Mr. Speaker, October 5 to 11, 2003, is National Fire Prevention Week, so this is a fitting time to announce the recipients of this year's Northwest Territories Fire Service Merit Awards program.

In 2002, I established the Fire Service Merit Awards, a new program to recognize the contribution of individual firefighters and fire departments in the Northwest Territories.

A special inaugural ceremony was held to announce the 2002 winners during Fire Prevention Week. Members of the Legislative Assembly were invited to attend this ceremony at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre to help recognize these special contributors to the fire service.

In this second year of the program, the department once again received nominations to recognize the special contribution of individual firefighters. Individual nominations are assessed by a panel of local and territorial fire service officials, against a set of established criteria. These nominations have now been assessed and I am pleased to announce the 2003 winners at this time.

The individual Fire Service Merit Award recipients for 2003 are:

• • Al Kuyten of the Norman Wells Fire Department
• • Robert Ansdell of the Tsiigehtchic Fire Department

Mr. Ansdell has also been chosen as the recipient of the 2003 Territorial Fire Service Merit Award.

The department also received nominations for the Community Fire Service Merit Award. This award is presented to recognize the efforts of the fire department and the entire community in improving the local fire protection system.

The assessment process to determine the community merit award winner has now been completed and I am pleased to announce that the 2003 Community Fire Service Merit Award goes to the City of Yellowknife Fire Division.

Mr. Speaker, ceremonies to recognize the winners will be held in their home communities in the near future. I would ask all Members of the Legislative Assembly to please join me in congratulating the two recipients of the individual awards and the City of Yellowknife Fire Division. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause