Biz X Magazine March 2020 Volume 23 Issue 3

ON THE COVER — “Under Social Media’s Thumb“ — 18 Social media is changing how companies interact and connect with their customers. In a way, it can be “controlling” your brand and online image. Facebook is one of the largest social media platorms in the world and one of its most recognizable images is the famous “Like” icon (thumbs up in the balloon graphic). And we all need more “likes” when we post content, so more customers learn about our brand right? So, is all this good for business or could it prove to be detrimental when negative comments are plastered on your page? Let’s find out what the Windsor Essex business community thinks. Photo credit: © Can Stock Photo/ra2studio

Biz X Magazine March 2020 Table of Contents

4 Funny Stuff
5 From The Publisher: Local Oxford Learning Centres Are On A (Downtown) Mission For The Needy
6 Editorial Viewpoint: Is Windsor No Longer – A Gambling Trailblazer? – Paul Burns (pictured), President and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, tells columnist Alan Halberstadt what Windsor will be missing, in cash and jobs, if the federal government doesn’t reverse its stubborn opposition to amending the criminal code to allow single event sports betting in Canada.
8 Front Lines
10 Heard On The Street
11 Awards Spotlight: The 30th Annual “Business Excellence Awards” – The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce recently announced the finalists of 10 award categories and two deserving recipients for its annual “Business Excellence Awards” celebration. Want to know which companies and people are in the running? Then simply flip the page to this section now, but be sure to return back to this page right after so you don’t miss a lot of other good stuff!
15 Newsflash
16 Dates To Remember
24 Tech Bytes: Tips To Engage Your Audience On Social Media Platforms
26 Food For Thought: Ten Friends Diner, Wyandotte East At Moy Avenue, Serves Up Good Grub And An Even Better Operation
27 XX Files: (Plant) Joy To The World, Jordynne Ropat Reigns!
30 Accounting Counts: Exit Strategies For Family Businesses
31 Portfolio Corner: Socially Responsible Investing
32 Have A Cup Of Joe With Joe: Trash Talk With JunkGone Services
33 Ask The Experts: The Sweet Smell Of A Clean Home Sells
34 THE PARENTING BIZ: Keeping Your Kids Safe On Social Media Platforms – Is your child obsessed with being on their phone or laptop constantly and are you worried about their safety? Then it’s time to have THE talk! Just as you always tell your child to look both ways before crossing the street or to wear a helmet while riding their bike, teach them to be smart before they share photos, comments and opinions online. We’re here to help you get the conversation on safe social media practices started with advice from Facebook and other Internet experts.
37 March Break Guide To Fun: Activities, Camps & Events
39 Biz Bits: Can Parents Be Good Entrepreneurs?
40 Let’s Talk About: Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society – New Foster Parent And Adoption Recruitment Campaign
42 Take The Lead: Girls, Get Ready To Rock And Roll
43 Making A Sound Living: Scott Boorey, Manager For Steve Miller And Gregg Rolie
45 Event Profile: Life’s A “Drag” For These Upcoming Shows
47 Hot Shots: “T2B Goes East”- The theme of the 23rd annual Transition To Betterness (T2B) gala may have been inspired by Moroccan, Indian and Arabian cultures, but Biz X photographer Rod Denis didn’t have to travel too far to discover plenty of attendees ready to smile for his camera. Just one example happened in the VIP Lounge area with Doris Lapico, T2B Co-Founder and Jeff Burrows of LiUNA Bluesfest Windsor (T2B is their annual designated charity), Crash Karma and The Tea Party bands. So who else did Rod bump into on T2B’s big night? As usual, we have the photos to show you!
50 Hot Shots: In Honour Of The Ones We Love Inc. 22nd Annual “Dreams Do Come True Gala” Pics 52 From The Bookshelf : Freedom Seekers And Farmerettes
53 The Way It Was: Windsor Downtown Lions Club Celebrates 100 Years
54 Biz Of The Month: It’s Easy Being Green At Green Envy

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 WEtech Alliance Celebrates Social Media Day 2018 with 8th Annual Community Chalk Tweet

Join WEtech Alliance and their Social Media Superheroes group on Social Media Day 2018 Saturday, June 30, 2018, for the 8th Annual Community Chalk Tweet taking place at the Lanspeary Park Rink from 11am-1pm.

Launched by multimedia company Mashable in 2010, Social Media Day takes place all around the world to celebrate social media’s impact on global communication. Saturday, June 30th, 2018 marks the ninth-annual official global celebration.

WEtech Alliance, a non-profit organization helping accelerate tech-based companies in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent, along with its Social Media Superheroes – a peer-to-peer group of over 30 local social media superheroes that represent a cross-section of our community, including school boards, the media, non-profit organizations and businesses – will once again be celebrating the occasion with their 8th annual Community Chalk Tweet.

“Social Media connects people, businesses and organizations from around the world, like never before.  Our annual Community Chalk Tweet is a fun celebration of those connections and an opportunity to share the things we love about our region and our Country, to a global Social Media Day audience.”  – John-Marc Vachon, Director of Programs & Marketing, WEtech Alliance

WEtech Alliance has partnered with City of Windsor and organizations and businesses including the University of Windsor EPICentre, Cypher Systems Group, Motor City Community Credit Union, Kelcom.net, John McGivney Children’s Centre, Pinchin, Parker DKI and Demario’s Auto Clinic to make this a fun, FREE, community event open to all residence and visitors in Windsor-Essex.

The community is invited to grab some chalk and share their favourite things about Canada, Windsor and Essex County.

Participants will then be encouraged to snap a picture of their creation and upload it to social media using the official hashtag #SMdayYQG. #YQG and #SMday are also encouraged secondary hashtags.

The event will feature a soundtrack of music from local artists; free coffee & treats compliments of Personal Service Coffee, Blab Media and Parker DKI; a free Canada themed t-shirt to the first 200 attendees compliments of WEtech Alliance and M&M Designs; and fun, interactive activities and giveaways from Windsor Express, Imaginative Group, Rogues Gallery Comics, the Windsor Spitfires and more!

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Welcome friends, pull up a chair and pour yourself a ‘Cup of Joe’ and let’s chat a little about civil discourse in social media…

First of all, on behalf of all of us at Biz X magazine, I extend to you and all your loved ones the very best for 2017. May it be a prosperous, safe and healthy year for you.

We find ourselves just two weeks away from the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States, President-elect Donald Trump. Regardless of your position on him, his values or policies, he will be the President of the United States for at least the next four years. To say the presidential campaign of 2016 was the most tumultuous, hyperbolic, and contentious campaign in recent US presidential history, is an understatement.

Emerging from this campaign, however, is an expression that has totally captivated me. It was used frequently by President Obama as he stumped for Hillary Clinton. In his frequent responses to many of the comments and statements made by ‘the Donald’, Obama would intone “C’mon, Man” with a vocal expression of incredulity, frustration and exasperation. I have just recently discovered that Obama’s “C’mon, Man” was appropriated by him from ESPN’s popular sports recap show.

C’Mon, Man, though gender specific, applies equally to both genders.

Where I find myself using this expression is in my response to so many the things I read in social media. I believe in good and wholesome dialogue – the free exchange of ideas and views. It is the right of all in a democratic society. But that dialogue should be rooted in fact, expressed with civility and offered for the purpose of enhancing or advancing social issues. Too many Facebook posters earn a big C’Mon, Man from me when these three principles are ignored.

Let me illustrate this with a couple of examples that originated with Windsor Star stories, and the readers’ comments they engendered on Facebook, one before Christmas, and one in the first week of this new year.

A few weeks before Christmas, the Director and the CEO of the Windsor Downtown Mission, Ron Dunn, penned an article of support for Windsor’s proposed Mega-Hospital location and revamping our regional healthcare system.

Here is part of why he supports this project: “If the plan consisted of just one element, the new hospital to replace both acute care sites (Windsor Regional Hospital’s current Metropolitan and Ouellette campuses), I would question whether it would meet the needs of citizens throughout Windsor, in particular those we see at The Downtown Mission each and every day, who represent some of our community’s most vulnerable and marginalized individuals.

I was delighted to learn that the project entails so much more than just a fancy new acute care site. According to the extensive materials posted at windsorhospitals.ca, the project identifies some $300 million in investment to the city’s core, which represents much needed new health care infrastructure.”

And for expressing his opinion, Dunn was assailed in Facebook postings (re. Windsor Star Letter) and on the CAMPP (Citizens for an Accountable Megahospital Planning Process) Facebook page. I read the negative comments of some of the posters who vehemently disagreed with Dunn and who threatened to withhold future donations and contributions to the Windsor Downtown Mission because of his position. All I could say was C’Mon, Man!

Just because you disagree with him you are willing to punish the needy and the most vulnerable in our community? How petty and how disgraceful. I suspect that many of the posters making these threats of retribution have probably never donated to, or helped fund, the Windsor Downtown Mission. Their threats reminded me of the expressions: ”throwing the baby out with the bathwater” and “cutting off your nose to spite your face”.

This was not the first time the anti-Mega-Hospital crew took exception to a social agency organization who disagreed with them. Months before, The Windsor Alzheimer Society experienced a similar backlash. Can we not agree to disagree without threats of retribution, boycott and paybacks?

More recently a ‘huuuge’ C’Mon, Man was earned by some responders to the Windsor Star’s January 3rd. article by Mary Caton regarding the local contingent of women (and men) planning to attend the Women’s March on Washington D.C., a day after the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States. Whoa! What audacity these Windsorites are demonstrating by crossing the border to support their southern and brothers and sisters.

Pat Papadeas, local coordinator for the march, explained to the Star their purpose for engagement: “For those of us who watched the antics and heard what was said by the person who was running for president and is now the president-elect, we heard things as women that make us shudder,” Papadeas said. “Things we thought we were well past. This is a set back as far as how we are perceived.”

I invite you to review the January 3rd. Windsor Star article on this matter and to read the subsequent comments posted. You will quickly see why many of the posters deserve a big C’Mon, Man.

The criticisms came from both genders and took the local women to task for such things as “overlooking our own Canadian and provincial concerns, problems and issues” and “interfering in another country’s politics”. The rhetoric they voiced was an embarrassment to themselves and an assault to logical and reasoned discourse. I got so frustrated with a few of these posters that I posted “NEWS ALERT:  Mark, Rob and Mark … please contact the authorities immediately. Three villages are reporting their idiots missing!”

So my friends, perhaps at the beginning of this new year we can all resolve to keep in mind that in our social media banter we strongly attempt to have our exchange of thoughts and ideas “rooted in fact, expressed with civility and offered for the purpose of enhancing or advancing social issues”.

In doing so, we can change C’Mon, Man to ‘Atta Boys’!

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As social media continues to thrive and capture the younger generation, there are growing numbers of businesses and non-profit organizations creating social media support pages (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) in order to approach teens with their message.

Teenagers spend hours each day on social media and these social media support pages not only bring insightful ideas to the minds of the younger generation, it also lets them know they are not alone.

One type of social media I use on a daily basis is Twitter. I follow numerous different accounts from friends at school, support and awareness pages and those who tweet inspiring messages to get me through the day.

Some Twitter accounts that are active daily and actually respond back to their follows is Depression Army, a non-profit organization of a dedicated army of people committed to social action on depression.

As an ambassador of this organization, I know first hand how committed and resilient these individuals are, who themselves along with friends or family, have suffered from depression.

Other social media support pages include “FootPrints Across The World” dedicated to bringing awareness to depression and suicide prevention, “TWLOHA” (To Write Love On Her Arms) devoted to finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.

Another great group is called “Tell Somebody”, this is another non-profit organization faithful to the awareness and hope to end child molestation.

Different organizations are creating Facebook and Twitter accounts in order to relay messages and events to teens to let them know how they can get involved in causes they are passionate about. Brain Injury Windsor and East Seals Ontario are just two of the accounts I follow and I always read their inspiring messages daily.

Using these social media outlets are not only encouraging teens to get involved, but are also showing how much support our community has for causes that affect our loved ones everyday.

Lastly, there is one group of Facebook and Twitter accounts that have really stood out to me over the last couple weeks as they continue to empower youth to be themselves and be proud of their accomplishments. “Young Minds, Time To Change,” and “Mind” are Twitter accounts that are passionate about leading young people to a positive future.

Through physical and mental stability, showing respect and support for others, and ending discrimination, these organizations are committed to making a difference while sharing their initiatives and positive ideas among others.

Social media has drastically changed the way our society sends messages and how we relay information but one true fact remains, teens are definitely getting the message one way or another.

With all these support, awareness, non-profit, and event pages, organizations are truly touching hearts and reaching people’s mind’s.

Teens and parents….make sure you check them out!

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Is your teen glued to their computer screen/social media and you’re unsure of what they could be doing?

Social media is one of the most influential aspects of a teenager’s life next to parents and their peers. Find out now a few tips on how online connections can be safer.

Social media can be used to connect with friends and family across the world, search for information, and share interests through virtual communities and networks but is that really what our teens are using this source for?

Studies show 91% of Canadian Internet users have a social media account and 66% have used social media in the past month according to CanadianInternet.com. Visit their site HERE.

Teenagers don’t realize how much information the Internet has collected over the years of our personal lives, every post, comment, and like can be documented and traced. Teenagers have the tendency to skip over reading the privacy policies and terms of service because of the pages on pages of tiny written rules and guidelines.

Teens are unaware of the potential dangers of social networking such as stalking, identity theft, online victimization, and location updates. To this day, 68% of students believe if a social network has a privacy policy, that means “they will not share my personal information with anyone according to a Canadian study on teens using social media.”

In order to protect your teen from these risks, realize the threats your teen could be victimized by thoroughly checking their social media for bullying and inappropriate comments. Passwords should always be kept a secret and complex in order to avoid hackers. Simply changing your passwords every now and then can keep people from invading your personal accounts and finding information on you.

Teens have a tendency to follow and add people they don’t know on social media sites such as Twitter and Instagram which can create an open playing field for predators and stalking.

Teaching your teen about the dangers of talking to people online can alleviate pressure from bad influences, peer pressure, and a difference in opinion with those they may not know personally.

Teenagers in my generation tend to post personal information online such as phone numbers, driver licence numbers and other personal data about themselves that others can steal and use to pretend to be someone they are not. Also, posting what school you attend, what street you live on, and where you will be at what time can also lead to a predator having easy access to finding you.

Keep your teens safe and properly teach them how to use social media to their advantage, not someone else’s.

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