7 HE SAID/SHE SAID: The news and views of area executives on pertinent business issues of the day.
16 CORPORATISM: Jim Blasingame says in business one must think like an owner, not an employee.
Rico and Lidija Lopez at the new county location of their Windsor collision shop.
By Ron Stang
R2 AT A GLANCE
A look at Canada’s top traded goods that contribute trillions to the economy.
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 residential property sales in Essex County and Chatham-Kent.
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.
ico and Lidija Lopez, long-time in the auto body business in Windsor, have joined a franchise and moved their business to Kingsville. The couple ran F & J Collision Centre on Tecumseh Road East from 2001 to 2022. It remains a family-owned business, which was started in 1969 by Rico’s dad Frank.
“F & J is now operating out of this (Kingsville) address,” Rico said. “We’re F & J Collision but we’ve joined the banner of Fix Auto,” a national franchise. “We never sold our name,” Lidija said. “We only sold our building in Windsor.” The former Windsor property was purchased by another body shop, CSN Collision, also a chain.
Continued on page 4
AT A GLANCE
JUST THE FACTS:
• In 2024, Canada imported more than $765 billion worth of goods, and exported $781 billion.
• Approximately 30 percent of Canada’s exports are energy products, valued at nearly $227 billion.
• Vehicles and auto parts account for nearly $110 billion of all imports.
• Canada’s trade is one the foundations of the nation’s economy.
• Canada imports and exports a variety of goods, which contribute to more than $1.5 trillion of activity in 2024.
• Canada’s most valuable goods categories include crude oil, cars, gold, vehicle parts, waste oil, trucks, medicine, petroleum gas and aircraft.
• While Canada’s imports tend to focus on consumer goods, the country’s clean energy infrastructure and access to natural resources allow it to export large quantities of essential energy products around the world.
Source: Visual Capitalist, September 2025.
The international trade created by Canada’s robust air, rail, road, and marine infrastructure is essential to the Canadian economy, as Canada’s goods trade flows totalled over $1.5 trillion in 2024—an amount equal to about 71% of Canada’s GDP.
I WAS JUST THINKING, IF I TOOK EARLY RETIREMENT NOW, I WOULDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF. I’D PROBABLY END UP ON THE STREET.
BUSINESS BOOST
“The concept of being principled but not perfect is something every top performer has reconciled. Ask any of them, and most will tell you the more perfect they try to be when performing, the worse their performances are.
“It seems completely contradictory that people perform better if perfection is deemphasized, but most of us have experienced just that. The moment we stop caring so much about something, it happens.
“Those who step up and perform well when it counts never try to be too perfect when performing; they just trust their abilities and execute the process without thought.
“Others who try too hard to be too perfect and control their performance by thinking their way through it, inevitably perform too rigidly and end up out of sync.
“An important strategy to adopt is to emphasize life’s big picture and deemphasize the smaller (even if significant) details. When the big picture is well visualized and set within the context of your principles, it becomes easier to identify and exclude nonessential details that clog your mind and strangle your path to success.”
Dr.
Jeffrey Spencer in Turn it Up! How to Perform at Your Highest Level for a Lifetime, Health Communications Inc.
VOLUME 29, ISSUE 10 • FEBRUARY 2026
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.
I’m not one for TV and, in fact, have never had cable, satellite or a streaming service. While I prefer the written word to the aural, I do admit to one weakness: infomercials.
Without any local or Canadian TV service, my viewing options are limited to several Detroit retro channels over the air. In those hazy sleep-deprived hours just before sunrise, I am extremely vulnerable to the infomercial sales pitch.
Over the years I’ve purchased several products first discovered via infomercial, primarily household cleaning gadgets. Some have been great (I so love the H20 Hammerhead steam cleaner and Bissel hard floor sweeper, I bought them for everyone in my family), and some not so much (boo to the Sunnydaze plant watering globe, which killed my peace lily).
But the really interesting thing is how such a pop culture cynic like me could get swept up in all the hype that defines mass media marketing. So much so, I would sit enthralled for the entire commercial, one hand on my Visa and the other on my phone.
As much as I admit to being a clean-freak and germophobe, those infomercials got me wondering if even my self-designed shoe collection could actually be improved with a KitHero underbed shoe storage box on wheels. And what about the Smeg electric milk frother and the Ninja Blast portable blender? These are things no decent kitchen should be without, especially one inhabited by a poor cook like me.
Yet, could I have been any luckier with my double order of Sham-Wow absorbent cloths, which arrived just in time to meet up with a leaky refrigerator? And how about that Brentwood Travel Steamer? What a great way to get razor-sharp creases without an ironing board – especially since I haven’t seen one since 1997, and wouldn’t know where to get it.
And let’s not forget the various CD collections I bought back in the day, perfect for those long road trips: Hits of the ‘70s, Classic Rock of the ‘70s, Soft Rock of the ‘70s. Yes, I was born a little too late – love beads and protests, Bob Dylan and Lynyrd Skynyrd. They call to me.
For someone a little clumsy, the Get a Grip multipurpose extendable arm has been a godsend, as has been the Mighty Mendit, the Long Arm Bulb Changer and the Little Giant Ladder System. Who knew a few metal rungs could be manipulated into so many configurations? Those eavestroughs don’t clean themselves, and now I don’t risk life and limb to satisfy aforesaid clean-freakness.
You can see I have a problem. And the first step to fixing it is admitting I have one, so I no longer take my wallet to bed.
Nadia H. Shousher is Editor-in-Chief
of Windsor Business, a division of The Page Publishing Corp.
ESSEX ECONOMICS
MAARTJE VAN KRIEKEN
Pitching big ideas to stakeholders
Jennifer was the program manager for the number two business priority at a multi-billion-dollar company: rolling out sustainability programs in manufacturing. But when she presented, she kept hearing: Too complicated/time consuming/costly.
Sustainability had long-term margin impact and, with her modified approach, could even bring savings forward into this fiscal year. But whenever Jennifer gave an update, she was told “No.”
Her big barrier was the number one priority – a business-wide ERP upgrade that was monopolizing capital, downtime and resources. It was clear her senior VP didn’t see how both priorities could be executed at the same time. After learning about pitching the big picture, Jennifer gave a five-minute update instead of a 30-minute line-by-line review. In 10 sentences she:
• Explained breakthrough value
• Shot down conventional wisdom
• Created real interest in her unique approach
• Described a few incredible, tangible benefits, and outlined the critical next steps
Everyone in the room did a doubletake, and the SVP asked her to schedule time to review her proposal in depth. That’s the power of pitching the big picture.
To many people, pitching is a mystery. A fantastic skill if you know how to do it, but next to impossible to teach. But pitching is not just a marketing skill; it’s an essential communication tool with a specific, timesensitive objective. Pitch when you need to attract and intrigue your time-pressed stakeholder and convince them to say, “Tell me more.”
How? Explain your strategic insight in one sentence – this is the big picture: the ONE thing you want your key stakeholder to remember and explain to others. It should answer the following in 20 words: What’s your topic and why should I care compared to my other priorities? The big picture should address your stakeholder’s top-of-mind concerns, not yours.
Match their top-of-mind priorities. If the first sentence is intended to capture attention, your next few are designed to keep it.
The right 10 sentences will attract your stakeholder, target their priorities and shift their point of view. Instead of being told, “No,” you’ll hear, "Set up time and tell me more!"
Rebecca Okamoto is a clarity consultant, and the founder of Evoke
Couple buys Leamington plaza
ALeamington business couple, the Neufeld family, has purchased a local commercial property for future purposes.
Jessica and John Neufeld paid $2.1 million for the two side-byside addresses on Erie Street South, currently housing Electrical Wholesale Supply. The seller of the almost 15,000-square-foot site was unidentified in the sale document.
John said it will be some time before they decide what to do with the property, as main tenant Electri-
cal Wholesale has a lease until 2029. The L-shaped plaza with oneand two-storey buildings has housed other tenants including a laundromat and lighting gallery. It’s located south of Seacliff Drive.
“We’re still working out details as to how we’re going to go forward with that property,” he said.
John has owned Stiletto Construction, which specializes in smaller commercial and residential builds for more than a decade.
Jessica owns Blessings & Blos-
som Flower Farm, which she calls a “hobby” business now in her third season.
“I grow flowers and right now I grow mainly for florists,” she said. She grows on a third of an acre on the couple’s 40-acre property.
She grows flowers that are in season. “I don’t do a ton of different things.” Instead, flowers such as peonies in the spring, lisianthus and zinnias in the summer “and my biggest focus is dahlias in late summer and fall.”
BY RON STANG
Collision shop joins franchise and moves COVER
Continued from page 1
Lopez said they’d been looking for a bigger property to diversify the business. The property in Kingsville was already doing heavy trucking and sandblasting, allowing the Lopez’s to expand. So now, F & J now offers auto and heavy truck collision service, and sandblasting for a variety of commercial and industrial vehicles from trailers to farm equipment.
The couple believes the market will continue to grow, in part due to the economy and people holding on to their vehicles longer. “They’re going to be refurbishing rather than replacing,” Rico said.
The previous Kingsville shop owner is Frank Keseru, who the Lopez’s had known for many years. The purchase of the 13,000-squarefoot Division Street site was for $1.7 million. A separate business, mechanic shop Kingsville Automotive, leases the front.
For a time, the couple also managed two separate Chrysler dealer-
BY RON STANG
ship body shops in Windsor. “Conversation at the dinner table was awesome, who’s going to do better,” Lidija joked.
The couple sold the Windsorbased F & J business three years ago and took a hiatus. “I needed a break from the industry, just to see what’s out there. But my heart was in cars, so I came back,” Rico said. Over the years the industry has become “far more technically advanced,” he added. Communication with insurance companies, for one thing, is “far more fluid.” And the way cars are built – more plastic, thinner metals, much more aluminum – required retraining.
“The process to repair cars is different. You require certifications, and it’s always evolving,” Rico said, adding auto body work used to be straightforward. “When you changed a quarter-panel, you pretty much did them all the same. Now, there are specifications and recommendations that come from the manufacturer you have to pay attention to.”
Accounting firm merges with international outfit MERGER
98% of owners don’t know the value of their business. We can help you find out, and integrate it with your financial plan.
Long-operating area accounting firm, Gerald Duthie & Co LLP, has closed its Windsor office after merging last month with Doane Grant Thornton LLP
Doane Grant Thornton is a national accountancy company with offices on Ouellette Avenue, and part of Grant Thornton International Ltd. which has offices or affiliates in more than 100 countries.
The Gerald Duthie office was opened by Irfan Qadir and Paul Anderson 45 years ago. Anderson died many years ago, and Qadir is now joining Doane Thornton as business advisor and client relationship leader.
Gerald Duthie has a British legacy. “This was an affiliated office, but the first in Canada,” Qadir said. Paul Anderson was from England and had UK clients interested in Canadian business.
“This was back in the 1980s,” Qadir said. “Things were very different then. We didn’t have the technology like we have today.” Now, by comparison “you can be anywhere in the world and be able to service anyone.”
The firm built its client base through referrals, Qadir said, adding
with the merger, his firm was seeking more depth of resources and support systems.
“As you know, in today’s world with the increasing complexity in the tax statutes particularly, and in any other areas, you need constant updating.” Staff became “really just devoting most of their time to making sure they’re up to date” with current regulation and laws.
“YOU CAN BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD AND BE ABLE TO SERVICE ANYONE.”
After both firms doing their due diligence, it was the “right fit” in terms of profiles and clientele, Qadir said.
The transition is seamless with “no impact on the clients,” he said. “In fact, if anything, we’ll be able to provide even better service” due to the larger firm’s in-house expertise.
Long-time Windsorites might remember the firm’s former Windsor Avenue building as also the onetime home of travel agency Key Tours
Todd T. Hopper (CFP, Executive Financial Consultant), James Sproat (CFP, Business Development Coordinator), Erica Rea (Executive Assistant), and Richard Saba (DFSA, Associate Advisor)
BY RON STANG
National firm buys local documents service
RecordXpress, a national
company, has purchased DocuSTOP, locally owned by FirstStop Services. The purchase involved the records management and shredding business; FirstStop maintains its self-storage side.
RecordXpress Canada president Andrew Brown said the firm was happy to acquire the respected company’s business.
“I’ve been aware of their business for years. They had a strong reputation in Windsor and Essex County, great relationships in local health care, manufacturing and municipal clients” which is also a major market for his firm.
“It was a great cultural fit. They were pleased to sell to a Canadian company. There aren’t (other) national Canadian businesses in our space anymore – they’re all U.S. based – so I know they were pleased about that.”
Brown said the business wasn’t purchased to “scale it down.” Rather, “we’re in growth mode.” It assumed FirstStop’s employees and customers. The acquisition, for an undisclosed price, was in November.
FirstStop President Christine Davison declined to comment. She and
her father Terry Davison founded the business in 2006, having spotted a “gap in the market,” according to her online bio.
Brown said the sale happens at a critical time with issues such as the tariffs. And unlike U.S.-owned document companies, RecordXpress adheres to Canadian regulators only.
“THERE
AREN’T (OTHER) NATIONAL CANADIAN BUSINESSES IN OUR SPACE ANYMORE – THEY’RE ALL U.S. BASED.”
“Compliance with Canadian privacy laws, the data sovereignty which is the scary thing right now, accountability to Canadian regulators and courts not U.S. ones,” he said. “I like to say where your data’s stored and who controls it matters, especially today.”
RecordXpress is part of Storage Vault Canada, based in Toronto and Canada’s largest self storage company. It has been in the local market more than four years, and nationally for more than 10.
BY RON STANG
ENWIN buys Leamington Internet firm
ENWIN has made its first investment in the Internet business, purchasing Leamington-based WaveDirect
ENWIN president Gerry Rossi said it’s the latest move in the company’s new growth drive. Until recently, ENWIN has held a conventional role providing power and power line maintenance. It follows a partnership with Essex Power moving into the locating business.
While WaveDirect is Leamington-based, it has grown into a regional provider that includes Windsor.
Rossi said Internet service has become an “essential utility and a natural fit” for an energy company. The purchase, for an undisclosed amount, will also provide more resources for WaveDirect, which dates from 2004.
Both businesses are keeping their identities. A recent sale of WaveDirect’s property by a numbered company to Molishire Holdings Inc., for $3.6 million, was only a change in landlords.
ENWIN customers will be seeing references to WaveDirect services, but subscriptions will still be directly through WaveDirect.
“We’re planning on building that telecom business (and) helping lift the brand,” Rossi said.
Look for a higher profile for the company, one of several independent ISPs in the Windsor-Essex area. It also has telephone and television divisions.
Why WaveDirect and not other area ISPs? “They’re a very strong local brand that just needed some help to grow,” said Rossi.
WaveDirect made its initial mark servicing small rural areas that didn’t have Internet access.
“WaveDirect kind of filled that
niche,” said CEO Ryan Davidson. Now, “just as much as power and water, it’s the third layer of every business and every home.” Davidson said smaller ISPs have also been under pressure by the bigger telecoms, as well as by onerous government decisions.
“There’s security in knowing you have partners in industries that are adjacent to each other, that can really benefit and grow. You can kind of cross pollinate.”
WB
WB
grows business into Dresden, but not without red tape
Long-time Chatham roofing firm, Enviroshake, has expanded into the former Martinrea Fabco building in Dresden, about 30 km away.
“Our business has been growing steadily, and we needed a larger, more efficient space to meet demand,” said president Ashley Smith. “The new facility allows us to significantly increase our manufacturing capacity, while remaining close to our roots in Chatham-Kent.”
The firm has been in business since 1998. “We’re investing not just in infrastructure, but in people – and we’re proud to be contributing to the economic vitality of Dresden.”
A leader in synthetic roofing, the company designs and manufactures composite tiles that “replicate the timeless look of cedar and slate,” while maintaining quality and durability. Its customers are located worldwide.
But the move has not been without hassle, and a drawn-out process with the Ontario government. The “unexpected” red tape was needless, “given today’s economic and political climate,” Smith said.
The problem was electricity. “As a high electricity user, our manufacturing process relies on electrical extruders to melt plastic pellets and form roofing materials.”
In Chatham, the company participated in Ontario’s Class A Indus-
trial Conservation Initiative to reduce hydro costs by 50 percent.
“Naturally, we assumed that moving within the same municipality would allow this classification to follow our operations,” Smith said.
That wasn't the case, since the designation applies to the physical building and not the company, regardless of whether it was reinvesting and expanding.
Requalification took more than a year, and the company could not get an exception. Said Smith: “In effect, Ontario is disincentivizing companies that grow within the province, while unintentionally rewarding turnover of buildings rather than expansion of businesses.”
Enviroshake is here to stay but, Smith said, for a company whose largest market is the U.S., “relocating operations south of the border becomes an increasingly rational consideration, when provincial policy penalizes local investment.”
BY RON STANG
Former restaurant site in Chatham gets facelift REVAMP
The former Swiss Chalet restaurant in Chatham has been bought by area businessman Don Tetrault.
The restaurant, closed for years, is in a prime location as part of a small commercial center. It’s located at 158 Keil Drive, essentially across the street from Cascades Casino and the Holiday Inn Express
“We're doing a tear-out right now, ripping it all apart inside, and we’re going to convert it, put a new facade on it and everything else too,” Tetrault said.
The 9,000-square-foot building, which had slanted glass facade typical of that era’s Swiss Chalets, likely will be turned into offices, Tetrault said.
“I’ve got Architectural Design Associates working on that right now,” he said. “It will give it a whole new look.”
He said he has at least one potential tenant considering that
property.
The property cost $2.2 million and restoration is priced at $1 million.
There are three existing tenants in other buildings in the close-knit campus, with a combined 27,000 square foot footprint. These include a restaurant, a gym and a swimming pool business.
Much of the complex has a 1980s style with brick and skylights.
Swiss Chalet abandoned The Maple City, but has locations in Wallaceburg and Windsor, often run jointly with Harvey’s hamburgers in an “express” model under the CARA brand.
Besides being an investor and developer, Tetrault is best known as owner of Tatro Equipment Sales Ltd. , the largest used trucks and parts outlet in Canada.
The property was listed by Tyler Desjardine of Cushman & Wakefield
“Longevity. If you build the business to last, the rest falls into place. When things are steady and people trust what you do, you can handle the ups and downs and keep showing up for the community the way you’re supposed to.”
“In my business, longevity matters most. Sustainable growth and profitability only work when you build trust, consistency and community. As a café owner, I focus on creating a place people return to for years, not just quick wins.”
“In normal times, all three are extremely important. In today's world, however, I see that profitability is most important to ensure we can sustain our business in the short term, so that we can grow and remain relevant for the long term.”
“Businesses need profitability and growth to survive, and both are necessary to be successful. Longevity is most important, and lies in a business culture that values integrity and adaptability, which leads to customer loyalty and continued success over time.”
“Growth will always be priority. If we’re not focused on it, our competition certainly will be. Our focus on growth also gives me the most insight into our service and competitiveness, through constant contact with clients and prospects.”
Brokers.
Jesmond P. Tabone, President, Tabone Insurance
Firas Loubani, Owner, Kufiya House.
Wallace Coleman, Home Comfort Advisor, Absolute Comfort Control Services.
Patrizia La Tona, Regional Sales Manager, Hilton Windsor.
Chris Bisciotti, General Manager, InXpress London South.
PRIME PROPERTY
THE FOLLOWING, PROVIDED BY REALTRACK.COM, REPRESENT SOME OF THE TOP COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TRANSFERS IN THE WINDSOR AREA:
Address: 4450 Concession 7
Selling Price: $1.6 million
Vendor: 2463154 Ontario Inc.
Purchaser: Windsor Utilities Commission
SOLD Address: 1061-1063 Riverside
Dr. W.
Selling Price: $1.45 million
Vendor: Named Individuals
Purchaser: 17559593 Canada Inc.
SOLD Address: 3900 Tecumseh Rd. E.
Selling Price: $1.3 million
Vendor: The Toronto Dominion Bank
Purchaser: Katzco Ltd.
SOLD
Address: 6630 Wyandotte St. E.
Selling Price: $4.1 million
Vendor: Named Individuals Purchaser: 2089942 Ontario Inc. SOLD
SOLD
Address: Conc. 1, Sandwich E., Part Lots 119-121
Selling Price: $6,500,200
Vendor: Rock Developments East Windsor Inc.
Purchaser: Prestige Capital Investment Inc.
SOLD
Address: 1625-1647 Tecumseh
Rd. E.
Selling Price: $1,504,500
Vendor: 1222210 BC Ltd.
Purchaser: 17151772 Canada Ltd.
SOLD
Address: 1785 Turner Rd.
Selling Price: $1.5 million
Vendor: Olnova Properties Inc.
Purchaser: The Delta Chi Beta Early Childhood (Windsor) Inc.
SOLD
Address: 3403 St. Etienne Blvd.
Selling Price: $2.35 million
Vendor: St. Clair College of Applied Arts & Technology
Purchaser: LFGNXG Capital Corp.
PRIME PROPERTY
THE FOLLOWING, PROVIDED BY REALTRACK.COM, REPRESENT SOME OF THE TOP COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TRANSFERS IN THE ESSEX & CHATHAM-KENT AREAS:
SOLD
Address: 2190 Blackacre Dr., Tecumseh
Selling Price: $1,825,000
Vendor: Ramstar Carbide Tool Inc.
Purchaser: Bavetta Capital Corp.
SOLD
Address: 328-332 Erie St. S.,
Leamington
Selling Price: $2.1 million
Vendor: 1000927479 Ontario Ltd.
Purchaser: 1000171065 Ontario Inc.
SOLD
Address: 214 Fairview Ave. E., Kingsville
Selling Price: $1,068,760
Vendor: Named Individuals
Purchaser: Scott Spidalieri Trucking Ltd.
SOLD
Address: 1283-1313 Road 3 E., Kingsville
Selling Price: $5.55 million
Vendor: LJA Farms Inc.
Purchaser: Lincoln Hydroponics Ltd.
SOLD
Address: 12782 Beechwood Line, Chatham-Kent
SOLD
Selling Price: $1,808,900
Vendor: LH Gray & Sons Ltd.
Purchaser: 1001380436 Ontario Inc.
Address: 7217 Paincourt Line, Chatham-Kent
Selling Price: $2.3 million
Vendor: Named Individuals
Purchaser: Delanghe Holdings Inc.
SOLD
Address: 114 Erie St. N., Leamington
Selling Price: $2.3 million
Vendor: Glenn Young Ltd. Purchaser: 5021964 Ontario Ltd.
• 1000891824 Ontario Inc. is building an addition to an office on Park Ave. W. Value of construction: $1,895,000.
• Orchard Heights Properties Inc. is renovating an indoor athletic complex on Merritt Ave. Value of construction: $250,000.
MUNICIPALITY OF CHATHAM-KENT RESIDENTIAL:
• 1815513 Ontario Inc. is converting an office building into an apartment on Chatham St. N. Value of construction: $350,000.
• Kevin Vreman Construction is building an addition to a singlefamily home on Bruinsma Ave. Value of construction: $123,000.
• First Family Homes is building a single-family home on Lanz Blvd. Value of construction: $400,000.
• Mi Caza Construction is erecting two units of a semi-detached building on Cornerstone Pl. Values of construction: $400,000 each.
• Winmar Property Restoration is renovating a single-family residence on Gray St. Value of construction: $284,000.
• Winmar Property Restoration is renovating an apartment on Pine
St. Value of construction: $10,000.
• Demall Group Ltd. is building a single-family residence on King St. W. Value of construction: $500,000.
• Individuals are converting the second floor of a residence to an Accessory Dwelling Unit on Sheldon Ave. Value of construction: $75,000.
• Urban Structures Construction is building an Accessory Dwelling Unit in the basement of a residence on Goldpark Rd. Value of construction: $90,000.
• Individuals are building a singlefamily residence on Brock St. Value of construction: $300,000.
TOWN OF LASALLE COMMERCIAL:
• Individuals are renovating offices on Malden Rd. Value of construction: $250,000,
TOWN OF LASALLE RESIDENTIAL:
• Individuals are building a singlefamily residence on North Townline Rd. Value of construction: $900,000.
• A contractor is building a singlefamily residence on Matchett Rd. Value of construction: $2.3 million.
• A contractor is building two units of a semi-detached dwelling on Terra Bella Dr. Values of construction: $868,130 each.
• A contractor is building a singlefamily residence on Laier Lane. Value of construction: $739,730.
• A contractor is building a singlefamily residence on Mayfair Ave. Value of construction: $790,550.
TOWN OF ESSEX COMMERCIAL:
• 1530343 Ontario Ltd. is erecting five apartments on County Rd. 11. Value of construction: $600,000.
TOWN OF ESSEX RESIDENTIAL:
• Individuals are building an addition to a single-family residence on Brock St. Value of construction: $260,000.
• Individuals are building a Secondary Dwelling Unit on Dolores St. Value of construction: $650,000.
• 2701916 Ontario Inc. is building a Secondary Dwelling Unit on Laird Ave. Value of construction: $465,000.
• Individuals are doing renovations to a single-family residence on N. Malden Rd. Value of construction: $169,000.
• Individuals are building an addition to a single-family residence on Parkside Dr. Value of construction: $42,000.
MUNICIPALITY OF LEAMINGTON COMMERCIAL:
• The Municipality of Leamington is do renovations to an institutional building on Erie St. N. Value of construction: $100,000.
• Leamington District Memorial Hospital is doing repairs on Talbot St. W. Value of construction: $138,000.
• A contractor is doing renovations at a medical building on Erie St. S. Value of construction: $14,959.08.
• A greenhouse is building an office addition to a property on Mersea Rd. 1. Value of construction: $250,000.
• A greenhouse operation is building washrooms inside a warehouse on Mersea Rd. 7. Value of construction: $125,000.
MUNICIPALITY OF LEAMINGTON RESIDENTIAL:
• Individuals are renovating a single-family residence on Lakeshore Dr. Value of construction: $60,000.
• A contractor is building a singlefamily residence on Heathview
Trail. Value of construction: $450,000.
• A contractor started construction of a single-family residence on Deer Run Rd. Value of construction: $30,000.
• A contractor is doing renovations to a single-family home on Seacliff Dr. W. Value of construction: $500,000.
• A contractor is building one unit of a semi-detached dwelling on Marlborough St. E. Value of construction: $600,000.
• Individuals are renovating a single-family residence on Mersea Rd. 6. Value of construction: $50,000.
• Individuals are building an Accessory Dwelling Unit to a single-family home on Garrison Ave. Value of construction: $20,000.
• A contractor is building a singlefamily residence on Oak St. E. Value of construction: $700,000.
TOWN OF KINGSVILLE COMMERCIAL:
• Brady Homes & Construction is building a machine storage unit on North Talbot Rd. Value of construction: $100,000.
• Domric International Ltd. is building a greenhouse on Graham Sdrd. Value of construction: $900,000.
BY JEANINE “J.T.” O’DONNELL
Understand a Unique Value Add is not a professional slogan
Sofia: I keep hearing you talk about having a UVA – a “unique value add.” I get that it’s supposed to explain what makes me different, but every time I try to write mine, it sounds generic. How do I figure out my true value and communicate it in a way that actually stands out to employers?
J.T.: Great question, and one I absolutely love, because this is where so many professionals get stuck. Most people think their value is about finding fancy words to describe their skills. But your Unique Value Add (UVA) isn’t a slogan. It’s the emotional reason someone chooses you over someone else with the same qualifications. It’s not what you do.
It’s how and why you do it differently. Let’s break this down, not with a formula, but with a mindset shift. When I ask people what makes them valuable, they usually start with tasks: “I manage projects.” “I lead teams.” “I analyze data.”
OK. But so do a thousand others with your job title. That’s not what makes you memorable. Your UVA lives in the outcomes you create and the approach you take to create them. It’s the intersection between your personality, your process and
the impact you deliver.
So instead of asking, “What do I do?” ask these three questions:
1. Who am I helping?
2. What problem do I love solving for them?
3. What do I consistently deliver –and how do I do it differently?
Let me give you a real example. I once coached a woman named Mia who worked in operations. When I asked her what she did, she said, “I make sure processes run smoothly.” Accurate? Sure. Memorable? Not at all. After some digging, she told me her favorite part of her job was helping creative teams bring structure to chaos, without killing their creativity.
She was basically a translator between the creative and analytical worlds. So we reframed her UVA into this: “I help creative teams turn ideas into results, by building flexible systems that keep innovation flowing and deadlines on track.”
Now that’s powerful. It’s specific, emotional and clear. Notice how it focuses on who she helps and why it matters, not just what she does? Your UVA doesn’t have to be poetic. It just has to be true, and written in human language. Think of it like your professional fingerprint: no two are the same, and it tells your story at a glance.
If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a little exercise I give my clients:
1: Ask three trusted colleagues or former co-workers, “What’s the one thing you can always count on me for?” The answers will surprise you, and they’ll probably be consistent. Those repeated traits? That’s your differentiator.
2: Think of one work moment you’re truly proud of. Replay it in your head. What was the challenge? What did you do that made the difference? What feedback did you get afterward?
The details of that story – your instincts, your method, your tone –reveal your professional DNA. That’s your value in motion.
3: Translate it into a single, confident statement. Something like: “I help companies turn [problem] into [result] by [your special approach].”
That’s it. That’s your UVA starter kit. Let’s talk about how to use it.
Your UVA isn’t just a line for your résumé. It’s the foundation for your entire career brand. It should show up in your LinkedIn headline, your “About” section, your elevator pitch, even your interview answers.
Because when you know your UVA, you stop rambling in interviews. You stop second-guessing your worth. You start speaking with
authority – the kind that makes people lean in and say, “We need someone like that.”
It also changes how you see yourself. Instead of asking, “Am I qualified?” you start asking, “Am I aligned?” You stop chasing every job and start targeting opportunities that fit your natural strengths and motivations.
Sofia, here’s the truth: Your value was never meant to be “unique” because of some rare skill no one else has. It’s unique because of you. No one else brings your combination of personality, perspective, and experience to the table. That’s your differentiator, and it’s priceless. So stop trying to sound impressive. Start sounding real.
Your UVA doesn’t have to dazzle people. It just has to make them get you instantly. You already have the answers inside you. You just need to stop describing what you do and start owning what you deliver. Once you do, you’ll never struggle to explain your worth again, because you’ll finally feel it. And that’s when employers stop seeing you as a résumé, and start seeing you as the solution they’re looking for.
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.
• 3D Creatorspace Canada Inc.
• 519 Burki Barbershop & More
• Alee Real Estate Ltd.
• All Out Construction Inc.
• American Software Group Canada Inc.
• Amherstburg Clinical Specialists Centre Inc.
• Arch-Way Times Inc.
• Aridunnu Services Ltd.
• Artrora Electric Inc.
• B2B Wholesale Inc.
• Blackline Painting Inc.
• Blossom Bakehouse & Creamery Inc.
• Blue Jay Financial Services
• Canadian Metrology Certification Inc.
• Canadian Power Construction Inc.
• Canrestore Santé Ltée Canrestore Health Ltd.
• Chatham-Kent Bangladesh Association of Ontario
• Clear Electrical Solutions Inc.
• Coldlink Express Ltd.
• Community Veterinary Clinic Charitable Foundation
• CR Accurate Accounting Inc.
• Creative Mediation Solutions
• Creative Outdoor Living Inc.
• Daza Colombian Food Corp.
• Definitely A Real Holding Company Ltd.
• Diesel Trux & Logistics Inc.
• Domino's Canada Resource Center Ltd.
• Dr Painting Inc.
• Emmanuel Group Holdings
• A. Finlay Real Estate Corp.
• Five Star Tool & Die Ltd.
• Harris Flooring & Installation
• Haven Bookkeeping Inc.
• Itzayana Care Centre Corp.
• Janos Investments Inc.
• JBR Construction Ltd.
• Jen&Jia Foods Inc.
• Kabobgy Windsor Inc.
• Kriti Bakshi Law Professional Corp.
• Landschoot Family Farms Inc.
• Lauren Valente Dentistry Professional Corp.
• LML Electric Ltd.
• Matt Vachon Contracting Inc.
• MRJ Builds Design Inc.
• Ms Express Transportation Inc.
• MZ Health & Wellness Inc.
• Nmas Trucking Ltd.
• Northbound & Noble Inc.
• Novo Building Supplies Inc.
• Office Nerd Bookkeeping Ltd.
• One-Stop Auto Corp.
• Ontario Foundation Works Inc.
• Pho Papa Restaurant Ltd.
• Premier Bookkeeping Solutions Inc.
• Qaddoura Auto Inc.
• Quality Food Group Inc.
• Realty By Jamie Inc.
• S.M. Russo Professional Nurse Practitioner Services Inc.
• Sandonn Farms Inc.
• Shankh Trucklines Inc.
• Sheria Veterinary Medicine Professional Corp.
• Thackeray Holdings (Ontario)
• Thermosnug Inc.
• Thompson Peladeau Social Work Professional Corp.
• Tricore Framing & Construction Inc.
• UV Printing Genius Inc.
• Veracity Construction Inc.
• Wehbey Autozone Inc.
• Western Atlantic Import Inc.
• WIFN Real Estate Inc.
• Windsor Essex Athletics Club
• Windsor Voltage Inc.
• YD Contracting Inc.
CUSTOMIZED COMMERCIAL COVERAGE WITH THE SERVICE YOU DESERVE
Whether you own a large company or a small shop, all businesses need to be protected. We have experience navigating through the twists and turns of underwriting for all businesses. You can count on Tabone Insurance to design a policy that meets your needs, and exceeds your expectations.
BY DEVAN MIGHTON
Café stays original under new ownership
The Back Road Café, on Grand Marais Road East in Windsor, has officially changed hands, but long-time customers can rest assured the beloved diner is not going anywhere.
After 35 years, owner Linda Deneweth decided it was time to retire and sold the restaurant. The café was purchased by Shkelzen “Zen” Hoxhaj, who partnered with Mark Camaj, a co-owner of the Original Michigan Diner in Essex.
Hoxhaj said he was drawn to Back Road Café because of its long history and strong community reputation. “I passed by and talked to the owner. I said if she’s going to retire, let me give it a shot,” he said, noting he has previous experience owning and operating restaurants.
Earlier this year, rumors circulated online suggesting the restaurant had closed permanently. Hoxhaj clarified the café had only closed briefly during the ownership transition. “She closed for one Sun-
day, and the following Tuesday we opened.”
Hoxhaj also emphasized that, despite the new ownership’s connection to the Original Michigan Diner brand, the café will not be rebranded. “It’s always going to be Back Road Café,” he stated.
The sale included the café’s existing furniture, equipment and recipes. Hoxhaj said maintaining continuity was a top priority for both customers and staff. “The recipes, we’re keeping them all the same,” he explained. “Ninety percent of the staff stayed. Three of them retired.”
While the dining experience remains largely unchanged, the new owners have invested in behind-thescenes improvements, including a full kitchen restoration.
For now, Hoxhaj said the focus is on preserving what has made Back Road Café a local staple for nearly four decades, while preparing the business for the future.
JESMOND TABONE President, Principal Broker
Greetings from Ottawa
HARB
GILL Member of Parliament
Celebrating Family Day
Family Day is a reminder of the people who keep us grounded, support us through life’s ups and downs, and yes, they occasionally keep us on our toes. Families, whether connected by blood, friendship, or community, are where core values are learned, traditions are shared, and lifelong bonds are formed.
Here in Windsor-Essex, our community is strengthened by families who look out for one another, lend a hand when it is needed, and understand that safe and strong neighbourhoods are built one relationship at a time.
Family Day gives us a chance to slow down and enjoy the simple moments, like getting together to share a meal, taking a walk, or spending time together without checking the clock.
Wishing you and your loved ones a warm, happy, and memorable Family Day.
Honouring Black History Month
Black History Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the strength, resilience, and lasting contributions of Black Canadians.
In Windsor–Essex, this history is woven into the fabric of our community. Our region served as a gateway to freedom through the Underground Railroad, with communities like Sandwich and Amherstburg standing as enduring symbols of courage, faith, and perseverance.
This month is also a moment for reflection and learning. It gives us an opportunity to listen, to honour lived experiences, and to reaffirm the values that unite us as Canadians: hard work, personal responsibility, respect for one another, and a shared commitment to fairness and opportunity.
Windsor-Essex’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths. By remembering our histories and standing together, we build stronger communities and a more united country for generations to come.
In business, think like an owner, and not an employee
There are many excellent reasons to want to be a business owner: You can get rich owning your own business. There’s that IPO thing, and definitely the opportunity to sell for big money.
There is a great deal of self-satisfaction, and just plain ego food in owning a successful business. Especially if it’s your dream you are making come true. Most of us don’t need much coaxing to leap to all of the really cool things that can befall a business owner, but
rather must be dragged kicking and screaming, into discussions of the negatives. Here are some:
Owning a business has made some people rich, or at least financially independent. But for every one who got rich, there are hundreds who just made a living, and thousands who failed.
Owning your own business can give you more control over your life. But don’t ever get the idea that being an owner means you don’t have to answer to anyone.
You will have to, to customers, bankers and landlords. Being an owner only means you will have different bosses than when you were an employee.
And until your business gets established, there will be times you will feel more like you work for your employees than the other way around. Today, there will even be times when you feel as if you are being held hostage by your employees.
Now, if you are what I call a
“small business dreamer,” you’re accusing me of trying to take the fun out of your dreams. If you are already an owner, you’re nodding your head knowingly, and telling the dreamers to listen up. Here are a few more things you should know before starting a business and why you cannot think like an employee:
• Paycheck? Yeah, maybe, but not at first. If you have to take some money out of the company to live on, don’t plan on a regular
156 Ouellette Avenue, Suite 300, Windsor, ON N9A 1A4 Tel: 519-253-2193 | Toll free: 800-287-1898 mark.abraham@td.com
paycheck of any significance. Not for a while. Some businesses do great from the start and so does the owner, but don’t count on it. If you believe you deserve a regular paycheck of any size, don’t quit your job. You’re still thinking like an employee.
• Don’t think personal income, think equity. You must trade the employee’s scorecard, the T4, for the owner’s scorecard – the balance sheet. If you want your company to take care of you one day, you must take care of it today.
• At least in the early days, until you get your organization to a certain size and level of success, you eat what YOU kill. Remember those 10, two-letter words: if it is to be, it is up to me.
• You work for yourself, and you can’t call in sick. And since you don’t get sick days, you can’t build up any. If this troubles you, don’t quit your job until it stops troubling you.
• You don’t get a regular day off; in the beginning, you’ll be lucky if you get regular sleep.
• Vacation? Who’s going to mind the store? Whatever you did as an employee in your spare time, you will do less of as a business owner. I’m sorry, but this is one of those natural laws.
• No matter how tough your day has been, you can’t run away. I mean, literally, you can’t leave the building if you don’t have to. Opportunity doesn’t know you’ve had a bad day. Sometimes it knocks when things are at their worst. If you’re not there, it will go somewhere else.
• Are you prepared to do whatever it takes to run your business day after day, no matter how tough it gets? I know you’re ready to be your company’s first president. But are you ready to be your company’s first receptionist, salesperson, accountant, delivery person or janitor?
Write this on a rock: Being in business for yourself can be extremely rewarding, but it’s not easy. If it were, monkeys would be doing it.
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.
Lori Seguin (Client Service Associate), Mark Abraham (Senior Investment Advisor), Tori Forsey (Client Service Associate), James Labiak (Associate Investment Advisor)
