Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tomorrow in the Great Hall, as you know, the Legislative Assembly will host the St. John's Ambulance investiture ceremonies. The St. John Order is over 900 years old and it has been in the North for approximately 24 years. Volunteers will be recognized through investments and promotions by the chancellor of the Canadian priory of the St. John's Ambulance, Mr. Robert Langdon, and the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable Glenna Hansen.

This year, there will be 20 Northerners recognized for their volunteer service work in the Order of St. John's Ambulance. Twelve recipients will take part in the ceremony in the Great Hall tomorrow and another eight will be honoured in Ottawa later this month.

It is my pleasure to acknowledge Mike Lowing, a constituent of Yellowknife South, who is being recognized tomorrow for his volunteer efforts and being promoted to the rank of officer in St. John's Ambulance.

Mr. Speaker, Mike started as a young cadet many years ago with the St. John's Ambulance. He is currently on the board of directors and in 1996 became a serving brother. The honour and awards committee selected Mike because of his dedication and work for St. John's Ambulance in our community. His main service with St. John's focuses on improving first aid training and determining community needs for training services and supplies. Mike is known by members of the St. John's Ambulance, his peers, and indeed our entire community, as a very dedicated person who gives as much time as he can to this organization and to community service in general.

Youth programs are of particular interest to him and he enjoys promoting healthy lifestyles and safety to youth. Those who know Mike fully recognize and appreciate how much time and effort he dedicates to our community. Mike joined the Yellowknife Fire Department as a volunteer in 1984 and is currently employed as a firefighter and has been since 1985, Mr. Speaker.

In closing, I would like to ask my fellow Members to join me in recognizing the invaluable work and service that St. John's Ambulance brings to the North. The interest and training in the North are the highest per capita in the country. I think, Mr. Speaker, this speaks volumes about the many dedicated volunteer men and women serving in our communities.

Congratulations to all of this year's recipients. Thank you.

-- Applause