Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and the Sport North Federation hosted a Coaches and Volunteers Symposium in Yellowknife last weekend.
This symposium was developed for coaches and sports volunteers from communities across the Territories. Approximately 125 Northerners from all regions attended the symposium. Discussions focused on three areas: community coaching, high performance coaching and volunteerism. It is only through the active participation of many coaches and volunteers that more people are trained in this important area. I am happy to inform you that the initial feedback from the participants to the symposium has been very positive.
Mr. Speaker, sport and recreation is more that a pastime. It is a positive and essential contributor to community wellness. For this reason, I am pleased to announce that regional coaching seminars have also been organized for Rankin Inlet on December 4th to 6th; Cambridge Bay on January 15th to 17th; Iqaluit on January 29th to 31st; and Inuvik on February 20th to 22nd. These regional seminars will focus on the delivery of National Coaching Certification Programs for sports chosen by the regional recreation organizations. The training will help to increase the number of certified coaches available to work with northern athletes.
In addition, Mr. Speaker, many activities are being planned for the winter. These include: regional workshops in sport first aid, the Speak Out Program on Harassment and Sport Development Camps in Fort Resolution, Fort Smith, Hay River, Fort Simpson, Fort Liard, Wha Ti, Rae-Edzo and Fort Providence. This training reflects the department's continued commitment to develop sport volunteers at the community level.
Mr. Speaker, our young people are our future. Their positive development relies on experiencing a good quality of life in their own communities. Sport and recreation contributes in a significant way to the quality of life in the north and coaches are the key to making this work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.