Windsor Life Magazine May/June 2024

Providing premium quality, custom-made products designed to fit your home & lifestyle since 1974.

Actual Projects

Bennington

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THE PIZZA YOU PICK UP IS THE BETTER PIE!

We’re often asked why we don’t offer traditional delivery. The reason: QUALITY.

Winner: Small Company of the Year 2011

Traditional delivery often requires that drivers take multiple orders per run. To keep warm, pizzas are placed inside insulated delivery bags. Bags trap steam. Steam is the enemy of a crispy crust and can make pizzas soggy. That’s why we deliver party and catering orders the same way you pick up—no delivery bags allowed!

Another benefit of no delivery bags—we don’t have to worry about high moisture content pizza sauce contributing to the sogginess. We put more sauce on your pizza. More sauce equals more flavour. Who doesn’t want a more flavourful pizza pie!

I recommend, that even if you’re not an Antonino’s customer, the next time you order pizza from your favorite pizzeria, pick it up—it’ll be a better pie.

Buon Appetito!

Joe

Ciaravino, President Antonino’s Original Pizza Inc.

Bagless delivery available for advance catering orders. (Subject to availability of third party service.)

The Pynn family pickup at Antonino’s Original Pizza’s newest location in Riverside.

Top 5 questions about Canada Pension Plan (CPP)

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is a taxable monthly benefit that is intended to replace a portion of your income when you retire. We have put together a list of the top five questions we received.

1. How do I qualify for CPP retirement benefits?

To qualify you must be at least 60 years old and must have made at least one valid contribution to the CPP. To begin receiving a CPP retirement pension, you must apply through your My Service Canada account as CPP retirement benefits are not automatic.

2. How much CPP retirement benefit will I receive?

CPP retirement benefits vary from one person to the next. The amount of your CPP retirement pension depends on several factors, including your earnings during your working years, the amount you contributed to CPP, how many years you contributed, and the age at which you start receiving your CPP retirement pension. For 2023, the maximum monthly amount you could receive if you start your pension at age 65 is $1,364.60. However, very few people receive the maximum, and the average monthly CPP retirement pension (at age 65) in October 2023 was $758.32.1

3. Are CPP benefits taxable?

Yes, CPP disability, retirement, post-retirement, children’s, and survivor’s benefits are fully taxable as income with no preferential tax treatment. The CPP death benefit is also taxable in most cases.

4. When can I start to receive CPP retirement benefits?

The normal start date for receiving CPP retirement benefits is age 65. However, you can begin receiving CPP as early as age 60, or as late as age 70, or anywhere in between. If you start receiving your CPP retirement pension before age 65, your payments will be reduced by 0.6% each month (7.2% per year), up to a maximum reduction of 36% at age 60.

5. What happens to my CPP retirement benefits when I die?

• CPP Death Benefit –a one-time payment made to your estate (or other eligible individual) upon death. To qualify, you must have made CPP contributions for at least three years or one-third of the calendar years in your contributory period for the base CPP. The CPP death benefit is a single lump-sum payment of $2,500.

• CPP Survivor’s Pension –a monthly payment paid to the legal spouse or common-law partner of a deceased CPP contributor. To qualify, the survivor must have been a legally married spouse or common law partner of a deceased CPP contributor.

• CPP Children’s Benefit –provides a regular monthly payment to the dependent child or children of a deceased CPP contributor. The deceased contributor must have made sufficient contributions to the CPP, and the child must be under age 18, or under age 25 and attending (full-time) a recognized school or university. The children’s benefit is a monthly flat rate amount of $294.12 for 2024, adjusted annually.

John Atkinson Riverside East

Chris Horovenko

Diane Santing

Dean Doster

Elias Doskoris

Theresa

Mark Szarek

Dennis McDonald

Colin Duggan

Matthew

create your HAPPILY EVER AFTER

At Caesars Windsor, your wedding day unfolds with effortless elegance, as our team of specialists ensure a seamless celebration of love. With unique settings from grand ballrooms to the breathtaking panoramic views from Augustus 27, we cater to your individual style, making your day truly unforgettable. Our dedicated approach promises a journey to “I do” that’s as effortless as it is exquisite. Let us transform your wedding dreams into reality, creating a backdrop of beauty and romance where the only task is saying yes to forever. Start

19-JUNE-2024

■ Windsor 9am Caboto Club

■ LaSalle 11:30am Essex Golf and Country Club

Who This Event Is For:

1. If you are over the age of 50

18-SEPT-2024

■ Windsor 9am Caboto Club

■ Amherstburg 11:30am Libro Centre

2. If you have experienced Tinnitus, or ringing/buzzing/chirping in the ears

3. If your doctor has ever told you that you were diabetic or pre-diabetic

4. If you have high blood pressure

5. If you sometimes have difficulty hearing

6. If you are retired without a driving purpose

7. If you forget more than you used to, or are having more ‘Senior Moments’ If any of the above apply to you, a loved one, or neighbour we look forward to seeing you and them at this Hearing and Brain Education Event RSVP for Free Ticket Space is Limited

Nashlea Brogan, Doctor of Audiology Clinical Audiologist

Co-Author, Hearing Well Aging Well

Speaker: CHHA, AuDExperts, Amptify Spokesperson, OAPAC

Hearing Loss Advocate

Digital Content Creator

Nationally Recognized Advocate for Hearing Health Education

Reserve Your Seat at:

A FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE

Lakeview Centre for Academic Learning Celebrates 45 Years of Education!

LAKEVIEW MONTESSORI provides children with more than a curriculum. It provides them with a foundation for their future.

“It’s truly remarkable how education has evolved” Kristin Barone, the Communications, Community Outreach & Development Coordinator at Lakeview Montessori explains. “When you apply to Lakeview, you’re making the decision to support your child’s educational journey early. You’re providing them with a foundation for their future.”

Lakeview Montessori—located at 13797 Riverside Drive East—has recently celebrated their 45th anniversary in our community. For

almost half a century, Lakeview Montessori has guided generations of students, inspiring them to learn, lead and succeed together.

Lakeview Montessori School first opened in 1978, in St. Mark’s church hall, with approximately 14 children. After a successful first year, and word of mouth advertising, Lakeview had over 60 children in two classrooms the next year. As Lakeview expanded, it moved to St. Andrew’s church in 1981, and then to the current site in 1984, where they rented and later purchased the property after a year. Founder, Janice Mayhew led Lakeview for its first 30 years, through times of growth and expansion as well as recession.

SK Graduate

Renee Ryerson, Lakeview’s Head of School

Proposed Expansion — Lakeview

Founder Janice Mayhew Community Outreach

Lakeview Montessori follows the famed Montessori Method. It is primarily based on respect—respect for the child, respect for the environment and respect for individual learning styles. Unlike traditional education systems, which are more formal and structured, Montessori students are granted the freedom to pursue their own interests, within limits. Various ages are also placed in the same classroom, allowing the older students to help guide the younger students.

The result is a more dynamic, more involved educational experience that fosters a lifelong love for learning.

“The Montessori Method works wonders,” Kristin states. “The focus is on the whole child. Once they graduate into high school, they’ve had years of experience developing strong academics, leadership, self-discipline, care for their environments and for themselves, responsibility and so much more.”

And for as textured as Lakeview Montessori’s past is, their future is shining even brighter.

In November of last year, they purchased

the plaza on the corner of Arlington and Riverside Drive. Their vision is to create a state-of-the-art Montessori facility that embodies the principles of freedom within limits, independence, and hands-on learning.

“We’re striving to create more spaces that allow for students to experience innovative education,” Kristin explains. “As an example, we received a pneumatic system training circuit, donated by Checker Industrial, so the children can have a deeper understanding on airflow control and measurements. These are lessons that children don’t usually experience until college!”

“It is with honor and avidity that I lead the Lakeview community,” Renee Ryerson, Lakeview Montessori Head of School, explains. “Lakeview’s legacy of academic excellence, positive school culture and repertoire as a thriving learning environment for children is 45 years strong and I am excited for its continued success.”

Interested in helping your child become an innovator? Visit lakeviewmontessori.ca for more information.

For further details

Lakeview Montessori School at 519-735-5005 or admissions@lakeviewmontessori.ca

www.lakeviewmontessori.ca

13797 Riverside Drive East, Tecumseh, N8N 1B5

Prof. Maureen Harris Head of School 2012-2023 Lakeview Parent Volunteers

2023 Valedictorian

Concept to Completion

Actual Project

Publisher’s Note

Looking out at the world this time of year is a lesson in how quickly things can change. Only a few weeks ago everything was grey and dirty and now life is coming back, changing seemingly by the hour. The flowers are blooming, the lawns are greening and trees are budding. Birds are back from their southern homes. Mother Nature is waking up.

As we start to live and play outside more, we need to remind ourselves of all that Windsor and Essex County has to offer. Surrounded by water, Essex County offers some of the best fishing and boating around. We have many golf courses, driving ranges and even facilities for disc golf for those who like something different. Pickle Ball seems to be the new rage and many municipalities have set up courts to accommodate. There are also ample trails, parks and woods for biking, picnicking or nature walks.

Great news for our area with the announcement of the $36.1 million commitment to create the Ojibway National Urban Park, which is supposed to open next year. The five-year funding allocation along with $4.6 million a year to create the park is welcome news to our area. This announcement came on the heels of the landmark agreement that will see Caldwell First Nation help manage the much-anticipated Park.

Speaking of parks, our own Point Pelee National Park saw record numbers of visitors for the April 8 total eclipse as well as most of the southern part of the county. This rare celestial event marked the first time in 250 years that our region witnessed such an occurrence. Our area was also the first in Canada to fall under the eclipse’s shadow.

This rare event would have been enjoyed by our former Horoscope writer Leslie Nadon, who passed away on March 9. She was best known as ‘Ye Olde English Astrologer’ through her 25 years of writing a column for Windsor Life Magazine as well as her work on radio, doing listeners’ astrological charts, which led to the writing of her book ‘Star Lighting Your Dreams’! We will miss our longtime friend.

We at Windsor Life Magazine do one thing and one thing only; partner with the area’s best companies to produce a top-quality publication with great local stories. We hope you enjoy the read.

Bob Robinson

Spring Product Launch

A La Carte…Yes Please! Handstone Hits a Home Run in the Solid Wood Market

TO WORK OR NOT TO WORK… THAT IS THE QUESTION

Home Offices have become more commonplace but not all spaces can take desks that have such a heavy cumbersome look. Introducing the Exton Desk, available in 5 sunrise metal finishes, this keeps the space light and airy. EHF will showcase the sleek champagne finish this season. Handstone also produces bookcases, filing cabinets, and desk chairs to complete the look.

The Metro and Lisbon dining chairs will be the perfect finishing touches for this impressive solid wood dining table. Available in 42”, 48”, 54” and 60” this table can be customized to suit your space. Choose from a rustic Heritage, Brushwork or Sawmill finish or a more refined Buxton Cherry, Smooth Maple or Serene Oak. You will truly want to spend some quality time in your dining room. Whether a dinner party or games night this collection is meant to be enjoyed.

BUILT WITH BRILLIANCE

There is never enough storage when downsizing. Make the most of your space with Handstone’s new 12 Drawer Lisbon bed. With 3 new beds introduced with floating nightstands, there is a look that will speak to your own personal style. Chunky rustic with the Kingsmill, sophisticated modern with Metro and the Lisbon’s smart storage make this a winning Bedroom trio. Check out Handstone.ca to see them all.

WHY NOT WALNUT?

The New Evora Collection is sure to please all of our lovers of mid-century modern styling. While available in the vast selection of stains and finishes Handstone offers they are introducing Waterloo Walnut Finishes. The beautiful natural graining of this premium wood is the true showcase of this clean lined timeless piece.

THE EMERYVILLE WATERFRONT property offered a blank, rectangular canvas of nearly one acre in size. The homeowner had particular ideas about how the space would be used. Ryan Pawluk and his team at Lakeshore Landscaping were brought onto the job to bring the homeowner’s vision into reality.

“The client is very family-oriented,” Ryan explains. “They have young kids and enjoy having family over, entertaining, and wanted the space broken up into separate sections, almost like rooms, but still feeling like a unified area.”

The project began in the late summer of 2022 and was completed almost a year later. It occurred simultaneously with the construction of the house, which meant for a very busy job site.

“There were numerous custom projects happening at the property in phases,” Ryan remembers. “The homebuilder was very accommodating, and we worked in unison to make sure nothing was impeded. It’s their site and builders often have close timelines.”

The design process took approximately six months, with 2D concept design drawings and many conversations. It’s paramount that the landscaper understands not only what the client is saying, but to a degree, understands the client’s life and how they will actually use the property.

Left: Main residence with gathering area and fire feature flanked by raised planters. Above:Gathering area by the water with pergola. s

Clockwise from above: Sport court and pergola in the distance, positioned to ensure minimal obstruction of the view; swimming pool with raised spa, lounging chairs, and curved slide; bar area beneath pergola and gathering area with natural fire feature by the water side.

“The clients have a young family and that was foremost on their mind,” Ryan says. “They have a deep property, a fair bit of room in the backyard and they wanted to make the most of the space. So, our idea was to stretch the yard, make the pool its own space and have room for leisure; ensuring there were grassy areas too. The homeowner wanted a small sport court with a sunken trampoline. With all these competing elements, it was a process of marrying them all together in a cohesive vision, keeping the functionality.”

To do this, they pushed the pool further into the yard separating it from the house by creating a gathering area situated around a gas fire feature.

“This gave the needed separation between the socializing and leisure areas,” Ryan says. “Fire features are extremely popular. Gathering areas with fire features are a great way to bring family and friends together. This homeowner has the space, so we installed a large burner. We softened things with the raised planters and maintained s

a consistent look with the home by utilizing stone from the house. This ties the look of the property together.”

The pool was given its own space, separated from the gathering area and fire feature by an area with some poured concrete slabs with grass in between them. This area requires little to no maintenance but serves to soften the hardscaping aspect of the property.

“People want functional hardscaped areas for use of life,” Ryan explains, “but at the same time you run the risk of losing the natural look of the property. Allowing for some grass is a great technique to soften and transition between areas.”

The vinyl-lined pool has stone coping around the edge. Within the pool there are sun ledges and benches, which allow users to enjoy the water while still being a part of the conversation with those reclining on the lounge chairs. Many homeowners do not realize that benches and sun ledges are now possible in vinyl-lined pools. The technology has advanced to a point where almost anything is possible.

A cur ving slide leading into the pool adds to the fun offered by this area.

Another unique feature of the swimming pool is its automatic cover. It is operated by entering a code into a keypad, and then the cover moves into place on its own. The auto cover provides another level of safety, as well, because it is hard topped.

“The cover is sturdy enough for you to walk across it,” Ryan says, “though you wouldn’t want to do that.”

The pool area also sports a raised spa by its edge. Stone from the exterior of the house was used in its construction to maintain esthetic consistency with the main dwelling.

The homeowner wanted the property to be usable for all ages, so a recreational sport court was installed beyond the pool, toward the water. Lakefront properties each have their own unique, scenic views and any landscaping design seeks to optimize this, making sure it is in no way blocked. The challenge was to install the functional aspects the homeowner desired while at the same time minimizing encroachment on the spectacular view. This was achieved with the sport court, which offers space for multiple sports, such as pickle ball, hockey, and basketball.

Separated from the sport court by a grassy expanse is another gathering area. A bar with four stools sits beneath a pergola that offers some filtered light. s

Jessica Koper

Brian Nolan

Sheila MacKinnon Wanda Shreve

Frank Saroli

Andrea Thielk

John Jedlinski Jacob Benson

Peter Hrastovec

Mary-Ann Keefner

Donald Leschied

LET US DESIGN YOUR BACKYARD OASIS

“We did a more rustic paver, just to break it up a bit and to give this area its own defined space,” Ryan says. “There is even a small storage area there. The bar has electricity and a small bar fridge for refreshments.”

Nearest to the dock, in the same paved area as the bar, is another gathering area with Adirondack chairs surrounding a natural fire pit. Fire and water are two elements that never fail to mesmerize people, and this waterside seating area incorporates both points of interest. The fire pit, once again, utilizes the same stone as the main residence, which makes the whole property congruent.

“Wood burning features are great for weekend gatherings, the smell and feel of a natural flame is hard to beat,” Ryan says. “Whereas the gas unit nearer the house is easier to manage, quicker to light and more convenient for entertaining, both types provide warmth and ambiance for a leisurely evening any day of the week. Making use of these different areas somehow makes the property new and fresh, enjoying a different view of the lake and of the house depending on where you’re sitting.”

One aspect of the property and its landscaping not visible in the accompanying images is its night lighting.

“Morning, noon, or night, it’s a beautiful setting,” Ryan says, “but the lighting at night is particularly spectacular. The homeowner gets a lot of use out of it with how this was designed.”

With the lakeside property esthetically divided up into various functional areas the family’s enjoyment is maximized. The clean, simple look the homeowner desired has been preserved.

Lakefront properties in Essex County are revered for their spectacular views, their mesmerizing sunrises, and sunsets. When they are enjoyed from an exquisitely landscaped property, it makes it seem as though it all belongs to you.

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.

Jaclyn Cordeiro

PURSUING PASSION AND FINDING JOY

Story by Karen Tinsley Photography by Lomer Photography

JUST MINUTES INTO our interview, we knew there was something very special about Jac Cordeiro.

With infectious energy and enthusiasm, she candidly shared her transformational journey from newly single mom with a spirit-draining day job to entrepreneurial dynamo and world-famous fitness model (appearing most recently on the January 2024 cover of Strong Fitness magazine).

The first steps of that journey began “as the youngest and only girl growing up with two older brothers. I wanted to play soccer, football and every other sport they played; I was always very athletic. Hanging around with boys 24/7, Job One was learning how to stand up for myself,” Jac recalls. “I also learned how to ‘fake it ‘til you make it’.”

After graduating from St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic secondary school in LaSalle, Jac continued boxing, playing travel soccer and practicing Taekwondo.

Then, she received her Bachelor of Science with Honours in Nursing and Master’s degree in Nutrition from the University of Windsor. Her career began in a downtown Windsor hospital Emergency Room.

“Going from nursing student to providing immediate critical care was quite a leap; I loved the adrenaline rush,” Jac remembers. Then, the opportunity arose to study Oncology and End-of-Life Care, where “my focus was helping

terminally ill cancer patients feel peaceful and comfortable along their journey.”

To cope with life’s everyday stresses and strains, Jac joined her local gym. She wasn’t expecting to fall in love with fitness, but she fell hard.

“My idol, Monica Brant (a former bodybuilding competitor, model and fitness entrepreneur) inspired me to think about competing.”

In the meantime, Jac had married and learned she was expecting her first child. Already well aware of the herculean efforts required to achieve peak body condition to compete, Jac promised she’d pull out all the stops.

Five months to the day after her daughter Bella was born, Jac won 2nd place in the Figure category of the local Canadian Physique Alliance competition.

Just a couple of months later, Jac was expecting again. And once again, she pulled out all the stops to compete 5 months after daughter Savanah’s birth (where she placed 4th in the Bikini category).

With a burning desire to win an overall title, Jac competed three more times; in 2017, she won Bikini Fitness, which led to the world of fitness modeling.

Then the pandemic hit.

“I was now a single mom on lockdown, homeschooling my two daughters online. My own mom was diagnosed with cancer. Being away from the daily grind of my job made me realize how much I was feeling like my soul was in need of nurturing.”

Pondering how to pursue her purpose in new ways, Jac considered combining her professional healthcare training and expertise with her passion for physical fitness.

And JacFit was born.

The pivot from salaried health care worker to entrepreneur was a formidable challenge, but it appears that Jac’s a natural. What began as a simple fitness coaching company has flourished into a sought-after, full-service enterprise providing whole body, mind, and soul transformations.

“As a single mom, it was pretty scary giving up my pension and my safety net, but that made me even more determined to crush it!”

For Jac personally, it also involves a passion for giving back.

In the spirit of International Women’s Day, JacFit’s inaugural “Women Supporting Women” summit debuted on March 7th at the historic Windsor Club on Riverside Drive: a powerful evening of dynamic guest speakers, delectable cuisine, exciting

prizes, networking opportunities, music and more. The event sold out in three days.

More than $20,000 was raised to support Build a Dream, a non-profit program aiming to encourage and empower female students to explore careers where women are under-represented, such as skilled trades and STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) professions, emergency response and entrepreneurship.

Jac personally recruited an exciting lineup of guest speakers, whom she introduced and interviewed in a live talk show format.

Every aspect of Women Supporting Women was designed to be true to every aspect of her brand, right down to the sumptuous plant-based menu. Jac shares, “I wasn’t raised on a plant-based diet but that’s my choice today and I do promote the clinically proven benefits with my clients. I wanted people to walk away from our event saying, “Oh, that was new; that was different; that was fun!”

The highlight of the summit for Jac?

“I woke up the day before the event with this strong feeling that ‘something’ was missing. Next thing you know, I’m thinking about Robin Eve Cloutier, who helped me get in competition-worthy shape. At the time I reached out to Robin, I didn’t possess the know-how to get my athletic body and strength back. I confided that I didn’t want to consult with anyone but the best. Even though I’d just given birth, Robin not only offered to help me; she offered her help without asking for anything in return.”

At that moment, Jac decided that Robin would be the inaugural recipient of the JacFit Queen of the Year Award.

“Nobody but Melissa, my right hand, knew. After closing my keynote speech, I looked at Robin, thanked her for everything and presented the Queen of the Year Award. It was such a heartfelt surprise! There wasn’t a dry eye in the house!”

Plans to grow Women Supporting Women into an annual event are already underway.

So, what’s next for this entrepreneurial dynamo?

“My new skincare brand is in the works; I’ll be appearing on the Morning Show in Canada. I also feel strongly about stepping back onto the competitive fitness stage.”

Jac concludes by saying, “I’m committed to being the best, most authentic version of myself. It’s just a matter of being true to yourself, being vulnerable and just letting go. That’s what being authentic is all about.”

SAME DAY SERVICE! IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD FOR OVER 30 YEARS

NEW AND NOTICED

SEATON SUNROOMS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS

Family-owned Seaton Sunrooms has helped Essex County residents make the most of their homes since 1974. Owners Brooke and Jason Watorek are carrying on the tradition started by Brooke’s parents, Vern and Linda Seaton of providing a plethora of custom outdoor living solutions ranging from retractable screens to four season sunrooms. The company’s ethos is encapsulated in the slogan, “Bring the Outdoors Inside.” Photo by Heike Delmore. seatonsunrooms.com

ONESOURCE MOVING SOLUTIONS CELEBRATES 10 YEARS

ONESource Moving Solutions has been taking the stress out of changing your address since 2014. Owner/Operator Danielle Wellings-Carriere and her daughter Sarah Carriere run the family business which helps people and businesses when moving or downsizing. Their successful model has allowed them to franchise into several Canadian markets and even the US. onesourcemoving.ca

JIM CRICHTON RECEIVES HERB GRAY HARMONY AWARD

The Herb Gray Harmony Award was established in 2002 to recognize individuals and groups who have made an outstanding contribution to building a more welcoming community for all throughout WindsorEssex. This year’s recipient, Jim Crichton, has a dedicated career in broadcast journalism spanning nearly fifty years, of which twenty-one was with CTV News Windsor as their lead television anchor. themcc.com

IN HONOUR OF THE ONES WE LOVE

In Honour Of The Ones We Love has proudly donated $20,000 from their past community events to The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County so they can continue to make a difference in our community with direct patient care. Pictured from left are Sarah Overton, Manager (Community Engagement and Advancement for The Hospice), Anita Imperioli (Founder of In Honour of the Ones We Love) and Katharen Bortolin (incoming Executive Director for The Hospice). inhonour.ca

WSO LAUNCHES DYNAMIC 2024-2025 SEASON

Maestro Robert Franz recently unveiled the Windsor Symphony Orchestra’s plans for its 2024-2025 season. World premieres, special guests, an expanded Onstage/Café Concert Series as well as a celebration of the first film ever shown at the downtown Capitol Theatre are all on the roster of the WSO’s upcoming season.

windsorsymphony.com

THE HEARING & DIZZINESS CLINIC OPENS A FOURTH LOCATION

Bernice McKenzie Au.D. recently opened her fourth location at 1311 Ouellette Ave. in Windsor. Along with the existing locations in LaSalle, Essex & Amherstburg, they are the largest independently owned audiology practice in the area offering testing and treating of hearing loss, management options for tinnitus, vertigo testing and management, cognitive screenings as well as ototoxic monitoring of hearing for chemo patients. YouHear.ca

MEIGHEN NEHME RECEIVES ATHENA LEADERSHIP AWARD

Meighen Nehme, CEO of The Job Shoppe is this year’s winner of The ATHENA Leadership Award. Part of the Windsor/Essex Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, The ATHENA award honors an individual who strives toward the highest levels of business and/or professional accomplishments and who also open paths so that other women may follow. Photo by Heike Delmore. thejobshoppe.com

FULL BODY RELAXATION

Witnessing the Food, Culture and Peace

That is Offered in the Jungles of Nicaragua

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALLEY L. BINIARZ

ONE OF THE FIRST things I heard when telling my friends or family that I was travelling to Nicaragua was to “be careful.” Now, that’s been true for nearly everywhere I’ve trekked; I had to be mindful of pickpockets in Barcelona, I paid attention while on the tube in London and I continue to walk vigilantly at night in my own hometown. Statistically, Nicaragua is the safest country in Central America after Costa Rica and if I had let myself be deterred by travel advisories, I would have missed out on this off-the-beaten-path gem.

Landing in Nicaragua was easy; getting there was the fun part. Those who have travelled through Mexico City’s International Airport will understand the frustration that can occur and that was before all their current construction. After a five-hour flight from Toronto’s Pearson departing at 1 am, my partner Dane and I landed in Mexico City, exhausted and ready for a meal. We had a four-hour layover, so we weren’t hurting for time to grab our first helping of local fruits available at a quaint breakfast spot in the middle of the airport. This was my first experience trying papaya and, although I wasn’t a fan of it at the start, spoiler: I had my fill and loved papaya by the end of our month-long journey in Central America.

We fully expected to see our gate up on the board by the time our breakfast was over, but even two hours prior there was nothing listed except the word, cerrado. This word roughly translates to “closed”, which is not something you want to hear when you’re sleep-deprived in a foreign country. “Perdón,” I frantically walked my way up to the information desk to ask them about the state of our flight to

Managua Airport. “Si. Si. It’s not updated. Your gate is A16,” he replied nonchalantly. Relieved, Dane and I went to sit at the gate.

Dane began to doze off in his seat while I kept an eye on the non-updating gate. 45 minutes to our departure, the gate had finally changed…to say that it was departing to Dallas, Texas. I shook Dane awake and saw the panic in other people’s eyes around us, who too thought they were in the right spot for a flight to Managua. After a few hurried whispers, we all proceeded to sprint all the way to our new gate: across the airport, down the stairs and onto a bus to finally catch our flight. We’ve since learned that this can be typical of Mexico City Airport and that if you’re a go-with-the-flow person (which we thought we were), this won’t put a damper on your travels.

Landing in Managua Nicaragua, we were greeted by 30-degree weather and humidity. That’s just a fact: it is hot in the city. Thankfully we were headed a little past

Clockwise from above: Alley and Dane with the sunset behind them at the Masaya Volcano; pool and landscape at Eden; Dane and Alley practicing morning yoga in The Shala overlooking the ocean; breakfast in Eden: local pineapple, papaya, and cacao smoothie topped with oats; steam coming out of the Masaya Volcano; Feliz Navidad in Grenada, Spanish colonial architecture; beach nook found at the end of the jungle hike.

the surf town of San Juan Del Sur to a place called Eden on the Chocolata, a paradise retreat centre elevated and mostly sheltered from the blistering heat.

During our three-hour car ride through Nicaragua, we saw how much of this country has been spared major development. Rather than sidewalks, there were trees to landscape the roads, volcanoes in place of skyscrapers and the homes were intimate and colourful, a welcome break from some of the mega-mansions we were used to seeing. Aside from the humidity it was a gorgeous time to visit; since we were coming up on the end of rainy season, we were graced with views of the jungles at their most lush.

Arriving at Eden was jolting after 16 hours of mildly chaotic travel, where we were instantly met with bliss. I’m not talking about five-star luxury here but pure, unfiltered and natural bliss. The space itself had an impressive landscape with plants and vegetation that Dane and I as gardeners were eager to identify. Banana and plantain trees. Papaya trees. Avocados. Limes. We’d never seen these in person and were giddy at their discovery.

Our sleeping quarters were bamboo and wooden structures with thatched roofs and there was a common area for us to lounge in, eat our suppers and access the pool. We would be here for 10 days, seven of which were reserved for a yoga retreat with other Windorites and our guide, Sarah of Solasta Healing Arts.

The days leading up to the retreat were spent adjusting to the climate, where we were woken every day at 4:45 am to the song of Howler Monkeys. We learned that days are consistent in Central America, where the sunrise and sunset are the same year-round: 5:30 am sunrise to 5:30 pm sunset. And we were spoiled with local food during every meal, but the breakfasts were especially consistent with a serving of eggs with Gallo Pinto.

Eden was also a stunning jungle walk away from the ocean; this 20-minute hike went through a protected park area and let out at the most incredible nook of a beach, where only a few locals would frequent. Here, we were protected from major waves and sea creatures and could bask in the greenery that filled this country. By the time the retreat started, and fellow Windsor friends joined in on the fun, we felt like pros —it’s funny how quickly that happens when you’re directly immersed with locals versus being in a gated resort.

Our retreat consisted of yoga and healing work, which not everyone was familiar s

From this...

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with. It was humbling to watch what the jungle and heat combined with community circles, meditation, cacao ceremonies and delicious food could bring out for all of us. In just a week, many of us broke open and surrendered to what we needed to learn and allowed ourselves to be vulnerable with each other. We quickly became a family, and this level of connection showed me the power of living and healing in community.

In between yoga and meditation sessions we were able to squeeze in extra daily activities that allowed us to explore beyond Eden. The first day Dane and I opted to go horseback riding, which consisted of a three-hour tour of residential areas along with watching the sunset along three different beaches in the area and was an absolute highlight of the trip. Tuesday was reserved for the surfers which, as someone who is a decent swimmer but not a fan of crashing, I left to my fellow retreat mates. For those who are interested in surfing, San Juan Del Sur and the surrounding area is well known for its pristine waves and beginner-friendly lessons.

The middle of our week was a treat that we all were able to experience: a full day trip to Grenada. The lot of us piled into a shuttle and headed towards the city with a pit stop at Lake Nicaragua, which despite being a freshwater lake is home to the Bull Shark. When arriving in Grenada, we got to witness some of their Navidad decorations since it was the end of November, as well as the Spanish-colonial architecture that the city is known for. We were also lucky enough to make it to the Cacao Museum where we learned the history of this beautiful plant, and had our fill of true chocolate.

We had one more stop to make before heading back to Eden and that was to Nicaragua’s number one attraction, Parque Nacional Volcán Masaya. The volcano is breathtaking in its grandeur and was Dane’s favourite part of the trip. We ended our day watching a glorious orange sunset streak through a haze of volcanic ash, while the glow of the lava in the crater below lit up our noses with its magic.

Despite our plans to travel to Costa Rica after these 10 days in Nicaragua, we didn’t feel ready to say goodbye to this part of the journey. The sense of community, friendliness, and relaxation that is found in this country was a privilege to witness. It’s the perfect destination spot for those who want to go down the road less travelled and experience a full-body exhale, where you can rest, rejuvenate and heal the deepest parts of you.

HEED THE CALL OF THE OPEN ROAD!

FROM THE REV OF THE ENGINE to the wind in your hair, there’s nothing quite like a motorcycle ride. When it comes to capturing imagination and passion, motorcycles inspire like nothing else.

For three decades, Windsor-owned and operated Thunder Road Harley-Davidson® has been the place to go if you’re dreaming of a new or pre-owned motorcycle.

The iconic Huron Church Road location is the destination for friendly and knowledgeable sales, financing, service and parts teams who take second-to-none service seriously. From test drives to informed product selection to customization to ongoing maintenance and service, Thunder Road Harley-Davidson® strives to create lasting relationships with our customers.

General Manager Rob Reeb says, “The 2024 Grand American Touring Collection, featuring the Street Glide and Road Glide models, elevates the riding experience with dynamic design, high performance and the ultimate in comfort.”

Propelled by the powerful new Milwaukee-Eight® 117 CI engine, the new Street Glide and Road Glide advance every aspect of the Grand American Touring experience. Establishing a new benchmark for factory-installed torque and horsepower, thermal comfort is improved, especially during low-speed and hot weather riding. A single counter-balancer cancels undesirable vibration; a new intake tract boosts power and lowers exhaust emissions.

The all-new batwing fairing exclusive to the Street Glide® retains the iconic “T” shape; the updated silhouette features a fully integrated split stream vent.

Distinctive signature LED lighting provides instant recognition.

The classic Road Glide sharknose fairing features a sculpted silhouette and new windshield design.

The 6-gallon fuel tank presents a taut, stretched surface and distinctive shoulder bevel.

While the new luggage appears more compact, it has slightly more space.

The rugged, exclusive black machine-cut Combo Cast Laced wheels make a bold custom statement.

Premium Brembo™ components offer outstanding braking feel, performance and rider confidence. Dual front disc brakes feature new radially mounted four-piston Brembo calipers for more braking power.

Both Street Glide® and Road Glide® models introduce an all-new suite of infotainment technology powered by the new Skyline™ OS. A bigger TFT touch screen is the most tech-forward display ever offered for a Harley; it’s waterproof and functions well while wearing gloves; new Wi-Fi connectivity and premium HarleyDavidson® Audio powered by Rockford Fosgate®.

Improved aerodynamics enhance rider comfort and reduce subjective helmet buffeting at highway speed by an average of 60%.

Minus the optional trunk, the Street Glide is lighter than other touring models. With an engine big enough for touring, light enough for commuting and good gas mileage, the Street Glide is one of the most versatile and well-rounded Harleys.

Designed and built with the comfort of riders (of any size) in mind, the Street Glide has an extra wide, extra comfy seat. Improved suspension means riders can lean out as far as they want with confidence. From stop-and-go city traffic to riding like the wind, the Street Glide is one perfectly balanced, comfortable ride. A perfect bike for any size of rider, it is also powerful enough to fuel any adventure.

You are invited to discover (or rediscover) the freedom and pure joy a Harley can bring to your world!

Visit www.thunderroadharley.com or call 519-966-1520 to book a test ride on the bike of your dreams!

2024 Harley-Davidson® Street Glide®

2024 Harley-Davidson® Road Glide®

IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE to believe that the nimble figure, number 84, in the college football highlight reel is six-foot-six, two hundred sixty pounds—leaps above opposing players covering him, mid-field, and snatching a pass out of the air as though the ball was drawn to his hands by magnetism. He is Windsor native, Theo Johnson, playing for the venerable Penn State Nittany Lions. It is good that he has heft because two opposing players instantly slam into him with atom-smashing force, bringing Theo to the ground—hard. A third opposing player adds to the pile to ensure Theo’s forward motion is stopped. When the pile disentangles, Theo springs to his feet as though he’s just come from an invigorating session with the team trainer.

Asked how he endures the bone-crushing hits, Theo says: “It is a violent game, but a switch goes off in your head and it makes everything feel a bit less than what it should be.” He adds with a laugh: “You feel it when you cool down, though.”

Theo Johnson is one tough guy who has a huge heart. One could debate which coach, or on-field experience, forged this in him, but there really is only one answer: it comes from his mother, Amy Johnson.

As a single mother of six boys, Amy Johnson raised her sons—Dominic, Nathan, Theo, Levi, Michael, and Keon—while working toward (and earning) her law degree at the University of Windsor. Busy as she was, she kept her focus on her sons. Theo remembers Amy bringing him and his brothers to their sports practices and games and “sitting in the van at practice with her big fat lawyer books, with a bunch of highlighters, reading all of the time.”

Born in Manitoba, Theo moved with his family when he was very young to Brampton for a time, and then to Cambridge. With five brothers, he was never short on playmates, always striving to keep up with his two older siblings, Dominic and Nathan. Dominic went on to attend the University of Buffalo where he played football and basketball.

Theo started playing football when he was in second grade.

“Football was one of those things, it felt like something I was supposed to do,” Theo recalls. “It came naturally to me. It was fun and I was really good at it.”

When Theo was in grade six, he moved to Windsor with his mother and his brothers. There, he attended Queen Victoria Public School and spent his high school years at Holy Names where he excelled on the football team.

Theo was always one of the biggest guys on his teams and experienced a growth spurt the summer between grade ten and eleven.

“After that, I got more coordinated,” he says. “Everything on the field clicked.”

Following his time playing for the Holy Names Knights Theo made a crucial decision—changing positions.

“On my high school football team, I was a wide receiver,” he says. “I was the only pass-catcher. Going into college, I realized I could either be an average receiver or an elite tight end and learn how to block. It was a transition, but switching to tight end

was the best thing for my career. It put me in the spot of having to block very good defensive linemen and I worked on that a lot.”

Theo’s move to tight end was the right choice and, in that position, he played an integral role in the Holy Names Knights winning the OFSAA Western Football Bowl 21-17 over the London South Lions in 2017 and 24-12 over the Newmarket Huron Heights Warriors in 2018. Although Windsor has not, traditionally, been a stop for American college coaches looking to recruit for their programs, Theo caused several of them to add Windsor to their itinerary.

By the end of his high school career, Theo was invited to play in the Under Armor All-American game, which is an all-star high school football game where top seniors are selected from across the United States. Very few Canadians are all-Americans. An unfortunate injury kept Theo from playing in the game.

As early as 2018, American colleges came calling with offers of scholarships for Theo. The first among them was Bowling Green. When the dust settled and Theo weighed

Clockwise from above: Training for the Combine in Laguna Hills, California; Theo proudly holding a signed photo of himself; Theo with his mother, Amy, at parent weekend, August 2023; PSU v. Auburn, 2021.

his options, he chose to go with Penn State. His toughness and work ethic served him well with the Nittany Lions, making the transition from Canadian rules football to playing American football. During his college career, Theo played in fifty-three games, had seventy-three receptions, and twelve touchdowns.

Once more, Theo’s talent received nextlevel attention. In February, he was invited to the NFL Combine: a week-long showcase where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of NFL coaches, general managers and scouts. It’s a weekend that can make or break a pro football career. It’s the reason people play football. How did Theo perform in the combine?

Windsoressexsports.com reported:“Windsor’s Theo Johnson delivered a performance for the ages…”

NFL star and LaSalle native, Luke Willson was quoted as saying: “I thought [Theo] dominated the combine. To be his size and be able to move like that is truly special. And it wasn’t just one good event. Everything went super well. I hope Seattle picks him.”

Although expectations were running high regarding how Theo would do in this year’s NFL Draft (which was held in Detroit April 25–27) he kept things in perspective: “It’s a special moment. I’m really looking forward to it. Right now, it’s just the waiting. I’m staying in shape, staying ready, working out, not driving myself crazy with the anticipation.”

He continues: “The hope and the dream is to go quickly. It’s one of the most unpredictable things ever. I’m just trying to manage my expectations, have my own worth in mind, balancing my personal expectations with humility.”

He is quick to credit mentors who helped him along the way, among them, Holy Names Knights football coach Rob McIntyre.

“Rob really guided me,” Theo says. “He was always there, and trainer Jake Francis who owns King’s Performance Systems. I have worked out there since seventh grade and all through high school. They’ve been a big part of my development as an athlete.”

And, of course, Theo credits is mom, Amy, for being with him every step of the way.

“I’m so proud of who she is,” he says. “Just seeing her face when I walk into the stadium and giving her a hug. That’s what I do this for.”

Keep Being You with Personalized Hearing Care

Our ability to hear plays a pivotal role in how we connect with the world around us and our ability to keep doing the things that matter the most. Yet, for many, the journey to better hearing is a road filled with challenges. May is Hearing Awareness Month – a crucial reminder to re-evaluate our relationship with sound and take proactive steps to protect and preserve our hearing.

At HearingLife, we understand that no two individuals experience hearing loss in the same way. That’s why our approach goes beyond just providing hearing aids. Our team of experienced professionals takes the time to understand your unique needs, conducting thorough assessments to tailor solutions that fit your lifestyle and preferences.

Research has demonstrated the significant benefits of hearing aid use in improving communication, social interaction, and overall well-being. Individuals who use hearing aids report higher levels of satisfaction with their relationships, increased participation in social activities, and improved overall quality of life.

Gone are the days of bulky, conspicuous hearing aids. Today, advancements in technology have paved the way for discreet, powerful solutions that seamlessly integrate into your daily life. From personalized settings that adapt to different environments to wireless connectivity that syncs with your devices, modern hearing aids are designed to empower you to keep being yourself.

Here are a few technological advancements in the latest hearing aids:

• Rechargeable Batteries

• Bluetooth Connectivity

• Remote Control and Smartphone Apps

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning

• Tinnitus Management

• Water and Dust Resistance

“Hearing Healthcare is not one-size-fits-all, by listening to our clients and asking questions, we can recommend the right solution for your unique hearing and financial needs.”

— Katie Koebel, Audiologist and Senior Manager, Audiology

Why Choose HearingLife

90-Day, Risk-Free Purchase Period: We offer a full 90 days for you to test them out. If you’re not completely satisfied, you can return or exchange them with ease.

Ongoing Support: Your journey to better hearing doesn’t end with your purchase. We’re committed to ensuring that your hearing aids continue to perform at their best, so you never miss a moment of the sounds you love.

Hearing Aid Battery Supply: We understand that the longevity of your hearing aids is crucial. When you purchase new hearing aids at HearingLife, you will receive free batteries for up to 3 years. This ensures that your hearing aids are kept powered, so you never miss a moment.

Book your complimentary hearing test at the nearest HearingLife clinic today and start your journey to better hearing. Love your ears so you can Keep Hearing, Keep Doing and Keep Being You!

With three locations, accessing personalized hearing care has never been easier.

Antonino’s Original Pizza - South Windsor, Tecumseh, LaSalle. 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 Opening soon in Belle River at 405 Notre Dame.

Cheesecake On A Stick - Dessert shop offering gourmet cheesecake dipped in chocolate and various toppings. Take out or delivery offered with Jubzi.com. Open Thurs-Sun 12-9 pm. Kingsville location open Sat-Sun 12-9 pm. 13300 Tecumseh Rd. E., Tecumseh 519-999-9116. cheesecakeonastick.ca

460 Main St. E, Kingsville 519-999-6024

Cotta Food Bar - Let us be your place for private events, holiday parties, weddings, dine-in, takeout, catering and more! With a wealth of experience, our talented chefs pride themselves in creating delicious contemporary Italian food. Friendly service.

3891 Dougall Ave., Windsor. 519-915-6882. cottafoodbar.com

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

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

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

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.

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River’s Edge Tap & Table - Discover what is so delicious in the Harbour District of Riverside. Relaxing patio on the water, wine bar lounge, dining with private room available. Enjoy seafood, steaks, chops, pastas, burgers and more! 494 Riverdale Ave. 519-915-0200 riversedgewindsor.com

SONA Ristorante & Taverna - An upscale casual dining experience inspired by cliffside restaurants of the Mediterranean. Spend an evening in our ristorante, featuring seasonal cuisine and international wines for your enjoyment.

11 Queens Ave, Leamington. 519-974-7664. sonacanada.com

Thirteen At The Inn - Casual/finer dining with a comfortable, modern ambiance. Carrying on traditions of Thirteen Russell Steakhouse, enjoy old favourites or something new. Prime Rib, fresh Lake Erie fish, steak and seafood. Cocktail lounge. Waterfront patio. Private parties. 40 minutes from Windsor/Detroit. Reservations recommended: 519-324-9266 Ext 215.

388 Erie St. S., Leamington. 13attheinn.com

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 off-site 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.

ACCORDING TO ASTROLOGY, if you were born between May 21 and June 20, you are a Gemini. Which means that ‘Krazy Kenny’ Koekstat (born on June 15) is a Gemini man. This zodiac sign is associated with planet Mercury, the ruler of communication in the astrological universe.

Each of the 12 signs of the zodiac is ruled by one element: fire, earth, air, or water. Gemini is an air sign; people born under this sign are thought to be naturally friendly and communicative. Perhaps the most curious sign in the zodiac, Geminis are witty, charming and love to socialize.

The Gemini man is very extroverted, quite versatile, adept at multi-tasking and always up for new, exciting challenges.

If you’ve met Ken (and chances are you have!), you would agree that the above two paragraphs pretty well describe him almost perfectly.

However, there is one important thing missing from that almost-perfect description: this particular Gemini man has a heart like a hotel.

KENNY Krazy

Ken Koekstat is Still Playing, Still Giving Back and Still Making a Big Difference in our Community

STORY BY KAREN TINSLEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN LIVIERO

That fact likely has much more to do with Ken’s upbringing and adverse early life experiences than it does with astrology. When Ken was 15 years old, his dad suddenly lost his job. The Koekstat family also lost their home, their car and their way of life. Ken recalls, “we moved seven times that year; we finally landed in Toronto.”

Back then, teenaged Ken had no idea what a pivotal role that his time in “the big city” would play in shaping the rest of his life. He recalls spending a lot of time alone, by himself in his bedroom with his guitar, a book of chords and the Isley Brothers playing on repeat.

A year or so later, Ken was back in Windsor again. He graduated from business college and landed his first fulltime job at a customs brokerage firm on Huron Line.

After trading in his J45 Gibson for a Beltone electric guitar and amp, Ken recruited several musically inclined friends to form his first band, which they called Hearts of Stone. The band was booked at teen hot spots like The Purple Pad and The Kitten Klub. Ken also recalls the weekly band competitions at Club Alouette. s

After winning quite a few of those contests, Hearts of Stone auditioned at the Riviera Tavern, which was known back then as the ‘temple of rock ‘n’ roll’. Rebranding themselves as Gass Inc., the band now sported Nehru jackets they bought in Detroit. They played ‘the Riviera six nights a week.

In 1968, Ken still had his ‘day job’ at the customs brokerage firm, but he was also raking in the bucks from his nighttime music gigs. He upgraded his equipment and located an American agent, who booked the band at clubs across the midwestern United States. After buying and ‘tricking out’ a used camper bus, Ken and the band quit their day jobs and hit the road.

Little did any of them know how rough life on the road would be; their bold sojourn didn’t last too long.

By 1970, Ken was playing in a band called Dagwood. He laughs, “We went in to play at the Drop-In Tavern for two weeks and we ended up staying for two years.”

Four years later, just a few weeks before his June birthday, the Gemini man joined Windsor Police Services and ended up staying for 17 years.

Fast forward to 1989, when Deputy Police Chief Alec Somerville invited Ken to become coordinator of Windsor-Essex County Crime Stoppers.

The success of this award-winning program is certainly no secret; under Ken’s leadership, fundraising events became a trademark; for many years, Crime Stoppers Music Reunions comprised more than 200 entertainers performing free of charge for a good cause.

Ken may have left the police force in 2007, but ‘the r word’ (aka ‘retirement’) doesn’t appear to be part of his vocabulary. After turning in his shield, Ken worked part-time as a credit manager at a local music store, founded The Windsor Essex Music Hall of Fame and continued performing at fundraisers, festivals and music venues with his band Brand X. Formed in 1982, Brand X is still going strong as one of the hottest live dance bands in our region.

If you met Ken for the first time in 2013, you might have mistaken him for a senior flower child; this normally clean-cut Gemini man grew his hair almost to his shoulders. People who hadn’t seen him for a while might have secretly wondered if he was experiencing some kind of age-related crisis.

Ken laughs, “Some people did call me a hippie; others asked if I needed a handout!

And then of course, there were some who just said, ‘That’s Krazy Kenny for ya’.”

Only his family knew the truth: that Ken and then-5-year-old granddaughter Paisley were growing their hair so they could donate “8 to 12 inches of clean, untreated” hair, to be used for hand-crafting human hair wigs for children experiencing hair loss from cancer.

“It wasn’t the first time this particular hairstylist had lopped off locks for cancer, but it WAS the first time she lopped off the locks of a guy for that purpose!”, Ken laughs.

Ken and Paisley decided to donate their hair in honour of Ken’s son Grant, who had been diagnosed with leukemia when he was only 8 years old. For more than two stressful years, Ken and his family drove to and from London every week, where Grant endured 110 treatments.

After Grant lost his hair, sometimes people stared. Other times, kids could be cruel.

“Anyone who has been affected by cancer knows that most of the time you just feel so helpless. You wish with all your heart that there was something, anything you could do. For Paisley and me, this was our something,” Ken reflects.

In addition, Ken and Paisley raised the $1,200 needed to pay for the creation of the wigs. “As usual, all my friends stepped up, including the publisher of this magazine, who said ‘just tell me how much you need, and I’ll cut a cheque’. I can always count on my friends.”

More recently, Ken organized Road to Kindness, a special fundraising event featuring 10 of Windsor’s hottest bands performing in support of Moose Lodge. Like all events that Ken gets involved with, not only was it a complete sellout, but more than $10,000 was raised to help the Lodge continue helping others.

In the months to come, Ken will be involved with the 2024 McGregor Music Festival at Co-An Park in support of cancer, a benefit concert in Lanspeary Park in support of a local food bank, and the Windsor Fastpitch Softball Hall of Fame Charity Golf Tournament at Roseland Golf and Curling Club to benefit autism.

Ken shares, “I believe in teaching our children and grandchildren to be good people: give back to your community whenever and wherever you can. And above all, practice The Golden Rule (‘treat everyone how you want to be treated’). That’s the legacy I want to leave.”

There’s no question that Ken’s legacy is assured. WLM

What Is Planned Giving?

According to ‘Straight Answers for Regular Folks,’ an article found on Canada Reads, “Planned Giving is a phrase that charities use often, and donors almost never say!” Put simply, it’s a person’s plan for how they wish to donate to various charities and organizations. Whether the plan is developed over several years, or created through a single circumstance, it’s most often put into effect through a person’s will after they pass away.

Trends In Charitable Giving

According to Statistics Canada, just under 5 million Canadian tax filers (17.1% of all tax filers) declared making charitable donations in 2022, 0.3% fewer than 2021. The total amount donated fell for the first time since 2016, decreasing 3.1% to $11.4 billion.

While both the number of donors and total donations decreased, tax filers made more mid-sized donations and fewer smaller ones, leading to a 5.6% increase in median donations to $380 in 2022. There were 1.6% fewer donations of $499 or less and 1.4% more donations of $500 to $25,000.

What Motivates People To Give?

There are seven (7) reasons why donors give.1

1. Donors are purpose driven.

Donating to charity feels good and motivates people to want to make a positive difference in the world.

2. Donors trust your organization.

If you want donors to stay engaged, prove that your organization is worthy of their trust and commitment.

Kelly Gosselin Chair, Interim Director Alumni and Donor Communications University of Windsor

Katie Corchis Education Co-Chair, Senior Development Officer, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Windsor

Karen Momotiuk Chapman Vice-Chair, Senior Development Officer – Faculty of Nursing University of Windsor

Sandra

Lisa Kolody Past-Chair, Executive Director, WindsorEssex Community Foundation

Michael

Katie

3. Donors understand their impact. Donors appreciate seeing the impact of their generosity.

4. Donors have a personal connection to your purpose.

For many donors, charitable giving is highly personal.

5. Donors want to be part of something meaningful.

Donors want to feel like their gifts are going towards something significant.

6. Donors are engaged.

To generate long-term support for your nonprofit organization, provide donors with a wide range of engagement opportunities.

7. Donors appreciate tax benefits. Some donors value the financial incentive of giving.

Going Behind The Numbers

At first glance, some may find the current trends in charitable giving to be a bit discouraging. They indicate the importance of being focused and deliberate when engaging with donors/clients. It’s about developing a curated approach that will appeal to the person in front of you. It may also prompt one to revise their donor/prospect/ client list to respond to the ‘fewer but bigger gifts’ trend. What is also true is that the average age of donors is trending upward. Based on the 2022 Impact Report, the average age of a Canadian donor was 41 years old in 2016 and it rose to 41.9 years in 2021.2

While increasing costs of living may cause people to be more conservative in their charitable giving, the option of developing a planned giving strategy has even greater appeal. Imagine the opportunity to share the message of the transformative power of charitable giving through a will. More and more Canadians are being informed and choosing to creating legacies of philanthropy through their wills.

Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP): Canada’s Experts In Planned Giving

The Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP) is the only organization in Canada that brings together charitable representatives with donor advisors in one professional association. Among their fundraising, legal and financial peers, members are looked to as the experts in strategic charitable gift planning.

Who is a Gift Planner?

• They are leaders in Canada’s charitable s

We provide opportunities for people with disabilities in Windsor and Essex County to receive physical, emotional and cognitive therapy at the farm. We rely on the generosity of our community members and volunteers to build sustainable equine programs for nearly 200 people each week. Participants gain strength, self confidence and renew their optimism for life through the eyes of a horse!

community. They play key roles expanding the fundraising options available to charitable organizations.

• They provide current and prospective donors with new and innovative ways of achieving their philanthropic dreams.

• They are experts with a unique body of knowledge regarding a range of giving options, such as bequests, gifts of securities, gifts of insurance.

• They embody or strive for a range of technical and enabling core competencies that reflect the skills, expertise, and qualities essential for excellence in a complex philanthropic environment.

CAGP and Advocacy

For over twenty-five years the CAGP has been an active voice in advocating for a tax and legislative environment that strengthens charitable giving and helps develop a culture of philanthropy in Canada. This long-standing advocacy has led to numerous favourable outcomes for donors, including raising contribution limits, favourable receipting and reducing capital gains taxes on eligible gifts. That advocacy has also led to increasing numbers of Canadians embracing the benefits of planned giving through wills.

The CAGP Windsor-Essex County Chapter

The CAGP Windsor-Essex County Chapter is one of twenty local Chapters across Canada. It functions to carry out the strategic plan of CAGP National through service to the local community.

The CAGP’s current strategic plan has five (5) priorities:

1. Strategic Priority: Promote Gift Planning

2. Strategic Priority: Build & Disseminate Knowledge

3. Strategic Priority: Influence Policy

4. Strategic Priority: Create Connections

5. Strategic Priority: Strengthen our Organization

With an intended impact of: A vibrant network and donor community embracing and advancing strategic charitable giving in Canada.

The CAGP Windsor-Essex County Chapter currently has nineteen members who represent various organizations, businesses and charities across the service area. Members meet regularly to share knowledge and exchange insights in combined s

Estate Planning & Estate Administration

We assist clients in estate planning, estate administration and taxation matters. Our services include the drafting of Wills, Powers of Attorney, trust agreements, succession and tax planning and the administration of estates including probate and other Court applications.

efforts to create a culture of philanthropy within their community.

Under the leadership of Chair of local chapter, Kelly Gosselin, Interim Director of Alumni and Donor Communications at the University of Windsor, members are informed of and encouraged to take advantage of various professional development workshops and education seminars offered by CAGP National.

On 3-5 April 2024, Vice-Chair Karen Momotiuk Chapman, a Senior Development Officer at the University of Windsor, travelled to Ottawa to attend the CAGP 30th National Conference on Strategic Philanthropy, Convergence of Generosity. Karen shares that the conference gave her and 450 other participants a fresh, up-todate perspective. “It’s gratifying when donors can see the charities they care about continue to flourish. We help them do that.”

Karen returned from Ottawa with a renewed focus and energy. “Philanthropic work is about creating that incredible link between a donor’s desire to help and the creative, ethical, and efficient ways for them to do it. Continuing education in this field is particularly relevant in 2024 because we have experienced so much change in the past four years, and it’s important to keep up. The training and shared knowledge that CAGP provides helps donors make our communities and organizations stronger.”

Kelly Gosselin is effusive when describing Planned Giving, “The impact of planned giving, also known as legacy giving or gift planning, provides incredible advantages for both donors and their notfor-profit of choice. Imagine the lives that can be touched, the communities that can be transformed and the progress that can be made through thoughtful gift planning. A planned gift can generate a ripple effect of positive transformations that extends far into the future and allows a donor to make a lasting difference.”

Kelly goes on to describe Planned Giving as a powerful tool that is a great benefit to both philanthropists and donors alike. “Planned gifts can come in many forms, all with their own advantages. Bequests, Trusts, Securities, Insurance Policies and Retirement Plan Assets are just a few of the giving vehicles available to donors.” She encourages everyone to consult industry experts (professional fundraisers, financial advisors and lawyers) when considering a Planned Gift so they may be supported developing a plan that aligns with their philanthropic goals and financial situation.

ASK AN EXPERT – THE BENEFITS OF GOOD ADVICE

There are significant benefits to speaking with someone who is versed in planned giving. There are several factors to consider when developing a plan.

Tax credits – there are numerous tax credits and tax treatments for donors to consider when making charitable donations.

Timing – a plan could address personal, family and tax considerations to determine the best times to make donations and to claim the associated tax credits (which may not be the same).

Planning for the Right Type of Gift - The tax treatment of a donation may vary depending on what form the donation takes.

Planning for the Right Benefactor - it is important to know that a donation can be made to a charitable organization, a private foundation or a public foundation.

Everyone is encouraged to take the first step – to learn about the benefits of working with a financial advisor and see what a difference it makes to have a partner on your financial journey.

Tim Jones, CAGP Windsor-Essex County Chapter member and President of Rock Harbour Wealth Management, has spent close to thirty years working with his clients to develop financial plans, including their intentions for charitable giving. Tim states, “Working with a dedicated financial planning professional means that donors can further the generosity they’ve shown during their lifetime by creating a legacy that will remain after their passing. Financial advisors come with a wealth of knowledge pertaining to planned giving and estate planning and can help their clients plan for what is to come, supporting their families and the causes to which they’ve always been committed.”

CAGP and WILL POWER™

“Leaving a charitable gift in a Will turns the ordinary donor into an extraordinary philanthropist, and a growing number of people are giving this way.” This is the opening statement on the Will Power link on the CAGP website.4 If you were to ask a Gift Planner what inspires them to raise the topic of bequests (a gift in a will), their response would likely be some form of the sentiment expressed in that statement.

WILL POWER™ is a public awareness campaign inspiring Canadians to think differently about the way they donate to charity and use their Wills to make a powerful contribution.3 The campaign is led

s

END HOMELESSNESS

Thousands of friends in our community are living in poverty.

Help us provide them with food, supplies and support.

Providing sleeping bags, backpacks and hygiene products as available.

Daily food bank and hot meals for local families in need.

Donations of stocks, bonds, shares in companies and mutual funds to Street Help can be processed through CanadaHelps.org! Just type STREET HELP on their website.

Thanks for all YOU do to help us help the homeless and hungry!

Help abilities grow by visiting www.jmccentre.ca Development Office:

fundraising@jmccentre.ca

by the CAGP and the CAGP Foundation in collaboration with the country’s leading charities, financial advisors and legal professionals. The goal is to raise the number of Canadians leaving a donation in their Will from 8 to 13 per cent by 2030.

Reaching this goal will see Canadians contribute as much as $58B dollars to social good!

A Will Is Powerful!

A will is a document that leaves instructions about what you want done with your personal possessions and land after you die. It can help create a lasting and multi-generational impact.

By making a will, you can:

• provide for your loved ones, children, and grandchildren.

• decide who’ll get your home and property.

• clearly state who should receive your possessions, for example:

• jewellery

• vehicles

• money

• name who’ll take care of your children and dependents.

• leave instructions for end-of-life ceremonies.

• name who’ll take care of your estate.

A will may:

• avoid delays in settling your estate.

• reduce administrative paperwork for your family at a difficult time.

• make the settlement of your estate a more personal matter.

• provide peace of mind and clear direction about your wishes to your family and loved ones.

• reduce the government’s involvement in your private affairs.

According to Statistics Canada, less than one-third (30%) of Canadians say they have an estate plan. Less than half (48%) of Canadians have a Will. While 74% of Canadians aged 55 years and older say they have a Will, only 34% of those aged 35–54 years and 30% of those aged 18–34 years have one.

In Canada, if an individual passes away without a will, court appointed representatives are put in charge of their estate and the division of their assets. These circumstances can often result in significant tax burdens being passed on to survivors. The best way to avoid this loss of control over your estate is to create a will and ensure that it is kept up to date throughout your lifetime. The

PLANNED GIVING

Because the need will be there even after we are gone.

The Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Foundation works with our generous donors & the community-at-large to raise funds for Windsor-Essex’s only non-acute care hospital.

To learn more about Planned Giving, and how you can make a lasting impact on local healthcare, contact the HDGH Foundation.

HDGH.org/foundation | hdghf.info@hdgh.org

HDGH Foundation Team

Empower Tomorrow: Your Legacy, Their Future

Even the smallest gesture can shape generations

Your legacy isn't measured by its size, but by the lives it transforms. Leave a lasting impact for Windsor-Essex County's youth to reach their potential through United Way.

www.weareunited.com/legacy

To ensure a stronger Windsor Essex, we need to provide ALL young people with the support they need.

WAYS TO GIVE:

• Bequests

• Securities

• Life Insurance

• Gift Annuities

• Trusts and Tax-Free Savings Accounts

Legacy gifts to the Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation of Windsor Essex allows us to:

• Provide caring supportive adult mentors to children and youth still waiting

• Create programs to respond to our community’s most pressing challenges around youth mental health

windsor.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca

best way for your family to follow through with your desire to donate to charity is to include that part of the plan in a will.

What are some things you can do toward achieving your philanthropic goals? Here are some suggestions from the WILL POWER™ campaign:

Calculate your donation.

You can determine how much you want to leave to charity and how much you want your loved ones to receive, with a simple calculation. Speak to your advisor, or use the Legacy Calculator tool developed by WILL POWER™, at www.willpower.ca

Discover the tax benefits.

Did you know the Canadian government has created some of the best tax incentives in the world to encourage more giving to charity, especially from your estate? You may be able to give big to charity and take advantage of the tax benefits, all while leaving a sizable inheritance for your family and loved ones.

Ask a financial advisor.

Consulting a financial expert can help you maximize your donation and ensure it works in your favour. You can use WILL POWER™’s Financial Advisor Finder to match with an expert in your region. WILL POWER™ also has handy guides available to explore, which can help you start the conversation.

Find out how to keep the love going. Learn how a gift in your Will would be used to advance the causes you care about within your community by visiting www.willpower.ca and exploring local WILL POWER™ partner organizations!

More and more Canadians are using the power of their wills to make a positive change in the world, inspiring others and leaving a legacy in our communities. Join the movement and keep the love going for what matters to you!

For more information about Legacy Giving or the Windsor & Essex County Chapter of the CAGP, contact Kelly Gosselin, Chair, at: kelly.gosselin@uwindsor.ca

REFERENCES

1. 7 reasons why donors give & how to appeal to them (bonterratech.com)

2. Canada’s National Donor Demographics

| Charitable Impact | Blog

3. www.willpower.ca/about/

4. www.cagp-acpdp.org/en/will-power

Written by: Camille Armour Ross, Secretary, CAGP Windsor-Essex County Chapter, Senior Development Officer, University of Windsor.

RUSS MACKLEM

Local jazz trumpeter’s first album is nominated for a Juno Award

THERE IS A MYTH about great artists, that their talent comes easily, naturally. Master jazz man, trumpeter, composer, performer Russ Macklem says that his relationship with the trumpet had a rocky start.

“It sort of happened by mistake,” he explains. “I had to pick an instrument in seventh grade band, and I wasn’t keen about doing that. My best friend’s father was a trumpeter, so I chose trumpet because of that.”

Russ continues: “When I started playing, I was the worst in my class. I went for extra help. I just hated it. We had practice sheets that our parents had to sign, saying we practiced at home. My mom made me make fifteen minutes of sound every day with that trumpet, or else she wouldn’t sign the page. Eventually, regular practice combined with perseverance, the extra help, I got pretty good. By the end of the year, the band director was so proud she asked me to play a solo at the final band concert.”

Russ grew up in Kelowna, British Columbia—not exactly a hub for great jazz. That didn’t stop Russ from seeking gigs. By the time he was fifteen years old, he performed around Kelowna, in little cafés, in a quintet formed with fellow musicians from high school.

It’s no easy feat becoming a proficient musician but rising to a level where one begins composing music is a whole other accomplishment.

“I started composing in high school,” Russ remembers. “It’s the only thing that came naturally to me as a musician. I was writing way ahead of where my musical knowledge was. As a result, I’ve been going back lately into old sketches from fifteen years ago and putting together new compositions. With the knowledge I have now I can fix the music problems that originally stopped me.”

Much as Russ worked hard, on his own, to perfect his craft, he says that he was blessed all along his musical journey to have great teachers and mentors. He is also seasoned by travel.

“I’m unintentionally nomadic,” he says. “People wonder why I left Kelowna. For me the answer was clear: there wasn’t much music going on there. This is what I wanted to do. So, I set off following music—sometimes women—around North America.”

His travels finally brought Russ to Miami.

“I attempted to stay there as a freelancer,” Russ says, “but it just wasn’t working out.”

In 2019, after experiencing some personal and professional setbacks, Russ was burnt out and in need of a safe haven to regroup. He found that in Windsor, where his parents had settled. As Russ recalibrated, making plans to move to New York, a friend in the local jazz scene suggested he check out the Detroit Jazz Festival.

“I went,” Russ says, “and it blew me away. What an amazing community. I felt welcomed immediately. I loved how much a major festival featured local artists… how alive the city was. That weekend told me ‘You gotta stay and check this scene out.’”

Following the pandemic, Russ got into a groove, performing with his own groups. He landed a monthly residency playing every first Friday at Corktown’s Motor City Wine, and gigging regularly at Cliff Bell’s, Ann Arbor’s Blue Llama, and other clubs around Michigan.

“As a result of these performances, a set of music came together as a suite,” Russ says, “music I had written over a fifteen-year period that fit together. Most of my music is a narrative, a story. That’s how I come up with it—it was parts of my life that were fitting together.”

One of Russ’ best friends, Jesse Klirsfeld, a New York trumpet player whom Russ knew from Miami, had told him for years: “Make a live album! You’re so exciting live.”

The advice stuck with Russ until December 2022.

“Recording the album at Windsor’s own Phog Lounge was all quite serendipitous,” he explains. “Adam Arruda, a drummer in

story by matthew st. amand / photography by Garth Jackson

New York, a friend I hadn’t seen in six years was coming back to Toronto for the holidays. I told him I could set up some gigs in Windsor: one in Detroit, one at Phog. I called another friend from Toronto, guitarist Sam Dickinson and asked if he’d drive down with Adam. Then I called Detroit bass player Jonathon Muir-Cotton and asked saxophonist Kasan Belgrave to join in the gig. I had written some music specifically for Kasan. After a couple of days, I thought: ‘This is an amazing combination of musicians.’ I called Ron Skinner who owns TQM Recording Company and said: ‘Are you available on this day? I have a crazy idea: do you want to make a live record?’ He said: ‘All right.’”

The group played one performance in Detroit the night before recording at Phog Lounge, as sort of a rehearsal. From the first notes, Russ knew it would work.

“People thought we’d been playing together for twenty years,” he says. “Musicians that good… you can just get together and play like that. It’s like having two great minds debating each other on stage.”

On January 3, 2023, Russ and his friends gathered at Phog Lounge and recorded The South Detroit Connection in front of a live audience.

The result is nothing short of astonishing. And people have taken notice. The album recently received a Juno Award nomination for Jazz Album of the Year (Solo).

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to put my music out on the national stage,” Russ says. “It was also affirming to get a little recognition. I was already proud of the album—very satisfied with it as a first statement.”

As an artist, one must always look forward. Russ plans to continue working with Ron Skinner on more projects and has also been signed to Grammy-Award nominated saxophonist/producer/composer De’sean Jones’ record label KNMDK (knomadik) records. Russ recorded his first album for KNMDK in January. It will be released at a four-night gig June 20th-23rd at Cliff Bell’s in Detroit.

Beyond performing music, Russ derives great satisfaction out of teaching music in his teaching studio.

“I love teaching all ages,” he says, “trumpet, music theory, jazz improv, songwriting.”

Learn where to see Russ perform, or how to sign up for music lessons, by checking out www.instagram.com/russ.macklem or www.russmacklem.com.

Eric LaMarre, Owner

Lisa Williams Leaves The Timeless Wavelength

A Pillar of Windsor Media Says Goodbye

STORY BY MATTHEW ST. AMAND

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HEIKE DELMORE

IT’S DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE but it might well have come to pass—if not for a chance meeting, Lisa Williams’ thirty-eight-year career at AM800 may never have happened.

Asked how she became interested in radio, Lisa says: “Quite by accident! I had no intention of going into radio—it didn’t cross my mind at all. Even when I registered for Communications Studies at the University of Windsor. But during that summer, after grade thirteen, I ran into a friend, Melanie Kurzuk, who was a year or two older. As we caught up, she said she was working at AM580 CKWW.”

Lisa continues: “Melanie was producing a talk show and doing her own show, and said they were looking for a producer. She thought I would be great for the job. I ended up getting the job—I was a producer for Al Pervin who did a popular morning program, nine to noon.”

After a few months on the job, small opportunities opened for Lisa. She began overnight announcing on weekends and filled in as the weekend community reporter.

“That was back before the Internet, before cell phones,” Lisa explains. “I was in an old van on a CB radio.” For those

Clockwise from left: Lisa Williams and Mike Kakuk who recently celebrated 20 years together hosing the “Morning Drive with Mike and Lisa” radio show on AM800 CKLW; radio host Lisa Williams; Cam Gardiner , who passed away on October 19, 2021, a former longtime morning radio show host and co-hosted “The Cam and Lisa Show” for 16 years on AM580 CKWW and then AM800 CKLW with Lisa Williams. Photo courtesy CKLW.

who may not recall, a citizen’s band radio is a two-way radio system that allows shortrange communications.

And then Cam Gardiner returned to Windsor from Ottawa.

“His parents lived here, and one of them was ill,” Lisa remembers. “He wanted to be close to them. I started doing the traffic report in the morning and on-air conversation developed between Cam and me. At one point he said: ‘I’ve got this story. How about you stick around after your traffic report and chit chat with me about it?’”

That was back in a time when it was traditional that the man read the story and the woman would laugh. Cam turned this around and said to Lisa: “Why don’t you read the story?” So, Lisa did, and Cam laughed.

“He was open to breaking down walls,” Lisa recalls. “We loved conversing. He wanted me to be more a part of the show. When a co-host role on that show opened, I got it, and then they couldn’t get rid of me!”

Lisa’s evolution from producer, occasional on-air reporter to co-host took approximately twelve to eighteen months.

“Everything sort of overlapped,” she says. “I was still doing traffic, but also co-hosting and it all just developed. And all of this was happening while I was in school. I made sure my classes were all in the afternoon so I could keep my mornings open.”

Lisa has many fond memories of co-hosting with Cam Gardiner.

“He was the best mentor in the business,” she says. “He was so kind, so professional and he always said to me he was my biggest fan. He saw things in me I never would. He always included me in things and never embarrassed me on the air.”

And then the worst happened: Cam went off sick.

Mike Kakuk was a street reporter for AM800, and he came into the studio to fill-in for Cam. “When the time came that Cam couldn’t do it anymore,” Lisa says, “there was no question—Mike would fill his spot. Those were big shoes to fill and Mike did it seamlessly.”

Cam Gardiner passed away on October 19, 2021, a week before his 72nd birthday.

Hearing Cam and Lisa on AM800 and then the Morning Drive with Mike and Lisa, it is easy to assume that it’s just natural that co-hosts gel. It’s not.

“I’ve been really fortunate that I have had two co-hosts who worked so well with me,” Lisa says. “You can’t fake it because s

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it wouldn’t last long. You’d hear the tension. The show wouldn’t flow. It wouldn’t be as fun. That’s what I love about the show with Mike. It’s developed into something that’s easy—there is not a whole lot of stress. We trust one another. If you have a co-host you don’t trust, don’t believe in their ability, it’s a whole different ball game. I’ve been lucky to click with two different co-hosts.”

Last year Lisa and Mike celebrated their 20th anniversary hosting together.

After years as the trusted voice so many in Windsor start their morning with, how did Lisa realize it’s time to retire?

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about for the last year,” she says. “When my husband and I were in Europe for vacation in September, we talked about my retiring. Our children are adults. There are things my husband and I want to do. Our parents are aging.”

And then there’s the no-sleep part of the equation.

“I also wonder about a really long career in morning radio, and how that might affect my health—no-sleep is huge,” Lisa continues. “The older I get, the harder it is to get the sleep I need. I’m certainly not alone with this. We live in an automotive town and shift work comes with the territory. There are people who have worse issues. Like everyone else, it’s a reality I’ve dealt with because I love the job!”

When it comes to the things Lisa most enjoyed about her career in radio, she says: “More than anything, it’s the great people I’ve worked with. Radio is such a cool industry. It comes with all kinds of characters, and I’ve been so fortunate to work with some talented, funny, amazing people. It’s an honour to be that person in the morning that listeners wake up to. I’m the person that is going to let them know what they’re going to face that day.”

Listener response has been overwhelming. After announcing her retirement, the response from her audience was immediate.

“I thank everyone for their kind words,” Lisa says. “It’s always been about the listeners and the connection I have with them. I have basically grown up on radio. I’ve shared the significant milestones in my life—getting married, having kids. My listeners feel like family. They tune in and connect with the morning show and they feel like we’re family members. It’s a mutual feeling. How great has that been! I’ve been so fortunate to have this cool job for so many years, I feel like it’s a life-long bond.”

Back: Susie, Dr. Ed MacMurdo, Sarah. Front: Hanna, Jade, Rachel.

ROADMAP OF THE SOUL

Sometimes, Looking Back is the Only Way Forward

STORY BY MATTHEW ST. AMAND / PHOTOGRAPHY BY PRIYA THARMASEELEN

SONIA PALLECK’S powerful four-book series, Leave the Little Light On, tells the story of Athena Brkovich, a precocious young girl who navigates a gauntlet of trauma through her childhood, teen years, young adulthood, up to the front porch of middle age. Indeed, very soon into the series’ first installment, “Windsor,” Athena and her two older sisters are sent to live with relatives when their mother is hospitalized, and their father finds himself unable to care for them. This sets the rocky baseline for the experiences yet to come.

Inspiration to write this series came suddenly. Sonia still remembers the day: early on the morning of March 1, 2020. At an ungodly predawn hour, Sonia awoke to the sound of a man’s voice, which said to her: “It’s time to write!”

“That voice came from outside of my consciousness,” Sonia remembers. “I looked around, asked if someone was there.”

No one was there. Sonia was alone in the house.

“I got out of bed, went and got a journal and a pen,” she says, “and I started writing.”

Still half asleep, journal before her, Sonia found herself writing about a character named Athena.

“As I was writing and I realized she was me, I felt some resistance to sharing my personal history,” Sonia says, “but then I realized that there’s a greater purpose to getting this message out to people.”

Sonia was born in Windsor in 1968 and spent the first seven years of her life on Albert Road near the Ford Windsor engine plant.

“I grew up in a war-time house,” she recalls. “Seven of us lived in that threebedroom house. My mother didn’t drive, so I took the city bus to Gordon McGregor Public School.”

When she was seven years old, Sonia’s family moved to Tecumseh.

“The population was about twelve hundred people, at that time,” she continues. “We were the second house in that subdivision. My parents worked in Windsor, so we were latchkey kids, fending for ourselves at home and around the neighbourhood.”

Sonia attended Victoria and A. V. Graham public schools and then Belle River District High School for grades nine and ten.

“I completed grades eleven to thirteen at Herman high school,” she says. “I attended the University of Windsor and studied science on an academic scholarship. After graduation, I was accepted to dental school in London.”

Sonia has been a dentist since 1993 and an orthodontist for the past twenty-five years. Seeing up to a hundred patients a day, it’s not like Sonia has the spare time to read a book, much less write one—or four of them—but over an eighteen-month period, she did just that.

“I wrote an hour a day,” Sonia says. “From four o’clock in the morning until five. And then I went about my day and never gave the writing another thought—until the next morning. Every day I sat down and it just came back, this voice speaking to me, the words flowing.”

Among the surprises Sonia encountered during the composition of the book series were all the connections through the narrative that naturally formed.

“I never plotted out the story,” Sonia says. “I just wrote what came to me, so I was surprised that as I got into the series, the later books, I would make connections back to something I wrote in Book One. The connections came up on their own.”

Another surprise was seeing how some people, with whom Sonia didn’t feel particularly aligned, were often the ones who pushed her to see things from a new perspective. s

“An event might not seem important at the time,” Sonia says, “but looking back on it, it now gives me pause to consider something, to see situations differently. Recognize a pattern. It didn’t seem important at the time, but in retrospect… there were many people who were helpful to me who didn’t get mentioned in the book.”

In her professional life, Sonia is a pioneer of digital technology in orthodontics and lectures internationally—as well as instructing part time at Western University—teaching colleagues about customized appliances and outcomes to advance the profession. Sonia has traveled the world doing this, but she never forgets her Windsor roots.

“I think Windsor was a magical place to grow up in at that time,” Sonia says. “It’s extremely multicultural—everyone belongs somewhere… to a church, or a hall, or a cultural center. Windsor, with its blue-collar persona, has humility, which is something that is lost on a lot of people. Humility doesn’t mean groveling; it’s recognizing that we all have lots of opportunity to learn. Humility is necessary for learning. Windsor has that as a vibe, which makes us very powerful in terms of being able to shift to change, be malleable, to move through things. Windsor has a good sense of humour. It can be gritty. When something doesn’t work, we get down to work and fix it.”

Sonia has her own experiences of things not working, having to be malleable, and finding peace through humility. Inspiration to write Leave the Little Light On came after a series of reversals in her personal and professional lives. She lived through a divorce and lost both of her parents a few years apart. Sonia regrouped, reconnected with her humanity and realized that shaming and blaming only hindered healing. Rather than simply internalizing what she learned through these painful experiences, Sonia sought to encourage others by authoring her books.

And she is not done yet.

“Right now I am working on a two-book series, which is a totally different tale,” Sonia says. “And I’m also working on a Christmas story about the feminine divine, which I hope to have finished by December.”

Then she muses: “There are times I stop and wonder: ‘What is my genre?’ And I realized, it’s the human heart. The light and the dark and the condition of love. That’s a thread in all these books. That’s what I write about—the human experience.”

To learn more about Sonia’s books, visit her online at www.soniapalleck.com.

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