.
SOLD
Address: 129 Erie St. S., Leamington
Selling Price: $3.155 million
Vendor: 1118524 Ontario Inc.
Purchaser: 1001178937 Ontario Inc.
PRIME HOME SALES
Where: 3026 Sandwich St. Property Size: 50’ x irr.
# Bedrooms: 5 # Bathrooms: 2 Taxes: $4,034
Listed For: $1.6 million Sold For: $1.1 million
Where: 1155 Hall Ave.
Property Size: 30’ x 117’
# Bedrooms: 2 + 1
# Bathrooms: 2
Taxes: $2,195
Listed For: $298,000 Sold For: $340,000
Where: 945 Thompson
Property Size: 39’ x irr.
# Bedrooms: 3
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $2,500
Listed For: $299,999
Sold For: $325,000
Where: 488 Riverdale
Property Size: 39’ x 230’
# Bedrooms: 3
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $3,500
Listed For: $495,000
Sold For: $475,000
Where: 1624 Prince Rd.
Property Size: 40’ x irr.
# Bedrooms: 2
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $1,666
Listed For: $319,900 Sold For: $306,000
Where: 1250 Armanda St.
Property Size: 55’ x 117’
# Bedrooms: 3 + 1
# Bathrooms: 2 Taxes: $4,451
Listed For: $549,900 Sold For: $513,500
Where: 4720 Whitefish Cr.
Property Size: 43’ x 104’
# Bedrooms: 3 + 2
# Bathrooms: 3
Taxes: $4,594
Listed For: $674,900
Sold For: $620,000
Business Program Optimize your energy efficiency† with incentives for small businesses. A Program Delivery Agent handles everything—from assessment to installation—so
SOLD
Where: 1624 Aubin Rd.
Property Size: 45’ x 135’
# Bedrooms: 2 + 1
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $2,263
Listed For: $329,900
Sold For: $385,000
PRIME HOME SALES
SOLD
Where: 277 St. Arnaud, Amherstburg
Property Size: 69’ x 330’
# Bedrooms: 3
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $2,941
Listed For: $399,900
Sold For: $450,000
SOLD
Where: 296 Wawa Cr., Colchester
Property Size: 80’ x 111’
# Bedrooms: 2
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $2,307
Listed For: $419,900
Sold For: $425,000
SOLD
Where: 50 Ellis St. S, Tilbury
Property Size: 49’ x 145’
# Bedrooms: 2
SOLD
Where: 137 Roseann Dr., Harrow
Property Size: 52’ x 142’
# Bedrooms: 3 + 1
# Bathrooms: 2
Taxes: $2,900
Listed For: $549,999
Sold For: $549,999
SOLD
Where: 127 Queen St., Kingsville
Property Size: 98’ x 116’
# Bedrooms: 3
# Bathrooms: 2
Taxes: $2,096
Listed For: $549,000
Sold For: $522,000
SOLD
Where: 14372 Talbot Trail, Chatham-Kent
Property Size: 150’ x irr.
# Bedrooms: 2
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $1,877
Listed For: $379,900
Sold For: $367,000
# Bathrooms: 2
Taxes: $3,474
Listed For: $474,900
Sold For: $437,500
SOLD
Where: 600 Heritage Rd., Kingsville
Property Size: 50’ x 273’
# Bedrooms: 3
# Bathrooms: 2
Taxes: $4,086
Listed For: $584,900
Sold For: $550,000
SOLD
Where: 4 Selkirk Ave., Leamington
Property Size: 33’ x irr.
# Bedrooms: 3
# Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $2,500
Listed For: $389,000
Sold For: $380,000
MUNICIPALITY OF CHATHAM-KENT COMMERCIAL:
• Individuals are building an addition to a retail space on St. Clair St. Value of construction: $392,000.
• The Municipality of ChathamKent is building a new indoor sports facility on Bear Line Rd. Value of construction: $800,000.
• Union Gas Ltd. is doing office renovations on Riverview Dr. Value of construction: $300,000.
MUNICIPALITY OF CHATHAM-KENT RESIDENTIAL:
• Multi Construction is building a single-family home on Cabot Trail. Value of construction: $300,000.
• Mi Cazza Construction Inc. is building four units of two semidetached homes on Cornerstone Pl. Values of construction: $375,000 each.
• Rumble Homes Ltd. is building a single-family home on Rose Beach Line. Value of construction: $700,000.
• Fargo Construction is building a single-family home on Campbell St. Value of construction: $120,000.
• Emacon Construction Manage-
ment is doing renovations to a single-family home on Queen St. N. Value of construction: $50,000.
• Affinity Elite Homes is building a single-family home on Fenceline Dr. Value of construction: $285,000.
• Park Hill Custom Homes Ltd. is building a single-family home on Bloomington Way. Value of construction: $600,000.
• Individuals are building a single-family home on Klondyke Rd. Value of construction: $700,000.
• Individuals are renovating a single-family residence on Klondyke Rd. Value of construction: $200,000.
• MHP Enterprises is building an addition to a single-family residence on Fifth Line E. Value of construction: $105,000.
• Individuals are building a single-family residence on West St. Value of construction: $400,000.
• Individuals are building a single-family home on Euphemia Line. Value of construction: $500,000.
TOWN OF ESSEX COMMERCIAL:
• G.L. Smith Planning is doing interior renovations to a com-
mercial space on Maidstone Ave. W. Value of construction: $460,000.
• Hearn Industrial is building an accessory structure on 6th Concession Rd. Value of construction: $208,000.
TOWN OF ESSEX RESIDENTIAL:
• Individuals are building a singlefamily residence on N. Malden Rd. Value of construction: $980,000.
• Individuals are building a singlefamily home on Ducharme Lane. Value of construction: $845,000.
• Individuals are building a singlefamily dwelling on Dolores St. Value of construction: $655,000.
• Individuals are building a singlefamily home on Ducharme Lane. Value of construction: $536,000.
• Abraham Construction is building a single-family home on Ducharme Lane. Value of construction: $648,000.
• Individuals are building a singlefamily residence on Dana Dr. Value of construction: $150,000.
• Individuals are building a singlefamily residence with an Accessory Dwelling Unit on
Ducharme Lane. Values of construction: $510,000 and $132,000.
• Serenity Luxury Homes is building a single-family residence on Ducharme Lane. Value of construction: $720,000.
TOWN OF LASALLE COMMERCIAL:
• Individuals are doing interior fit ups to a retail store on Sandwich W. Pky. Value of construction: $175,000.
• A contractor is building a total of nine retail units in three buildings at a shopping complex on Sandwich W. Pkwy. Value of construction: $3,311,350 total.
• A contractor is building a Food Basics grocery story on Sandwich W. Pkwy. Value of construction: $4 million.
• A contractor is building Shell gas station on Sandwich W. Pkwy. Value of construction: $855,225.
• A contractor is building a Tim Hortons restaurant on Sandwich W. Pkwy. Value of construction: $700,000.
TOWN OF LASALLE RESIDENTIAL:
• Individuals are building a sin-
gle-detached dwelling on Tabib St. Value of construction: $823,030.
• Individuals are building a single-detached dwelling on Mayfair Ave. Value of construction: $1,069,263.20.
• Individuals are building a single-detached dwelling on Laier Lane. Value of construction: $855,700.
• Individuals are building a single-detached dwelling on Mayfair Ave. Value of construction: $1 million.
• Individuals are building an addition to a residence on Golfview Dr. Value of construction: $336,020.
• Individuals are renovating a single-family home on Malden Rd. Value of construction: $50,000.
• Individuals are building two Accessory Dwelling Units at a home on Oakridge St. Values of construction: $25,000 each.
• A contractor is building 69 residential units and four commercial units in a condominium on Wyoming Ave. Value of construction: $18 million.
• A builder is erecting a singlefamily dwelling on Mayfair Ave. Value of construction: $719,430.
Continued on page 13
THE WORLD OF WORK
BY JEANINE “J.T.” O’DONNELL
Toxic job and workplace can damage more than just a career
Giselle: I’m in a toxic work environment, but afraid to leave without another job lined up. It’s starting to affect my mental health. What should I do?”
J.T. O’Donnell: Toxic workplaces are real, and they can wear down even the most resilient people. When your job starts to feel like emotional quicksand, it’s time to ask a serious question: What’s the cost of staying?
When a workplace is toxic – due to bullying, micromanagement, gaslighting, favoritism or just chronic dysfunction – it creates emotional and psychological stress that doesn’t stay at work. It affects your sleep, relationships, energy and confidence. You can’t make strategic career decisions when you’re in survival mode. The first step is protecting your mental and emotional well-being.
Define the toxicity. Be specific about what’s happening. Is it one person making your life miserable? Is it the workload? The leadership? When everything feels awful, it helps to isolate the core issues. Track patterns. Document incidents. This not only helps you process; it gives you a way to explain your situation during a job search.
Set a personal boundary plan. You might not be able to change the environment, but you can change how you respond to it. That starts with boundaries. Ask yourself: Where can I limit overexposure to toxic people or dynamics? Can I stop answering Emails after 6 p.m.? Can I disengage from gossip or team drama?
Start a quiet job search. Update your LinkedIn profile with a future-facing summary of your skills, interests and career goals. Begin identifying companies whose cultures align with your values. Connect with people who work there. This is about information, not applications.
Rebuild your confidence. Many dysfunctional workplaces use fear or guilt to control employees. To fight that, start documenting your wins. They help you reconnect with the version of you that’s capable, smart and worthy.
Create an exit strategy. If things are truly affecting your mental health, it may be worth creating an emergency exit plan, even if you haven’t landed your next job yet. Start by calculating how long you can afford to be without income. Can you tighten your budget for a few months? Would you be eligible for unemployment if you left? Leaving without another job
should be a last resort, but it’s still a valid option. Sometimes, peace of mind is worth the temporary uncertainty.
Toxic jobs don’t just damage careers. They damage people. And the longer you stay, the harder it becomes to imagine anything else. But I promise, there is something else. You deserve to work in a place where you feel safe, respect-
ed and valued. That’s not a luxury, it’s a baseline. The first step toward that kind of future is deciding that you’re no longer willing to tolerate less.
J.T. O’Donnell is the founder and CEO of Work It Daily. Visit workitdaily.com to submit your questions.
Continued from page 12
• Individuals are building an addition to a single-family residence on Monty St. Value of construction: $117,000.
• Individuals are building an Accessory Dwelling Unit at a residence on River Ave. Value of construction: $162,000.
• Individuals are building a semidetached dwelling on Vel Lane. Value of construction: $800,000.
• Individuals are building a single-family residence on Mayrand St. Value of construction:
$750,000.
• Individuals are building a semidetached dwelling on Meo Blvd. Value of construction: $583,620.
• Individuals are building a single-family residence on Terra Bella Dr. Value of construction: $1,163,650.
• Individuals are building a single-family home on Caterina Cr. Value of construction: $1,218,950.
• Individuals are building a single-family residence on Huron
Continued on page 15
START UPS
THE FOLLOWING WINDSOR, ESSEX COUNTY AND CHATHAM-KENT COMPANIES WERE RECENTLY ISSUED CERTIFICATES OF INCORPORATION UNDER ONTARIO’S BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT:
• 5 Rivers Mechanics Ltd.
• AAA Windsor Quality Meat Plus Inc.
• Advanced Automation Inc.
• Ai-Thentic Solutions Inc.
• AJ Construction Co Inc.
• Albawareid Trucking Inc.
• Allen Contractors Inc.
• Ambassador ATM Services Inc.
• Armstrong Electrical Solutions Inc.
• Aum LaSalle Inc.
• Autototal Inc.
• Bavetta Capital Corp.
• BK Coastal Contracting Inc.
• Bluespec Technologies Inc.
• Botheyesnow Media Ltd.
• BRC Theatre Company
• DH Global Tech Services Inc.
• Divan Construction Ltd.
• Eagle Point Solutions Inc.
• El Rancho Kingsville Inc.
• Everyday Designs Wall Art Inc.
• Extresh Solutions Logistics & Transportation Services Inc.
• Forall Inc.
• Freezeline Logistics Inc.
• G Business Hub Inc.
• Gateside Construction Inc.
• Glos Associates Inc.
• Gnestarc Business Inc.
• GRJ Truck Trailer Repair & Towing Services Inc.
• Guardian Health Medical Supplies Inc.
• GW Marine Technologies Inc.
• H2o Clean Up Windsor Inc.
• Haulix Logistics Inc.
• Heartland Capital Solutions Inc.
• Helin Kocer Construction Inc.
• HJ Hydronic Heating Inc.
• Hungry Windows Inc.
• Kube Technologies Inc.
• Lake Erie Minor Hockey Assoc.
• Lakeshore Power Washing Ltd.
• Layer Bitcoin Foundations Inc.
• LCS Local Comic Shop Corp.
• Limitless Homes & Construction Inc.
• Live Simple Joy Inc.
• LSSH Construction Inc.
• Lumina Renewable Energy Inc.
• Luz North Properties Inc.
• MB Land & Building Corp.
• Mesmer Express Inc.
• Micanto Investments Inc.
• Modern Control Heating & Cooling Solutions Inc.
• MVK Trucking Inc.
• Nasser Abdalla Pharmacist Professional Corp.
• Nassovia Investment Consulting Corp.
• Navbiguous Inc.
• New Malden Contracting Inc.
• Nextarks Inc.
• Nextgen Delivery Services Inc.
• Nobordersrestaurant Inc.
• North Flow Ltd.
• Northern Inspections Inc.
• Omni One Platforms Inc.
• Ontario Elite Landscaping & Design Inc.
• Palestinian Canadian Community Assoc.
• Pan American Automotive Parts Trading Canada Inc.
• Pappydeez Investment Group Inc.
• Patel Capital Windsor Inc.
• Peddle Workshop Contracting Corp.
• Pelee Drywall Inc.
• Profix Cellphone Repair Inc.
• Puzzuoli Wealth Management Group Inc.
• Raison Windows Ltd.
• Raptor Motors Auto Service Inc.
• Reo Data Inc.
• Rose City Barbershop Inc.
• Ryzocraft Marketing Inc.
• Sana'a Al-Yemen Restaurant Inc.
• Shree Data Solutions Inc.
• Southwest Indigenous Transmission GP Inc.
• Sphere Health Care Ltd.
• Stone Studio By Granite Fabricators Inc.
• Sub King Plus Inc.
• Sun County United Soccer Club
• Super Heating & Cooling Inc.
• Thames Electric Ltd.
• The Real Truck & Car Spa Inc.
• Timeless Transformations Inc.
• Tradeivy Inc.
• Trustline Logistics Ltd.
• Vantage Point Centre
• Vince Pelle Contracting Inc.
• Weil's Food Processing Ltd.
• Windsor Truck Centre Inc.
• Wonderfield Community School
• Yakada-Health Inc.
• The website www.cedmaga— zine.com, of Communications Engineering & Design, CED Magazine, features news and developments in the broadband technology industry, with sections on broadband business, cable telephony, fiber optics, HFC architecture, Internet services and digital progress. New products, analysis, a buyer’s guide, tools, a web directory, personnel and company news, research studies and articles are also available.
• The Logistics Management website, www.logisticsmgmt .com , is provided by Reed Business Information, with industry news and analysis for logistics and supply chain professionals. The site features articles and resources in the major fields of transportation, truck, ocean, air and rail/intermodal, as well as management issues such as third party logistics, pricing trends, global logistics, technology developments, warehousing and regulations. Products and services, a buyer’s guide, case studies, a free newsletter and other resources are also available.
• The website www.gpsworld .com is provided by GPS World Magazine with new developments in the field of products and applications using global positioning systems, sensors, wireless communications, mobile computing, the internet, and related technologies. The site contains articles, best practices, marketing trends, policy issues, the Galileo system, a
GPS stock tracker, government and industry views, corporate profiles, buyers’ guides, forums, and product showcases in the areas of receivers, navigation and guidance, military, survey and mapping, timing, software, hardware, tracking and wireless.
• The website www.specialevents.com of Special Events Magazine offers resources and ideas for event planners, featuring articles on such subjects as corporate events, catering, fairs, festivals, fundraisers, galas, themed events, weddings, décor, entertainment, event equipment, hotels and venues, rentals, special effects, lighting, production and tents. There is also news, trends, forecasts, sourcebooks, buyers’ guides, product information and links to related sites.
• The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada provides the website www.raic.org , with information on the practice of architecture, tips for choosing the right architect, a search engine for finding qualified architects by city, province, name or firm, the services the architect provides, client-architect agreements, and the services of sub-consultants. Also available are research reports, newsletters, bulletins, sample documents, professional development information, practice builders, international trade information and affiliated links.
Continued on page 15
“We
to
that
BUILDING PERMITS
Continued from page 13
Church Line. Value of construction: $1,049,010.
MUNICIPALITY OF LEAMINGTON COMMERCIAL:
• A company is erecting a barn on a farm on County Rd. 37. Value of construction: $200,000.
• The Queen of Peach Catholic Elementary School is erecting a building on Ellison Ave. Value of construction: $249,000.
• Individuals are building an addition to a farm on Highway 77. Value of construction: $600,000.
• Individuals are renovating an office on Talbot St. W. Value of construction: $500,000.
• Individuals are starting construction on Part III of a commercial building on Erie St. S. Value of construction: $200,000.
• A farm is building several units in a bunkhouse on Mersea Rd. 7. Value of construction: $700,000.
• A company is building a new greenhouse on Mersea Conc. 8. Value of construction: $24,999,999.
• A contractor is building an agricultural warehouse on Mersea Rd. 8. Value of construction: $6.8 million.
• A contractor is building a service facility at a greenhouse on Mersea Rd. 8. Value of construction: $600,000.
• An agricultural business is building a bunkhouse on Mersea Rd. 8. Value of construction: $3 million.
MUNICIPALITY OF LEAMINGTON RESIDENTIAL:
• A builder is erecting two units of a semi-detached dwelling on Eagle St. Values of construction: $800,000 each.
• Individuals are building a singlefamily residence on Oak St. W. Value of construction: $120,000.
• Individuals are building a singlefamily dwelling on Heathview Trail. Value of construction: $400,000.
• Individuals are building an Accessory Dwelling Unit to a residence on Erie St. S. Value of construction: $180,000.
• Individuals are building a singlefamily residence on Mersea Rd. 7. Value of construction: $275,000.
• Individuals are building a singlefamily residence on Augusta Dr. Value of construction: $1 million.
• Individuals are building a singlefamily residence on Setterington St. Value of construction: $250,000.
TOWN OF KINGSVILLE COMMERCIAL:
• K. Paul Architect Inc. is building Part 3 of an industrial building on Seacliff Dr. Value of construction: $800,000.
• SHAFE Inc. is doing alterations to an industrial building on Main St. E. Value of construction: $50,000.
• A contractor is building machine storage facilities at an industrial property on County Rd. 14. Value of construction: $50,000.
• A contractor is building
machine storage facilities at an industrial property on Talbot Rd. Value of construction: $78,000.
• Sawensberg Fab Inc. is renovating Part 3 of a commercial building on Setterington Dr. Value of construction: $75,000.
TOWN OF KINGSVILLE RESIDENTIAL:
• Gosselin Homes Ltd. is building a single-family home on Belleview Dr. Value of construction: $530,000.
INFORMATION
Continued from page 14
• The website www.asahi.com/ english is provided by the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, in its online version. A business section has articles on international and Japanese issues, while other sections offer national, political and world news as well as columns, viewpoints and reports on Asian matters.
• ABYZ News Links has the website www.abyznewslinks .com, an international media directory. Links are offered to
newspapers and news media outlets around the world, internet news sites, magazines, press agencies and broadcast stations. News resources include internet foreign language fonts, online translations, and translation services, links and resources. Africa, the Middle East, Europe, North America, South America, the Caribbean, Central America, Australia, New Zealand, Micronesia, Polynesia, China, Japan, and East, Central and Southeast Asia are all covered on the site.
The similarities between spiders and entrepreneurs
Even as spiders go, he was a little guy; not much bigger than a piece of lint you might pick off of a pair of trousers. But there he was staking his webclaim to a corner of my desk, between a stack of newspapers and a bottle of nasal spray.
Spiders have been around for millions of years, and they didn’t make it this far by being stupid. Somewhere along the way they figured the silky stuff that oozes out of their backside would be handy for
erecting a web in which to encourage unsuspecting neighbors wandering by to stay for dinner.
At first I admired the little squatter’s spunk. You gotta love a guy who just goes for it, like a lot of small business owners. From that perspective, unfortunately, he still reminded me of some small business owners I know. Apparently, like humans, some spiders are smarter than others.
One of the unfortunate facts about being a spider is they have a
very short life expectancy –typically no more than a few weeks. With such a brief existence, it’s understandable if a spider doesn’t obsess over finding the absolute best place in the world to set up shop.
Unfortunately, too many small business owners with presumably years to live, behave like my eightlegged desktop developer: heavy on haste and light on research.
It’s true that there comes a time when you have to stop analyzing your dream and start living it. But
when a small business owner – or a spider – sets up shop so hastily it is, literally or metaphorically, between a stack of newspapers and a bottle, success will be, like a spider’s life, very short.
Smart spiders can be found building webs in places that have at least two essential characteristics: where creatures larger than a spider can eat aren’t likely to wander by and destroy the web; and where creatures of the size that can be eaten by a spider wander by with
great regularity. Smart business owners behave similarly.
A would-be small business owner wrote me once to ask what steps he should take to open a combination cigar bar, coffee shop, Internet kiosk business. Oh, I almost forgot: he was going to launch this venture in a small town.
Small business owners, like spiders, must make sure they cast their business webs in places where there are sufficient prospects for whatever is being sold. My wannabe entrepreneur’s idea screamed esoteric. And esoteric only works in big markets.
With all of the delicacy I could muster, the steps I wrote my correspondent to take were very large and very fast ones away from his idea. He was going to build his business – like a spider building a web on top of a desk in an office sprayed regularly with insecticide –in a market where there were very few prospects. And even if some prospects should occasionally happen by, there would never be enough to sustain business life.
Sometimes taking a bold step is to be admired. But most of the time, especially in a small business, it’s dangerous.
Lori
Seguin (Client Service Associate),
Abraham (Senior Investment Advisor), Tori Forsey
Compared to well-capitalized larger businesses, many small businesses – even well run ones – can be one mistake, or one backhand by a customer, banker or big competitor away from having everything we’ve built torn down.
When starting your business, or any new direction or addition to your existing business, don’t make haste. Ask yourself if your willingness to go ahead is based on research and due diligence, and being comfortable with the findings. Or is it heavy on emotion, impulsiveness and impatience?
Have you given your new venture the maximum opportunity to succeed? Or is it like my spider’s web, constructed tenuously between a stack of newspapers and a bottle?
Write this on a rock: The spider’s great resources are his silk and construction instincts. The greatest resources humans have are our ability to think, reason, discern and make informed decisions.
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.
