Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is a busy time of year for Yellowknife, with worthy events nearly
every weekend. Last Friday, I had the privilege of attending a reception for some pretty amazing young ladies. Twenty-four from Yellowknife's two high schools are involved in a national pilot program where they learn the construction trade. It is fairly intense, four afternoons a week and one and a half hours at a time for the next two years. At least some of these girls will likely graduate to a construction site one day, and we, as a society, will be all the better for it. I would like to salute them for breaking into what has traditionally been a male domain.
Another event I would like to mention is the Ball in the Mall, which is coming up this Saturday night . It is the second time the Yellowknife Association for Community Living has organized this major fundraiser benefiting the Abe Miller Centre. Many of you are probably familiar with the centre. It has been offering programs for people with intellectual disabilities for the past 20 years. The association's work is no longer limited to Yellowknife. Over the past few years, its programming has been expanded to several communities, including Rae-Edzo and Rankin Inlet. Programs are currently being developed for Inuvik. The Ball in the Mall is a fundraiser that raises more than money. It promotes community awareness and the acceptance of adults with a mental handicap into the community at large. I am pleased to say I will be attending the ball, and I would encourage all of you to support such a worthy cause.
--Applause