Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a significant event in the history of the Anglican diocese in the Arctic happened in September. I am speaking of course of the retirement of the Bishop of the Arctic and the new Bishop of the Arctic being appointed, Andrew Atagotaaluk, who was installed as the first Canadian born and first Inuk Bishop of the Arctic.
This move was made possible by the retirement of long-time Northerner, Bishop Christopher Williams. He is a resident of Yellowknife, he and his family. Bishop Chris has been instrumental in the evolution of the Anglican Church in the North and I am sure if asked, he would agree that Bishop Atagotaaluk's installation was the cumulation of this evolution.
Chris Williams interest in the North was peaked in college when he saw a little ceramic igloo in his friend's dorm room. It was in fact a bank, one of many sent by the diocese of the Arctic to supporters in England in an attempt to raise money for the mission's work in the Arctic.
Chris Williams left his home near Manchester, England and travelled to Canada in 1960 when he began his ministry under then Anglican Minister John Sperry of Coppermine. Chris Williams went to Spence Bay and then to Salluit, Nunavik. It was in Salluit that Chris met and married Rona Aitken, a Scottish nurse posted to the tiny Inuit community.
Over the next few years the family grew to include son Andrew and daughter Judy. Chris was soon spearheading the translation of the Bible's Old Testament into syllabics so that Inuit could read the Bible for the first time. This huge undertaking had another happy result; one of the many translators working on the project was Andrew Atagotaaluk who found God while working on the translations.
He felt the calling to become a minister himself, enrolled in Arthur Turner Training School in Pangnirtung, the first step in the journey which led to him becoming the first Inuk Bishop of the Arctic. Now that he has retired, Bishop Chris and Rona Williams will continue to live in Yellowknife, and now that he has the time he is taking up interests he never could do before because of his heavy travel schedule. He is taking up gliding and has joined the Choral Society. He is active in the Seniors' Society and will be appearing as an actor in a play called the Christmas Journey which will be on the NACC stage in November. Please help me send congratulations to both people, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause