Mr. Speaker, today I want to pay public tribute to two influential Northerners who have passed on. Both Pearl Hodgson, wife of our former Commissioner Stuart Hodgson, and Mark de Werdt, former justice of our Supreme Court, died in British Columbia in September.
Mr. Speaker, as many people know, when I first moved to Yellowknife in 1967 to work with the territorial government, I was the executive assistant to Commissioner Hodgson, and in this way I got to know the Commissioner's wife, Pearl. She was a very gracious lady and an active volunteer here in the Northwest Territories. In her role as Commissioner's wife, she hosted many distinguished guests, including members of the Royal family. In fact, she and Stuart became good friends of Prince Charles, and Pearl was one of only seven Canadians invited to Prince Charles' wedding to Princess Diana. Pearl Hodgson was also a devoted wife and mother, and a wonderful friend to all who knew her.
Mark de Werdt was also a long-time Northerner. He moved to Yellowknife to practice law in 1958. Over the years, he served in many legal capacities including both defense and Crown lawyer, magistrate and finally justice of the Supreme Courts of both the Northwest Territories and British Columbia. He and his wife, Ann, retired to British Columbia in the 1990s, although he continued to come north as a deputy judge from time to time.
Justice de Werdt died of cancer in Vancouver. He has left behind him not only a grieving wife, four sons and other family and friends, but also a long list of notable accomplishments and the respect and affection of a great many people in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, including me, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to join me in saying thank you and goodbye to these two fine people who contributed so much to the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause