Mr. Speaker, this week, registered nurse delegates from across the Northwest Territories have gathered in Yellowknife for the annual general meeting and biennial conference of the Northwest Territories Nurses' Association. The conference theme is "nurses and communities in partnership: a community development approach."

I want to recognize the insight of the Northwest Territories Nurses' Association in selecting such a timely focus for their two-day educational session.

Mr. Speaker, as the government strengthens initiatives like community wellness, it is important that we have nurses working in partnership with communities, helping support the development of healthy communities and community-based problem solving.

We must take up the challenge to work together for healthy families in healthy communities. Only through collaboration and partnership do we have an opportunity to meet the current challenges creatively.

Mr. Speaker, the organizers of this conference have developed a partnership with the students and staff at St. Patrick High School. Through working together, both students and nurses have learned more about each other and developed new skills while planning this major educational event. Through such exposure, our young people will come to appreciate more the reward and challenge of nursing and view it as a career choice.

This December, the first class will graduate from the Aurora College northern nursing program. This is the beginning of the development of a northern nursing workforce, important to the sustainability of the North.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage northerners to eagerly pursue nursing and to prepare to work with the people of the Northwest Territories for community wellness. Nurses have lived and worked in communities in the Northwest Territories for over 50 years. They have been vital to the health system; nurses will continue to have a key role to play as members of community services teams.

Mr. Speaker, I ask each of my colleagues in the Legislative Assembly to join me in recognizing the important contributions of nurses to our communities and to the people of the North. Thank you.

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