Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 1955 Fred Carmichael became the first Aboriginal person in the North to get a pilot’s licence. Over 60 years Fred has contributed to the community of Inuvik, the region, the Northwest Territories, and in fact, Canada. He’s been an entrepreneur. He’s flown in many search and rescue missions, also done a lot of medical evacuations throughout the Northwest Territories and has mentored numerous Aboriginal youth, as well as Aboriginal peoples and leaders that you can see in this House today. In 2010, Mr. Carmichael received the Order of Canada. In 2013 he received an honourary doctorate of law degree from the University of Saskatchewan. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Carmichael is an integral part of the community of Inuvik. He’s also been a long-term service member with the Gwich’in Tribal Council, as well as being chair of the Aboriginal Pipeline Group and has done a lot of advocating on behalf of businesses, on behalf of the government to ensure that we get the economic development that is needed in the Northwest Territories. Last week on June 9th, Mr. Carmichael was inducted into the Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame with three other individuals. Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame inductees are selected for their contributions to Canada’s development through their integral roles in the nation’s aviation history. That, in fact, is what Mr. Carmichael did. He helped develop aviation in the North. He’s contributed on many, many factors throughout the Northwest Territories. I’d just like Members to show their appreciation and help me acknowledge one of the inductees into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame, Mr. Fred Carmichael, a great leader, a mentor, and ’Gwich’in person of the Northwest Territories. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
