Mr. Speaker, as Members are aware from earlier Members' statements in this House, today is a proud day for the Kevin Koe junior mens curling team, their families and friends.
This evening in Toronto Kevin Koe, his brother, Jamie, and Mark and Kevin Whitehead, along with their coach George Gibson, will be recognized with the 1994 fair play in sport award.
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Sport Council annually recognizes outstanding achievements in sport at the Canadian sport awards dinner. In addition to honouring Canada's greatest male and female athletes, the team of the year and lifetime contributions to sport, the council also recognizes fair play in sport.
Fair Play Canada in conjunction with the Canadian Sport Council will be awarding the national fair play award for the athlete/team category for 1994 to the members of the Northwest Territories 1994 junior men's curling team.
Fair Play Canada has made arrangements for all members of the team to attend the awards dinner and the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has arranged that their coach, George Gibson, will also attend. TSN will be filming the 1995 Canadian sport awards dinner for a one-hour special to air on TSN in April.
I would like to congratulate these four young men and their coach for exemplifying the attitudes and behaviour associated with good sportsmanship. During the final game of the 1994 Pepsi Junior Men's Championship in Truro, Nova Scotia, a controversial ruling awarded the game to the Alberta team. On national television and under the strain of facing a heartbreaking loss, the NWT team accepted the ruling with class and dignity and showed no anger or frustration. These young men's commitment to the principles of fair play was a proud moment for all of us. Not only did they show respect for the rules, their teammates and their opponents, but they respected, without question, the decision of the officials. Mr. Speaker, there can be no clearer demonstration of good sportsmanship than this.
I am sure all Members will join me in congratulating Kevin and Jamie Koe, Mark and Kevin Whitehead and their coach, George Gibson, for representing the NWT with distinction and for the honour of receiving the 1994 national fair play award. Thank you.
---Applause