Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month on February 1st, I had the privilege of taking part in the First Annual Young Women's Conference in Yellowknife. This was a phenomenal conference organized by Skills Canada, Northwest Territories and Nunavut to provide an opportunity for all young women in grade 8 from schools across the Northwest Territories and Nunavut to meet female mentors who work in the areas of trades, technology and non-traditional occupations, and to participate in networking and hands-on activities.

Some 180 girls from Inuvik, Fort McPherson, Rae-Edzo, Fort Providence, Kugluktuk, Gjoa Haven, Fort Good Hope, Kugaaruk, Wha Ti and Yellowknife attended the event. There were dozens more chaperones and volunteers, as well as the female mentors, filling the room to capacity.

I must say, Mr. Speaker, it was quite a sight to see 180 girls chatting to each other and with the female mentors, to share their interests and to absorb all the current information that was made available to them. There were also a lot of smiles and laughter. I can tell you first-hand it was truly a learning and rewarding experience for the mentors, just as it was for the students.

The female mentors came from engineering, aviation, RCMP, military, fire fighting, broadcasting and some of them were even wildlife officers and politicians. Many in attendance recognized that this could not have been such a success without the focus, determination and hard work of Allyson Stroeder, the executive director of Skills Canada.

She brought together government agencies and sought and found major corporate sponsors to give generously to make this happen. She was also instrumental in collecting dozens of volunteers to make sure 180 girls did exactly what they were supposed to do every minute of the day, which is not always easy.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to send my sincere thanks and congratulations to Ms. Stroeder for the excellent job and the corporate sponsors and volunteers and mentors for giving so generously. I look forward to the event next year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause