Thank you, Mr. Speaker. About two years ago a new teacher arrived in Fort Liard and noticed the youth lived, ate, and breathed soccer. As she got to know the students and the community, she realized one of the students had the opportunity to go to England for a soccer camp and a tour the previous summer. This seemed to be the talk of the community and the school.
Mr. Speaker, this led to the idea of a school trip outside of Canada. After checking with her fellow teachers, the DEA, the DDEC, community members, and the older students, it was decided that this would be a great idea. After a lot of discussion with the students, they decided that they would go to Spain, and more specifically Barcelona and Madrid. This is where some of the students' idols lived and played soccer.
This meant they had to raise over $50,000. They started fundraising in September 2015 until just recently. They were able to raise over $25,000 by doing numerous movie nights, bingos, concessions at community events, special dinners, a haunted house, and other fundraising ideas the community was able to support. On top of this, the Hamlet, Acho Dene Koe Band, MACA, Acho Dene School, Community Justice, and corporate groups chipped in over $30,000. This is truly a community effort.
Mr. Speaker, on March 22, 2017, the 12 original students who signed up for this adventure and two chaperones will be leaving Fort Liard to Madrid via Edmonton. They will return home on March 31 via Barcelona.
The group has selected tours around Madrid and Barcelona, which will include art galleries, churches, memorials, and other popular attractions of each city. They have added a tour of Real Madrid football stadium and Barcelona FC stadium.
Mr. Speaker, this trip would not be complete without going to a professional soccer game. They will be attending a Tier 2 game on March 26th.
Mr. Speaker, this is a great opportunity for students to see what the world has to offer them. They have worked hard to accomplish this trip and have been pushed and encouraged to make positive choices for their participation. Like all things, there have been bumps along the way, but this trip helped them make better choices when confronted by a negative environment. For the students, this is the first time that they are leaving the country at any time.
Mr. Speaker, these students have surpassed all expectations from the start of the project. They showed incredible dedication to all events related to this project. As the organizing teacher said, "These events have really given them purpose and they can say that they accomplished this amazing goal together." All I can say is job well done, and enjoy your trip. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
