Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to take this opportunity to speak about an organization in Fort Simpson that has a huge impact in the arts, culture, and entertainment community across the North. I’ve had the opportunity to witness this organization grow from its first breath some 16 years ago to where it is today. Open Sky Society has a long history in Fort Simpson in Nahendeh. Open Sky will be hosting its 16th Annual Open Sky Festival this July. This event brings multiple benefits to the village of Fort Simpson and the businesses in the region. The festival is a tourist draw and creates economic opportunities for local businesses. The festival also provides local, regional, and territorial artists with a venue to sell their arts and crafts and to demonstrate the traditional workmanship that Nahendeh is well known for. The Fort Simpson residents, including myself, look forward to the festival every year and its lineup of musical performers and arts workshops. Open Sky also runs other popular events throughout the year, including workshops, coffee houses, gallery events, and musical performances. The society is also an important supporter of the performances that the Northern Arts and Culture Centre brings to Fort Simpson. Mr. Speaker, throughout all of its work, Open Sky is dedicated to promoting local artists in art and culture traditions in the region. Open Sky employs local artists as workshop facilitators and demonstrators and offer them free space, free of charge, to sell their artwork through the OSC gallery. The continuation of the traditional art form in Nahendeh is important, and Open Sky is very supportive of this. I’ve been informed by the Open Sky’s executive director that the arts organization operating fund contribution program has recently been unveiled by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. I’d like to thank the department and Minister Moses for coming up with this great program that will help societies like Open Sky receive operation support to ensure these societies can continue to offer its valuable performances in support of the arts and artists across the NWT. In closing, the festival has become a summertime tradition in Fort Simpson. Residents look forward to the long weekend event and eagerly await the announcement of the upcoming participants, participating musicians, performers, and artists. Every year, Open Sky devotes considerable energy to draw a wide range of NWT performers to Fort Simpson. I would like to thank this society for all their hard work in putting Fort Simpson and Nahendeh on the entertainment and arts map. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Member for Yellowknife North.
