Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I am pleased to recognize the career and dedication of a Hay River resident who has recently retired from the NWT Housing Corporation. Tom Makepeace devoted his career to working for the Government of the Northwest Territories.
For 26 years he provided excellent service and expertise in everything he worked at, from carpentry to administrative duties and the management of the NWT Housing Corporation district office in Hay River.
Tom completed the NWT Carpentry Apprenticeship Program in 1981. After being self-employed at his company called Makepeace Carpentry, Tom began working for the GNWT. From 1983 to 1988 Tom worked for the NWT Housing Corporation as a carpentry foreman in Fort Simpson in the Nahendeh region. He built public housing units and supervised a number of jobs where he was responsible for the completion of significant housing projects including training and supervising of staff.
From 1988 to 1993 Tom performed his duties as a project officer technical coordinator for the NWT Housing Corporation for the South Slave district. During this time he was responsible for inspecting HAP housing projects, public housing construction and home repair programs for homeowners.
From 1994 to 1996 Tom was the manager of technical services in the South Slave district. Communities he served included Lutselk’e, Fort Resolution, Fort Smith, Fort Providence, Enterprise, Kakisa Lake and Hay River. He provided maintenance management to five community-based housing authorities who maintained an inventory of 423 units.
In 1997 Mr. Makepeace advanced to the position of director of the NWT Housing Corporation for the South Slave district office located in Hay River. In his years of working for the NWT Housing Corporation, Tom acted in a professional and compassionate manner providing good judgment and management as well as having an insightful understanding of the people he was serving and their needs.
On a personal level, Tom Makepeace is a well known and respected member of the community who has spent countless hours volunteering. He was appointed to the position on the NWT Trade Qualification Board for carpentry and has served as president of the Hay River Lion’s Club being voted Lion of the Year in Hay River. He has played a significant role in community, organizing and coaching minor ball and minor hockey as well as participating in these sports himself on a men’s team.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted.
Besides these endeavours that I have mentioned, Mr. Makepeace was also a dog team racer for a number of years and enjoys gardening and reading, especially books and articles on northern history and energy-efficient housing.
Mr. Speaker, Tom Makepeace is a book of knowledge when it comes to housing and home construction in the South Slave. He is a dedicated and loving husband, father and grandfather. I wish him well in his retirement and hope he will now have lots of time to enjoy his hobbies and his family. I would like to thank Mr. Tom Makepeace for his service to the GNWT and wish him all the best in his retirement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
