Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On January 20th to 23rd it was an exciting time to be in Fort Simpson as the town became the Village of Champions.
---Applause
The Village of Champions event celebrated hockey, but more importantly the achievements of many individuals and organizations, coaches, volunteers, parents and supporters. The event attracted approximately 500 people from Fort Simpson and other communities, including five hockey teams who participated in the weekend-long tournament.
This day was also recognized on Hockey Day in Canada on CBC North on Friday, February 11th.
To kick off the festivities, Parents for Playgrounds hosted a great community feast that was followed by a ceremony to recognize individuals who had been involved in development of hockey in Fort Simpson. Parents for Playgrounds also provided breakfast for participants and a canteen service all weekend. The Village of Champions also featured a silent auction fundraiser with all proceeds going to Fort Simpson Minor Hockey, and the Fort Simpson Hall of Fame that showcased a listing of past and present hockey leaders in the community, a collection of photographs and newspaper articles about hockey over the years. The young adults had a good laugh when they saw their minor hockey pictures from years ago, Mr. Speaker, an interactive area for guests to share their hockey memories. As well, local musicians from the Open Sky Creative Society provided entertainment at the Saturday evening dance.
This event celebrated not only individuals but also a strong community spirit. This event would not have been possible without the support of the Village of Champions event partners, the hardworking dedication of the families and individuals on the organizing team. A big thank you also goes out to those who generously participated in the silent auction. The Village of Champions event was entertaining and inspirational for everyone and showed there are many champions among us. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the many years of Village of Champions events that will be coming in the future. Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
