Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues, for letting me speak first here. Mr. Speaker, earlier today in the Great Hall, we celebrated the life and achievements of five women who received 2003 Wise Women Awards from the NWT Status of Women Council. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a recipient from the North Slave region, Florentia Dacanay, affectionately known to many as Flory. Flory passed away on December 31st and this award was nominated and given posthumously. Those who knew her well, hold her very much in their loving memory and they're grateful they can honour and celebrate her life through this recognition. Mr. Speaker, for many years now, this prestigious award has been given to women who are positive role models in their community and who are dedicated and committed to improving the lives of other women and families. Flory was certainly all of that and more. Flory did not seek a high public office or seek recognition for what she did. I am not even sure she knew how much people appreciated what she was to them, but when she took ill and passed away last December, her friends gathered by the hundreds to mourn and remember her and to express their appreciation.

Mr. Speaker, I believe every community needs and has an elder who is the mother or wise woman to that community and only special people who have the right character and strength can fulfil that role, someone who accepts you for who you are, who makes you feel safe from the dangers and hardships of everyday life, someone who gives you guidance to do the right thing, someone who is so proud of every little achievement you accomplish, someone who does it all with genuine love and care. Flory was one of those special people. Such a wise woman is even more dear to those who leave their homeland behind to make a new life in another country. Flory welcomed and helped many, many people make that transition, many of them who now make up Yellowknife's large and vibrant Filipino community. But it didn't really matter where you were from, Flory was there for everyone, even complete strangers, opening up her home to them, giving them a place to stay and treating them like a part of her own family.

Mr. Speaker, it was in recognition of her service that all seven Yellowknife MLAs submitted a joint nomination of Flory for this award. We were pleased when we learned Flory had been chosen and that the council received a flood of nominations for Flory from the rest of the community. This is just further proof of the impact Flory had on so many Yellowknifers. On behalf of everyone in this House, I would like to take this opportunity to extend heartfelt congratulations in memory of Flory to her loving husband Angel, her daughter Flair and son-in-law Jeff, and her grandson she was always so proud of, Jeremy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause