Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to pay tribute to three elders in Fort Resolution who have recently passed away.
Mr. James Fabien passed away Saturday, May 7, 2011, at the age of 71. James spent many years in the hospital in Hay River before his passing. James was known to have a very good singing voice, and entertained his friends and family for years. My condolences go out to the Fabien family. Mr. Fabien will be buried today, in fact, May 11, 2011. Mr. Fabien lived in Yellowknife for many years and worked at Giant Mine. He still has two sisters living in southern Canada and has a lot of family in the North, especially Fort Resolution.
Mr. Johnny Simon passed away on April 18, 2011. He was 86 years old. Johnny was the husband of the late Emily Simon and the father to Alexie, Raymond, Irene, Wilfred, Richard and Patrick. Johnny had many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Johnny was very close to his great-grandchildren and grandchildren and they spent a lot of time with him. Johnny’s house was a place where the youth were always welcome. I myself would visit the household with my friends almost on a daily basis when I was a teenager growing up in Fort Resolution. Now when you drive to Fort Resolution or drive around Res, you see a whole bunch of kids at his son Wilfred’s house. I guess Wilfred is now filling the role to have a home for all of the youth that want to go visit.
On November 20, 2010, Rudolphe Frank Delorme passed away at the age of 90. Rudolphe was 14 years old when he and his siblings became orphans. Being the oldest, Rudy and his late sister Elsie raised their younger siblings. Rudy left Rocher River in his early twenties and moved to Edmonton. After living in Edmonton for 50 years he returned to the North. Rudy’s niece relocated him back in 1987. He moved back to Fort Resolution, where he was reunited with the remainder of his family. Rudy lived in Fort Resolution, in the care of his niece, and great-nieces and nephews, until his last days of life.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
