Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to pay respect to a long time resident of Hay River. Mae Wright passed away peacefully in Hay River on Thursday, March 16th at the age of 91.
Mae Wright, affectionately known to some as Maw, moved to Hay River from Grand Prairie with her husband, Don, and their young family in 1949. As a graduate from St. Boniface School of Nursing in Winnipeg, Mae Wright quickly made her mark as Hay River's first nurse. She was a woman of many talents when it came to nursing, not afraid to tackle whatever task was at hand to meet the needs of her fellow residents in a small northern town. Her vision and work ethic combined with her caring nature was the impetus for the opening of a nursing station in Hay River just a few years after her arrival.
Mae Wright was committed to her community beyond the nursing profession. She helped in other ways; like organizing a Christmas Seal Tuberculosis Campaign and by giving leadership to the Sunshine Club that established the first library in Hay River. She was also a businesswoman, co-owner and founder of Wright's Hardware, owner of the first insurance business and later involved in real estate.
She was also actively involved in politics, serving on Hay River's town council and active with the Federal Progressive Conservative Party. In 1974,The Chamber of Commerce recognized her outstanding contributions to Hay River by naming Mae Wright "Citizen of the Year".
Her three daughters and their families survive Mae Wright. Her daughter, Nancy Jameson, along with her husband Rob, still make their home in Hay River. They have expressed their appreciation on behalf of the family to the staff of the H.H. Williams Memorial Hospital where Mae was a resident of extended care for the past number of years.
Mae Wright will be fondly remembered as the embodiment of community service and community spirit. The imprint that her life has left on Hay River will live on in the memories of all who knew her. The service being held in her memory today in Hay River will be a celebration of a life well lived. Thank you.
