Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today and extend my best wishes to the 270 athletes, coaches, and managers from 18 communities who will make up Team NWT at the 2016 Arctic Winter Games in Nuuk, Greenland from March 5th to 11th, 2016.
For over a year now, young people from across the Northwest Territories have been preparing themselves physically and mentally for this opportunity. I congratulate all of the athletes who have persevered through the territorial selection and have achieved their goal of representing the Northwest Territories at this prestigious international celebration of sport and culture.
The Youth Ambassador Program has been giving NWT youth important opportunities to develop leadership skills and experience, and Youth Ambassadors will be joining Team NWT in Nuuk. Not only is this an important program for developing NWT youth, it is beginning to receive some international recognition. After seeing a presentation on the NWT program, the host society of the Nuuk games was so impressed with the NWT’s work that they have decided to develop a Greenland Youth Ambassadors Program for their games. We are looking forward to the collaboration between representatives of our two nations and congratulate the 15 youth selected as NWT Youth Ambassadors for these games.
At this time, I would also like to acknowledge another group of young athletes and the efforts being made on their behalf. There are a number of sports that will not be included in this year’s Arctic Winter Games because of either a lack of facilities or other resources. So they don’t miss an opportunity to compete and develop at higher levels, we are supporting other activities for athletes in these sports. Some of the highlights of this concurrent initiative include the midget hockey team traveling to Europe to compete in a series of exhibition games, curling teams participating in developmental clinics, and youth dog races that coincide with the dog-mushing circuit.
As Team NWT makes its final preparations for the games, it is important to acknowledge the monumental contributions that volunteers and parents have made to support these young men and women. Without the coaches, officials, or the hundreds of volunteers who give freely of their time, we would not be able to have a Team NWT. We owe these people our heartfelt thanks.
I also want to thank all of our sport and recreation partners who have contributed to this process. Our partners include the Sport North Federation and its Territorial Sport Organizations who select and manage the teams; the Beaufort-Delta Sahtu Recreation Association; the Mackenzie Recreation Association; and the community governments who hosted various selection events along the way. Their contributions are significant and play an important role in promoting healthy lifestyles and vibrant communities in the Northwest Territories. These partners have provided guidance and support, and organized the many selection events across the Northwest Territories that resulted in the final selection of Team NWT.
Supporting the ongoing development of youth is a priority of this Assembly reflected in the GNWT’s new mandate. Support for the Arctic Winter Games and the Youth Ambassador Program are two examples of the government’s work on this priority. In anticipation of the Opening Ceremonies and Team NWT’s participation in the 2016 Arctic Winter Games, I encourage all participants to continue to work hard and to always do their best. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all of our athletes, coaches, volunteers, and cultural delegates a fun and rewarding experience at the Arctic Winter Games. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Justice.
