Mr. Ferris is the Department Superintendent for the Baffin Region and one of his responsibilities is emergency coordinator for the Baffin Regional Emergency Response Plan. For his work as emergency coordinator, Mr. Ferris was presented the national award for Outstanding Achievement in Search and Rescue.

The award was presented by the Executive Director of the National Search and Rescue Secretariat on October 18, during the National SARSCENE Conference held in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Mr. Ferris was recognized for his important contribution to the development of an effective search and rescue response system throughout the Baffin region. In particular, Mike's work with establishing a response and management system for personal locator beacon alerts was given high praise.

Mr. Speaker, Ms. Kathryn Youngblut of the Sport and Recreation Division in Yellowknife has been announced as a recipient of the Certificate of Thanks; and the Bronze Meritorious Medal by the Royal Life Saving Society of Canada. Ms. Youngblut will be presented with these awards by the Honourable Helen Maksagak, Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, in the Main Hall this Friday. I would like to invite the members of this House to attend.

Kathryn is being recognized for her drowning prevention work in the Northwest Territories. As the Sport and Recreation division's leadership programs officer, Kathryn manages an Aquatics Program and is responsible for implementing related water safety preparedness programs. Kathryn has worked with her colleagues in the Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Transportation and the Canadian Coast Guard to implement a successful Small Boat Safety Awareness Program.

I would ask Members to join me in congratulating Mr. Mike Ferris and Ms. Kathryn Youngblut for their excellent service to the safety of the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.