Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to provide Members with an update today on the NWT Games Program. As Members will recall, the first NWT Winter Games were held earlier this year in Fort Smith, from March 18th to 21st. The first NWT Summer Games followed in Inuvik, from July 8th to 10th.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to share some of the highlights from these events:
- • In total, there were 28 of 33 communities represented at both games.
- • In Fort Smith, a total of 257 youth and coaches participated. In Inuvik, the number increased to 272.
- • Fort Smith featured 17 events, including curling, cross-country skiing, speed skating, biathlon, tae kwon do and gymnastics. The Inuvik games included 16 different activities, including trap shooting, swimming, canoeing, softball, tennis, lacrosse, wrestling and more. Both events included Dene and Inuit games.
- • As part of the cultural component, the Fort Smith hosts arranged sessions on making medicine bags and carving, and in Inuvik, the host community welcomed the Fort Good Hope Drummers, who performed over the weekend, and held sessions on beading and drumming.
- • Fort Smith wowed the participants with a tobogganing party that included fireworks and a bonfire. In Inuvik, a major highlight was the recently opened Family Aquatic Centre. For many youth, this was a real treat.
Mr. Speaker, the primary objective of the NWT Games Program is to create opportunities for youth to participate in a multi-sport event, and encourage them to make healthy choices, such as getting involved in sport and physical activity.
The NWT Games Program was made possible through a unique funding arrangement between our government, the Government of Canada, and Sport North Federation.
Mr. Speaker, events like the NWT Games are not possible without contributions from a large number of people, and I would like to publicly recognize the following:
- • all members of the Legislative Assembly; in particular, my colleagues who were able to attend both events;
- • the Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of State for Sport, and the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Western Arctic Member of Parliament, for their support and contribution;
- • volunteers and staff of the Sport North Federation, who were responsible for managing the program, and who had a significant presence at both events;
- • Municipal and Community Affairs staff from all regions, who supported both games through a significant contribution of time and effort;
- • the Aboriginal Sport Circle of the Western Arctic, the Mackenzie Recreation Association, and the Beaufort-Delta Sahtu Recreation Association, for their collective support;
- • the departments of Health and Social Services and Education, Culture and Employment, for funding support and assistance with healthy choices events that took place;
- • finally, and most importantly, the volunteers in Fort Smith and Inuvik, who took on the monumental challenge of staging these incredible events, and for giving our youth the experience of a lifetime.
Mr. Speaker, now that these two events are completed, Municipal and Community Affairs is conducting an evaluation to assist in discussions with Sport Canada on future initiatives, and for consideration in our own long-term sport and recreation planning. Once this evaluation is completed, I will report back to the Members with an update on the long-term plans for the games. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause