Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as this is Education Week throughout the Northwest Territories, I thought I would keep with that theme and bring acknowledgement to a wonderful event held this past Tuesday in Hay River. Mr. Speaker, I am referring to the 24th annual Hay River science fair. This science fair is an event that attracted science projects from 80 students from four Hay River schools. The Hay River Science Fair is an annual event that has always been eagerly anticipated by a number of budding Einsteins in Hay River for many years.
Mr. Speaker, the format for the science fair this year was a little different from past years, in that students' participation was not mandatory. The fact that 80 students chose to participate in the science fair was fantastic, Mr. Speaker, and the organizers' hope is to reach a participation rate of 100 students for next year. This is so encouraging, that our young people are choosing to enter their science projects in an event like the science fair, when there is no pressure to do so.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the organizer of the Hay River Science Fair, the assistant principal of Princess Alexandra School, Mr. Chuck Lirette and the many volunteers that commit countless hours to the success of the science fair in Hay River. The names of the winners are too numerous to mention here, Mr. Speaker, but I would like to sincerely congratulate all the participants in the 24th annual science fair in Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause