Mr. Speaker, October 4th to 10th was 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, our government established the Fire Service Merit Awards, a new program to recognize the contribution of individual firefighters and fire departments in the Northwest Territories.
This year, the department once again sought 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 reviewed and I am pleased to announce the 2004 winners.
The individual Fire Service Merit Award recipients for 2004 are: Dustin Smith of the Fort Smith Fire Department, and Duane Debastien of the Inuvik Fire Department.
Mr. Smith has also been chosen as the recipient of the 2004 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 one outstanding 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 2004 Community Fire Service Merit Award goes to the Town of Fort Smith 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 wards and the Town of Fort Smith. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause