ELEVATE YOUR LANDSCAPING!
PRECISION AND PASSION are at the heart of the Kerb Krew company. From carving out quality curbs to perfecting yards across Windsor-Essex, Kerb Krew has been designing for satisfied customers since 2015. Owner Brandon Podhy has more than 10 years of experience in the construction industry. His broad knowledge allows for a multi-functional approach to landscaping. 40% of the work they do is on new builds, but they also specialize in completing curbs on previously finished projects. Podhy explains how his team is so efficient and exact that when they leave your home, “you will not detect we were there other than beautiful new landscape curbs.”
With Kerb Krew, you will have plenty of choice in creating your dream yard! From stone pathways to artful plants to concrete paving, the company allows you to fulfill your wildest desires by taming your yard with grace and beauty. They offer a variety of over 40 different colours
for concrete curbing as well as five different patterns including Slate, Cobblestone, Spanish Texture, Brick Bond, and Flat. They create the edging around both small and large areas, including flower beds, gardens, trees, playgrounds, decks, driveways, pools and patios. You can select between mulch, stone, soil, or sod to wrap around the area you want defined. Don’t already have a garden? Don’t worry! They will carefully select and plant flowers and greenery for you, providing a pop of colour to your yard.
Not only are their designs pleasing to the eye, but they are also practical. All materials are top tier and long-lasting. Kerb Krew makes sure of this by using steel cable reinforcement in all concrete designs for added support and longevity.
His team works together like an exquisitely designed yard— each person knows exactly where to be and what to do. Podhy is proud of the fact that his “highly skilled and highly trained crew” have been working together for ten years now and are “professionals in their trade.” Each design is a team-effort, and Podhy mentions how one of his favourite parts about the job, besides customer satisfaction, is getting to work beside his crew members. “We are so efficient because we enjoy our jobs,” Podhy says. “Each person cares about the execution of the design as much as the customer does.”
That’s why Kerb Krew has remained the top decorative concrete and garden edging landscaping company in Windsor. They are intent on giving you what you asked for, allowing for flexibility and changes with a can-do attitude. Everyone on the team is approachable and considerate of your wants and needs. They are dedicated to providing you with exactly what you asked for while also providing their expert advice on specific projects. Kerb Krew will not rest until you are satisfied with the final result. They have completed over 2,500 projects in the Windsor-Essex area, and each customer has been more than happy with their investments.
You can get a free estimate by visiting their website at kerbkrew.com or by emailing the team at kerbkrew@gmail.com. Elevate your home today by reaching out to Kerb Krew. No project is too big or too small, and no matter what you have in mind, their team will surely deliver on their promises.
Advice for ensuring a smooth transfer of wealth.
Every year in Canada, billions of dollars in estate assets are transferred at death. Sometimes these transfers don’t go as smoothly as expected. There are, however, ways to minimize the risk of problems by keeping a few points in mind during the estate planning process. After a lifetime of carefully saving, investing and planning, you want the peace of mind of knowing your assets will be distributed as you intended. As a Senior Financial Advisor I can partner with you to make the best choices for your situation.
I’ve highlighted a few of the most important factors to consider when planning your estate. Of course, each highlighted factor requires significant explanation and understanding to ensure the smooth transition you are seeking.
Will planning
A basic and all too common mistake is not preparing a will. A will communicates your intentions and allows you – rather than the government – to determine how your assets will be distributed when you die. A will facilitates the administration of your estate and can help you avoid some taxes. It also allows you to choose the executor of your estate and the guardians of your children.
Tax implications
Tax issues may feel complicated, I can help you to sort out appropriate solutions related to both investments, life insurance and retirement savings.
Beneficiaries
When a life event such as a birth, death, marriage, separation or divorce occurs, people often remember to review and update their will, but may forget to review their beneficiaries. This common oversight could greatly affect the realization of your final wishes.
Joint ownership
Oft times, individuals choose joint ownership for “simplicity” yet fail to consider the implications of such a choice. I can explain.
PUBLISHER/EDITOR Robert E. Robinson
CONTRIBUTING Matthew St. Amand WRITERS
Serafina Piasentin
Paula Just
Michael Seguin
Tony Pupatello
Alysia Therrien
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Carol Garant
ART DIRECTOR Michael Pietrangelo
PRODUCTION George Sharpe
PHOTOGRAPHERS John Liviero
Tony Pupatello
Matthew Reeves
Heike Delmore
Michael Pietrangelo
Shane Thompson
Grant Bergeron
ADVERTISING SALES
519-979-9716 sales@windsorlife.com
VICE PRESIDENT ADVERTISING SALES Charles Thompson 519-818-7352
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LIFE MAGAZINE 318-5060 Tecumseh Road East Windsor, Ontario N8T 1C1 Tel: 519-979-5433 www.windsorlife.com
Windsor Life Magazine is published in Canada by Campbell McGregor Garant Publishing Incorporated. Articles and art may not be reprinted without written permission from the publishers. The publishers assume no responsibility to return unsolicited editorial or graphic material. Windsor Life Magazine is a registered trademark of Campbell McGregor Garant Publishing Incorporated, Suite 318-5060 Tecumseh Road East, Windsor, Ontario N8T 1C1. Telephone (519) 979-5433, Fax (519) 979-9237. All rights reserved. ISSN 11955694. Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 43512513.
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Manulife, Manulife & Stylized
From left to right, tournament organizers Justin Amicone, Shawn Magone and Alberto Vozza present a cheque in the amount of $171,000 to Sarah Overton, second from left, from the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County.
Annual Golf Tournament’s Inaugural Event Raises Over $170,000 for Local Hospice
Driving Change Charity Golf is a new signature fundraising event in Windsor Essex. It held its inaugural event in 2024 in support of the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County. The one-day event, which was organized and co-hosted by Riverview Drywall and Amico Affiliates, was held at Dominion Golf & Country Club on Friday, September 13, 2024. Superstitions aside, Friday the 13th proved lucky for the Hospice, as the event ultimately raised over $170,000 for the organization, thanks to overwhelmingly generous sponsor support. To put that figure in context, it allows the Hospice to provide approximately 1,140 nights of compassionate end-of-life care for Windsor-Essex patients and their families. The organizers are quick to thank the Event Sponsor Summit Forming, along with Platinum Sponsors Murphy Contracting and Liuna!625. Thanks also to the many other sponsors and volunteers who made the day the success that it was.
sponsors and participants. The planning rolled forward from there, taking on a life of its own.
Players enjoyed a taste of Italy in the form of gourmet gelato, served in very fine style from this beautiful Vespa-based cart.
The event was conceived by Shawn Magone of Riverview Drywall, who recently lost a family member to cancer and was inspired by the extraordinary compassion and care of the Hospice community. Working with Justin Amicone and Alberto Vozza, both from Amico Affiliates, they started laying out the format for the event and contacting potential
When the event day came, it delivered a picture-perfect golf course with sunshine and blue skies overhead. Golfers enjoyed snacks and treats throughout the course, provided by sponsors who served everything from cold beverages (mostly of the ‘adult’ variety) to pizza and speducci. In what many considered the most popular snack stop, participants sampled gourmet gelato from the world’s coolest Vespabased dispensary (see photo).
The involvement of the players, sponsors and volunteers was so overwhelmingly enthusiastic that the organizers confirmed their plans to make the tournament an annual event. The 2025 edition is scheduled to return to Dominion Golf on September 5, this year in support of the local charity We Care For Kids. Anyone interested in participating or sponsoring the event is encouraged to contact alberto.vozza@amico.build.
Instant replay: Unretirement and the new retirement
In February 2022, the greatest quarterback of all time announced his retirement from professional sports at the age of 44. After more than 20 years in the National Football League he said on his podcast that he was going to do things that he enjoyed and spend time with people with which he enjoyed spending time.
However, only forty days later, he tweeted his return: “These past two months I’ve realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands. That time will come. But it’s not now.”
Although 44 is far from the average retirement age, this “unretirement” represents a growing trend among Canadians living in and approaching retirement.
Why
do Canadians unretire?
According to The Four Pillars of the New Retirement, a study conducted by Edward Jones and Age Wave, thirty-three percent of recent retirees struggle to find a sense of purpose in retirement with new-found free time. Most Baby Boomers want to be more active, engaged, exploratory and purposeful in retirement than their parents and grandparents. They enjoy more opportunities and more choices than any previous generation for shaping retirement to suit their needs and expectations.
One in three non-retirees say they are interested in working in some capacity after retirement and nine percent say that they plan to never stop working. Individuals between the ages of 55 and 64 currently represent the highest proportion of the workforce – more than one in five working individuals (21.8%).1 This highlights the importance of — and employer demand for — experienced workers in the workforce and may contribute to the gradual increase in average retirement age among Canadians in recent years.2
Going back to work
When retirees stop working, it can create a void, often more social than financial. When asked what they miss most about their work life, 39% of retirees say it’s the people and social stimulation, with only 22% saying it’s the pay. The loss of social connection can lead to harmful isolation.
More and more retirees are filling part of the void by continuing to work, typically part-time, in retirement. Work, and the social connections it brings, can remain an important source of purpose.
Planning for the retirement you envision
Your needs and expectations for retirement are as unique as you are. Whether you’re planning to continue to work in retirement, spend more time with loved ones or enjoying your hobbies, your Edward Jones advisor can help you plan for the retirement you envision.
Even as life changes and your expectations change, your strategy can be adjusted to meet your needs to help you achieve the retirement that you envision.
This
article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
Publisher’s Note
Have you ever been torn in many directions at the same time? Well, I have, but I can’t remember it feeling like this. Our region, like most in the world, has been changing directions at lightning speed. This way, that way. Back the other way. What is next month going to bring? Next week? Tomorrow?
At Windsor Life Magazine, we work now as we always have, with the leaders of the community. No, not the politicians. The actual leaders: the men and women business owners and employers that keep this and all communities running. Challenges have come and challenges will go and it is these people who continue to move the economy forward. It is these people who continue to have vision and invest in our community.
Elevated Retirement Living
Wherever I look there are signs of tremendous regional growth. I know I have brought this up many times, but the growth is escalating well beyond the obvious industrial building. New housing is everywhere. Road reconstruction is everywhere. New commercial developments are amazing. Traveling around the area is one after another. Windsor/Essex County has more major construction projects in the works or recently completed than probably any other area in the country. While we should consider ourselves fortunate, we can also credit our world class workforce for attracting quality employers and investment.
As a publisher, one of my current challenges is distribution. As I write this, Canada Post workers are in a strike position. Our promise to our advertisers is that we will deliver their message to their potential customers in mass numbers and on time. With that in mind we have altered our delivery method to accommodate these commitments. Hopefully, for the sake of all businesses, there is no work stoppage, but we have had to make changes and adapt.
I will leave you this. I know it sounds like a cliché, but it has never been more important to buy Canadian, buy local and help support your neighbours. Keep your money here.
Bob Robinson
WINDSOR’S FIRST INDEPENDENT DENTAL HYGIENE CLINIC OPENS IN RIVERSIDE
WE OFTEN THINK of oral care as simply about keeping teeth clean, but a healthy mouth is about much more than just a bright smile. Oral health is highly connected to our overall condition and well-being, affecting everything from the brain, heart, digestion, speech and even self-confidence. The World Health Organization defines good oral health as a fundamental component of quality of life, emphasizing its role in our ability to eat, speak, socialize and live with dignity. That’s why preventive care—and access to it—matters. In Windsor’s Riverside neighbourhood, a new clinic is offering a patient-centred model that puts prevention first. Dufour Dental Hygiene is the first independent clinic in the city.
For Krista Dufour, a Dental Hygienist and owner, the independent practice offers the community an additional healthcare option. While dentists provide important restorative care when we need it, Hygienists focus on disease prevention. “As Hygienists, we provide a wide range of therapies to help you bring your mouth into a good state. We need a healthy mouth to have a healthy body and life,” she said.
The clinic, located at 5421 Wyandotte St E, offers a wide range of services, including dental cleanings, teeth whitening, laser therapies for oral lesions and cancer treatment side effects, as well as oral probiotics, cavity arresting therapy, fluoride-free options and xylitol-based products that help fight harmful bacteria. They also offer saliva testing to identify bacteria types and inflammation. Located in a fresh and modern space, every detail in the new place was carefully chosen—from the soothing colour palette and natural light to the state-of-the-art equipment. The service rooms feature personalized sky ceilings with nature images that delight patients.
Opening a larger clinic was the next logical step in Krista’s journey as an independent professional, building on over two decades of experience in the dental field. She is passionate about
underserved groups, including seniors with mobility issues, parttime workers, young adults, self-employed individuals and those who historically never had access to dental benefits.
Krista believes that oral health is a basic human right. That is why one of the most impactful initiatives offered through Dufour Dental Hygiene is their mobile services division called GoSmile. “There are certain individuals in the population who really have trouble accessing care, especially our beloved seniors and particularly those living in retirement communities or long-term care. Not having dental benefits or having mobility limitations are some of the many barriers. So we decided that we wanted to do something to make oral treatment more accessible.” The service provides care for 17 local facilities and embodies the clinic’s mission to ensure equitable access to vital Dental Hygiene services for all Canadians. “It’s hard work, but we’re really able to help people so much and I can’t explain how rewarding that feels for our team.”
The grand opening of the new clinic took place on May 29, the same day the Canadian Dental Care Plan came into effect, expanding access to dental services for more Canadians. The new plan is now open for all Canadians who meet the eligibility requirements and who lack access to private insurance. “One of my main missions is to create better, more equitable access to vital oral healthcare. This government plan is now allowing many Canadians who struggled with access to care. It’s an exciting time for our people and the dental profession,” Krista said.
You can get more information on the new Canada Dental Care Plan by going to Canada.ca/dental. Book your appointment now by calling (519) 915-4300, visiting the clinic at 5421 Wyandotte St E., or following them on social media at @dufourdentalhygiene.
Josephine
Rachel
Krista Dufour
Marika
Art Windsor-Essex Executive Director, Jennifer Matotek’s contract has been renewed bringing five more years of innovation and community engagement to the city’s art gallery.
the Dream we Dream Together
Under the Leadership of Executive Director Jennifer Matotek, Art Windsor-Essex is Headed in the Right Direction
STORY BY MATTHEW ST. AMAND PHOTOGRAPHY BY HEIKE DELMORE
increasingly fraught year of 2020, the Art Gallery of Windsor board determined that after seventy-seven years, various location changes, and a new name fifty years earlier, the gallery, once again, needed a new direction. The board sought a bold leader with the vision to reimagine the gallery’s role in the lives of the people of Essex County.
They found that leader in Jennifer Matotek.
“ When the position in Windsor came up, I was working in a public library in Regina, Saskatchewan as the director of the art gallery, director of the film theater they had there, as well as managing the art collection,” Jennifer explains. “After seven years in Saskatchewan, I was eager to return to Ontario.”
She continues: “The AGW was looking for new leadership to engage the public in a different way. I knew how to present films and art, and how to bring together people from all ages and backgrounds. The board saw the benefit of my background coming from the public library, bringing audiences in, and they felt I could be of help in Windsor.”
Jennifer is no stranger to a challenge. A life in the arts can be very satisfying, but it is never easy.
“I grew up in Grimsby, Ontario,” she says. “My parents are retired teachers and they instilled in me a desire to go wherever my curiosity took me. That gave me a lot of confidence.”
After graduating high school, Jennifer continued her education studying art.
“Many parents, when their kids come to them and say: ‘I want to study art,’ often respond: ‘How will you make money?’ It’s a fair question, but my parents did not ask me that. They knew I would be OK. I studied something I felt very passionate about.”
After discovering the surreal work of Spanish artist, Salvador Dali, while in high school, Jennifer knew what she wanted to do with her life—or, at least, the direction she wanted to go.
“I attended Sheridan College and the University of Toronto in a joint program: Art and Art History,” she says. “At Sheridan, I worked in a studio creating art, and did the academic courses at U of T, learning the art history side.”
During the s
After receiving her degree, Jennifer became a video artist.
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“I was, essentially, making YouTube videos before YouTube existed,” she says. “I didn’t realize it in the moment, but in creating my work I was acting as a curator, using found images, found sound, taking works of art and putting them together to present a narrative. The transition from making art to putting art in a space wasn’t a huge leap.”
Her work has been screened in galleries across Canada, including the Art Gallery of Windsor.
During these years, Jennifer worked at Oakville Galleries, in Oakville, as an attendant as well as doing marketing and communications.
“It was there that I realized ‘This is what I love to do,’” she says, “presenting, helping other artists. It’s the job of the museum to connect the artist with the community.”
After working in museums in and around Toronto for fifteen years, a position at the Dunlop Art Gallery and RPL Film Theatre in Regina opened.
“I asked my husband: ‘Are we tired of Toronto?’” Jennifer recalls with a laugh. “And went to Regina for seven years.”
Upon arriving in Windsor in April 2020, one of the first initiatives Jennifer undertook was updating the AGW’s brand. “The Art Gallery of Windsor” had been its moniker since 1969.
“The board did a strategic plan and decided a central goal was moving into the Twenty-first century,” Jennifer recalls, “bringing in different audiences. They just knew, the gallery had to change.”
Jennifer and the brand subcommittee worked with an agency on the gallery’s rebrand in the second year of their strategic plan. Several options were presented and the brand subcommittee chose “Art Windsor-Essex,” which gave it the multi-meaning acronym “AWE.”
“Changing the galler y’s name was a natural response,” Jennifer says. “AWE encompasses the people we serve, from all across the region, even from Detroit. Broadening the name to include Essex encompasses more people, more locales.”
Another initiative Jennifer spearheaded was called “Look Again!” which brought art from the gallery’s collection out into the community—literally. This was a provincially funded program that placed more than fifty weatherproof life-sized reproductions of works from AWE’s collection around Windsor and in downtown Amherstburg.
Jennifer was quoted at the time in local s
East Pointe Dental would like to welcome Dr. Whitney Weisshaar and Dr. Heather Jones to our team!
Dr. Whitney Weisshaar, a Tecumseh local, and Dr. Heather Jones, originally from Prince Edward Island, both graduated from the University of British Columbia Faculty of Dentistry in 2013. After years of sharing a commitment to patient-centred care, they are thrilled to be joining the team at East Pointe Dental Clinic. Now proud to call Tecumseh home, they look forward to being a part of the community and helping families maintain healthy and happy smiles for years to come.
Back: Jodi, Dr. Ed MacMurdo, Sarah. Front: Maryana, Jade, Hanna.
media, saying: “The response has just been so overwhelmingly positive.”
She has also worked on shifting the gallery’s focus from a historical perspective on its art collection, to a more contemporary lens on the gallery’s work.
“ We want to be more relevant to people’s lives in the present moment,” Jennifer says. “There is something accessible about art that is made in the time in which you’ve lived. The rebrand has breathed life into our work. We also brought in new furniture, painted our spaces different colours, making sure we’re using every inch of our footprint in the building.”
The changes have been noticed. Galeries Ontario / Ontario Galleries, an essential arts service organization for public art galleries in Ontario, gives awards to the best art exhibitions across the province, each year in categories such as Exhibition of the Year Budget over $50,000, Exhibition of the Year Budget under $10,000 and Innovation in a Collection-Based Exhibition, among others. In the past two years, AWE has been the most-nominated gallery in Ontario.
Moving forward, Jennifer says a new goal for AWE is being apart of the ongoing efforts to improve the city’s core. One way in which AWE will contribute is through its first Night Light festival, which will take over downtown Windsor from September 18 to 20 with two interactive public art installations.
“The goal is really to transform how people see downtown Windsor,” Jennifer recently said to local media. “We’re going to have a number of art activations inside and outside the gallery in different places downtown, and we’re really excited to create this inaugural festival as a way to be a magnet.”
The event is supported by more than $200,000 in funding from the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority.
And recently, Jennifer has accepted a five-year extension on her contract as Executive Director of Art Windsor-Essex.
Reflecting on the gallery’s accomplishments over the past five years, and looking ahead to the next five years, Jennifer shares a favourite quote from Yoko Ono: “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”
“I think it underscores nicely the work we are doing at AWE,” Jennifer says.
To learn more about AWE, visit them online at www.agw.ca, or in person at Art Windsor-Essex, 401 Riverside Drive West, Windsor. WLM
John Jedlinski
BEAUTIFUL CHAOS
After Almost 50 Years
Performing Live is Still a Thrill for the Psychedelic Furs
STORY BY MATTHEW ST. AMAND / PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW REEVES
IT IS AN IMPROBABLE journey leading from the front room of a family home in Surrey, England, circa 1977, to the stage of the Colosseum at Caesars Windsor July 3, 2025. Over the last forty-eight years, the Psychedelic Furs have demonstrated incredible staying power as they continue blazing their singular trail through pop culture and the music world.
It all began with brothers Tim and Richard Butler:
“ We went to see the Sex Pistols at the Hundred Club in 1976,” Tim recalls, “and both of us were so knocked out by seeing them— realizing you could learn three chords on a guitar and be in a band. Before then, I never thought about being in music. I was just finishing school and thinking of becoming a veterinarian! Richard talked about forming a band with me. I said I’d want to be at the bottom end—bass or drums—but I couldn’t afford a drum kit. So, Richard said: ‘Buy yourself a bass, learn to play it and we’ll form a band.’”
From their inception in February 1977, the Psychedelic Furs forged their own place in music. They chose the word “psychedelic” as part of their band name in an era when Johnny Rotten roamed London wearing his famous “I Hate Pink Floyd” shirt.
“The names of bands were so vicious,” Tim recalls. “The Sex Pistols. The Clash. The Stranglers. We thought if we went in a different direction with our name, someone looking down a gig list would look at all those bands and then see ‘The Psychedelic Furs’… and they would wonder: ‘What the hell is this all about?’”
In the earliest days, the band was both inspired and humbled by the response it received from their audiences. Their very first audience—the Butlers’ parents—kicked them out of the front room because the band played too loud. Richard and Tim did not take this as a setback.
“That was OK,” Tim says, “We moved into a rehearsal space and started getting gigs. We ended up being signed by a record
Bandmates from left: Rich Good (Guitar), Amanda Kramer (vocals and Keyboards), Richard Butler (founder, songwriter and singer), Tim Butler (founder, songwriter and bassist) and Zack Alford (drummer).
company after just forty shows. That is ridiculously quick. We were lucky—because of punk, the record companies were looking for the next big thing.”
As the Furs gained momentum, they remained as frenzied as the scene in which they found themselves. Singer Richard Butler told the Guardian in 2020:
“The Psychedelic Furs were very chaotic when we started... You could get on stage and make whatever noise you wanted. When we played the Roxy, in London, we had a vacuum cleaner in the lineup, which sounded awful, but people seemed to like us and kept coming back.”
As their first producer, Steve Lillywhite, noted: “Their catchphrase was ‘beautiful chaos’, and the first album encapsulated that. Punk was a rebellion against the music that had gone before… The Furs’ six-piece lineup made a meandering, more psychedelic noise possible.”
As other bands flailed away on distorted electric guitars, the Psychedelic Furs welcomed a saxophonist into their lineup. The band was known for its “wall of sound,” which was more accident than plan: each band member worked to carve out their own sonic space within the songs. Their aural identity was further helped by a lead singer whose vocal performance was more a mood than a sound.
The Furs’ first four albums, The Psychedelic Furs, 1980, Talk Talk Talk, 1981, Forever Now, 1982, and Mirror Moves, 1984, are at once an evocative tour-de-force of the 1980s, while at the same time defy category and remain ageless. It is no wonder their music is so singular, with influences ranging from Roxy Music to the Velvet Underground, the Doors and Frank Zappa.
“Our idea was to combine the energy of the Sex Pistols with the strangeness of Roxy Music,” Tim explains.
Each album forged a new direction, opened up the Psychedelic Furs’ sound, and gave music fans unforgettable hits, such as “Love My Way” and “The Ghost In You.”
It was in the mid-1980s when the already-successful band saw its popularity go stratospheric.
The Furs’ 1981 song “Pretty In Pink” was featured in the hit movie by the same name. Actress Molly Ringwald was a fan of the Psychedelic Furs and asked director John Hughes to craft a movie around that song. Hughes did, and a re-recorded version of the song appeared on the Pretty In Pink soundtrack. “They wanted a different band to re-record our song,” Tim remembers.
THE TAMINABUILDING
Next Level
• Bedding, Pillows
“They said the guitars were out of tune on the original. So, we said: ‘Well, if our song has to be re-recorded, we’ll do it.’”
The song enjoyed a second life as a big hit and brought hordes of screaming teenaged girls dressed in pink to Psychedelic Furs shows.
Following the release of their 1984 album Mirror Moves, five more Psychedelic Furs albums came into the world in subsequent years. Their most recent release is 2020’s Made of Rain, which has enjoyed rave reviews from fans.
In recent years, a new generation of music fans has encountered the Furs’ music in movies and TV shows. “The Ghost in You” was featured in the Netflix series Stranger Things, and “Love My Way” was heard several times in the Oscar-nominated film Call Me by Your Name. YouTube is rife with Furs’ performances. Beneath a video from 2010 of Richard Butler and Rich Good performing an acoustic version of “The Ghost in You,” a viewer commented: “In a sea of great vocalists, Richard floats above the rest. Spine tingling.”
Guiding and surviving a multi-decade career in music verges on the miraculous, particularly when the foundation of the band is a pair of British brothers. Family dynamics are tricky enough in ordinary times, add success, notoriety—and a media insatiable for “gotcha” moments— into the mix can make for a volatile situation. There are notorious stories about the Kinks’ founding members, Ray and Dave Davies, brawling on stage during shows. Liam and Noel Gallagher, the Oasis brothers, are also famed for their acrimony toward one another.
“ We’d have arguments like all brothers,” Tim says, reflecting on his collaboration with Richard, “We’d get over it quickly, though. Blood is thicker than rock ’n’ roll.”
After nearly fifty years of performing live, the thrill remains.
“There is nothing better in the world than being on stage, seeing people in the audience singing your lyrics back to you, enjoying themselves,” Tim says. “Some of them have come out since the very early days, and now they’re bringing their kids and grandkids.”
The Psychedelic Furs will appear at the Colosseum at Caesars Windsor on July 3 at eight p.m. with special guest The Chameleons. For more information about the show, or to purchase tickets, visit caesars.com/caesars-windsor/shows.
TAIPEI IS TOP A World Class City of Tomorrow
STORY / PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY PUPATELLO
LANDING IN ASIA hits differently. Taipei delivers on multiple fronts. This trip began with a cold December night departure from Toronto Pearson, flying Eva Air across the Pacific and onward to Vietnam, before finally arriving in Taiwan. After covering such distance and time zones, you start to wonder how people manage daily life—working, commuting, eating, and simply living.
Taipei, Taiwan’s capital city is often praised for its culinary diversity and progressive social values. Experiencing it firsthand gave insight into the character of Taipei and its people. The deep cultural heritage reflects nearby influences, especially from the Han Chinese and Japanese. But it’s equally important to highlight Taiwan’s indigenous tribes, who primarily live in the southern regions of the island. I was lucky enough to attend an Aboriginal-style wedding during my visit—an unforgettable celebration filled with vibrant traditions still cherished and passed down today.
“ Taipei” literally means “Taiwan North.” Respect, kindness and strong public etiquette define local culture. People are fashion-forward and health-conscious; something you notice quickly, especially while commuting. On the world-class MRT system, subway riders form neat single-file lines before boarding. It’s astonishing to witness such order, quite the opposite of many major cities. Eating, drinking and phone calls are all prohibited on the train. Even in traffic, on sidewalks or in public spaces, there’s a calmness and
a collective sense of organization that’s refreshing and rare. Cleanliness and calmness dominate the urban rhythm, “orderly” is putting it mildly.
Downtown Taipei, particularly around the “101” area, is safe and easy to navigate on foot. This season, the weather was pleasantly cool; mornings slightly breezy, hovering between 15 to 18 degrees Celsius. Taipei is globally known for its bustling street food scene, which comes alive nightly in the many openair markets around the city. s
Opposite page top to bottom: Taipei 101 building; the night market; spicy snail dish. This page clockwise from top: South Taiwan; the interior of the Longshan Temple of Manka; Maokong Gondola; Taipei architectures; the exterior of the Longshan Temple.
A FLOORING SYSTEMS INNOVATOR!
Transportation
Taipei’s transportation system is a standout. Whether you’re within the metro area or exploring beyond, the network is designed for efficiency and affordability. The entire country can be traversed within three hours thanks to high-speed trains that run direct or connect with ease. From the moment you land at the international airport, the infrastructure supports seamless travel. Trains run frequently, with extended operating hours that cater to all schedules. The management and design of the entire system is smart and reliable, making travel across Taiwan incredibly user-friendly.
Shopping & Education
Shopping is also a major draw here. From local markets to high-end international brands, Taipei’s retail experience covers all tastes and budgets. Local craftsmanship stands out, especially in garment making. The city’s creative energy is also reflected in its many universities, several of which are internationally ranked and scattered throughout urban areas adding youthful energy to the cityscape.
Despite the calm flow of daily life, there’s clear pride in personal and professional efforts here. Before arriving, most might associate Taipei with semiconductors and electronics manufacturing. But it’s much more. The city also boasts a strong finance sector and regularly hosts international exhibitions, making it a central hub for Southeast Asian trade and tourism. And the cost of living is favorable to visitors, $1 CAD equals about 22 TWD, which stretches Western spending power quite a bit.
Temples & Urban Parks
Longshan Temple is a must-see. It’s Taipei’s oldest and most respected temple, having withstood earthquakes, fires and human destruction. Still, it has always been lovingly restored, retaining its original essence.
Da’an Park, a massive green space, is where locals often go for mid-day breaks. Environmental sustainability is clearly prioritized, with numerous small parks peppered across the city.
For those who love to climb, Elephant Mountain offers breathtaking views. After hundreds of stone steps, lookout points provide panoramic shots of Taipei and glimpses of nearby temples. On New Year’s Eve, it’s a popular spot to watch the fireworks around Taipei 101. The Maokong Gondola is another gem. Suspended in glass-walled cable cars, you ride through s
misty valleys and mountainous terrain. Along the way, you’ll find charming tea houses and open-air restaurants with spectacular views overlooking the city.
Night Markets & Street Food
Taiwanese cuisine is impressively varied; seafood, meats, vegetables and grilled skewers abound. Spice levels are adaptable to your preference. At the Raohe Night Market, I sampled niu rou mian (beef noodle soup), xiao long bao (soup dumplings) and gua bao (Taiwanese-style pork belly buns). My personal favourite was orh luak (a spicy snail dish and the oyster omelet), with phenomenal flavour.
Taipei 101
Then there’s the iconic Taipei 101, a visual feat of architecture and engineering. It’s a marvel in human ingenuity. Once the tallest building in the world (2008–2012), it stands over 500 meters tall in a bamboo-pagoda-inspired design. Ground-level entrances welcome you into a space of luxury retail, office floors and hospitality zones. A standout feature is the ultra-fast elevator that takes just 37 seconds to reach the observatory deck. Built to withstand earthquakes, its internal mass damper ball is a key highlight in the resistance of quake movements. Taipei 101 also hosts one of the world’s most dramatic New Year’s fireworks shows. The number “8,” symbolizing good luck, is intricately woven throughout its design. It’s a place I didn’t want to leave.
(A Day Trip to) Jiufen
On Taipei’s east side lies Jiufen, a scenic town just 40 minutes by bus. It offers beaches, hot springs and excellent hikes. Amei Teahouse is perched with an unforgettable view of the sea and mountains. In nearby Beitou, the famous sulfur bathhouses provide spa-like relaxation. Old Street and its gold mine heritage sites offer historical context with eco-conscious trails.
Taipei left a deep impression on me. It exceeded expectations in every way. If there’s a model city with fewer than 3 million people that exemplifies peace, progress and quality living, it’s this one. Reflecting back, what stood out most was the city’s high level of livability. I highly recommend putting Taipei on your travel list.
In this year’s ‘Happiest Cities Index of 2025’, Taipei comes in at the “Top” 10 with solid #8 ranking. It should also be noted that Taiwan itself has another 8 cities included in the “Top 200 List”. According to sources at Happy-City-Index.com and BBC World News. WLM
Familiar Face in a New Place
We service all makes and models—even hearing aids purchased elsewhere! We’re funding experts and will help you maximize available
NEW AND NOTICED
GLASSHOUSE NURSERY & GARDEN CENTRE
Glasshouse Nursery & Garden Centre is celebrating its 50 years of family-grown roots. Owned and operated in Chatham by three generations of the Van Raay family, what began as a humble roadside stand has blossomed into one of Canada’s top independent garden centres. Celebrating from left are Sue Van Raay, Simon Van Raay, Liz Van Raay, Spencer Robbins, Erin Robbins and Dave Van Raay. glasshousenursery.ca.
PLAY FOR A CURE
Play For A Cure, the region’s annual premier hockey pro-am event dedicated to raising funds for cancer research, recently made a major funding announcement of $418,000 funding for two cancer research grants and a cancer program lead which will support locally based projects. Pictured at the cheque presentation from left were co-founders Harvey and Elaine Snaden with Diletta and Jeff Casey.
2025 LOIS FAIRLEY NURSING AWARD
In recognition of the outstanding contribution nurses make to care for residents of Windsor-Essex, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO), Windsor-Essex Chapter recently presented the 2025 Lois Fairley Award to Marisa Smith. Marisa was selected from submissions from patients, families and coworkers during the nomination process. More about this award is at loisfairleynursingaward.com.
WILLIAMSON DISPUTE RESOLUTION
With nearly four decades of experience, retired lawyer, Timothy Williamson, is now offering his expertise in settling disputes without the need to go through the court process. If you are in the need of advice in a legal matter call 226-340-1805 or email timothywilliamson44@gmail.com to see if he can help.
williamsondisputeresolution.com.
TIM HORTONS SMILE COOKIE CAMPAIGN
Tim Hortons recently announced that a record-breaking $22.6 million was raised through the sales of Smile Cookies this year, supporting over 600 charities and community groups across Canada and in the United States. Picture from left were Viki Grado (Executive Director of W.E. Care For Kids), Vickey Smith (Tim Hortons owner) and Sylvie Guenther (Executive Director of Hiatus House), who each received $148,376 from the Windsor Essex smile cookie campaign.
ST. CLAIR COLLEGE FASHION SHOW
St. Clair College hosted its 11th Atelier Fashion Show hosted by CTV Windsor anchor, Stefanie Masotti. The event was held at the Student Life Centre on their main campus and was designed to not only showcase student collections for their portfolios but also provide experiential learning opportunities and serve as a fundraiser for the students’ Fashion Design Club. Pictured with some of her fashions is Sajiya Patel (2nd from left) who won the runway award. Photo by Ted Kloske. stclaircollege.ca/atelier.
LASALLE FIRE STATION 2 GRAND OPENING
LOCAL MCDONALD’S TOP 3 FUNDRAISER
Windsor’s local McDonald’s franchisee, Jason Trussell is one of the Top 3 fundraisers across Canada, raising almost a quarter million dollars in support of the Ronald McDonald House Charities Houses in Windsor and London. Jason’s team contributed by selling over 4,300 pairs of socks and raised over $5,500 in paper heart donations. They also held other fundraising initiatives throughout the year such as Big Red Shoe Run and Ronald’s House of Champions. rmhccanada.ca.
LaSalle is boasting their new Fire Station. The new station is equipped with modern amenities and advanced equipment to support LaSalle’s firefighters. The new station will enhance response times, reduce risks, and ensure the safety of the community. At the ribbon cutting were (from left) Joseph Krogman (OFM Fire Protection Advisor) Doug Kellam (OFM Fire Protection Advisor), Councillor Anita Riccio-Spangnuolo, Mayor Crystal Meloche, Deputy Mayor Mike Akpata, Councillor Jeff Renaud and Deputy Fire Chief Mark Seguin. lasalle.ca.
FRINGE WINDSOR JULY 24-27
Fringe festivals around the world provide space for performing artists to develop new works, showcase talents and interact with other artists. Participants pay a fee and collect 100% of the box office sales for their shows. Participants are selected through a lottery. Pictured are Windsor co-producers Valerie Bonasso and Laura K. Bird on the night of this year’s lottery. fringewindsor.com.
BACKYARD OASIS
A Place to Share Laughter and Memories
STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN / PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL PIETRANGELO
WHAT MAKES A HOUSE a home? Photos of loved ones along the walls? Trinkets from past vacations? A kitchen where you and your family can prepare meals together? A shimmering pool to take a dip in during hot days? An expansive dining room table for meals and entertaining? Some slight vegetation to keep prying eyes away? All of the above?
Perhaps one of the coziest and best-loved homes in all of Windsor and Essex County is the aptly described Backyard Oasis. Perfect for hosting friends and family, each and every area of the Backyard Oasis—from the pool to the outdoor kitchen to the waterfall to the fully-furnished pool house—remains in constant, unending use for
three of the year’s four seasons. Meaning that most days, neighbors can hear the raucous laughter echoing from beyond the fence and the trees.
The entirety of the Backyard Oasis was designed by the Owners working closely with Nor-Built Construction—with some specific contributions by other local builders and vendors. And the current face of the landscape underwent some significant renovations during the pandemic—meaning that everything is both fully accessible and fully optimized.
Perhaps the centerpiece of the Backyard Oasis—one that tends to draw the most eyes and summon the most gasps—is the
natural-stone waterfall. Standing at around six-to-sevenfeet tall, the whole structure is modeled after a piece of land farther north. It is braced against a foundation of heavy slabs and primarily features a landslide of waterworn stones. And the waterfall itself bleeds into a majestic pond—which passing cardinals and blue jays have been known to drink from as the hours pass. Surrounding the waterfall is a motley of different flowers and plants, including boxwoods, lime-light hydrangeas, yellow flowers and a burning bush. These frame the shimmering, stony structure with both texture and colour—only increasing the impression of natural, rustic beauty.
And in perfect contrast to all that gurgling water are some torrents of flame. The Backyard Oasis features a sloping fire-table—which is encircled by a cushioned seating area. The flames provide both heat and comfort—as well as warm lighting when the sun fades in the west and the stars shimmer overhead. Stray grandchildren have s
Clockwise from right: An outdoor dining table, complete with a customized metal frame and a granite countertop; the Backyard Oasis, fully lit at night; a six-to-seven foot tall waterfall forged from waterworn stones; a fire-table.
even attempted to roast a couple marshmallows over such licking embers. The fire-table and the whole seating area stand vigilant over an unseen hot tub—which leads into a basement featuring both a bar and movie theater.
Moving on, perhaps the most notable (and the most fiercely competitive when guests come around!) feature of the Backyard Oasis is the pool house. It contains a main living area where a wicker couch and two chairs gather about a wood-burning fireplace, complete with a mounted television and enough lumber to keep the flames burning for many, many months. The left wall is currently adorned with countless photos of loved ones. Meanwhile, the right wall features many vanity licence plates from the owner’s many travels—including France, Jamaica, Mexico, Malta, the Bahamas, the Yukon and more.
And the words emblazoned above the mantle perfectly encapsulate the central ethos of the Backyard Oasis:
“This is our happy place.”
The pool house also contains a bedroom—meaning that friends and traveling guests will have a place to sleep if the celebrations stretch too far into the evening!
And taking up the central corridor of the Backyard Oasis is the pool itself. The wide, expansive, Mediterranean-style body of water is perfect for soaking and entertaining. It even comes equipped with a volleyball net for games and impromptu tournaments.
As well, the owners of the Backyard Oasis would like to credit Matt at Re-Lighting Inc. for ensuring that nightfall remains perfectly optional. The area surrounding the pool are lit with countless blazing lights—meaning that as beautiful as the Backyard Oasis is during the day, it only shines all the brighter and all the more breathtaking beneath the stars. As well, the many tables and seating arrangements mean that celebrations can stretch on long into the early morning hours.
And near the pool is the outdoor kitchen area. It contains a refrigerator, a hot-and-cold sink, a gas-top stove, a handcrafted wood-burning pizza oven, a barbeque, a fireplace, and a fully equipped bar. (And the pizza oven itself is something of a bonus feature! Previously, one of the Owners told her husband that they would enjoy adding one to their backyard. It was only after completing the project that her husband realized he’d been bamboozled. His wife
Clockwise from above: an outdoor kitchen with a refrigerator, stovetop, barbeque, hot-and-cold sink, and a wood-burning pizza oven; an outdoor gathering site; the interior of the pool house, with family photos on the wall and license plates from their many travels; a ramp making the entirety of the Backyard Oasis is fully accessible; an outdoor gathering site.
had only asked for the wood-burning pizza oven because she knew he would enjoy it.)
The whole area is a spectacle of Arriscraft Citadel desert brown stone—which, along with the pizza oven, were provided by Santerra Stonecraft. The kitchen also comes equipped with a shimmering countertop and four seats.
Near the kitchen is an outdoor dining area—featuring a table that can seat up to 10 people. And the table itself is something of a wonder. The metal frame was designed by the owners themselves and is drilled into the concrete—meaning that none of the guests are ever in danger of hitting their legs when moving. As well, the granite for the outdoor dining room table was supplied by Dimanti Stone Countertops & Backsplash.
And more broadly, perhaps what is most remarkable about the Backyard Oasis is the sheer volume of memories straining against the foundations. The area has hosted four outdoor weddings—as well as an annual fundraising event by Amherstburg’s Da Boys. The whole of the Backyard Oasis can house around 150 people—meaning that the laughter can reach the skies during such occasions.
What’s more, the downstairs patio features a ramp. One of the owner’s daughters has a physical disability necessitating a walker or a wheelchair, meaning that the entirety of the Backyard Oasis is fully accessible. So no matter the occasion or the event, everyone—regardless of their physical capabilities or limitations—is fully welcome within the arms of the Backyard Oasis! Each and every corner of the landscape and the house is fully open to anyone.
Yes, the Backyard Oasis is truly one of Windsor’s most sublime feats of design. A true sanctuary away from everything where loved ones can gather, make memories, and bask in the warmth of each other’s company.
And who knows! Perhaps one day—if the stars align—you might one day be granted an audience into that Backyard Oasis.
Just remember that there is something of a queue for the pool house.
Windsor Life Magazine is always searching for interesting homes, landscaping, gardens, patios and water features to show our readers what others in the community are doing with their living spaces. If you have a home that you feel would be interesting please email photos to info@windsorlife.com. Photos need to be for reference only. If your home is chosen we will arrange for a complete photo shoot. If you wish, you may remain anonymous and the location of your home will not be disclosed.
STRIKING A CORD
St. Anne Students Win Gold at MusicFest Canada
STORY BY PAULA JUST PHOTOGRAPHY BY GRANT BERGERON
THE RECENT GOLD MEDAL win at MusicFest Canada proves that St. Anne Catholic High School isn’t just shaping brilliant minds for our society — it’s nurturing true musicians. The group of six students earned the event’s top prize after performing at York University in Toronto in the jazz combo category. During their audition, the combo performed three pieces for the judges and audience: “So What” by Miles Davis, “Georgia On My Mind” by Hoagy Carmichael and “Tenor Madness” by Sonny Rollins.
“The part that stood out the most for me was when we were already on stage,” recalled the tenor saxophonist, Matthew Verzosa and one of the members. “We had gone through the first two pieces, and the last piece that we played kind of changed the mood of the room. We felt that people were more excited. It was amazing.” And when it came time to find out they were the winners, the emotion was just as intense.
“It was such an exciting experience”, said trumpeter Luiz Felipe Correa. “It was something that we worked really hard
St. Anne Jazz Combo (l-r): Julien Lewis, Andrew Matchett, Matthew Verzosa, Luis Correa, Aiden Williams, Michael Bourdeau, and Grant Bergeron.
to get to. And yeah, there were a couple of tears from some members when they announced our prize.”
Joining Luiz and Matthew in the combo are drummer Andrew Matchett, pianist Michael Bourdeau, upright bassist Julien Lewis and trumpeter Aiden Williams. Longtime friends and band members, they decided to enter the festival late last year. For those unfamiliar, MusicFest Canada is an annual celebration of student music that brings together thousands of musicians from across the country for a week-long event.
For 2025, the festival took place from May 12 to 17, with approximately 8,000 young participants. These performers, aged 12 to 25, were selected through affiliated regional festivals. Here, the MusicFest Windsor was held in March at the Capitol Theatre. After achieving a high enough score, the St. Anne High School students were invited to participate in the nationals.
The group, which chose the repertoire, organized the rehearsals and led the entire preparation themselves and practiced every day for weeks leading up to the presentation.
“ We had a lot of practice time together, and it gave us the chance to try to build that chemistry between all of our playing. We concentrated on our pieces and we rehearsed pretty much every day during our lunch hour,” Luiz remembered. All members emphasized that their existing friendship and the support of music teacher Grant Bergeron, were key factors in their success and festival participation.
Grant has been teaching music for over 30 years and has been a faculty member at St. Anne since 2016. According to him, all the credit goes to the group, who showed great initiative and professionalism in every decision, choice and rehearsal leading up to the show.
“I was very impressed by the level of professionalism that I saw before and during their performance,” he said. “We have to remember that they’re still 16, 17 and 18-year-old students; they’re not seasoned professionals. So you have a certain level of expectation, but they exceeded it. It was great to see, for sure.”
The event’s value went beyond the gold medal; it offered them an invaluable experience. The opportunity allowed students to perform in front of renowned judges and hear other top-level bands from across the country.
“ We had the chance to watch the
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schools play as well, and it was just amazing. They were able to share their musical talents. It allowed us to learn from their experiences and how we can improve, as well,” Matthew reflected. Festival participants also get the chance to take part in a clinic with one of the judges, who provides practical feedback and guidance based on the execution.
Music programs at schools nationwide continue to thrive thanks to passionate educators and students who understand its power to inspire and connect. St. Anne’s is no different. Grant highlights how rewarding it is to see their genuine involvement with music, even when they receive no academic credit for it. Formal classes provide knowledge, but it is outside regular hours that many students truly shine by voluntarily participating in the band.
“They are not getting extra marks, they’re not getting community service awards, they’re doing it all because they want to be there. So it’s very rewarding for me to witness that,” he said.
Whether inside or outside of the classes, music remains a priority for them. For Luiz, it is a constant presence in his life: “At school, I’ve always been showing up to band rehearsals, taking other lessons, just trying to improve my musicianship. In my personal life, I have always enjoyed playing instruments and it is one of my hobbies. Whenever I’m bored, I go to my piano and try to learn something new. It has just been a big part of my life.” He also performs at his church and plans to stay involved with university bands.
Matthew also considers his musical journey an essential part of his life. “It is definitely something that I’d love to continue in the future, maybe not so much as a career. For me, music is a different language… It’s something that you can share in a community and with other musicians.”
For Grant, music transcends borders and connects people in a unique way. He fondly recalls a plaque that hung where he practiced as a child: “Music is the universal language of mankind.” This phrase has stayed with him throughout his life and remains central to his teaching philosophy.
“It’s wonderful to see how students, whether from Essex County or from other parts of the world, speak the same language. Luiz came from Brazil and Matthew has Filipino heritage in his family. Yet, they all understand each other through music. It’s just an amazing way to unite communities.”
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BON APP ETIT!
Antonino’s Original Pizza - LaSalle, South Windsor, Riverside, Tecumseh, Leamington. Multiple-award winning pizza with the money back guarantee! Fresh salads & authentic Sicilian Cannoli that even your Nonna will love! Google our menu. originalpizza.ca
The Bourbon Tap & Grill - Home of live music 3-6 nights a week. Signature thin crust woodfired pizza, burgers, wraps, sandwiches, wings and more. Open for lunch, family friendly. Big screens to watch the game. 1199 Ottawa St., 12049 Tecumseh Rd. East, and in Belle River at 405 Notre Dame.
Cramdon’s Tap and Eatery - South Windsor’s friendly gathering place. Offering great food at affordable prices. Satellite sports and billiards in a pub-like setting. www.cramdons.com 2950 Dougall Ave. 519-966-1228
Erie St GastroPub - Located in the heart of Little Italy, this hidden gem offers elevated pub fare and a scrumptious Asian-fusion menu. The bar features local Ontario wines, a constantly rotating craft beer menu, handcrafted cocktails as well as alcohol infused ice cream. ErieStGastroPub.com 839 Erie Street, Windsor. 519-252-3743
Factory House Sports Bar - Windsors newly renovated sports bar. We can tell you one thing; you don’t want to go anywhere else. 28 HDTVs, delicious home cooked meals; daily drink and food features. The perfect sport to catch any game, with game sound. 5240 Tecumseh Rd E. Windsor 519-915-8224
Legends Sports Bar - Big screen action and great food hot off the grill. At this ultimate sports den, fans won’t miss a second of sports action with dozens of high-tech displays everywhere you look, plenty of comfortable seating and the longest sports ticker around. Inside Caesars Windsor.
377 Riverside Drive East, Windsor. 1-800-991-7777
Mamo Burger Bar - Burgers made with local beef are piled high with creative topping combinations at this casual spot. Recently voted 9th best burger in the world. Kids menu also available! mamoburgerbar.com 1515 Ottawa Street, Windsor. 519-973-1234
Brittany’s Gate
A Community
of Luxury Homes near Historic Amherstburg
The Community of Brittany’s Gate affords you this rare opportunity to be one of the few homeowners to acquire only one of the “18” secluded luxury home’s available only to the residents of “Brittany’s Gate”. Your home will be nestled among other discerning homeowners who also seek a “Community of Quite Elegance” while still being only minutes away from the needed amenities of life.
If this lifestyle beckons to you and your dreams please contact us for further information and your opportunity to be a resident in the Community of Brittany’s Gate.
Nauti V’s is more than just an oyster bar! From premium meats to oysters to the freshest seafood including halibut and barramundi, pair one with a perfectly curated wine list. Nauti V’s accepts private parties.
1850 Wyandotte St E. Windsor 519-915-1166
Neros Steakhouse - Indulge in the finer things in life at Neros where modern upscale dining meets traditional steakhouse fare. Fresh, local ingredients, an incredible wine selection and superb service. OpenTable.ca 1-800-991-7777 ext. 22481.
O’Maggio’s Kildare House - A Windsor staple, an old Irish pub built in 1880. Multi-award winning Halibut Fish & chips, Hand Packed Burgers, and hearty entrees like the Guinness Beef Stew and chicken pot pie. Plus, 25 beers on tap.
1880 Wyandotte St E, Windsor 519-915-1066
Original Guys Pizza Pies - The “Windsor style” thin crust pizza skillfully rolled and hand tossed is cooked to perfection in a stone baked oven. With vegetarian and vegan options, pizzas are tailored to each customer’s individual taste. Also offering wings, salads and subs. 3335 Banwell Rd., Windsor. 519-979-8808. ogpizza.ca
Ortona 1864 Cafe & Panino - Freshly renovated cafe & panino bar. Breakfast offered every day at 8AM. Enjoy our menu featuring the Italian Benny, Porchetta Thursdays, Iced Matcha Lattes and fresh paninis made right in front of you!
1864 Wyandotte St E. Windsor 226-674-0500
Twigg’s Bar + Grill - Family oriented local establishment offering freshly prepared pubfare. We take pride in providing prompt service in a unique atmosphere with craft beer, specialty cocktails, daily specials, live entertainment, catering and more.
1207 County Rd 22, Emeryville 519-727-8704. www.twiggsbarandgrill.com
Vito’s Pizzeria - Rustic Italian restaurant serving wood-fired pizza, fresh pasta, veal, chicken, grilled steaks and seafood. Wonderful wine selection. Private party spaces. Food truck and portable pizza oven for offsite catering. 1731 Wyandotte St. E., Windsor. 519-915-6145. catering@vitospizzeria.com
For information on listings and advertising in Bon Appetit! please call Leslie Campbell at 519-567-0603.
A SCULPTURE ACROSS BORDERS
Windsor Artist Delivers Car-Part Sculpture to Jay Leno
STORY BY PAULA JUST PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY CAESARS WINDSOR
COMBINING CRAFTSMANSHIP with admiration, Windsor artist Peter Solly paid tribute to one of North America’s most iconic entertainers in a truly unique way. Jay Leno was recently honored with a custom-built sculpture, made entirely from automotive parts, which celebrates both his comedic legacy and his love for cars. The meeting between the creator, the creature and the inspiration happened before a comedy show at the Colosseum at Caesars Windsor Hotel and Casino.
Owner of McDonald Muffler, Peter is 58 years old and has been creating sculptures with car parts for years, which he finds in his shop at Eugenie and Howard Ave. A big fan of Jay Leno, he decided to make the art piece and deliver it to him last year during a presentation of the artist in the United States. However, the organization there blocked the delivery, citing logistical issues.
Here in Windsor, the situation would have been the same if Peter had not been persistent. He started talking to some acquaintances and eventually connected with the owners of Stahls Automotive Museum, located in Michigan and known for its classic car collection and close connection with Leno. Peter managed to get them to send photos of the sculpture to the comedian, who responded by calling him on his personal cellphone.
“ We talked and his secretary arranged everything; she gave me backstage passes. Then I called the casino, saying that I’d talked with Leno myself and they allowed me to meet him,” he said. Peter acknowledges that without the support of Caesars Windsor, the meeting with Leno would not have been possible.
The art was delivered before Leno’s comedy show, and he was thrilled by the tribute. “He smiled, and he laughed, and he said, yeah, it really looks like me,” he remembered. “They loved my creativity and the fact that it was made of auto parts. He was really happy and humbled by the fact that I built a sculpture of him and his likeness.”
The piece is 2.4 meters tall, took 40 hours to complete and was made using the following materials: the body is made from a muffler of a large diesel truck, the head resembles a helium balloon canister and the belt buckles are crafted from a massive brake pad. The belt itself was fashioned from a large timing chain, while the feet and legs were constructed out of exhaust tubing. Even the fingers were created using square flat bars. The painting of the piece was done by artist Glen Hawkes, a frequent collaborator in their creations.
In the sculpture, Leno is wearing denim clothing, referencing the outfit he always wore while hosting one of Peter’s favorite shows: Jay Leno’s Garage, where he talked about the automotive world, including restoration projects, his car collection and collector fairs. Coincidentally, on the day of the meeting, the comedian was wearing the “same” clothes, something he pointed out.
To Peter, the moment was really special. “I loved to present the sculpture made out of auto parts in my hometown, a blue-collar and automotive city.”
As special as this encounter was, it wasn’t their first. Three decades separate the two moments, both marked by a casino with the same name: Caesars. The first meeting took place in Las Vegas when Leno was starting his career. “A big white limousine s
Artist Glen Hawkes (left) and sculptor Peter Solly gifting Jay Leno with a 2.4 metre tall, car-part sculpture of his likeness.
pulled up in the front of the casino, and Jay Leno got out, shook all our hands and talked to us for a few minutes. I met him even before he was on The Tonight Show,” Peter recalled. Between one casino and the next, thirty years passed, countless projects were completed and a dream crossed borders.
But the story has an even better ending. Given the success of the piece and the impossibility of Leno taking it with him after the show, the creation is set to follow a special path. Initially, it will be displayed for a while at the Stahls Automotive Museum. Then, the sculpture will be sent to California, where it will find its final home in Leno’s garage in Burbank.
“I’m really excited, and everyone knows who he is. Since the news broke, people walked up to me on the streets and all over the place. It is really cool and a great feeling.”
Creating sculptures is Peter’s true passion. He has signed pieces all around the city and the surrounding area, including the Terry Fox sculpture at St. Clair College and a fisherman at Lakeside Park in Kingsville. Among his most memorable works is the tribute to Nell, a rescue dog, in Sandpoint Beach, as well as collaborations with the Unifor Local 444 union. He also combined art and creativity to craft a sculpture of the legendary player Gordie Howe and a replica of the bridge named after him.
Peter makes everything, from collecting to assembling recycled materials, entirely. “I create everything, save all the parts and clean them all up. Then I configure them so that they fit properly, to make the caricature of the person that I desire to build,” he explains. In addition to his artistic work, he also promotes charitable initiatives with his pieces, organizes concert series and sponsors fundraising events to support various initiatives throughout the city.
With overflowing talent and a boldness that defies convention, Peter Solly has turned his passion for art and automobiles into a journey marked by unique works and unforgettable encounters. His creativity has taken him to places few artists ever reach— connecting people, cities and stories through metal and imagination. “How else would I get to meet Jay Leno? My artwork and my creativity got me to meet him.”
And if it’s up to Peter, this is just the beginning. “Maybe this will open the door for me to give some tributes to celebrities and famous people, which would be amazing. I have always wanted to have a TV show at the shop, fixing cars and sculptures, putting Windsor on the map. Maybe I’ll try.”
YUSUF NAEBKHIL
Windsorite Leads Saints Esports Team to National Championship
STORY BY MICHAEL SEGUIN / PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHANE THOMPSON
WE ALL HAVE ONE. That first sporting event that made us lifelong fans. That first championship that made our hearts soar. That electric thrill circling the air as the two teams faced off. The climactic highs and the crushing lows. The ebb and flow of the competition. The breathless anticipation as the clock ran down. The incredible thrill as our team scored that final goal—securing a hard-won victory.
Now imagine those same emotions—those same thrills— only on a virtual plane.
Esports is a rising trend on the global stage. It involves teams of players competing for victory not atop a field or
an ice rink—but within a video game. Players will compete using a variety of different games—the matches typically streamed over platforms like YouTube or Twitch. And while esports can trace its origins back to the early 1970s—it has only mushroomed in popularity during the past 10 years.
And now, the Saints—a local Collegiate Rocket League (CRL) team—has secured a major victory in the CRL Spring Championship, beating out over 250 schools across North America and Mexico.
The team is headed by Coach Yusuf “Thermalrex” Naebkhil—who is himself only 22-years-old.
The St. Clair Saints champion esports team are (standing): Ario “Arju” Berdin (Player), Luca “Shuffleverse” Paparatti (Assistant Coach), Nicolas Steinhauser (Player); (sitting): Yusuf “Thermalrex” Naebkhil (Head Coach), James “Jazii” Janzen (Player).
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“I’ve been a gamer ever since I was three years old,” Yusuf explains. “Ever since I was first handed a controller, I haven’t been able to put them down. Every day after school I would come home and game for hours and hours and hours.”
Yusuf first dabbled with esports through League of Leagues—a wildly popular multiplayer online battle arena game. However, he eventually found success with Rocket League.
But what is Rocket League? The game can best be described as “soccer in a car.” Six players are split into two teams—each driving a rocket-powered vehicle to try and knock a massive ball into the opposing team’s net. Although first released in 2015, the game still enjoys massive following and remains a popular choice for esports.
Yusuf was first introduced to Rocket League in 2018, when he saw a friend playing.
“ We started dabbling with it,” Yusuf explains. “I’d never thought about going competitive with it back then. But once I got into the University of Windsor, I ended up joining their esports club.”
Yusuf started humbly enough—as the C team player. But his early signs of talents were difficult to ignore.
“Even when I was still a player, I ended up doing a lot of the scheduling,” Yusuf reports. “I coordinated a lot of the practice runs and game reviews. I sort of became the de facto Team Captain. And before long, the Assistant Esports Director saw how big Rocket League was getting and asked me to coach the varsity team.”
After University, Yusuf enrolled at St. Clair College and joined the Saints: their Rocket League team—first as a volunteer, then later as the Head Coach. The ensemble consists of Assistant Coach Luca “Shuffleverse” Paparatti, and Starters James “Jazii” Janzen, Nicolas “Pzy” Steinhauser, Ario “Arju” Berdin. Tommaso “Barist” Battistoni also serves as a substitute player.
LISA (LISE) LANSUE
Advertising Sales Account Executive
But what does a normal coaching session involve? Typically, the team would assemble an hour before scheduled training hours. After a bit of warming up, they would break into free play or scrimmages or ranking before the actual hard work begins.
“For individual training, we work on the essentials,” Yusuf explains. “Hitting the ball. In-game mechanics. Aerial maneuvers. Tighter handling of the vehicle. We need to make sure everyone’s skills are as sharp as possible. But team training is a different animal. We look at how we’re rotating. s
Where someone needs to be. How we can keep pressure on the ball. It’s all about making sure the team is working as a unit.”
Training sessions can last for hours. And again, the end goal is the same as any other sport: ensuring that everyone is reaching their highest potential.
“ When you’re just playing casually, you often don’t care about the results,” Yusuf states. “You’re just trying to have fun. But when you’re playing competitively, you’re always trying to improve. Even when you don’t win, you take those losses as learning experiences. You’re always trying to be the best version of yourself in that game. We always make sure we’re not making any avoidable mistakes that could affect us during the series. Afterwards, we usually do a video review of the game to see where we can improve.”
After months of training, the Saints entered the Collegiate Rocket League (CRL) Championship.
And after several hard-won bouts, the team won the tournament—making them the first ever Canadian school to earn such a victory.
When asked to describe how earning such a title felt, Yusuf is characteristically humble.
“It was pretty unreal,” Yusuf explains. “Going in, my goal had always been to win a championship. To help my team secure the highest possible victory. But I didn’t expect to win! Especially not in my first year. But my goal was to be part of the first Canadian institution to win the CRL Championship.”
The video of the Saints winning the competition can be found on YouTube. And it is as ecstatic—as jubilant—as any other championship-winning sports team securing a victory. The players cry out, crowding around each other in a huddle. Yusuf himself stands at the center of it all—smiling ear-to-ear.
Yusuf credits his team with putting in the hard work necessary to defeat the competition.
“ We’re lucky enough to have the best players in the world here at St. Clair College,” Yusuf states.
But what’s next for Yusuf and the Saints?
“ We’re looking to cement a legacy,” Yusuf states. “And you never know! If CRL decides to bring back their now-defunct international division, then that’s going to be our new goal. But ultimately, we’re looking to keep improving and hopefully break into
scene.”
GOLD AND SILVER
Does
the Weight of Your Future Depend on it?
THE WEIGHT OF THE FUTURE is no longer in our hands, but kept in banks, stocks, bonds and real estate. With the fluctuation of the dollar and an economic crisis at our doorstep, the state of our current wealth is guaranteed to depreciate.
However, what if there was something out there that promises to hold and even grow in value? For centuries, there have only been two things we can count on to uphold economic strength: silver and gold.
CanAm Bullion & Currency Exchange is the only walk-in retail dealer of precious metals in Windsor, and they offer free consultations to begin your investment. As an authorized dealer with the Royal Canadian Mint, they can answer all your questions. “It is intimidating to buy for the first time because it is new for everyone,” says President Michael Piccioni.
In our current situation, Michael points out that less than 1% of North Americans invest in gold and silver. In fact, people often do not consider it until their assets start to struggle. We are currently experiencing the effects of inflation and even day-to-day items are already unaffordable. Michael has been studying the market for decades and states that the “Only way to protect yourself is to own real hard assets like precious metals”.
The apparent anomaly now is that CanAm is currently buying more gold from customers than selling. Gold is at an
all-time high and due to the state of the economy, people need the funds. Gold is also outperforming stocks by 40% in 2025 and has doubled in value in the past 18 months.
In a similar fashion, banks around the world are buying record amounts of gold. According to Michael, the biggest money is buying gold, and he says, “That’s a big statement. You want to follow the money and do what the big money is doing.” He predicts that the bank’s accumulation of hard assets is a leading indicator of what is to come.
It is time to move from the traditional to precious metals, similar to the 70s. Michael explains how in the 1970s, stocks, bonds and real estate performed terribly. The only thing that kept up with inflation was gold and silver. “When people get nervous, people sell stocks,” says Michael, “people are going to become nervous in the coming years because of rising inflation, economic slowdown and political uncertainty.” Gold and silver have been money for thousands of years, still is today and will be counted on for the sake of tomorrow.
Gold will secure your wealth, but silver can actually make you wealthy. Michael points out that, “Silver is cheaper now than it was in 1980. It is the only asset in the world that is cheaper now.” With the future demands for silver, it is predicted that a current investment could provide you with 30 times your money in a short period of time. “There are major shortages in the silver market, it has a lot of catching up to do,” states Michael. “Silver will have to go up 20 times just to catch up where stocks and real estate are today. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy silver as cheap as it is compared to gold.”
Michael Piccioni CEO of CanAm Currency Exchange
Michael Piccioni, owner of CanAm Bullion and CanAm Currency Exchange, was recently named Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2025 Windsor-Essex Business Excellence Awards, presented by the Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce. Backed by a knowledgeable team, Michael offers trusted strategies to help you protect and grow your wealth through gold and silver.
eady to take the first step? Michael offers free one-on-one consultations—virtually or by phone—for anyone interested in getting started with precious metals investing. Visit www.canambullion.com or www.canamcurrency.com for foreign exchange services that are up to 3% better than the banks.
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