Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize some 45 athletes who will be travelling to the Arctic Winter Games from my riding...
---Applause
...Mr. Speaker. That includes cultural events such as dancers, such as the Gwich’in Dancers from Aklavik who are led by Annie Buckle, as well as the people who are participating in the Dene Games. We also have Stephanie Charlie who is going to be participating in hockey, which is again breaking the ice to get the athletes from the smaller communities to be involved in the larger teams.
One of the big achievements we had this year was with snowshoeing, biathlon and cross-country skiing where the Hanthorn family, which consists of six individuals, made the NWT Ski Team. Again, it shows that dedication, commitment and also hard work pays off. It shows that small communities can compete in these large events.
The majority of the athletes that are going are in snowshoeing. Mr. Speaker, it shows where there is commitment, volunteering of their parents, the community, their support and the individual who takes the time to put in the effort, make the team and help each other through this challenge.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to pass on my support to all the athletes, wish them well and make us proud, realizing that some 45 people representing the Northwest Territories at the Arctic Winter Games are from two of the communities in my riding, Aklavik and Fort McPherson. I am not leaving out Tsiigehtchic where they do have one athlete going for Dene Games.
With that, I would like to wish them all the best and I look forward to seeing all of them in Grande Prairie at the Arctic Winter Games.