#local Home & Garden Magazine

SPRING 2023 

ISSUE # 02 

Lawncare 

That Makes the Cut 

SPRINGTIME ESSENTIALS HOME & GARDEN PHOTO FEATURES

Contents 

Letter from the Editor 4 

We wish you a wonderful 

warm weather season. 

Spring Bucket List 6 

Some great ideas to 

make the most of spring. 

Bike Safety Tips 29 

Make sure to stay safe as we head 

outside with the warmer weather. 

Home and Garden 

Businesses 

TJ’S FURNITURE 

& HOME DECOR 

8 

CO-OPERATORS CORUNNA 

10 

HUCKER FLOOR COVERINGS 

11 

IN MOTION HEALTH, 

WELLNESS & FITNESS 

12 

SIPKENS NURSERIES 

19 

BUSINESS DIRECTORY 

22 

GREAT LAKES REFILL CO. 

24 

DEAN HOLTZ PHOTOGRAPHY 

26 

10 

FLECK LAW 

28 

ADVANCED BUILDING 

MATERIALS 

30 

MCFARLAN ROWLANDS 

INSURANCE BROKERS 

43 

THE EYE OPENER 

47 

ALL SYSTEMS MECHANICAL 

52 

DEGROOT’S NURSERIES 

62 

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11 

62

Contents 

Spring Essentials 

SPRING BUCKET LIST 

6 

LOW WASTE PICNIC 

7 

BICYCLE SAFETY 

29 

CURB APPEAL 

31 

SELF CARE FROM 

GREAT LAKES REFILL CO. 

46 

SPRING CLEANING GUIDE 

54 

SPRING RECIPE FROM 

PERSONAL TOUCH 

EATERY & CATERING 

64 

14 

36 56 

PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES 

SIERRA REI HART 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

14 

BOOKFACE PHOTOS 

BY THE BOOK KEEPER 

36 

OH ME NERVES 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

56 

MISTAKES WE’VE MADE IN SUPPORTING LOCAL 

44 

RACE TO ERASE 

48 

#CHARITABLE 

66 

THE #LOCAL TEAM 

68 

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Nicole Smith 

Twin Bridges Exit Realty 20 

Great Lakes Refill Co. 24 

Green Scene Lawn Care 

and Landscaping 32 

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#local Sarnia-Lambton 

Letter from the Editor 

Welcome to the second edition 

of the #local magazine! 

If you’re a returning reader, welcome back. We are grateful for your continued 

support of this initiative. And if you are new to the magazine, we’re glad you are 

here. 

The #local magazine continues to be a space that centres on the community we love, 

Sarnia-Lambton, this time with a focus on your home. 

A home is a sanctuary. It is a place you can retreat from the world and be entirely 

yourself. And whether you love wild gardens or strict rows of flowers and trees, 

your yard is a natural manifestation of your home. It is the outside space that you 

can call your own, use as you desire, and enjoy. Plus, with summers like the ones 

we enjoy in this area, our outside spaces deserve as much love and attention as the 

inside ones! 

Fortunately, a home doesn’t just have to be the place where you rest your head. Here 

in Sarnia-Lambton, we hope that arriving home starts for you when you drive past 

the Lambton County sign and follows you all the way through your front door. 

When you work on something that means as much to you as your home and garden, 

you want to work with like-minded individuals. The local businesses featured in 

this magazine understand what it means to own a home and the pride you put into 

your space. They focus on providing quality services for everything from yard and 

garden maintenance to HVAC work, to helping you sell your home and find a new 

one. They can take care of your home, just like they would their own. We hope this 

magazine helps you find the right person or business for all the dreams you have 

for your space. 

From all of us at #local, we wish you a wonderful warm weather season. May the 

beer be local and cold, and the food on the grill taste extra sweet this spring. And as 

always, we hope you find the word home extends beyond your front door to include 

the places and businesses that make up this unique tapestry of a community. 

Kaley Holder 

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hashtaglocal.com 

publisher 

RICH BOUCHARD 

editor 

KALEY HOLDER 

copy editing 

ALEX CONDIE 

story writers 

MIKE BROPHY 

ALISON MCKINNON 

RICH BOUCHARD 

LAURA GREAVES 

KALEY HOLDER 

lead 

photographer 

SIERRA HART 

lead designer 

BLUE MONSTER 

CREATIVE 

lead sales 

RYAN METZLER 

For magazine inquiries 

please contact: 

hello@hashtaglocal.com 

Designed, printed, 

and produced in Canada. 

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2. vist a local farmers market 

1. plan & plant 

your own garden 

3. enjoy a picnic 

bucket list 

5. have your spring 

family photos taken 

4. host the first BBQ 

of the year 

6. set up a bird feeder, 

bath, and house 

10. savour the first 

ice cream of the year 

9. visit Canatara Park 

7. host an outdoor 

movie night 

8. take a family bike ride 

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Hummus from Personal Touch Eatery 

and tortilla chips 

Grab one of their reusable Stasher bags 

or steel tins to store all your delicious snacks 

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TJ’s Furniture & Home Decor 

When you walk into Sarnia’s TJ’s 

Furniture & Home Decor, do not 

expect to be instantly surrounded 

and steered toward the cash 

register. Rather, expect a welcoming 

smile from Danielle Russell 

and John Vander Maden who will 

gladly answer any of your questions 

and patiently guide you toward 

your potential purchase. 

You see, customer comfort and 

satisfaction is job number one at 

TJ’s. “When you come into TJ’s 

you meet John or me and we are 

genuine, authentic people and we 

want our customers to feel at ease 

when they shop here,” Danielle 

says. “Ours is a low-stress, super 

fun, non-commission sales job. It 

is all about customer service and 

that is how we market ourselves.” 

John, 70, has been working at 

TJ’s for nearly 25 years and says 

he has no plans to retire any time 

soon. “I couldn’t sit around and do 

nothing,” John proclaims, “I’ve got 

to keep busy.” Danielle, 43, is approaching 

her fourth anniversary at 

TJ’s. “This is a family-owned business 

and it has been around since 

1992,” Danielle says. “I did training 

and development for a non-profit 

organization prior to this so I was 

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familiar with doing sales and retail. 

This was a new avenue for me and 

it is a lot of fun. I just knew working 

here would be a great fit for me.” 

The business was started by 

current owners Tim Kember and 

Janet Cole, who originally ran the 

business out of a flea market. TJ’s 

Furniture & Home Decor was then 

located on London Road where 

the Refined Fools Brewery is now 

before moving to its current location 

at 1644 London Line six years 

ago. “The owners pop in every now 

and then, but they also travel a 

lot,” John says, “They can see that 

Danielle and I both enjoy what we 

are doing here, so they feel at ease. 

They trust us to just do our thing.” 

John feels the fact TJ’s is an independent 

operation gives them 

an edge over some of their larger 

corporate competitors. “We don’t 

have a problem with the competition,” 

John says. “We are known 

for our quality and the non-pressure 

from our sales staff. The attitude 

of the sales staff at some 

of the big box stores turns some 

customers off. That is what I have 

been told. The customers don’t 

experience that here. They come 

in and within moments they are 

laughing, smiling, and having fun.” 

John enjoys hunting for good 

furniture he knows will impress 

his regular customers. “We do a 

lot of investigating before we begin 

a relationship with a new company. 

I like to read reviews and see 

and touch and sit on their product 

before we commit to it. Being 

a small independent, if we have 

an issue with a company, we know 

there are plenty of others out there 

so I wouldn’t hesitate to go to a 

better one,” John explains. This 

“It is all about customer service 

and that is how we market ourselves.” 

keeps the stock at TJ’s constantly 

changing. “You will see something 

one day and you might not 

see it again. Our regular customers 

appreciate it,” shares Danielle. 

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Co-operators Corunna 

Shaun Antle insists he has a 

great working relationship with 

his business partner, Tara. That’s a 

good thing considering Shaun and 

Tara are also husband and wife! 

The dynamic duo run Corunna’s 

Co-operators, a satellite agency to 

Sarnia-based Fabien Jagoo and Associates 

Inc. They delight in serving 

St. Clair Township as a team. 

“I started in 2009,” says Shaun. “I 

joined Co-operators in 2010, Tara 

joined us shortly after in 2012. Tara’s 

been in the business since 2006.” 

While Shaun was working for Co-operators, 

Tara was working at a brokerage. 

“It didn’t make sense for us to be 

working for different insurance companies,” 

Tara says, “so I decided to 

merge over to Co-operators.” Over the 

years, Shaun’s goals have changed in a 

large part because he values the opportunity 

of working with his wife and 

because of the autonomy their owner 

(Fabien Jagoo) provides the couple. 

This year marks their 10th anniversary 

in Corunna. Since opening, the 

Antle’s have evolved from representing 

about 87 households to over 700. 

Both Shaun and Tara feel it’s important 

to promote and be a part of 

their community. “At the beginning, 

I wore expensive watches and threepiece 

suits, but it wasn’t who I was, 

nor who I wanted to be,” Shaun says. 

“In a small town like Corunna, it’s not 

the materialistic mindset that builds 

trust, it’s connecting on a personal 

level with the people of the community.” 

Tara also knows the benefit of 

being grounded in the community. 

“I don’t want my clients running 

away from me at the grocery store. I 

want to be able to talk to and know 

them beyond their policy numbers.” 

Shaun recently had a client contact 

him after hours. “At the end, he 

thanked me and said he was sorry 

to bother me on the weekend, but 

my availability is one of the reasons 

he deals with me,” Shaun says. 

The couple believes their solid 

partnership gives them a leg up 

in the industry. “There are a lot of 

advisors,” Shaun says, “however, 

there are not many husband-andwife 

teams. That is something that 

we feel appeals to the community. 

Where one lacks, the other fills 

in the gaps, it’s how we operate.” 

Shaun recently completed two 

years of education through Advocis, 

the Financial Advisors Association 

of Canada, obtaining his Professional 

Financial Advisor Designation. 

He adds this to nearly 14 years of experience 

and his industry-standard 

Life License (LLQP). “My experience 

and education give me the tools required 

when it comes to advising 

and providing a holistic approach 

for clients.” Tara currently holds her 

Other Than Life License and specializes 

in Home, Auto, Commercial/ 

Non-Profits, and Farm insurance. 

With nearly 17 years of experience, 

Tara is well-equipped to provide her 

clients with the necessary professional 

advice they need. With over 30 

years of combined experience, this 

power couple not only enjoys what 

they do but believes they are thriving 

thanks to the support of their local 

community and its surrounding area. 

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Hucker Floor Coverings 

Charlie Hucker started working in 

the flooring industry when he was 

18 years old. In 1992, after many 

years in both installation and sales, 

Hucker bought a shop-at-home 

flooring franchise. All the flooring 

samples were in his van and he 

brought them right to the customer’s 

home. Ten years later, he decided 

to leave that concept and opened 

Hucker Floor Coverings, a brickand-mortar 

store with a showroom. 

Hucker Flooring has been at its current 

location, 1383 Confederation 

Street, for ten years, and in 2018 they 

expanded the showroom and warehouse 

to offer a wider selection to 

their customers. Hucker’s sons, Kevin 

and Dale, joined the family business 

in 2007 and 2012 respectively. 

“I look after the sales side of things, 

and Dale manages the warehouse and 

installations. My dad is here regularly 

to support and consult with us,” 

explains Kevin. Both brothers had 

careers in other cities but returned 

home to put down roots and contribute 

to the family business. “My 

grandfather owned a flooring store 

and my great-grandfather was in 

flooring as well, so we are the fourth 

generation of Huckers involved in 

this business and we are proud of that 

legacy. Our goal is to keep that going.” 

Hucker Floor Coverings sells 

brand-name tile, laminate, hardwood, 

carpet, and luxury vinyl. 

They also install custom showers, 

backsplashes, and accent walls. “We 

have a fantastic team who are 100% 

customer-focused and passionate 

about design. Our job is to make the 

whole process as easy as possible,” explains 

Kevin. Customers are asked a 

range of questions to help determine 

which type of flooring would be best 

for them and are encouraged to take 

samples home to see how the flooring 

looks with their furnishings and 

lighting. “We stay on top of trends 

by going to design shows and flooring 

conventions.” The team at Hucker 

can also take any broadloom product 

and make a custom area rug. 

The majority of Hucker Flooring’s 

business is residential, but they 

complete work in new builds and 

commercial properties as well. The 

installation team prides itself on its 

workmanship. “Our installers are 

professional and knowledgeable,” 

shares Dale. “We are here for our customers 

before, during, and after the 

sale. I love seeing a customer’s room 

or project completed and how happy 

they are with their choices and the 

entire process. It’s very rewarding.” 

“It’s great to be able to help people 

transform their homes,” Kevin adds. 

“I really love the interaction with our 

customers.” Both value the creativity 

and flexibility that comes with owning 

a business. “I can’t gush enough 

about our staff. We work hard to 

create an environment where everyone 

can thrive.” The Hucker family 

is grateful for the support the community 

has shown them. “The people 

of Sarnia have been extremely 

loyal and we are thankful. As kids, 

we were told that if you do a good 

job, the business will flourish, and 

that’s exactly what has happened.” 

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In Motion Health, Wellness & Fitness 

Things have changed a bit for 

In Motion: Health Wellness & 

Fitness since the doors opened in 

2007. When recent graduates Dr. 

Brendan Carney Kilian and Dr. 

Luke Winegard started the business, 

their vision was to create a 

multidisciplinary clinic that could 

help clients set and achieve their 

health and fitness goals. “This was 

a new concept in Sarnia, but we 

managed to do it,” Dr. Brendan explains. 

Since those early days, Dr. 

Winegard has departed for Spain, 

but Dr. Brendan, alongside his 

faithful office manager, Jodi Rawcliffe, 

are determined to make In 

Motion bigger and better than ever. 

In Motion’s staff has expanded 

to include chiropractors Dr. Jane 

Pilkey and Dr. Joel Simpson, registered 

massage therapists Amanda 

Sargent and Jennifer Van Horne, 

personal trainer Kristi Kleinsmith, 

chiropodist Adam Gray, client relations 

specialists Erica Verberne and 

Alexis Rosandich, and registered 

dietician and sports nutritionist 

Stefanie Senior. “We’ve been able 

to bring all kinds of talented people 

together in one location to offer personalized 

and evidence-based care 

to our clients,” Dr. Brendan adds, 

“We are always looking for extra help 

to meet demand and are currently 

working to add additional massage 

and physiotherapy team members.” 

Like so many businesses, In Motion 

was hit hard by the COVID-19 

pandemic. “Our business was closed 

for nearly three months and that was 

a trying time,” Brendan says. “We 

were only able to provide emergency 

care to patients and there were 

some moments when we weren’t 

sure how things would rebound. 

With the benefit of hindsight, I 

can now say we have come out 

the other side stronger as a team.” 

In Motion is now also offering additional 

treatments and technologies 

to maximize patient outcomes. 

“Since opening, we have expanded 

our offerings to include medical la- 

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ser, shockwave therapy, custom orthotics, 

regular nail and foot care, 

orthopaedic and sports bracing, 

compression stockings, medical 

acupuncture, and cupping,” Dr. 

Brendan explains. “It is wonderful 

to have so many options available 

to our clients – what works 

for one patient does not always 

work for the next and so it is great 

to have a strong team and multiple 

treatment options available.” 

What makes In Motion stand 

out from other healthcare clinics 

is the staff ’s dedication to exceptional 

customer service. Dr. Brendan 

asserts, “We are passionate 

about helping people live healthier 

and more active lives. We regularly 

hear from our clients that they 

appreciate the friendly and welcoming 

atmosphere along with the 

quality of service, the variety of 

options, and the results they see.” 

If you are looking for a onestop 

shop for all your health and 

fitness needs, you should check 

out In Motion: Health-Wellness-Fitness 

on Pontiac Drive. 

Prevent Injuries While 

Working In Your Yard 

Did you know gardening is the most common source of 

back and neck pain during the warm weather season? 

Many Ontarians sustain injuries that could easily be 

prevented with a little know-how. 

In Motion has provided 8 tips to help keep you in your yard 

doing what you love most! 

1. Stretch before you start: reach to both sides, twist your torso, 

rotate your shoulders and wrists, and touch your toes (5 times 

each) gently. 

2. Before lifting something heavy, get close to it and bend to lift 

using your legs keeping your back straight. Pivot your feet, don’t 

twist! 

3. Alternate chores: heavy-light-heavy-light. Don’t do it all at 

once! 

4. Change your position often: kneel, then stand, then sit, then 

move. 

5. When raking, ease potential back strain by putting one leg in 

front of the other and switching legs and hands from time to time. 

6. Kneel to plant and weed. Don’t bend! Use knee pads or a mat 

to reduce back strain. 

7. Take frequent breaks to stretch, drink water, rest, and reapply 

sunscreen. 

8. If you suffer an injury, visit a chiropractor so you can get back 

to doing the things you love. 

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Sierra Rei Hart Photography 

Sarnia-based photographer Sierra Hart works closely with #local, 

capturing businesses, organizations, and events across the county. 

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Sipkens Nurseries 

The first thing that jumps out to 

any visitor to Sipkens Nurseries 

website is the bold statement: family-owned 

and operated in Wyoming 

since 1989. That’s because, without 

question, the Sipkens family takes 

great pride in their homegrown business 

that was started by parents Ken 

and Jennifer. Their five children have 

taken over the operation of Sipkens 

Nurseries, but Ken and Jennifer are 

still very much a part of the operation. 

“My parents were looking for an opportunity 

for growth,” says Brian Sipkens, 

who serves as the garden centre’s 

manager. “Ken was previously engaged 

in horticultural businesses and 

didn’t see any opportunities where he 

was, so he struck out on his own and 

originally started with a landscape and 

garden centre and wholesale growing 

operation. Each of those parts of 

the business has grown since then.” 

Like many children whose parents 

run a business, Brian remembers 

working at the nursery from a very 

young age. “Every day after school I 

remember doing something at the 

business – whether I wanted to or 

not,” Brian says with a chuckle. It 

was a natural progression when the 

kids joined the business on a fulltime 

basis. “There was no coercion 

or my parents saying, ‘You have to 

do this,’ ” Brian insists. “It was in 

our blood. We have all been actively 

working in the business full-time 

for 20 years.” Brian works with his 

brothers Mark, Brad, and Chris as 

well as their sister Alyssa Degroot. 

Sipkens Nurseries is divided into 

three divisions – the landscaping division, 

which is design-to-completion; 

a wholesale plant division, which 

focuses mainly on small plants; and 

a garden centre, which is open yearround. 

Brian laughs at the notion 

that people who work in the industry 

take the winters off. “It seems we get 

a couple of days off at Christmas and 

then we are right back into it with 

business and production planning for 

spring, which is our busiest season,” 

Brian says. Like so many businesses, 

Sipkens Nurseries had to rely heavily 

on online sales during the COVID-19 

pandemic to remain profitable. 

“When we were forced to shut down, 

we moved our operations to entirely 

remote services doing curbside 

pickups or delivery services,” Brian 

says. “We were live-product shopping 

on our website within three days.” 

Business flourished for Sipkens 

during the pandemic. “People have 

been stuck at home the past few years 

and there is definitely more attention 

paid to the property where they are 

spending the majority of their time,” 

Brian says. “There is so much health 

and well-being associated with being 

in the garden or in the yard, enjoying 

fresh air outdoors, seeing the beauty 

of creation.” The Sipkens family 

feels very blessed to work together 

carrying on their parents’ dream. 

“We are all putting our vision to 

work in little and larger ways,” says 

Brian. “It is a group effort – a team 

effort. Being able to work as a family 

is rare, but it has a lot of perks.” 

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Nicole Smith - Twin Bridges EXIT Realty 

Nicole Smith is the first to admit 

that the thrill of closing a deal is what 

motivates her when it comes to working 

as a real estate agent. “I’ve always 

worked in sales and I am definitely a 

very social person,” Nicole proclaims. 

“I got to know a lot of people while 

working locally at the mall, first at Aldo 

Shoes and later at Danier Leather as a 

manager at both stores. At the time, we 

had a booth at the mall for real estate 

agents and I started talking to a guy at 

the booth who suggested that I would 

make a fantastic real estate agent. I 

had thought about it before, but when 

he said it to me, I took his advice to 

heart and that was a driving force for 

me to take the appropriate courses.” 

Not being one who shies away from 

challenges, in 2014 Nicole plunged 

headfirst into her new career by joining 

Sarnia’s EXIT Realty Twin Bridges 

located at 1323 Michigan Ave, Sarnia. 

She was an immediate hit, winning 

the company’s national Rookie of the 

Year Award. “It was amazing,” Nicole 

recalls. “It was a huge surprise. Being a 

new agent, I didn’t even know that the 

award existed. I was surprised when 

the Canadian president of EXIT Real- 

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ty honoured me with a special breakfast 

and made the big announcement.” 

Winning the award compelled Nicole 

to work even harder to close sales in 

her second year. “I didn’t want to fall 

back. I just keep trying to do more.” 

When it comes to selling homes, 

Nicole has a simple system: set a goal 

of how many sales you want to make 

in a year and try to match or beat that 

mark. “I wasn’t focusing on a dollar 

amount; it was just a goal of saying I 

want to hit 25 sales and go from there. 

Our award system at EXIT Realty starts 

at 25 so that was definitely my goal 

in my first year. And I hit that goal!” 

Even though she was an overnight 

success, the transition from mall 

sales to helping clients buy and sell 

homes wasn’t an easy one. “The seriousness 

of making such a big purchase 

was obviously a huge change 

from selling garments and shoes,” 

Nicole says. “Getting to know people 

and understanding what their 

needs and wants were in purchasing 

a home was paramount. It was a 

change from what I was used to, but 

I quickly learned to get down to the 

nitty-gritty in terms of what they required. 

Helping people accomplish 

their goals is an amazing experience.” 

The past few years of a very hot 

market made it difficult for realtors 

like Nicole to help their clients stay 

focused on what they need. “Making 

people feel comfortable and happy 

with their purchase is very, very important 

and I think some people did 

get caught up in the competitiveness 

of the market. I am happier now that 

things are a little more controlled and 

“Making people feel comfortable 

and happy with their purchase 

is very, very important...” 

I can walk my clients through the 

process of their conditions and feel 

confident their needs are being met.” 

Nicole believes that the most important 

thing to keep in mind about 

selling real estate in a small community 

is building trust and a solid reputation. 

She is very active in the community 

and hosts occasional movie 

nights for clients as well as sponsoring 

youth sports teams. “Word travels 

very fast in a small community,” Nicole 

says, “so you want to make sure 

you do a good job for your clients 

because we work off referrals. One 

happy client can lead to many more!” 

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Local Home & Garden 

Real Property Management Riverview 

Maximize your real estate investments with our hassle-free property 

management services. Whether you are new to investing in real estate 

or a seasoned pro, we have a solution for you! 

519-900-2033 

www.riverview.realpm.ca 

Sarnia Home Hardware 

Your neighbourhood hardware store offers a full selection of home 

improvement supplies, housewares and giftware. 

120 Russell Street North 

519-383-0688 

Oil Town Brewing Co. 

Small batch, craft hot sauces brewed using home grown, all natural 

and local ingredients. 

Instagram: @oiltownbrewing 

Facebook: @oiltownbrewing 

www.oiltownbrewing.com 

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Junior Baker 

A dedicated gluten-free bakery serving bread, buns, cookies and 

cakes. Custom orders welcome. 

165 Lochiel Street, Sarnia 

juniorbaker@cogeco.ca 

519-336-0440 

South Shore Co. 

A clothing brand inspired by the South Shore of Lake Huron. 

Email: stimper75@gmail.com 

Instagram: south_shore_co 

Facebook: @southshoreco23 

519-331-2628 

www.southshoreco.com 

The Cheese Wedge 

A gourmet cheese and fine foods store 

ready to help you take your tastebuds all over the world. 

601 Michigan Ave, Point Edward 

519-491-1199 

www.thecheesewedge.ca 

Pawsitive Pottery - The Shoppe 

Artisan Boutique filled with home decor, gifts and more from 30+ 

local artists and small businesses. 

Open Saturdays 10am to 4pm or by appointment. 

84 Milton St, Courtright 

www.pawsitivepottery.com 

Imperial City Brew House 

Premium craft beer and seltzers made right here in Sarnia, Ontario. 

1330 Exmouth St, Sarnia 

519-491-5191 

www.imperialcitybrew.com 

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Great Lakes Refill Co. 

Laura Greaves has a warm place 

in her heart for Great Lakes Refill 

Co. (GLRC). “At home, we’ve always 

tried to do our part for the environment 

and GLRC made that a lot 

easier. I always liked that you could 

buy as little or as much as you need. 

That helps save money and cut down 

on food waste, which is a big issue.” 

When Laura heard that the business 

was being put up for sale, she jumped 

at the opportunity to purchase it. 

“What the previous owners have created 

is a beautiful space where you 

can buy products that you feel good 

about,” Laura says. “When you shop 

at Great Lakes Refill Co., you know 

that you are doing your part for 

the environment by reducing your 

plastic waste and your food waste.” 

It’s not as though Laura was actively 

looking for a career change, but when 

the opportunity arose, she did a quick 

pivot. “I had been running a local re- 

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search agency and through that job 

I had the opportunity to chat with 

many business owners, hearing a lot 

of their success stories and what they 

loved about their jobs,” Laura says. 

These conversations were inspirational, 

but it took the right business at the 

right time for her to make the move. 

“When my partner, Rich Bouchard, 

told me the business was for sale, I 

thought, ‘Oh, I love shopping there! 

I wonder what it would be like to 

work there every day.’ I decided that 

I had to take the leap and find out.” 

Great Lakes Refill Co. is located at 

454 Christina Street North and offers 

a wide assortment of products including 

groceries, home essentials, personal 

care products, and sustainable 

goods such as bathroom, kitchen and 

household accessories, travel accessories, 

food storage and bottles and jars 

among many other things. For Laura, 

the change in careers is a welcome 

one. “I am loving it,” Laura says. “I 

am having a great time. There’s a lot 

to learn, but I am blessed to have two 

team members, Anna Glaser and Scott 

Meharey, who worked here previously 

and have been a huge support. They 

are passionate about the work and they 

know the products inside and out.” 

For Laura, getting out from behind 

a desk and chatting with customers 

on the sales floor has been amazing. 

“There are so many amazing products 

in the store and I’ve enjoyed hearing 

how customers use them in unique 

and inspiring ways.” Transitioning 

into the unknown can be scary, but 

Laura has approached this head-on. “I 

knew when I took over I didn’t want to 

change everything, but as I get more 

established I am starting to think about 

what new products I might like to add 

and about other partnerships I’d like 

to form. I am excited to take the store 

and start to make it truly my own.” 

hashtaglocal.com 25


Dean Holtz Photography 

Using stunning, professional images 

for real estate listings is a proven method 

to help sell houses. Dean Holtz Photography 

has developed an expansive 

portfolio of services including ambient 

blended photos, aerial images using the 

latest drone technology, and cinematic 

videos. In 2017, he launched the 3D interactive 

showing platform. “It uses the 

RealVision® system which is the highest 

caliber system out there. I’m currently 

the only provider in Sarnia- Lambton, 

London, Chatham-Kent, and Windsor.” 

What started out as a hobby has 

turned into a lucrative professional 

venture. In 2006, Holtz and his wife 

were looking to purchase a new camera 

to capture photos of their growing 

family. “I’m thorough and do a 

lot of research. A visit to Carmen’s 

and a discussion with Chris sold 

me on buying my first SLR camera.” 

Camera in hand, Holtz saw an opportunity 

to provide real estate photography 

to agents and introduced 

it to the local market in 2008. “I’m 

proud of this fact. My first client was 

Mark Reynolds.” His presentations 

included statistics that showed using 

professional media helped sell homes 

quicker and for more money. A meeting 

with three agents at Magic Realty 

acted as a springboard for the business. 

“When Rob Simrak, Rob Longo, and 

Steve Park started using my services, 

things started to take off. Other high 

sales agents like Andrew Howell, Gary 

Vanderburg, Curt Najdzion, and Linda 

Miller jumped on board as well, which 

prompted even more agents to follow.” 

To date, Dean Holtz Photography 

has worked with nearly 200 agents and 

has created media for more than 6,000 

homes in Sarnia-Lambton. “When I 

got my start in 2008, I was the first in 

Sarnia. Now it’s exciting to see others 

in this space.” Holtz has consistently 

brought new editing innovations to the 

local industry such as sky/lawn replacement, 

aerial property markings, neighbourhood 

tags, and more. “I’m always 

looking for ways to increase the quality 

of media in this industry and provide 

my clients with increased value.” 

Holtz has expanded his services beyond 

real estate and has done commercial 

shoots for clients such as 

Lowe’s Canada, the federal government, 

Enbridge, McKerlie’s Kitchen 

& Bath, About Face & Body, and others. 

“I’ve developed my own proprietary 

techniques. There’s a quality and 

finish to them that nobody else produces.” 

Holtz has won eight international 

awards for his media creation 

and marketing and has been nominated 

for local awards with the Sarnia- 

Lambton Chamber of Commerce. 

Business is a crucial part of Holtz’s 

life and he has been known to motivate 

others to step out on their own in 

business. “My father started a counseling 

business that he ran for eleven 

years. My experience has inspired 

others.” Even with a busy and diverse 

business, Holtz still remains active in 

his church and community. He is currently 

the Chairman of the Board of 

Directors for the Celebration of Lights. 

“I have really enjoyed being involved 

with the Celebration of Lights. It’s an 

important community event that I 

want to see continue.” Photography has 

become another means of expressing 

himself. “I’m a musician and photography 

is another artistic expression. I’m 

blessed to be able to do it for a living.” 

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Fleck Law 

Do you believe in destiny? Catherine 

Wilde certainly does. Cathy 

was simply looking for a summer job 

when she applied to Sarnia’s Fleck 

& Daigneault law firm in 1999 as a 

student. She got the job, and fast forward 

to today where Cathy is now the 

owner of the firm. “I started here as a 

student and then returned in 2000 to 

article when I finished law school,” 

Cathy says. “Then in 2002, when I 

was called to the bar and became a 

lawyer, I stayed on as an associate, 

eventually becoming a partner and I 

have owned the firm since 2015, when 

we changed the name to Fleck Law.” 

Fleck Law is a personal injury litigation 

firm and Cathy has embraced 

helping others who have been wronged 

find justice. “I have been very fortunate 

to have a fantastic experience and 

wonderful mentors. When I started 

here, I certainly did not see ownership 

of the firm as an end goal. I was able 

to get first-class legal experience under 

my belt before I moved into the next 

stages of partnership and ownership.” 

Cathy purchased Fleck Law in 2015 

from Carl Fleck and Pascale Daigneault, 

who both continue to be involved with 

the firm. Since then, Cathy has continued 

representing people who have 

suffered serious injuries in automobile 

accidents, slip-and-falls, assaults, 

and other personal injury matters. 

To give back to the community, the 

firm is a part of the Ontario Trial Lawyers 

Association campaign, Helmets 

on Kids. Fleck Law educates local children 

about bike safety and provides 

each participant with a free bike helmet. 

“We see individuals of all ages who 

have been injured in bike accidents, 

and when they do not wear a helmet 

the brain injury is often permanent,” 

Cathy says. “Wearing a helmet might 

not prevent injury, but it can significantly 

minimize the damage suffered.” 

Cathy is a big supporter of Big 

Brothers Big Sisters of Sarnia and she is 

a board member and donor to Noelle’s 

Gift. Through the Fleck Law Charitable 

Fund, many other community organizations 

have also been supported, 

including the Sarnia Art Gallery and 

Bluewater Health Foundation. Recently, 

the Bluewater Health Laboratory 

has been named the Fleck Law Laboratory 

in recognition of that support. 

When it comes to attracting clients, 

Fleck Law takes a low-key approach, 

often relying on word-of-mouth referrals. 

“I define success not just by 

the compensation we obtain for our 

clients. That is important, but success 

must include being there for clients 

and supporting them throughout the 

entire process.” This starts with the 

first meeting at Fleck Law. Getting 

suddenly injured is stressful and scary. 

“Our clients cannot work to support 

their families and worry about paying 

bills. Dealing with insurance companies 

is intimidating – they want to 

overwhelm you, hoping you will just 

go away.” While the majority of cases 

are ultimately settled, the resolution 

of a claim can take years, so the entire 

team must have good and supportive 

relationships with their clients. “That 

way, when the claim is finished, we 

have helped our clients to recover from 

their injuries, taken some of the stress 

off of them, and helped them find their 

way to a new, but different, path in life.” 

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Warm weather is the 

perfect time to get out on 

your bike as a family! 

Before you pedal to the beach, 

be sure to take the time to review 

these Bike Safety tips with 

your family! 

1. Wear a properly fitted bicycle 

helmet. Helmets should be snug and 

not move more than an inch in any 

direction. 

2. Ensure the bicycle fits the rider. 

This is important when you pull your 

bike out of storage, but also throughout 

the season with growing children. 

3. Check your equipment. Tires 

should be properly inflated, mirrors 

positioned correctly and your parts 

should all be working. 

4. Be seen! Wear bright colours so 

other riders and motorists can see you. 

5. Know your hand signals. Let everyone 

know your next move on your 

bike. 

6. Whenever possible, ride your bike 

during daylight hours. 

7. Ride single file. 

Brought to you by Fleck Law. 

hashtaglocal.com 29


Advanced Building Materials 

In 1989, David and Olga Williams 

purchased interest in a small company 

named Advanced Building Materials 

and in 1991, they purchased the 

remaining shares. “We were originally 

located on Tecumseh Street in 

Sarnia. Three moves later, we are at 

our current location at 591 Gladwish 

Drive. We needed more property and 

even though we are located a little off 

the beaten track, the location serves 

us well because of a product mix 

that makes our store a destination,” 

explains Norm Williams, who purchased 

the business from his parents 

in 2017. Advanced Building Materials 

sells high-quality, innovative, and 

value-driven building materials. “We 

sell items that are unique and not 

typically available in larger box stores 

and we back those products up with 

excellent product knowledge, advice, 

service, and post-sale support.” 

Initially, Advanced Building Materials 

specialized in civil construction 

products, concrete restoration, geotextiles, 

erosion control materials, 

pre-cast, and coatings. In 1996 they 

were able to secure a high-quality line 

of PVC railings, fencing, and decking 

to promote in Ontario. “The vinyl 

fencing and decking was new and innovative 

and brought more consumers 

through the door. This also opened 

up the opportunity to deal with a different 

type of contractor. As a new 

member of the Timber Mart buying 

group, we were able to offer interior 

doors, trims, cabinets, columns, siding, 

glass railings, and a wide variety of 

architectural products for the home. 

We decided to build a showroom 

to display the new product lines.” 

About 65% of Advanced Building 

Materials’ business comes from local 

contractors. “We have a strong working 

relationship with several smalland 

medium-sized contractors. Word 

of mouth is an important aspect of 

advertising for any business located 

in Sarnia. When you offer great 

products, value, and service, referrals 

are the best form of advertising.” 

Williams is also proud of his staff. 

“I have a great staff with a lot of experience 

in the business. Everyone 

works together as a team to support 

our vision of offering great products, 

with top-notch service, and 

great value. We also travel to trade 

shows throughout North America 

to learn about the latest products in 

construction.” Advanced Building 

Materials is currently the Canadian 

distributor for Ertec Environmental, 

which manufactures Species at Risk 

fencing and an innovative line of silt 

control products. They are also the 

Canadian distributor for Millboard, 

a new composite decking and siding 

material made from limestone. 

Advanced Building Materials was 

instrumental in the supply of construction 

products and providing 

advice for high-profile projects such 

as the second span of the Blue Water 

Bridge, the St. Clair Tunnel, the 

SSEC, Lambton College, and several 

plant expansions. For Williams, the 

most rewarding part of the business 

is being able to provide a good job 

in a fun and safe working environment 

for the employees and having 

the ability to give back to the community. 

Next year they will be celebrating 

their 40th year in business 

in Sarnia and do not look like they 

are slowing down anytime soon! 

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Improve Your 

Curb Appeal 

Are you looking to add some pizzazz to your home ahead of selling? 

Or perhaps just for your own enjoyment? 

We asked real-estate experts Dean Holtz and Nicole Smith what they think can help 

improve the curb appeal of your property. Check out their tips below! 

“Having photographed over 6,000 properties in the area, I’ve noticed 

a few elements that help a home stand out to have more curb appeal. 

First, stonework as a border for gardens is a timeless touch. However, 

colour and texture are everything. If your home facade has a busier 

texture, then keep the stone bordering more monochromatic, and 

if the home texture is simple, then allow the gradient texture of the 

garden border to show. Secondly, greenery is always beautiful, but 

don’t underestimate the value of evergreens. Their more symmetrical 

shape and constant colour year-round offer a nice juxtaposition to 

whatever other elements you add to your garden space. Lastly, lighting 

is the ‘jewelry of the home,’ a saying I heard from local Realtor 

Jenn Johnson of RE/MAX Realty Inc. and she’s absolutely right! But 

many people don’t consider how important that is to the front of their 

home as they visualize their curb appeal in daylight. But the welcoming 

and dramatic ambiance of the right style, colouring, placement, 

and intensity of exterior lighting can make all the difference.“ 

“It might seem like a no-brainer but when 

it comes to curb appeal my first recommendation 

is clear and weed any overgrown or 

dead foliage. Trimmed shrubs and trees 

make a huge difference! From there, I suggest 

taking the care a bit further with your 

lawn. Always maintain your yard with cut 

grass that is properly watered for strength 

and colour. Most people don’t realize there 

are several varieties of grass out there, so 

you’ll want to ensure you’re treating your 

lawn properly. And finally, painting your 

front door can make a huge difference! Fresh 

paint and stain on your windows, doors, 

decks and features keep everything looking 

clean and crisp rather than worn and tired.” 

- Dean Holtz 


- Nicole Smith 

Twin Bridges EXIT Realty 

hashtaglocal.com 31


Green Scene Lawn Care & Landscaping 

When Conner Oakes was 18 

years old, he had his entire future 

mapped out. First, he was going 

to attend either the University of 

Western Ontario or the University 

of Waterloo, both of which had 

granted him acceptance. Then 

he was off to law school to fulfill 

his dream of becoming a lawyer. 

While it was a great plan, he ultimately 

had to go in another direction. 

“My dad ended up getting sick 

and my siblings and I had to take 

care of him,” Conner recalls. When 

his dad, Chuck ‘Shiner’ Oakes 

passed away from cancer, Conner 

had missed the deadline to sign 

up for university, so now he needed 

to find a Plan B. “I didn’t really 

have any money at the time, so I 

figured, why don’t I just start cutting 

grass? That’s where it started.” 

In 2010, Conner created Green 

Scene Lawn Care and Landscaping 

in Corunna. Conner had some experience 

in the field, having worked 

for a small lawn maintenance company 

prior to starting Green Scene. 

“I really had no idea at the time 

how things would work out,” Conner 

admits. “Prior to opening my 

business, I used to help my uncle 

do outdoor work around his house; 

things like planting trees and building 

waterfalls. He also had a lot of 

gardens that we worked on. It kind 

of grew from there. I like dealing 

with people so I had no issue with 

meeting people who could hire me 

and give me jobs. It was nice to be 

out and on my own. Going solo 

put me in a much happier place.” 

Conner quickly found there is 

more to running a lawn care service 

and landscaping business than 

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simply filling the lawnmower with 

gas and firing up the engine. “There 

was so much to learn. From doing 

quotes and learning all about customer 

service and also doing the 

repairs on your own equipment. 

Of course, there are fallbacks and 

headaches, but you learn to deal 

with them. I learned at a young 

age that things will break so there’s 

no sense sitting around and worrying 

about it. You do your best 

to get it fixed so you can get back 

out there and complete the job.” 

Even after the passing of his father, 

Conner received plenty of support 

“Working in yard care 

and landscaping is hard labour, 

I am fortunate to have a great crew.” 

hashtaglocal.com 33


from his family. “My mother Lorie- 

Anne Williams was one of my biggest 

supports. And I couldn’t have 

asked for a better role model and 

mentor than John Shelley. He was 

my mother’s fiance and has recently 

passed away. But he was a key part 

of getting us where we are today.” 

To date, Conner’s most significant 

adjustment was learning how 

to properly handle Green Scene’s finances. 

“I can go out there and work 

and put in all the hours required to 

get a job done, but getting back to 

the office and making sure you bill 

properly and that people are paying 

you was a learning experience for 

me.” Fortunately, Green Scene has a 

lot of loyal customers that make the 

billing process easy. “But like any 

small business, we occasionally get 

someone who feels that they don’t 

need to pay in a timely fashion. It 

has only happened a few times, but 

after you have put in all the hours 

to do the job, it is frustrating.” 

Green Scene employs up to 15 

people during the summer and 10 

during the winter. That said, one 

of his biggest challenges is finding 

and keeping good workers. “Working 

in yard care and landscaping 

is hard labour,” Conner says. “I 

am fortunate to have a great crew, 

but when we need to find extra 

guys for things like snow removal, 

it can be difficult. We focus on 

competitive wages – $25 an hour 

– but getting people to commit 

34 

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to the season can prove difficult.” 

Green Scene is Canada’s only 

dealer of custom artificial palm 

trees and also owns a large parking 

lot sweeper to clean parking 

lots at large businesses such as the 

Sarnia Courthouse. Green Scene 

offers plenty of services including 

weekly lawn maintenance, gardens, 

full landscaping, hardscaping, 

waterfalls, fireplaces, and fire 

pits. “We can put in pools and 

spas as well as irrigation systems, 

snow removal, and salting,” Conner 

says. “We also do commercial 

cleaning as a side division. 

We are planning to open a landscape 

yard at our shop in Corunna, 

but that will take a little time.” 

To make things easy for their 

business clients, Green Scene offers 

bundles of their services. “We offer 

so many services in one convenient 

package,” Conner says. “A lot of our 

clients are looking for someone to 

take care of not just their lawn, but 

their eavestroughs, their windows, 

their gardens, the fertilizing, and 

spraying. They want somebody to 

pretty much do it all, including their 

“We often get multiple jobs from one 

customer... with a focus on service, 

they keep coming back. ” 

snow removal and concrete work. 

We often get multiple jobs from 

one customer. And with a focus on 

service, they keep coming back. ” 

hashtaglocal.com 35


Book 

Faces 

Brought to you by your 

favourite indie bookstore: 

The Book Keeper 

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McFarlan Rowlands Insurance Brokers 

The decision to move to Sarnia 

more than three decades ago proved 

nothing short of life-changing for 

Craig Musico. “I started in the insurance 

business in 1990 as a claims 

adjuster,” Craig recalls, “I was with 

a firm based in London, ON, and a 

couple of years into my tenure business 

was getting a little quiet and they 

approached me and said I could stay 

in London, but if I did, I might not 

have a job after a while.” At the time, 

representation was down in Sarnia, 

and the firm suggested it might be a 

good fit for Craig to open an office 

there. “Being 23 years old and not 

knowing any better I put the furniture 

in the back of the van and I was gone. 

It’s been 32 years and I’m still here.” 

Craig would eventually leave the 

claims adjustment side of insurance 

and move into sales in 2004. Four 

years later, he became a partner in 

the business, and finally in 2017 

merged with McFarlan Rowlands 

Insurance Brokers. “It’s a business 

environment now – scale and capital 

matter.” With a larger firm, there 

are more efficiencies with support 

for things like human resources, accounting, 

and technology development. 

Rather than navigate all that 

as a single office, McFarlan Rowlands 

has 18 offices across southwestern 

Ontario. “These kinds of numbers 

give us strength to do what we do 

best on a day-to-day basis. Which is 

to assist our clients in securing the 

proper insurance to protect their 

businesses and personal property.” 

There is another advantage, too. “Being 

with a larger firm gives us access 

to a greater number of markets (insurers). 

I specialize in commercial insurance 

and having access to markets 

is critical when dealing with business 

owners from retail and restaurants 

to very specialized niche professionals 

and business operations.“ As 

insurance brokers, Craig and his 

team work to find the best rates and 

products to meet their clients’ needs. 

They provide clients coverage and 

premium information so an educated 

decision can be made when managing 

the complexities of coverage 

on business and personal insurance. 

When the time came for growth, 

Craig had a couple of different options 

but he knew in his heart there was really 

only one way to go. “We had built 

a very reputable firm in town and I 

had worked on building a positive 

cultural environment for our staff 

to work within.” When he made the 

move to McFarlan Rowlands, Craig 

had three things in mind. “Preservation 

of the staff, preservation of the 

office, and preservation of myself. We 

had other organizations interested 

in our firm, but McFarlan Rowlands 

had started and grown in communities 

such as Sarnia. Their belief in the 

office and their interest in continued 

involvement in the Sarnia community 

made the decision quite obvious.” 

Working with McFarlan Rowlands 

also gave Craig the opportunity to 

continue to be an owner in the organization. 

Just a bigger organization 

now. “I wanted to see what things 

looked like through the lens of a bigger 

organization, but I wanted to remain 

true to the fact that I was and 

always will be, a small business guy.” 

hashtaglocal.com 43


Mistakes 

We’ve Made 

In Supporting 

Local 

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hashtaglocal.com


Supporting local is kind of 

a big deal around here (if the 

name didn’t give it away!). But 

shifting to a more local lifestyle 

takes intention and time, 

and there are bound to be a 

few mistakes along the way. 

We will be the first to admit that we 

are not perfect. We have trialed and 

errored our way through supporting 

local, and have discovered three fairly 

common mistakes people can make 

when it comes to supporting local. 

Thinking Once 

is Enough 

It’s hard to believe that not too 

long ago we were experiencing 

lockdowns and limitations. The 

COVID-19 pandemic changed a lot 

of things for us. We listened to our 

neighbours and business owners. We 

bought take-out once a week and 

did phone orders from local stores. 

Then the economy reopened, 

and some of us waited 

in line at HomeSense. 

We get it. There is a convenience 

to shopping at some larger big box 

stores. One-stop shopping has its 

time and place. And while your 

purchases during a major crisis are 

extremely important - we can’t stop 

there. Local businesses are continuing 

to recover from staffing shortages, 

supply chain issues, and the 

impacts of inflation. Your support 

continues to be just as necessary as 

it was during any of the lockdowns. 

At #local, we advocate for considering 

local before any other solution. 

And in a community the size of Sarnia-Lambton, 

you can find pretty much 

everything you could buy at a big 

box store in a small, locally-owned 

operation. You can learn more 

about businesses in Sarnia-Lambton 

through the #local magazines, 

or by visiting hashtaglocal.com. 

Higher 

Expectations 

than Chains 

If one of the many fast-food chains 

of the world messed up your burger 

order would you swear to never visit 

again? Our guess is probably not. 

But when it comes to supporting local 

businesses we seem to adopt a much 

stricter “one and done” mentality. 

Extending local businesses’ grace 

and understanding during peak 

hours or busy seasons is so important. 

Businesses may also be short-staffed, 

training new employees, or just having 

an off day. Whatever the reason - 

go back! Try again! Remember, if you 

went back for that drive-thru burger, 

you can go back for anything else! 

Forgetting 

the Review 

You just had an amazing experience 

with a local business. Perhaps 

they did an incredible reno or 

served you the best meal of your 

life. You loved it, you were satisfied, 

and then the worst happened… 

you forget to let others know. 

Local businesses don’t have the 

marketing budgets of major corporations. 

They can’t buy air time on major 

television channels, billboard space, 

or pay for large-scale online ad campaigns. 

Word of mouth is usually one 

of the top ways they gain business. 

Meaning your review is so important! 

Sharing business cards or telling 

your friends and family is a 

great place to start, but we are 

seeing a shift to online reviews. 

Did you know the new #local 

platform has the perfect space for 

reviews? Shoutouts are connected 

to business profiles and ensure 

that other citizens have a chance 

to see your Shoutout. Who knows? 

You may help your favourite organizations 

gain some new loyal 

customers! If you’ve never considered 

yourself a writer, don’t be intimidated! 

Reviews don’t have to be 

novels! Five stars and a line or two 

are more than sufficient. Leave your 

first Shoutout at hashtaglocal.com. 

hashtaglocal.com 45


Self-Care from Great Lakes Refills Co. 

After a hard day working on your 

home and garden, nothing beats a little 

self-care! Find low waste solutions for 

relaxation with Great Lakes Refill Co. 

Whether you’re in need of shampoo and conditioner, a 

good soap to scrub the day away, or a bubble bath to 

relax, Laura and her staff at Great Lakes Refill Co. can 

help you find the perfect products for a night of selfcare. 

Take your treatments to the next level by adding 

in low-waste tools such as Konjac Face Sponges, scalp 

massagers, or reusable cotton rounds. And the best 

part is that you’ll be helping the environment by cutting 

down on waste while maximizing on your indulgence. 

And let’s not forget, Great Lakes Refill Co. has plenty 

of delicious snack and beverage options to add to 

your “me time”. So what are you waiting for - you’ve 

earned a little extra special self care! 

Featured products include: 

Scalp Massager 

Oneka Shampoo and Conditioner, Angelica and Lavender 

Pure Bubble Bath, Lavender 

Konjac Face Sponge, Turmeric 

Do Good Candle, Almond Milk and Caramel 

Come Clean Bath Soak, Eucalyptus and Spearmint 

Routine Shampoo and Conditioner Bars, Fixer 

Bottle None Face Wash Bar 

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The Eye-Opener 

It’s unusual to have three opticians 

under one roof, but that’s what you 

will find at The Eye Opener in Corunna. 

Mark Hodgins opened the 

business in 1979 on Lyndock Street 

and by the early eighties, moved to 

219 Hill Street, where they remain 

today. Then, his son Jason and daughter-in-law 

Kate joined the business. 

“While we’ve always had part-time 

staff, it’s truly a family business. My 

grandfather worked here for ten years 

after he retired from his career and 

my sisters and I worked here when 

we were in high school,” explains Jason 

Hodgins. He and his wife, Kate, 

met in school and graduated from 

Georgian College in 2010. “Our education 

was a little different from my 

dad’s. He travelled and completed 

his studies through correspondence, 

while we had a traditional education. 

He would be in California, for example, 

and they would ask him to complete 

his exams at a nearby college.” 

The team understands the advantage 

of completing all the work in-house. 

“You get to use your hands on the mechanical 

side while running the equipment. 

You get to crunch numbers and 

do math with the prescriptions. I love 

those parts, but I’m also super excited 

about new fashion. I love it when 

the new frames come in.” Every single 

frame in the shop is hand-picked by 

Hodgins. “We enjoy helping customers 

pick that perfect frame. I enjoy 

the challenge of making their lenses 

cosmetically appealing, even with a 

strong prescription.” Having an on-site 

lab makes this all possible. “My dad 

established the lab early on and that 

sets us apart.” The lab also allows them 

to do on-site repairs for customers. 

Creating someone’s prescription 

lenses is an art. “You want to keep them 

as thin and as light as possible. Having 

the ability to do this on site makes it 

that much easier to work out front.” 

The staff helps customers pick out the 

right frames for their face shape and 

style. “If we aren’t sure if their prescription 

will work for those particular 

glasses, we can run to the back 

and work out the numbers. If it won’t 

work, we can steer them in another 

direction, so we can get them in the 

best possible fit.” Along with the three 

full-time opticians, Margy has worked 

with the family since 2000. “She not 

only ensures the lab runs smoothly, 

but she can also jump out front to 

help our clients find the perfect frame. 

She’s been here for long enough that 

she knows most aspects of the business 

and is practically family as well.” 

The Hodgins family is dedicated to 

giving back and serving their community. 

The Eye Opener is a regular 

supporter of various charities, including 

#charitable. And after serving the 

local community for over 40 years 

at 219 Hill Street, The Eye Opener is 

building a bigger and better location 

directly across the street. “This new 

store will allow us to better serve our 

customers. We are fortunate to have 

so many loyal customers we see every 

year. My dad started dealing with 

them when they were young and now 

we are fitting their kids with glasses.” 

hashtaglocal.com 47


Race to Erase 

If you ask Race to Erase co-founders 

Rich Bouchard and Scott McKay 

what the event is all about, they 

will sum it up in one word: fun. 

The Race to Erase is a road rally 

event in which teams of four visit 

businesses and not-for-profit locations 

to compete in timed challenges. 

The team with the fastest overall 

time is crowned the Race to Erase 

champions and has their names engraved 

on the trophy. Each team is 

asked to fundraise a minimum of 

$500 and chooses which charity they 

would like their funds to support. 

The idea for the event came about 

when the two, who met through 

the Chamber’s Young Professionals 

Group, were playing a round of 

golf. McKay had organized a similar 

event for his office a few years 

prior and they both agreed that 

sending teams of four to compete in 

timed challenges throughout Lambton 

County would create a fun and 

unique experience for everyone involved. 

In the first year, the event 

was called the Race to Erase Hunger 

and participants raised funds for The 

Inn of the Good Shepherd’s Food 

Bank. “In the second year, we ran 

the Race to Erase Homelessness and 

raised funds to help build The Good 

Shepherd’s Lodge. Since then funds 

have gone to support many more 

charities,” says Bouchard. To date, 

the event has raised over $750,000. 

Since that first event in 2006, they 

have learned a thing or two. For instance, 

in the very first year, teams 

traveled in the same order. As more 

teams took part in the second year, 

it was necessary to change to a shotgun 

start. “If we tried that today we 

would still be working through the 

event at midnight!” Bouchard recalls. 

Highlighting local organizations 

has remained an integral part of the 

process. “The stop challenges are 

designed to be fun but we sneak a 

bit of education in there as well,” 

Bouchard explains. “We work with 

each location to make sure we highlight 

what’s important to them.” Each 

year the committee brainstorms an 

entirely new set of challenges. They 

meet with local businesses and notfor-profit 

organizations to create 

challenges that are both fun for the 

participants and raise awareness 

and exposure for the host locations. 

Over the last couple of years, the 

event has seen major upgrades. 

“We’ve invested in almost every aspect 

of the website technology, which 

has made running the event much 

easier. It was very manual for years 

and has cut down on most of the 

late nights leading up to Race day,” 

Bouchard adds with a laugh. The 

timing for the event is now completed 

using a smartphone app. “This 

was the biggest piece that we tackled. 

It allows us to see everything 

in real time. We can see if there are 

bottlenecks and volunteers know 

how many teams still have to visit 

their stop.” The pair are excited to 

see the event grow. “We are a registered 

charity now and can’t wait to 

help other cities raise much-needed 

funds for their local charities.” 

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hashtaglocal.com 49


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This year’s event will be held on 

Saturday, May 27, 2023 

sarnia2023.racetoerase.com 

hashtaglocal.com 51


All Systems Mechanical 

Adrian Williams’ confidence and 

expertise were the perfect combination 

to go from working for others 

to owning his own company, 

Petrolia’s All Systems Mechanical. “I 

have done heating-cooling throughout 

my whole career,” Adrian says. 

“I was dealing with largely commercial 

and industrial HVAC (heating, 

ventilation, and air conditioning), 

but I was doing that for other companies 

until 2018 when I decided I 

could do this as well as anyone else, 

so I started All Systems Mechanical.” 

When it comes to starting your 

own business, there is a certain 

amount of risk, but Adrian felt 

confident he could make a success 

of his new business. “Besides, I always 

have my licenses to fall back 

on. I am a licensed gasfitter and 

licensed commercial refrigeration 

technician and when it comes to the 

trades, they are always screaming 

for people. If things didn’t work out, 

I could always go back to working 

for someone else. Hopefully, that 

doesn’t happen because I enjoy the 

flexibility of being a business owner.” 

Looking back to when he 

branched out on his own, Adrian 

admits he didn’t exactly have a 

blueprint for success. “I didn’t have 

much of a vision for the business,” 

Adrian says. “I was flying by the 

seat of my pants. I was confident 

that I knew how to do the work 

and that people enjoyed my work. 

As a bonus, I also have the proper 

licenses to do the work.” Ultimately, 

Adrian’s goal was to provide excellent 

service. “I always wanted to 

be that person that people could 

count on. When something breaks, 

I want people to know I can be 

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there in 20 minutes to fix it. Being 

local helps. The company I worked 

for previously was purchased by a 

larger company and when that happened, 

the feeling of being part of 

a local small business was gone.” 

Though based in Petrolia, All 

Systems Mechanical regularly does 

business in Sarnia and Lambton 

County as well as Chatham-Kent. 

Adrian has grown from being on 

his own to leading a team of four. 

“The manpower has probably been 

the biggest challenge for me,” says 

Adrian, 40. “Finding people to 

“I always wanted to be that person 

that people could count on.” 

work in the trades that are a good 

fit hasn’t been easy, especially in 

Sarnia which is a real union town. 

I am a non-union outfit. Getting 

our name out there, in the beginning, 

was also a challenge. Over 

time, people have seen that this 

company is here for the long haul. 

The fact that we are established now 

makes it easier for somebody to 

leave another company to join us.” 

All Systems Mechanical offers a 

variety of services, including installation, 

maintenance, and service 

for residential furnaces, ventilation, 

cooling, water heaters, and commercial 

refrigeration and restaurant 

equipment. “Also, we bring a different 

type of service to people with no 

pressure and no obligations,” Adrian 

says. “I like to boast about our 

same-day service and often when 

we are leaving a job, the customers 

will tell us we are awesome. Hearing 

those words and knowing we solved 

a problem that was going to affect 

their bottom line is a great feeling.” 

hashtaglocal.com 53


Spring Cleaning Guide 

Take the toxins out of your home this Spring 

when you shop at Great Lakes Refill Co. 

Pure Multi-use 

Ultra Concentrated Cleaner 

This multi-purpose cleaner is biodegradable, safe for septic-systems 

and smells amazing! When you only need 1 

teaspoon of concentrate to create 2L of cleaner, you’re going 

to get the most bang for your buck! 

Pure Surface Disinfectant 

This ready-to-use disinfectant kills fungi, germs, bacteria, 

and viruses. Approved by Health Canada, Pure Surface 

provides all the clean without the harsh chemicals. 

Skoy Scrub Pads 

Hard-to-clean messes need tough scrubs! These scrub pads 

are non-abrasive, so you can use them on glass, ceramic 

stovetops, cookware, granite, and more. Replace your traditional 

scouring pad with these reusable, long-lasting, and 

adorable cleaners! (As an added bonus - get these extra 

clean by tossing them in the top rack of your dishwasher!) 

Sodium Percarbonate 

(aka Safe Bleach) 

This safe bleach will get your white linens sparkling new 

without the harmful chemicals in chlorine bleach. Sodium 

Percarbonate is not harmful to the environment, to humans 

or to textiles, provided that the usual precautions are observed. 

Break out this powerful stain remover and degreaser 

for that extra deep clean this spring! 

Reusable Dish Brushes 

Say goodbye to smelly cleaning sponges and hello to reusable 

dish brushes. With handles of metal or untreated 

beech wood, these brushes will stand the test of time, while 

their heads are easy to swap out at the end of their life - 

and can be composted! 

Refillable Cake Soap 

Whether you’re giving all your dishes a scrub, or attacking 

the bottom of those cupboards, a good soap is a necessity! 

This soap is made of a powerful degreasing agent - meaning 

brilliant results with minimal effort. And you can’t beat 

the low-waste packaging. 

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Oh Me Nerves Photography 

For photographer Shaun Antle, 

the COVID-19 lockdown was as 

difficult as it was filled with opportunity 

and time. “I had been into 

photography for the better part of 25 

years,” says Shaun. “I just loved the 

thought of capturing life’s moments 

and the world around me, so as a kid, 

as soon as I could have a camera, I 

had one.” Shaun spent his early years 

taking pictures of friends and different 

locations during family trips to 

Newfoundland. His Newfoundland 

roots can be found in the name, Oh 

Me Nerves. “It’s a common expression 

for when things are wearing on 

you, and with photography, whether 

it’s waiting on wildlife, or seeing 

something amazing, your nerves are 

always firing somehow some way.” 

When the pandemic hit, Shaun 

found himself with more free time 

and struggles with his mental health. 

“I turned to photography as a therapeutic 

way to escape all the noise 

caused by depression and anxiety. It 

was then that I found a passion for 

capturing birds. From there I started 

taking pictures of all kinds of wildlife.” 

Currently, Shaun’s go-to camera 

is a mirrorless and crop-sensor 

Canon R7 paired with a Sigma 150 

to 600 telephoto lens. And he has no 

hesitation in traveling to find a great 

location for taking photos. “There’s 

not a lot of wildlife in Corunna, so 

I occasionally head out on expeditions 

to places like Ontario Parks 

and Point Pelee; either solo, with 

the family, or with my good pal and 

fellow photographer Tim Dezan.” 

Shaun has also started to get his 

work out to the public. Aside from 

having a number of his pictures 

featured locally in the Sarnia Journal, 

Shaun has also had the good 

fortune to have his work featured 

by Canadian Geographic. That 

was a game-changer! “My four top 

goals as a photographer are to be 

featured by Canadian Geographic 

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and National Geographic, and then 

to be published in Canadian Geographic 

and National Geographic. 

After two years of really starting to 

take this seriously, I have accomplished 

the first of those four. ” 

To help introduce people to his 

art, Shaun has created a home studio/gallery. 

“We painted the studio 

and put in gallery-style lighting,” 

Shaun says. “I want to have parties 

where people can come for 

wine and snacks and check out my 

work. The idea is to change it up 

regularly, so they see the different 

art.” Although Shaun isn’t interested 

in shooting weddings, he has 

branched out to doing headshots 

and lifestyle shots with families and 

pets, both in-studio and outdoors. 

Before the holiday season, Shaun 

put together his first calendar featuring 

his photographs and it was 

a massive hit. “To drop $600 or 

$700 on 50 calendars not knowing 

if you’ll be able to sell them was a 

big leap of faith for me and my wife, 

Tara,” Shaun says. “Before I received 

the first 50 I had sold them, so I 

ordered 100 more and before the 

order had even been placed, I had 

to order 300 more. This year I am 

hoping to start with at least 500.” 

Moose - Algonquin Park 

Moose - Algonquin Park 

hashtaglocal.com 57

Red Winged Black Bird 

Keith McLeans Conservation 2022 

Common Loon 

Sarnia Bay 2022

Yellow Rumped Warbler 

Cantara Park 2022 

Male Wood Duck 

Keith McLeans Conservation 2022

Eastern Bluebird 

Keith McLeans Conservation 2022 

Northern Shovellers 

Westminster Ponds, London 2022

Northern Cardinal 

Cantara Park 2023 

American Kestral 

Corunna 2023


Degroot’s Nurseries 

It was 1952, and with limited opportunities 

in Holland, John and 

Atty DeGroot and their six kids 

boarded a ship for Canada. Within a 

few years of arriving, John landed his 

first “real” job at Dow doing janitorial 

work. “For my dad, working at Dow 

was not terribly rewarding. Too often 

he was asked to clean windows that 

didn’t need cleaning. My dad kept the 

windows so clean that a visiting executive 

once walked right through a pane 

of glass,” explains John DeGroot Jr. 

It wasn’t long after taking on the job 

at Dow that John and Atty moved to a 

small home on Carr St., with a backyard 

large enough to grow flowers. The 

couple started growing gladiolus that 

they sold door to door and at a roadside 

stand before eventually selling to 

Dominion Food Stores at Northgate. 

It didn’t take long for John Sr. to leave 

Dow and pursue growing full-time. 

In 1957, the year John Jr. was 

born, the family moved to a large 

property at the corner of Exmouth 

Street and Indian Road, where No 

Frills plaza now sits. At the larger 

property, the business expanded 

to include trees and shrubs along 

with pots, tools, and gardening supplies. 

Like many family businesses, 

the eleven DeGroot children were 

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all involved from the beginning. 

In time, after John Jr. went to Michigan 

State University and Art DeGroot 

returned from a European adventure, 

the two brothers took over 

the business. In 1981 the operation 

moved to its current location at 1840 

London Line. A major renovation/ 

expansion took place in 2005 and 

another expansion began in 2022. 

“Our current expansion necessitated 

the removal of the Garden Tea House 

which was hard hit by Covid. We’re 

making way for a larger store, more 

greenhouse space, and an expanded 

tree and shrub offering,” John Jr. 

explains. Another expansion is also 

in the works for the rapidly growing 

landscape department, which 

now makes up about 50% of sales. 

In addition to its greenhouse and 

landscape offering, DeGroot’s has 

also become a local event centre. “In 

2005, I approached St. Joseph’s Hospice 

with the idea of using the greenhouse 

space for a fundraiser in the fall 

after many of the plants were tucked 

away for winter. That first Dancing 

Under the Stars gala drew 600 guests 

and raised $39,000 for Hospice,” John 

Jr. shares. In recent years, Lambton 

County Developmental Services were 

invited to put on Fusion, an annual 

“Our livelihood depends on 

the community, so it only makes sense 

the community depends on us.” 

food and wine festival. Other events 

include the Chamber of Commerce 

Showcase, a craft and vendor sale, 

and the Pigeon and Poultry Show. 

Giving is a key part of DeGroot’s 

business model. “Our livelihood depends 

on the community, so it only 

makes sense the community depends 

on us. Events bring and hold people 

together, which is as important as supporting 

worthwhile causes,” says John 

Jr. “I’m not big on golf and I don’t like 

watching sports on TV, which frees 

up a lot of time to be a Rotarian and 

to serve on several local boards. I am 

now working with a small group to 

develop supportive affordable housing. 

I want to do what I can to make 

Sarnia-Lambton a great place to live.” 

hashtaglocal.com 63


Personal Touch Eatery and Catering 

Enjoy a delicious seasonal treat this spring courtesy of Chef Paresh Thakkar of Personal Touch Eatery & Catering. 

See page 65 for the recipe. 

64 

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Asparagus and Lemon 

Honey Goat Cheese Tarts 

SERVINGS: 24 

Ingredients 

1 bunch of asparagus (thinner if possible) 

2 cups of chevre (soft goat cheese) 

2 tbsn Twin Bridge Lemon Honey 

1 package of puff pastry sheets 

Lemon zest 

1 egg 

Salt & black pepper 

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 400, and boil 1 pot of salted water. 

2. Beat 1 egg with 2 tbsn of water to make “egg wash”. 

3. Blanch asparagus by putting in the pot of boiling salted water for 30 seconds, 

4. Roll out thawed puff pastry to about 1 1⁄2 times size, and cut each sheet 

into 12 squares. 

5. Place the squares inside muffin tins (each square one space) and brush with egg 

wash and prick with a fork on the bottom. 

6. Bake for 5-7 minutes. 

7. While baking, chop asparagus into smaller spears. Then, mix together chevre, 

lemon zest, lemon honey, salt and pepper. 

8. Once the pastries come out, fill each with a spoonful of the goat cheese mix, and 

top with the asparagus. 

9. Place back in the oven and bake for another 8-10 minutes or until golden brown 

on the edges. 

10. Let pastries cool for 8-10 minutes, and serve at room temperature. 

hashtaglocal.com 65


Hashtag Charitable Foundation 

Founded in 2020, #charitable 

sought to solve two of the major 

problems facing charitable organizations. 

“Having worked alongside the 

charitable sector for many years, there 

were a few issues we saw repeatedly. 

First, there is a significant amount of 

charitable cannibalism. And second, 

we continue to run into citizens who 

struggle to know when, where, and 

how to donate effectively,” explains 

Executive Director, Rich Bouchard. 

With the help of technology and collaborative 

fundraising, #charitable is 

creating solutions to these problems. 

“Charitable cannibalism is how we 

describe organizations competing 

with one another in an attempt to secure 

fundraising dollars. It’s through 

no fault of their own. They are doing 

what needs to be done to meet their 

mandates, but there are only so many 

donor dollars to go around, and every 

organization can use more funding.” 

To solve this, #charitable has designed 

collaborative fundraising events that 

bring together multiple charities for 

one single, large-scale event. “Since 

2006, we’ve been running Race to 

Erase and have seen that when everyone 

works together, everyone 

benefits,” Bouchard explains. While 

it would be easier if every fundraising 

event ran without overlap, that 

just isn’t possible - yet. “Rather than 

forcing people to pick and choose the 

events they participate in, citizens can 

actively engage in one, and know they 

are benefiting multiple organizations.” 

Participating in collaborative events 

has other benefits for organizations. 

“Rather than forcing people to pick and 

choose the events they participate in, 

citizens can actively engage in one, 

and know they are benefiting multiple 

organizations.” 

“Many charities run on tight budgets, 

which leads to small teams of staff 

who wear many hats. Being able to 

create fundraisers that work and take 

pressure off charities to fundraise 

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means that the staff can prioritize 

their mission. We are a charity that’s 

designed to help other charities!” 

For donors, #charitable provides 

citizens with two donation opportunities. 

“We know that there are 

community members who want to 

donate in the traditional way. They 

want their dollars to go to personally 

significant causes. But there 

are others who just want to know 

that their money is going where it’s 

needed most. With #charitable, citizens 

can do both.” Donors can set 

up one-time or monthly donations 

through their personal profiles on 

the website. Their donations can be 

organization-specific, or they can let 

#charitable direct the funds to organizations 

most in need. They are also 

able to review past donations, learn 

more about the impact they’re making 

through story updates, and easily 

access their tax receipts. “We’ve 

even built the platform to send you 

a reminder during tax season to 

download your receipts, or forward 

them straight to your accountant.” 

#charitable considers itself to be 

a citizen-led organization. On their 

website, this is explained as the board 

of directors are first and foremost active 

citizens. They are local professionals 

who volunteer their time to 

help create events and fundraisers 

that are for citizens by citizens. “As for 

our team, they are passionate about 

their community, and they are great 

at what they do. Good people, with 

great tools, making a big difference.” 

Leveraged Fundraising 

Support #charitable initiatives by 

joining up as a Leverage Fundraiser! 

What is 

leveraged 

fundraising? 

Leveraged Fundraising is an 

initiative where members of the 

community provide a monthly 

donation to help local charities. 

These funds cover administrative 

costs to run local fundraising 

events. We are building on 

our many years of success with 

Race to Erase to offer a variety 

of events throughout the year. 

Instead of only one charity benefiting 

from your donation, we 

multiply it by using the funds to 

run events that benefit many local 

charities. Your donation will 

be leveraged to raise even more. 

The donations received through 

leveraged fundraising are pivotal 

to creating these large-scale 

events that see all the money 

raised going to local charities 

to help them with their missions. 

Many of the events also highlight 

local businesses, making 

this a win-win-win! Thanks to 

Leveraged Fundraising we can 

continue to raise even more! 

How to get 

involved 

In order to have the biggest impact 

on local charities, #charitable 

is looking to recruit more 

citizens to participate in this 

initiative. The funds provided 

through Leveraged Fundraising 

ensure that 100% of the funds 

raised in #charitable events 

go where they are needed 

most - to the charities we serve. 

Participating in Leveraged 

Fundraising is easy. Just scan 

the QR code or head to: 

https://hashtagcharitable. 

com/donate, select your 

monthly donation amount, and 

complete your details. #charitable 

will handle the rest, and 

ensure you have a tax receipt. 

hashtaglocal.com 67


A team of passionate people working together to 

support the communities we love! 

RICH BOUCHARD 

Community builder, marketing wizard, 

and craft beer connoisseur. 

JEREMY LAIDLAW 

Self-proclaimed nerd of all things 

tech and business. 

KALEY HOLDER 

Productivity ninja with a love for books, 

tea, and content creation. 

SARAH STOCK 

Designer, brand builder, 

and knitter extraordinaire. 

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hashtaglocal.com


MIKE BROPHY 

Writer, expert interviewer, and sports guru. 

HEATHER CASH 

Steve Irwin of house pets, artist, 

and full stack developer. 

ALEX CONDIE 

Storyteller, copy editor, 

and missing comma catcher. 

SIERRA HART 

Photographer with a passion 

for all things making and creating. 

ALLA HUBKO 

Full stack developer, code genius, 

and sphynx cat whisperer. 

PEDRO BOTAS 

Front-end coding warrior, bug finder, 

and may only sleep 4 hours a day. 

RYAN METZLER 

Bearded seller 

of all things hashtag. 

hashtaglocal.com 69


Advertisers Directory 

8 

10 

11 

12 

14 

19 

20 

24 

26 

TJ’s Furniture & Home Decor 

1644 London Line, Sarnia, ON N7W 1B2 

519-541-2323 

Co-Operators Corunna 

197 Hill St Unit C, Corunna, ON N0N 1G0 

519-862-5903 

Hucker Floor Coverings 

1375 Confederation St, Sarnia, ON N7S 5P1 

519-337-3743 

In Motion Health, Wellness & Fitness 

6-1150 Pontiac Dr, Sarnia, ON N7S 3A7 

519-542-6060 

Sierra Rei Hart Photography 

sierrarei@msn.com 

Sipkens Nurseries 

3261 London Line, Wyoming, ON N0N 1T0 

519-542-8353 

Nicole Smith - Twin Bridges EXIT Realty 

1323 Michigan Ave, Sarnia, ON N7S 4M6 

519-402-3377 

Great Lakes Refill Co. 

454 Christina St N, Sarnia, ON N7T 5W4 

(519-491-6446 


1234 Nottingham Dr, Sarnia, ON N7S 5B9 

(519) 330-4490 

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Fleck Law 

131 Kendall Street Point Edward, Sarnia, ON N7V 4G6 

519-337-5288 

Advanced Building Materials 

591 Gladwish Dr, Sarnia, ON N7T 7H3 

519-336-2212 

Green Scene Lawn Care & Landscaping 

252 Hill St, Corunna, ON N0N 1G0 

519-330-8578 

The Book Keeper 

500 Exmouth St, Sarnia, ON N7T 5P4 

519-337-3171 

McFarlan Rowlands Insurance Brokers 


519-679-5440 

The Eye Opener 

219 Hill St, Corunna, ON N0N 1G0 

519-862-5171 

All Systems Mechanical 

3964 Petrolia Line, Petrolia, ON N0N 1R0 

519-381-4328 

Oh Me Nerves Photography 

447 Dallas Court, Corunna, ON N0N 1G0 

519-466-8217 

DeGroot’s Nurseries 

1840 London Line, Sarnia, ON N7T 7H2 

519-542-3435 

Personal Touch Eatery & Catering 

144 Mitton St S, Sarnia, ON N7T 3C7 

519-344-7070 

EXIT Realty - Julie Jenkins 


519-328-4963 

28 

30 

32 

36 

43 

47 

52 

56 

62 

64 

74 


hashtaglocal.com 71


#charitable is excited to announce 

its newest collaborative fundraiser 

the 24-HOUR 

CHARITY HOCKEY GAME! 

Teams will play in a one-hour time slot, 

with games matched on age and skill level. 

The game will bring together collaborative fundraising, 

local charities, and fun for one amazing 24-hour event. 

To participate, each team will be asked to raise a minimum of $1,000 

for a local charity and perform one good deed in the community. 

Plus get excited to see your 2023/2024 Sarnia Sting 

take the ice alongside other Junior Level teams! 

Interested in joining in on the fun? 

For more information visit 

hashtagcharitable.com/initiatives 

72 

hashtaglocal.com

PRESENTS... 

Friday, September 8 @ 8:00 a.m. - Saturday, September 9 @ 8:00 a.m. 

Progressive Auto Sales Arena 

Brought to you in part by The Sarnia Sting, Enbridge, and The City of Sarnia.

#local Home & Garden Magazine

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