Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I would like to say what a great pleasure it is to be in the House again for this Third Session of the 15th Legislative Assembly. Spring is with us once again, finally. This time of year there is always a kind of change in the North, time to put away some things and a time to gain new things. Perhaps one of the most important changes we see in our communities at this time of year is graduation. This is the time of year when students take what they have learned in the classroom out into the real world, when they begin in earnest to apply their new skills to improve their lives, and the lives of the people around them and their communities.

In my riding of Nahendeh, it has been a good year for education. We have a number of students graduating from a variety of courses, and I would like to take the time today to recognize them and their achievements. We have 14 students who earned their high school diplomas. The majority of those students are from Fort Simpson. We have one from Nahanni, and as well as one student from Fort Liard. I should point out that for our smaller communities it is a significant achievement to have a student earn their high school diploma, and we are justifiably proud of the achievements these young people have made. We are also proud of other students who have graduated from high school and have continued their education and gone on to earn their diplomas at the college level, not only in the Nahendeh riding, but outside the NWT, as well. For example, we have one student from Wrigley who graduated as a teacher in Whitehorse; a Fort Simpson graduate of ecotourism in Calgary; and a nursing graduate from Wrigley in Yellowknife.

It has also been a busy year at the Aurora College. Eight people successfully completed the trades access program in Fort Simpson, and eight others completed the office administration program, as well as six students from Fort Liard and two from Nahanni Butte improved their education levels through the adult basic literacy and education program. In Trout Lake we have five women who graduated from the Aurora College introduction to cooking program.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? You have unanimous consent to conclude your statement.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I certainly would have liked to take the time to read out the names of every one of these students, but the list is too long. They all have done very well and are all deserving of individual recognition. That being said, that is a good thing, Mr. Speaker. Still I have no doubt that in the future we will see even more people from the Nahendeh riding improving their lives and their communities through education. I am confident that when I stand in the House next spring to recognize our graduates, the number of students having successfully completed their studies will be even greater. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to take this time to recognize and congratulate the graduates of the Nahendeh riding. We are very proud of them all. Mahsi cho.

---Applause