Mr. Speaker, as Members know from the Member for Yellowknife South's earlier statement in the House, the 15th Canada Winter Games are being held in Grande Prairie, Alberta.
As we have done since the first games in 1967 in Quebec City, the Northwest Territories has a team participating in Grande Prairie. Our NWT team numbers 110 athletes, coaches and managers in the sports of badminton, biathlon, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, ringette, shooting, speed skating and squash.
Mr. Speaker, the games in Grande Prairie have reached their half-way point and our athletes in the sports of badminton, cross-country skiing, speed skating and ringette have now completed their competitions and returned home. I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate these athletes, many of whom achieved their personal best and all of whom were true ambassadors for the NWT, demonstrating good sportsmanship and fair play. Particular recognition should be given to speed skater, David McCann, who had excellent performances and placed 12th in a field of 40 competitors in the 777-metre event in short-track speed skating.
Our government was represented, Mr. Speaker, by my colleague, the Honourable Richard Nerysoo, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, who attended meetings with federal/provincial/territorial Ministers responsible for fitness, recreation and sport, as well as meeting with Ministers from western Canada to discuss the Western Canada Games being held this summer in Abbotsford, British Columbia. While in Grande Prairie, Minister Nerysoo also had discussions on the Arctic Winter Games with Ministers from Yukon and Alberta and I look forward to providing information to Members on these initiatives later this week.
Mr. Speaker, I have provided to Members today, a list of all Team NWT members, by MLA constituency, and a copy of the NWT media guide publication with individual pictures and biographies of all team members. Please join me in congratulating those who have competed and in wishing good luck to those beginning their competitions this week in Grand Prairie at the 15th Canada Winter Games. Thank you.
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