Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, excitement is growing everywhere about the 2010 Winter Olympics being held in Vancouver. Yesterday, in our home community of Hay River, hundreds of people gathered at the Don Stewart Recreation Centre at a pep rally to celebrate the volunteers, artists and Hay River’s Olympic athlete, Brendan Green, who will be going to the Olympics.
Bob White and his pep rally committee worked hard to put together an outstanding presentation in only a few days.
Hay River Mayor Kelly Schofield had on his Team Canada jersey and a maple leaf, full face paint. The stands were overflowing. There was a sensational sound system, fog machine, laser lights and RCMP in red serge. Kevin Wallington was MCing the event draped in a Canadian flag. School choirs sang O Canada in Slavey, French and English. Dene drummers performed along with other Hay River entertainers.
Wally Schumann had a brand new banner and a custom painted “Support Brendan Green” red and green smart car that was driven out on the ice surface at the arena.
Hay River Olympic torch bearer Joseph Lirette, along with Hay River biathetes and Arctic Winter Games skiers came in with the track torch lit and fired up our track cauldron. The crowds roared and chanted. Young figure skaters carrying the Canadian, NWT and Hay River flags and minor hockey players skated through the fog and spotlights to heart thumping music and everyone had a Canadian flag.
The Hay River Ski Club has dedicated a trail to Brendan named the Brendan Green Olympic Trail. Glenn Smith had early home movies of Brendan just learning to ride his bike, catching his first fish, driving his first golf ball, winning at track, from then to now in his world cup skiing. Craig Kovatch filmed it all and a video will be sent to Brendan and to the Legislative Assembly.
As I was unable to attend the pep rally, I would like to recognize the people from Hay River going to the Olympics and wish them good luck at the games: Hay River’s fiddler, Richard Lafferty; Cecile Deneyoua, a local artist and skilled moose hair tufter; Hay River’s Brendalynn Trennert, who does amazing caribou tufting and will have her work displayed at the Whistler Athlete Centre during the games; and, Andy McKay, a school counsellor at the Chief Sunrise School, who will be coaching the Dene games.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
----Unanimous consent grated.
We have three youth ambassadors from Hay River: Michelle Daigneault, Rena Squirrel and Colton Yee. Tracy Cross was chosen as a volunteer to meet and greet guests and the airport in Vancouver. Desiree Boulanger-Rowe will be representing the NWT’s Francophone youth at the French pavilion. Hay River’s Brendan Green will be participating on the Canadian Biathlon Team.
To the volunteers, artists, and to Brendan, all of us again, from home, wish you every success in the Olympics. Good luck to everyone. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
