Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the great Canada Day celebrations that were held over the long weekend in and around the city of Yellowknife.
The turnout we had at Petitot Park on Saturday was one of the biggest in my memory, helped by great weather and great spirit among our people. It was a real place of celebration. In particular, Mr. Speaker, I would like to send out my sincere congratulations to the 46 people who were sworn in as newly minted Canadians.
It was heartwarming to hear that the 46 individuals originated from no less than 25 different countries around the world, including Iran, Moldavia, Republic of China, United Kingdom, Jamaica, Vietnam and the Philippines. It reminded us once again of the depth of the multi-cultural nature of our city.
I would also like to congratulate our Commissioner, Glenna Hansen, Mr. Fred Koe, chairperson of the Canada Day committee, the staff of the citizenship office in Yellowknife, and the officiator of the ceremony, Mr. Bob Engle, himself a naturalized Canadian and a distinguished long-time Northerner, for a job very well done.
I was also fortunate enough, Mr. Speaker, to take part in the friendship dinner held for the benefit of visiting and host families for the Celebrate Canada in the Capitals program on Sunday night at the Great Hall. The visitors came from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, and Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories. Going by the way the visitors spoke so warmly and emotionally about our city and our people, they seemed to share my view that Yellowknife is a little heaven on earth.
Mr. Speaker, we owe many thanks to the host families and the host committee for the outstanding hospitality given to the visitors. I would like to publicly thank Dale and Marty Peltzer, Sylvia and Wes Simmons, Yvonne Quick, Linda and Blair Dunbar, Chuck and Jocelyn Carruthers, and Altco. As well, Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the organizer extraordinaire, Darlene Mandeville, and the host committee members, Paul Chang and James Wong. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause