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Nick is a lawyer and a resident of Riverside for 19 years. For the last three years he has worked at Legal Assistance of Windsor, working with lawyers and social workers to represent Windsorites who otherwise could not afford a lawyer. His past legal experience is in housing, social benefit, immigration, and contract law, as well as government policy research and public advocacy. Nick is now starting up his own legal practice to be based in East Windsor.
Nick is passionate about our community and has worked and volunteered in artistic and athletic spaces among others. More details below!
His favourite colour is yellow, his favourite tv show is Columbo, his favourite board game is Wingspan, his favourite fast food place is Harvey's, and his favourite place to be is Riverside!
Nick's Experience
Lawyer
For the past three years Nick worked at Legal Assistance of Windsor in an assistant capacity, helping Windsorites who otherwise could not afford a lawyer in areas of housing, social benefit, and immigration law. He has worked alongside many community partners to help joint clients. These partners include: the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation, Windsor Essex Community Health Clinic, Homelessness and Housing Help Hub, Migrant Worker Community Program, Welcome Centre Shelter for Women & Families, Salvation Army, and YMCA.
Nick is now starting up his own legal practice as a member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario.
Public Advocate
Nick has staffed educational kiosks and presented educational seminars in Windsor and Leamington on legal rights and the services and resources available to the public.
Nick has also worked and studied in the field of government policy research, preparing documents on Landlord and Tenant Board jurisprudence, modular housing construction, and constitutional challenges to civil asset forfeiture and unexplained wealth orders, among other subjects.
LNAK - Latvian National Federation in Canada
Nick is a proud member of the Latvian-Canadian community. He serves on the board of directors of the Latvian National Federation in Canada/Latviešu Nacionālā Apvienība Kanādā (LNAK) and also acts as Windsor's LNAK Representative, representing the Latvian-Canadian diaspora. He has long attended the annual landmark events of the Latvian-Canadian community such as the Latvian Song and Dance Festival and the Jāņi summer solstice festival. As an LNAK board member he has collaborated with the Estonian, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, and Ashkenazi Jewish cultural communities. LNAK is financially partnered with the Estonian community through the Northern Birch Credit Union.
Nick is continuing to practice both his Latvian language skills and cooking skills. You're welcome to try out his pīrāgs sometime!
Better Government for Windsor
Nick acted as the secretary of Better Government for Windsor, a community advocacy group interested in the wellbeing and good government of our city.
Better Government for Windsor had a focus on administrative planning and fiscal management, transparency and accountability, public awareness of civic issues, and protection of local democracy.
Labour and Local Business
Nick is friend of organized labour and makes a point of supporting our local businesses. He is a regular attendee of the Windsor and District Labour Council's monthly meetings as well as Windsor's annual Labour Appreciation Night and the annual Gary Parent Awards. He regularly interacts with elected and general members of UNIFOR, CUPE, WUFA, OPSEU, OSSTF, the United Steelworkers, the Society of United Professionals, and more.
Nick has begun to attend Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce meetings to build connections as he sets up his legal practice, and has also reached out to the Old Riverside and Pillette Village Business Improvement Associations.
Just a few local stores that Nick does business with, has attended or hosted events at, or regularly attends include the Windsor Family Credit Union, Freeds, Biblioasis, Juniper's Used Books, Rogues Gallery Comics, Artcite Gallery, Nancy John's Gallery & Framing, Cafe Amor & Art, Keystone Kitchens, Steve Green Foods, Pizza King, Craftheads, Sandwich Brewing Company, Sandy's Bar and Grill, and Thompson House.
Local Festivals and Event Days
Nick is a regular attendee of many of Windsor-Essex's landmark annual events and festivals. He has performed and volunteered and the Stone and Sky Festival on Pelee Island as well as at Bookfest Windsor. For many years now he's been an annual participant in the Canada Day, Pride Fest, Labour Day, and Santa parades.
Nick is also a regular attendee of the Windsor-Detroit Centre for Cities annual civic leaders happy hour, a proud supporter of Windsor's multicultural Carousel of Nations, and a volunteer for the annual Remembrance Day poppy drive.
The Arts
Nick is a proud member and supporter of Windsor's artistic community, which punches way above its weight on the national and international scene!
Nick is an accomplished piano player, and was a ten-time first place winner at the Kiwanis Music Festival. He has taught piano to children and adult students, and has played at fundraisers, business events, and concerts in Windsor, Toronto, and Prince Edward County. He also plays at Tecumseh United Church and Bethel-Maidstone United Church. Besides piano, Nick is also an enthusiast of the melodica, omnichord, and mellotron.
Nick works as a production assistant and musical composer for Paperweight Owl Productions, a local indie film company which has seen many of its short films appear in both the Windsor International Film Festival and the Chatham-Kent International Film Festival. Nick regularly attends WIFF and the Film Camp for Kids annual fundraiser garden party.
Nick was a contributor to Rampike, a long-lived and critically acclaimed Windsor-based international arts magazine, and is currently a subscriber to Art Create Learn, a local arts magazine. Nick makes a point of seeing at least one show a year at Windsor's KordaZone theatre.
Sports and Fitness
Nick is a former employee of the City of Windsor as a lifeguard at the downtown Aquatic Centre, stationed at Adventure Bay and the natatorium Olympic-sized pool. Nick worked with his fellow lifeguards to keep the Aquatic Centre safe and sanitary while swimmers and families enjoyed their day.
Nick is an honourary black belt in taekwondo for past service and support of the Royal Taekwondo Federation. Nick is an avid cyclist, and has recently taken up pickleball. He's still looking for pickleball partners if you're so inclined.
Nick enjoys going out to watch Windsor Spitfires games at the WFCU Centre as well as the occasional drive up to see the Chatham Barnstormers play baseball.
Veteran Support
Nick is a member of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 255 in Riverside, where you might see him playing pool, euchre, enjoying the cooking of Marco's Italian Diner, attending a memorial or anniversary event, or helping out with the poppy drive. Nick also semi-regularly attends events at Legion Branch 594 at the invitation of its members.
Nick is also a member of the Military Institute of Windsor, attending their monthly breakfasts and guest speaker series at the Windsor Aviation Museum, HMCS Hunter, and Windsor Yacht Club.
United Church
Nick is a member of Tecumseh United Church, where he was confirmed, and also works as the substitute piano player at Bethel-Maidstone United Church.
In the past, Nick has also volunteered at Congregation Beth-El to assist with the audio and video systems during the High Holidays and has attended a meet and greet at the Rose City Islamic Centre.