Today, I would like to acknowledge the work of the Northern Youth Abroad and congratulate the organization as it released the names of selected 2016 participants, including 29 participants representing 19 communities from across the NWT. Northern Youth Abroad began in 1998 and served youth living in Nunavut until expanding also to serve youth across NWT in 2005. In fact, it was through the hard work and determination of those involved in education in NWT that Northern Youth Abroad was able to expand to serve our young people, and has continued to do so for the past 11 years. For that, I am thankful for the group of volunteers. Northern Youth Abroad offers unique programs and inspires self-confidence, promoting cultural exchange, building leadership, and providing young people with the skills and motivations to achieve their full potential. All this is done in a setting where youth get to gain high school credits, work experience, and job skills while travelling to new and different environments where they are encouraged to grow and learn. Northern Youth Abroad's placements have brought youth from the North all across Canada and internationally, but it's important to state that the most important work for each participant is done in their communities, with the help of hundreds of volunteers from across the NWT. Northern Youth Abroad provides the experience that promotes leaving your comfort zone, facing challenges, and realising your own potential, but it does it in a way that is totally tailored to support each youth and contributes to their success.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the departments of Municipal and Community Affairs and Education, Culture and Employment for their long-term funding for NYA, and to thank Minister McLeod and Minister Moses for doing this as well. Please know what an important investment impact that this support has made. I have been fortunate to have been personally involved in seeing the great impact of this organization and program over the past eight years and have volunteered as a facilitator for the NYA program since 2008. As a facilitator, I have seen youth grow from year to year and listened to their stories. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks, colleagues. Northern Youth Abroad invests in long-term success of the participants by strong dedication to support program alumni in whatever next steps they choose. One of the most important aspects of it, and what you will see, we have one of their past participants now sitting in the Legislative Assembly in Nunavut, and I would think in the short term we may have one here sitting with us. As well, they have selected for the first time, a former alumnus, Karen Aglukark, to become the first chairperson of that organization, and we have two alumni, as well, who are members who sit on the board, including Sam Mantla of Gameti. At this point in time, I would like to thank that organization for helping support our youth and their growth.
