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1,577 words from Joe Fratesi about Carmen's Way

Over the next few weeks, we will be opening three new pieces of important community infrastructure having a total value of well in excess of $100 million.
Carmens-Way-C2

Over the next few weeks, we will be opening three new pieces of important community infrastructure having a total value of well in excess of $100 million.

These would definitely not have happened, were it not for the hard work and dedication of Carmen Provenzano.

Each of these projects, this new transportation corridor, our new sewage treatment facilities and the new Steelback Centre, stand as lasting monuments to the tireless efforts of our friend Carmen and his way of getting the job done.

These are only three examples (perhaps the best, mind you) of the many things Carmen has done for Sault Ste. Marie.

Perhaps Carmen's greatest contribution to our community, however, is evidenced to the southwest of us.

The smoke, which comes from Algoma Steel, is the sign of a restructured, progressive and competitive steelworks, which continues to be the economic backbone of Sault Ste. Marie.

It cannot be overstated the important role that Carmen Provenzano played in the restructuring of Algoma and in securing a bright future for all of us.

I am personally aware of the extent of the lobbying, pestering and pleading which Carmen undertook on our behalf - away from the spotlights and in a way that only Carmen could undertake to be successful.

Carmen considered this effort (and the success that came from it) as probably his best personal achievement - certainly, the one that had the greatest community impact.

Carmen Provenzano, as we all know, was anxious to get back into politics and back to helping his community grow.

He received the Liberal nomination just before his sudden passing in July of last year.

The number of people who attended the funeral services was a clear sign of the respect, appreciation and love that the people of Sault Ste. Marie have for the man and all that he has done for us.

City Council wanted to ensure that Carmen's contributions to Sault Ste. Marie were appropriately recognized.

By resolution, a committee was set up which included family members and suggestions were considered.

What would be appropriate or suitable to memorialize, not only what he did for us all, but also how he did it?

Current infrastructure projects that Carmen had his hand in were considered, including the new transportation corridor.

It ends in the west end near where Carmen was born.

It passes that neighbourhood where Carmen grew up and it ends at Fort Creek, where Carmen and Ada and their children had lived.

It connects old part of the City with new.

It represents a better way of moving local vehicles from one end of the City to another.

It will help relieve transport traffic currently travelling down residential streets.

It will mean better access to and from Algoma Steel and other industry and their markets.

It represents growth and progress and confidence in the future of Sault Ste. Marie.

It is seen as a perfect way of permanently honouring Carmen and 'Carmen's Way' of representing Sault Ste. Marie.

The family was asked to suggest names for the new roadway and we should not have been at all surprised when they came back with a suggestion that didn't even have the surname 'Provenzano' in it.

If Carmen was deciding this, he certainly would have been uncomfortable in this limelight.

After all that was not 'Carmen's Way.'

The family suggested that the name 'Carmen's Way' was reflective of his life and his approach to undertaking his responsibilities as the people's representative.

It is, therefore, a most fitting name and one that we are all very proud of.

Perhaps, I have said too much, but I am sorry.

Carmen was an individual that I had much respect for over a great number of years, as a colleague in the practice of law, in the Council Chambers - both of us in different capacities, and most recently in our relationship in working for a better community.

A better man, a better political representative - you will be hard pressed to find.

If there is a heaven, and I believe there is, then I expect that Carmen is already there, working hard, making the place better for us, respectfully but tenaciously, and in a manner that only he can do - doing it Carmen's Way!

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