Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday I had the opportunity to attend the good luck send off for the Skills Canada NWT/Nunavut team that are currently, as we speak, competing for the NWT in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Mr. Speaker, this year, the team consisted of 20 gold medal winners from the NWT and six from Nunavut. I have, over the years, enjoyed observing and partaking in some of the events that they have held. I have watched a lot of territorial games, and I hope that someday I get to go to the national games and cheer them on. I believe that this is a very, very important initiative, and it goes a long way in developing all kinds of trades and skills among our youth. Given the vibrant economy we have, this is more important than ever.

Mr. Speaker, I might also add that even though we are a very small population, Nunavut as well as the NWT have done exceptionally well in past years in these competitions. We have won many gold medals, and second and third places, and personal bests among all of our participants. So on behalf of this assembly, I would like to wish every competitor the very best, and I know that they will do the NWT proud.

I would like to take this opportunity to just recognize by name all of the participants from the NWT: Stephanie Bourgeois in restaurant services from St. Patrick’s High School; Mike Broussard in electrical wiring from GAP Electric; Maggie Butz in hairstyling, she works for Essentials 98; Brett Fehr in auto services, he works at Kingland Ford; Chris Fournier for Web page design, he goes to Sir John Franklin High School; Dale Johnson in carpentry, he works for Clark Builders; Mandy Lyons in prepared speech from St. Patrick’s High School; Lance Lennie in carpentry from St. Patrick’s High School; Olivia Patterson in hair styling from Sir John Franklin High School; Tyler Provincial in TV video productions from Diamond Jenness School in Hay River. Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement?

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You have unanimous consent.

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Continuing on with the participants: Kelvin Redvers in TV video productions from Diamond Jenness High School; Justin Shelley in culinary arts from Sir John Franklin High School; Mara Smith for worksite safety from Sir John Franklin High School; Jeremy Studney in aircraft maintenance from Buffalo Airways; Stephen Walsh in welding from Kingland Ford; Kyle Wheaton in small powered equipment from Sir John Franklin High School; Allen Christiansen in heavy duty equipment mechanical from Finning; Duncan Hamre in IT PC network support from Sir John Franklin High School; Henry Saturos in diamond polishing from Aurora College; and, Elizabeth Aitkens in aesthetics from Sir John Franklin High School. So I would like to conclude again, Mr. Speaker, by wishing them very well. I know that they will do very well, and I look forward to hearing their reports. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause