I rise today to acknowledge a group of individuals in my community who are deserving of our recognition. Mr. Speaker, this group calls themselves YACCS or better known as Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors. This group of individuals have played an significant roll within our community on behalf of our seniors. They are instrumental in fund-raising for the construction of the Baker Community Centre, a facility specifically for seniors. It was not an easy task, Mr. Speaker, especially in light of the financial restraint our community and residents have been under in the past few years, but they did it!

Mr. Speaker, they did not want to stop there. They had accomplished their goal. The Baker Community Centre was built. Over the summer this association, YACCS, updated their mission statement, developed a vision statement and looked at the issues facing seniors, not only those in Yellowknife but in other Northwest Territories communities. They have determined their goals and strategies to follow for the next two years.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to share some of their future strategies with my fellow Members while keeping in mind, this community-based group of individuals may one day be representing you and I when we are seniors:

-they are pursuing accredited status for Aven Manor through the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation,

-negotiate a new collective agreement with the Union of Northern Workers for centre staff,

-explore the feasibility of building a nursing home for the cognitively impaired seniors in the Western Northwest Territories and improve the current facilities and

-develop policies for the Board to ensure the community composition is reflected.

Mr. Speaker, we are very lucky to have such a committed group of individuals at work within our community. I ask that my fellow Members join me in recognizing the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors and wish them our very best in realizing their goals. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.