Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the late Colleen Sayine-Burke of Fort Resolution. She was born on September 30, 1968, and passed away on October 25, 2010.
Colleen was a loving mother and daughter, who lived in Fort Resolution most of her life with the exception of the last 10 years during which she lived in Alberta with her husband, Tom Burke.
Mr. Speaker, Colleen was the only daughter of Mae and Robert Sayine, a former MLA in this Legislative Assembly. She was the mother of three: Stephanie, Raymond and Cameron. She was a loving grandmother to her grandchildren: Dakota, Emerence and Sarah. Family always came first for Colleen. Her way was to put others before herself.
Mr. Speaker, Colleen was an active volunteer with many community events and she held many jobs in the community, even working in her father’s water truck service. It was there that she dreamt one day of becoming a truck driver. She worked in the kitchen at BHP and recently achieved her lifelong dream when she became a triple 7 rock truck driver at the diamond mine.
Mr. Speaker, Colleen was raised in a traditional manner. She was kind, honest and respectful, and had a strong work ethic. I was honoured to be asked to do the eulogy in Chipewyan in Fort Resolution at her funeral. People arrived to Fort Resolution from all over the NWT and Alberta to show their respect and love for her. Colleen was only 42 years old but will live on in the hearts of her husband, father, mother, brothers, children, grandchildren, many relatives and friends.
I’d like to thank the family for allowing me to do this. Colleen will be dearly missed but will never be forgotten. Her legacy lives on in the many lives that she’s touched. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
