Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the 2000-2001 school year is coming to an end, and today, on behalf of my constituents of the Deh Cho and myself, I would like to say congratulations to the youth who have succeeded in furthering their education in high school and in college. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the graduates from my riding. However, I would like to add a disclaimer that many of these students are still writing their exams, but I am confident that they will pass.
This year from the Hay River Reserve, we had:
- • Clifford Fabien graduated from high school;
- • Lori Fabien from Fairview College;
- • Alana Lamalice from Acordia College;
- • Victoria Martel from Grand Prairie College;
- • Andy Cardinal from Grand Prairie College;
- • Wanda Salopree from Grant McEwan College;
- • Derek Fabien from NAIT;
- • William Fabien from NAIT;
- • Jennifer Lafleur from Lac La Biche College;
- • Kathleen Graham from the Indigenous Environmental Resources Program in Manitoba;
- • Rosemary Martel, Deborah Chambaud, Denise Sabourin, Jona Sabourin, and Kathy McArthur from the Adult Education Program in Hay River; and
- • From Fort Providence, the students are:
- • Carl Squirrel, who went through the leadership program in Fort Smith;
- • Scotty McLeod, who also went through the Western Arctic Leadership Program in Fort Smith;
- • Kari Hergott from Brentwood College;
- • Louie Mckenzie from Deh Gah School;
- • Georgette Bouvier from Deh Gah School;
- • Curtis Sapp from Deh Gah School; and
- • Neil Bonnetrouge, also from Deh Gah School in Fort Providence.
- • From Enterprise, we have:
- • Tracey Napatchie from high school in Hay River; and
- • Andy Cadieux from the Information Management and Library Technology Program at Grant McEwan College.
Mr. Speaker, I want to pay special recognition to one of the graduates from the Reserve. Lorie Fabien took her second year at Fairview College this year. She took the transitional vocational program and she was presented with the Fairview District Association Award for People with Special Needs. I want to thank the Department of Health, the Deh Cho First Nations and the people from the Hay River Reserve who provided the assistance that enabled her to take this program.
Mr. Speaker, all of these graduates have generated a great sense of pride in their communities. They have demonstrated to their communities that receiving a diploma is something special. Mr. Speaker, the people of the Deh Cho are very proud of all of them. I wish them much success. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause