Windsor entrepreneur Mark Boscariol has died

Well-known local business owner and entrepreneur Mark Boscariol has died.

The owner of two downtown Windsor restaurants SnackBar-B-Qand the Downtown Pizza Co. as well as Walkerville's Good Neighbour, has most recently been trying to tackle poverty in the core.

Boscariol planned to do that by asking his patrons to donate to the Little Things Matter program, which was initially part of the city'sdowntown improvement plan before council support wascut.

"If you can fix a porch light that can help deter crime on that street. If you can fix the porch of an elderly lady meaning she can live in that neighbourhood another year longer that's a force for good," Boscariol said to CBC News in the fall.

Boscariol also made room for Bike Windsor-Essex to move into one of his restaurant properties, after they were evicted from their former office.

One of his employees said the news is "very, very overwhelming" and staff are full of emotion.

Boscariolleaves behind a wife and a son. He was 51 years old, according to his Facebook profile.

His peers and friends are remembering him as a passionate advocate for the city: