Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last weekend the opening ceremonies of the Trans Canada Trail Relay 2000 took place in Tuktoyaktuk. Many people took part including elders, RCMP, Armed Forces, Canadian Rangers, Arctic College students, instructors, and volunteers.
Two elders in their 80's, Laura Raymond and Edgar Kotokak, were designated as official water carriers as well as the mayor of Dawson City, His Worship Glen Everett, Member of Parliament, the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, I.R.C. Chief Nellie Cournoyea, the mayor of Tuktoyaktuk, His Worship Ernest Pokiak, and myself, representing the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, the Honourable Jim Antoine. Water was carried from the Arctic Ocean water source to the Canada Trail Monument, a distance of more than one kilometre. Mr. Speaker, one wonders what was going through the minds of these elders as they carried these water jars in weather of minus 56 with the wind chill factor.
I take this opportunity to recognize and thank those volunteers who gave so freely of their time to make this event the success it was. There are too many to mention them all by name, Mr. Speaker, but there were rangers of Tuktoyaktuk like David Nasagaluk, Jesse Panaktalok, Luga Nasagaluak and the people who chiseled the hole through five feet of ice to reach Arctic Ocean water. As well, Jean Gruben took part in the blessing of the water at the Canada Trail Monument site.
I would like to recognize the Tuktoyaktuk Drummers and the fiddlers and guitar players who played for the square dance into the early morning hours. The master of ceremonies for this event, Steve Cockney, who helped organize this, definitely deserves mentioning. People who contributed to the feast and helped serve the elders also deserve mentioning like Jean Gruben, Tina Steen, Lloyd Gruben, Nellie Cournoyea, Ethel Blondin-Andrew and many more.
Mr. Speaker, this was a very happy event even though it was cold and I would like to thank all those who helped and took part. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.