Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All week we’ve been hearing news reports on CBC in the mornings, of the Ski Week and all the work that’s been going into promoting people getting active and enjoying the outdoors and living a healthy lifestyle.
As you know, skiing has a strong history in the Northwest Territories, specifically with the Territorial Experimental Ski Training program. At this time I’d just like to acknowledge two of those participants that took part in the program: Ms. Sharon Firth and Ms. Shirley Firth-Larsson, who also just received the Diamond Jubilee Medal this week, earlier this week. They are both great ambassadors of not only the NWT but both live healthy, active lifestyles and are a role model to our Aboriginal youth and people in the Northwest Territories to get out, be active, follow your dreams and to participate in such programs as Ski NWT.
I’d also like to take this time to recognize that Ski NWT and skiing has a strong presence in the community of Fort McPherson, where they have a lot of strong snow-shoers and skiers that participate and will be going to the Arctic Winter Games. I would just like to recognize the group that are working there, the volunteers, the coaches and the families that support small communities.
Just with the Arctic Winter Games team coming up this year, we noticed that all of the Ski NWT team outside of Yellowknife are a strong contingent and only from one community, and that is Fort McPherson. We have to recognize the strong work that is going on there as well.
At this time I’d also like to recognize the NWT Rec and Parks Association on their efforts to initiate the Mackenzie River Walking Challenge, which is also getting people out and being active. As well, as Members of this Assembly and staff to get out, put a few minutes in, a few kilometres, you know, on their shoes to live a healthy, active lifestyle so that we can make the best decisions in this House for the people of the Northwest Territories.
With that said, Sunday is NWT Ski Day across the Northwest Territories and I invite all Members to come out to the YK Ski Club and participate in being active, living healthy and supporting all of these great programs that Sport North and NWTRPA have initiated in the NWT. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
