Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I recognized Mr. Curtis Mercredi in the visitor's gallery to call attention to the award of National Grand Champion he won in the National Airfield Maintenance Roadeo this August at the Vancouver International Airport. Today, I would like to tell the Assembly a little bit more about Mr. Mercredi and his award.
Curtis is an employee of the Department of Transportation who has worked at the Yellowknife airport since 1987; first as a trainee and then as a permanent employee in 1988. A father of two children, he was born and raised in the Northwest Territories and is a long term resident of Yellowknife.
To qualify for the national competition, Curtis came first at the Territorial Roadeo held at the Fort Smith Airport in June. Last year at the Winnipeg Airport, he placed second in the National Airfield Maintenance Roadeo. This year at Vancouver, he took first place.
The roadeo requires competitors from airports across Canada to run three pieces of airfield maintenance equipment through obstacle courses designed to resemble situations they regularly encounter in winter operations. The technician with the highest combined points is the over-all winner. At Vancouver, competing against the very best in the industry, Curtis placed first on two pieces of equipment and second on the third.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation is proud to have employees like Mr. Mercredi on its staff. As passengers, we fly in and out of our airports all the time without a second thought for our safety or security. It is thanks to our maintenance crews and workers like Curtis Mercredi, that we can travel so casually, at ease and in confidence.
I know the Assembly will join me in congratulating our National Grand Champion on his award and for a job well done in representing the Department of Transportation and the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause