Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize some participants who will be attending the Arctic Winter Games next week. I am pleased to say that from the Weledeh riding, there are 27 athletes participating in nine different sports. First, I would like to congratulate them on being successful in representing the NWT at the games. Second, I wish them the best of luck in the upcoming competitions, good sportsmanship, a trip filled with memories and a few ulus that will be with them the rest of their lives.
Participating in badminton is Luke Coedy; taking part in basketball are Leona Johnson, Julia Pin, John Paeztel, Aaron Plotner; for cross-country skiing, Sarah Stephen; competing in gymnastics is Stacie Bengts; in the sport of ice hockey, Ryan Arychuk, Nick Ballantyne, Colin Bastarach, Josh Bolstad, Craig Bromley, Joshua Brown, Matt Brown, Elisabeth Laratta, Andrew Matthews, Scott Metcalfe, Lisa Rousseau and Craig Stephen; playing for the NWT in indoor soccer are Cody Erasmus and Jackie Ruptash-Stauffer; for snowboarding, Brendan Matthews; in speed skating, Katharine Corriveau, Pierre Corriveau, Michael Gilday and Jill Gilday; and in volleyball, Graham King.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to mention two members of the mission staff, Ms. Penny Johnson and Ms. Karen Thomson, who will be attending as well.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to give a special thank you and my voice of appreciation to the two coaches participating in these games, who live in my riding: Mr. David Gilday, who coaches speed skating; and Mr. Dave Grundy, who coaches hockey. Without the many volunteer hours of people like these two gentlemen, and the many others out there who contribute many, many hours of their valuable time, games like this would not be possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause