Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the Members of the Legislative Assembly that three long serving northern nurses have been honoured by their colleagues for their outstanding contribution to health care in the north. Ms. Mary Ellen Hoyles of Yellowknife, Ms. Rosalie Adams of Inuvik and Ms. Faye Stark of Fort Providence were nominated by nurses from across the NWT. Together, these three women have provided over 60 years of dedicated nursing service in the North.
To recognize their achievement, the Department of Health and Social Services sponsored the three nurses to attend the Centennial Conference of the International Council of Nurses in London, England, from June 27 to July 1, 1999. Ms. Sylvia Stard also attended the conference on behalf of the NWT Registered Nurses Association Board of Directors. Ms. Nell Vrolyk, manager of recruitment and retention, attended on behalf of the department. Ms. Vrolyk and Ms. Stard are also long serving northern nurses.
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is an international organization of national nursing associations. It has over 90 member countries and represents over one and a half million nurses around the globe. ICN's mission is to provide leadership and assistance in resolving present and future health care needs.
Over 5,000 nurses from member countries attended this year's conference. London was chosen for this special 100th anniversary celebration of the ICN because it is the birthplace of Florence Nightingale; the founder of modern day nursing.
We also learned that we have the display materials, handouts and information packages to be competitive in the global marketplace. Our nurses received many compliments on the quality and attractiveness of our booth display and informational materials from other exhibitors, as well as conference participants. With our high quality recruitment materials, we have now gained exposure as an employer of nurses with the rest of the world.
Mr. Speaker, recognition of northern nurses is an important part of our Recruitment and Retention Strategy. I am happy that we were able to send these outstanding northern nurses to London. I would like to thank them for the job they did to help the department recruit nurses and promote nursing careers in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause