Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this week marks a special celebration. March 20th to March 26th is being recognized as Social Workers Week. Health and social services boards in the Northwest Territories are honouring social workers and their contribution to building healthy communities.
Mr. Speaker, as you know from personal experience, social workers greatly contribute to community wellness. They provide a variety of services in the areas of mental health, community wellness, child protection, adoption counselling and crisis intervention. Social workers practice their skills in a number of settings, such as health care centres, family violence shelters, social work offices, correctional facilities, and in counselling settings.
Social workers have a challenging profession that demands flexibility and the skill to adapt to the priorities of the communities they serve. They make a difference and deserve our recognition.
The Department of Health and Social Services and boards were recently faced with a shortage of social workers. Today we are pleased to announce we have reduced this shortage and the department continues to receive inquires about social work employment opportunities. Perhaps the best news is that more and more Northerners are selecting social work as their career of choice. Recognition of social workers is important for recruiting and keeping social workers.
I am also pleased to give recognition to the work of the Association of Social Workers in Northern Canada that was formed two years ago. This organization represents social workers from all three territories. The association provides a collective voice to address the issues of practice and policy for their profession.
Fostering a network of peer support across the North is a priority. The association sponsors an annual general meeting that has an educational component. They have a regular newsletter that the department is pleased to co-sponsor this month.
They are also developing a web site. This web site will offer social workers the opportunity to get online to discuss issues and share ideas.
As part of Social Workers Week, I was pleased to join the celebration for Mary Beauchamp, who is a very committed social worker. She was given the first honourary lifetime membership to the Association of Social Workers in Northern Canada.
Mary began her social work career 34 years ago. This commitment is a statement of her dedication to the profession. Today, Mary provides her expertise as an adoptions consultant with the department. Much of her work is helping adults search for their biological parents and siblings. The rewards of this work are realized when there is a successful reunion of family members.
Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in an enthusiastic round of applause for Mary Beauchamp and all our social workers who are making a difference in our communities. Thank you.
-- Applause