NEWSFLASH JUNE 2025 – Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce; Lois Fairley Nursing Award; Tecumseh Farmers’ Markets; New Leamington Chamber Board & The Arrival Of Piggy Mac
HALL OF FAME
Congratulations to the 2025 winners of the Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce (ACOC) 20th annual Business Excellence Awards. “We were excited to have another sold-out crowd to help us recognize and celebrate excellence in the Amherstburg business community at the McGregor Columbian Club,” comments Anne Creery, ACOC General Manager.
ACOC President Dan Gemus emceed the event on May 8 and Town of Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue and Lori Atkinson from Libro (title sponsor) brought greetings to the guests. There was an amazing group of Finalists this year and the winners are as follows: Believe Amherstburg Award: Amherstburg Broadcasting Corporation (107.9 FM The Burg); Large Business of the Year: Seasons Retirement Communities; Small Business of the Year: Bornais Insurance & Financial Services; Business Legacy: Walker Aggregates; New Business of the Year: Bucket List Coffee Roastery; Employer of the Year: Richmond Terrace; Professional of the Year: Dr. Kim Quinn, Fort Malden Animal Hospital; Health Care Professional of the Year: Beth Anne Topolie, Milestone Physiotherapy; Young Professional of the Year: Morghan Shearon, The House Youth Centre; Entrepreneur of the Year: Mary Lippert, Sweet Moments Cookie Co.; Most Attractive Improvement: Lauri & Kaine Brouyette, Hotel STRY; Excellence in Customer Service: Tanology Amherstburg Inc.; Tourism/Hospitality: Vivace Estate Winery; Welcoming Accessibility: Amherstburg Community Services; Community Service/Charitable: Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club; and Youth Engagement/Leadership: Ava Argoselo. Milestone Recognition Achievements went to James H. Sutton Funeral Home (120 years), Amherstburg Freedom Museum (50 years) and the River Town Times (30 years). For further details and to how to become a member, visit here.
The recipient of the 18th annual 2025 Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) Lois Fairley Nursing Award is Marisa Smith, a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) in the Operating Room (OR) at Windsor Regional Hospital’s Ouellette Campus. Described by her colleagues as a “calm, reassuring presence in the OR,” Smith helps ease patients’ anxieties while using her clinical skill to ensure surgeries are as safe and smooth as possible. Her leadership by example has earned her the respect of both her peers and supervisors. The award is named after Lois Fairley, a nursing and patient advocate who spent her career caring for patients at Grace Hospital until her retirement. Fairley passed away in 2007 and the RNAO began handing out the award in Windsor Essex in 2008.
THE RUNDOWN
The Town of Tecumseh is excited to launch the Tecumseh Farmers’ Markets! Join them the third Sunday of each month from June until October, from 9 a.m. until noon at Lacasse Park, 590 Lacasse Blvd. Experience the best of what our region has to offer, from vendors like Curbside Creamery, Raymont’s Berries, SoHum Scent Bar and many others!
The Leamington District Chamber of Commerce (LDCC) recently announced its 2025-26 Chamber Board of Directors as follows: President: Diane Malenfant, Community Futures Essex County; Vice President: Brandon Stanley, Stanedin; Secretary: Randy Sleiman, Security ONE Alarms and Executive Member at Large: Aaron Coristine, Essex Power Corporation. Board Members are: Connor Laino, of Ricci, Enns, Rollier & Setterington LLP; Melissa Loeppgy, Rosewood Erie Glen Retirement Residence; Carolyn Warkentin, South Essex Community Council; Sean Sutton, Enbridge; Paul Medeiros, Dream BNB Hospitality; Mike Chabot, Scotiabank; Israel Morales, Cancunsito Mexican Cuisine/El Rancho; Joe Sbrocchi, Pure Flavor Farms and Adrienne Girardin, Libro Credit Union. “This year’s board represents a diverse cross-section of our business community,” states Wendy Parsons, General Manager of the LDCC. “Their guidance will be key as we work to support and grow our local economy.”
NEW IN BIZ
In May, Kim Westman Zdunich and her husband Marc Zdunich opened up Piggy Mac, 1407 Ottawa Street in Windsor. It’s interesting to note that Kim is the Owner of Property Mom and Unreal Estate plus she is the Director of YQG kids, a ministry of New Song Church. She likes to keep busy to say the least! The location of her latest biz is in the lower level of the TD Bank with entrance on Moy Avenue next to Moy Medical Lab. The lunch take-out establishment serves up pulled pork sandwiches and homemade mac n’ cheese, with menu items like MAC (Gruyere and old Cheddar cheese), Piggy MAC (MAC topped with pulled pork), Nacho Piggy MAC, Peruvian Potatoes, nachos, pita and Hummus. Food is fresh, quick and ready to go with no advanced ordering required. To see their hours, check online.
