Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Children First Society of Inuvik is a dedicated group of parents and community volunteers who are committed to a better future for Inuvik’s children. They also provide early learning and care services for the young children and their families in Inuvik and the surrounding communities as well. One way that the Children First Society is going to be doing this is by the creation of the Children’s First Centre, which began in the planning stages about seven years ago.
With the land, the design and the great support from the community, I’m pleased to say that construction is already underway. Many thanks go to a variety of corporate and private donations, as well as a very generous contribution from the Inuvik town council.
A few years ago the community started a very aggressive fundraising campaign, and with the total budget for this building they were able to successfully fund about 80 percent of the project, and we’re looking at trying to see if we can top that up and get the construction of the building underway this year.
This facility will help build a foundation for lifelong social skills to help with the well-being for Inuvik’s children for years to come. Last year the Children First Society had entered a contest called the Aviva Community Fund. They were trying to get funding up to $50,000 so that can go towards the completion of this building. They did a very good job for such a small community of 3,500 people, with a lot of volunteers, family, people going above and beyond the volunteer duties and offering their time, dedication and support to try to get that funding. They came very close but weren’t successful in the end.
The community once again pulled together and entered that same Aviva Community Fund. This time they are looking for funding for a Children’s First playground. Research shows that preschoolers need two classrooms, one indoors and one outdoors. The importance of play is a very key builder of cognitive and social skills in a child’s life.
The community of Inuvik has given selflessly for years to the realization of the Children’s First Centre. At this time I would just like to say that the community would be very gracious and very appreciative if people would continue to see this realization of this dream with a vote for the Children’s First playground with the Aviva Community Fund. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
