Skip to content

A true ambassador lost

North Bay has lost “a true ambassador” with the death this weekend of championship curler Scott Patterson, deputy mayor Peter Chirico says.
North Bay has lost “a true ambassador” with the death this weekend of championship curler Scott Patterson, deputy mayor Peter Chirico says.

Chirico paid tribute to Patterson prior to last night’s council meeting, and here is a complete copy of his remarks:

“Over the weekend under rather tragic circumstances we lost, I lost a really good friend and we lost a true ambassador for the city of North Bay.

“Scott Patterson was killed tragically on Friday evening, or over the weekend, and Scott has represented this city very, very well on behalf of every one of us with two appearances at the brier in 1994 and 1999, and since that time at every curling bonspiel that he’s ever attended. He represented Northern Ontario, but first and foremost he represented North Bay.”

“I can’t imagine the grief his family feels at this point in time, but we have a lost a very true ambassador for the city of North Bay and I’d like us all to take a moment of silence tonight in recognition of our loss, and it is a true loss, and please join me in that.”

“And Tracy, our hearts and our prayers go out to you and your family and Scotty we will certainly miss you.”

At that point Mayor Vic Fedeli called for a moment of silence.

Will be sorely missed
Following the meeting Chirico said Patterson was North Bay.

“Everybody knew that North Bay was being represented when Scotty was there, and his team-mates, all the way through both at the brier and at any competition throughout Ontario and Canada,” Chirico said.

“You can’t say enough, and he we will be sorely missed. His family, the whole city is thinking about Scott Patterson.”

Chirico had known Patterson for seven years, and said he had had “quite a profound impact” on him as a friend and as a person.

“Scotty, what can I say about Scott, great guy, and I’m going to miss him a hell of a lot.”

Importance of life
Patterson’s untimely death at 34, Chirico said, underlines the sometimes-precarious nature of life.

“You never know, unfortunately and this brings a lot of things home to roost, and you certainly don’t wish that upon anybody, but it sure brings out the importance of life,” Chirico said.

“I mean a lot these things are just minor things along the speed bump of life, and my heart and prayers go out to Tracy and the kids, Scott’s mom and dad, because he is going to be missed.”

To read BayToday's tribute to Scott Patterson click here.