Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This being Friday, I am pleased to make a statement on a good news story. Mr. Speaker, 29 competitors and 12 advisors from Skills Canada Northwest Territories and Nunavut, along with over 600 other competitors from across Canada attended the 9th Annual Canadian Skills Competition from May 29th to June 1st in Waterloo, Ontario. The two-day competition challenged participants through projects that tested their theoretical and practical knowledge in various trades and technology areas.
Skills Canada NWT/Nunavut experienced unprecedented success at these competitions, bringing home one gold, four silver and two bronze medals; a total of seven medals. Of the 29 NWT and Nunavut competitors, approximately 25 percent of the team placed in the top three in Canada. This is an enormous accomplishment that makes us all very, very proud indeed, Mr. Speaker.
The winner who received a gold medal in worksite safety is Isabel MacDougall from Iqaluit; and silver medal restaurant services, Joel Fortier from Iqaluit; from Team NWT a silver medal was received in heavy equipment mechanics by Reg Evans of Fort Smith; another silver medal in graphic design by Richard Walsh in Yellowknife; another silver medal in worksite safety by Mara Smith of Yellowknife; bronze medal in job interview by Amanda Johns of Inuvik; and a bronze medal in prepared speech by Mandy Lyons of Yellowknife.
Mr. Speaker, Allyson Stroeder, executive director of Skills Canada NWT/Nunavut deserves a lot of congratulations for this, but attributes the success of the team to the partnerships that the organization has been building in the North. For example, Mr. Speaker, this organization is the only one in Canada to insist that their competitors have completed the Workers' Compensation Board safety and the young worker program in order to compete in the worksite safety event. It is paying off, because the team won the gold last year and they won again this year.
Mr. Speaker, I understand that not only these medals, but the team spirit was so strong that this team tied with Alberta for the Spirit Award in the yelling and cheering contest at the closing ceremonies.
Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that the NWT and Nunavut team have made their presence known to all other teams across Canada, and I'm sure everyone in the House joins me in sending our heartfelt congratulations for a job very well done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause