Mr. Speaker, I am honoured today to pay tribute to Mr. Nick Basciano, a well respected home builder, who passed away on June 27, 2001. Nick Basciano, born in Italy in 1944, came to Canada, left school early and received his first lessons about construction work by pushing wheelbarrows around a construction site.
Mountainview Homes was conceived in 1979 by Nick and Mary Basciano and Mary's brothers, Frank and Lou Memme. Mountainview built over 3,000 homes and became Niagara's top home builder by always bringing a family oriented approach to its business.
Mountainview Homes received both the Niagara Home Builders Award and the St. Catharines Company of the Year Award as well as the prestigious Ontario award for after sales service excellence.
Nick never forgot his community. He generously gave back to it in the form of anonymous donations and his involvement with Partners in Education.
I wish to express my condolences to Nick's wife Mary, his children Mark and Michelle, and all of his family. Nick Basciano was a passionate man. He loved what he was doing. He loved his family, his friends, his community and his country, Canada. He was a true friend.