Letter to the Editor

I’m writing to offer a different perspective on our roads; not to complain about patching or potholes, but to talk about something rarely uttered in the same context... pride.

Recently, while door knocking in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, I spent time on Biggings Avenue; our community's narrowest street named for Edward Biggings, the city’s second mayor, where some homes have stood since the early 1900s. The street carries more than a century of local history, but it also reflects an enduring civic challenge: how we improve the everyday conditions of the neighbourhoods people call home. 

Edward Biggings was described as a progressive thinker who “had to fight all of his life to improve conditions in Sault Ste. Marie because the people were never as quick to see the advantages of his ideas.” That spirit feels particularly relevant on the avenue that bears his name: progress is often found not only in big promises, but in the practical work of strengthening infrastructure, like streets and sidewalks, that builds pride in a community.

Like many downtown neighbourhoods, Biggings Avenue has changed. Residents echo a familiar sentiment: many single-owner homes have now become rental units with frequent turnover; there is a rise in mental-health and addiction incidents; and derelict properties continue to plague the neighbourhood. Yet, among the homeowners I spoke with, several raised the same recent improvement: the rebuilt sidewalks and repaved corridor completed in 2023.

They did not speak only about construction. They spoke about pride.

Think about that... a road as a source of community pride.

Roads, sidewalks and curbs may seem like basic infrastructure, but they shape how people feel about where they live. When parents watch their children ride bicycles safely down their sidewalk, when someone looks out their front window and sees a clean, maintained street, or when visitors land at our airport and drive into our community, the condition of our roads sends a message. Good, solid roadways tell people that this is a community that cares.

Biggings Avenue is a strong case study for what can happen when we focus on the basics, and get them right. We can help rebuild confidence, connection and community pride.

Northern Ontario has significant strengths, but maintaining roads here is disportionately difficult and costly because of long winters, freeze-thaw cycles, heavy truck traffic and short construction seasons. That is why we need to move beyond repeated temporary repairs: while a pothole patch may be necessary in the moment, a road requiring hundreds of patches is a clear sign that planned rehabilitation is overdue.  

This will require concrete plans (no pun intended).

We should prioritize drainage and base repairs and schedule resurfacing before roads require costly reconstruction. For severely damaged arterial roads, Council should also consider a spring-thaw pilot that temporarily closes or restricts sections until lasting repairs can be completed. This would require detours, clear communication and support for affected businesses, including possible tax relief, grants, promotional assistance and flexible permissions.

Construction can be disruptive, but it is also an investment in safer, longer-lasting infrastructure and in the places we share. By doing the work properly, with patience and responsible use of tax dollars, we can build a stronger community we are proud to call home. Biggings Avenue is a reminder that community pride starts with caring for the basics, and, if elected to City Council, I will make that a priority, starting with our roads.  

Stephanie Pagnucco

Ward 2 Candidate