Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to pay tribute to a man who was much loved and very much respected in his home of Resolute Bay, in the High Arctic, throughout the circumpolar North and indeed throughout the world. Bazel Jesudason died in Resolute Bay on August 9th of last year after a brief illness. Born in India in 1941, Bazel chose to be buried in the Arctic amongst people he loved.

Mr. Speaker, Bazel was a man well-known for his love of people and acceptance of many cultures. He spoke many languages, including Inuktitut, and was a devout Christian all his life. Bazel first came to the North in 1969 to lqaluit and then Lake Harbour as a power plant operator and mechanic. In 1970, he was transferred to Grise Fiord. It was there he met his lifetime partner, Terry DiPasquale.

Bazel had travelled extensively with Inuit on the land and decided to start his own business in tourism. In 1979, Bazel left the security of the civil service and launched High Arctic International Explorer Services Ltd in Resolute.

Starting with well-organized sled trips between Resolute and Grise Fiord, the business expanded to include a hotel which was very much a home away from home under Terry's guiding hands, and package trips were added to other High Arctic destinations including the North Pole.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement.