Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate all of the participants who were selected to compete in the 2006 Arctic Winter Games being held in the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, this March. I hope they are proud of this achievement and I want to wish them all good luck and a safe and happy trip.
I am also thankful for the great sports programs we have in Hay River, and especially for our volunteers who make our participation in these games possible. Hay River is fortunate to be sending about 35 athletes to the games this year.
Mr. Speaker, perhaps one of the greatest rewards from the games isn't the medals, but the lifelong dedication to active living that helps athletes with their endurance, focus and attitude. These qualities serve them well in their lives outside competition, as well. We all need to support active living in our communities, our schools, our businesses and our homes.
Mr. Speaker, active living helps us deal with stress and can prevent illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. Active living can also help us stay young and fit. I would like to recognize the Members of this Assembly, my colleagues, who are involved in things like playing hockey and curling, Mr. Speaker. Even if we are not heading to the Olympics or to the Arctic Winter Games, each one of us should take the opportunity to be active, get outside, get a little sunshine and enjoy what is best about life in the NWT: fresh air, our friends and our family.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize your constituents and mine who are heading off to the Arctic Winter Games. These are the athletes: in basketball, Stephanie Kimble; biathlon, Brieanne Glaicar, Brian Swallow, Lucas Hachey, Mark LeBlanc; cross-country skiing, JJ McKinny, Matthew Davies, Joseph Lirette; in gymnastics, Kali-Ann Butala, Kristin King; curling, Reiss Kruger; hockey, Carisa Broadhead, Meagan Cooke, Michelle Daugneault, Cali Groenheyde, Brantley Daniels, Clayton Jameson, Brandon Lafferty, Kyle Biggar, Cole Miltenberger, Patrick Minute, Terry Rowe, Corey Coady, Joseph Hiebert, Devan King; in volleyball, Amy Groenheyde.
Many thanks to our coaches and chaperones that will be accompanying our athletes; Doug Swallow, Gary Hoffman, Greg Rowe, Floyd Daniels, Carmen Butala, Andrew Cassidy, April Glaicar, Todd Shafer and wrestling coach, Kathleen Groenewegen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause