Debates of March 2, 2006 (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last day of session today, I wanted to take this opportunity to recognize all of the athletes, coaches and chaperones from my constituency but not only my constituency, right across the North who will be attending the Arctic Winter Games in Alaska this year. There are a number of AWG participants. I think that is great that they have been chosen. I know they are going to do us proud. We are very proud of them, but we should extend congratulations. We are very proud of those who participated in all the regionals and territorials. Not everybody was successful and is going to have the chance to go this time, but they may the next time around. I am sure they had a wonderful time and a great experience.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important for us to recognize that sports is the focus and is the focal point of the these games, but there is a very valuable cultural component and cultural exchange that is a lot of fun, Mr. Speaker, and I think is a great learning experience for many of the participants who are able to go. I was fortunate enough to participate in a couple of Arctic Winter Games, in Alaska and in the Northwest Territories, in 1988, 1990. Of course, my staff took pleasure in finding some old photos of my participation in those games. It wasn’t pretty, Mr. Speaker. I can tell you that I was mostly hair in those days.

---Laughter

Obviously, that is not the case anymore. A lot of fun. A great time. Great memories. I still have many friends from across the North from those days. The other thing I would like to say, Mr. Speaker, is that there are a number of people involved who work with MACA and Sport North. For many of these people, it is not just a job, it is truly a pleasure. I think many of these folks would do the job for free. They’ve put in a lot of hard work and effort.

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Many of them volunteer. I want to send our thanks to those folks, as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause