Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It truly is that time of year again to speak about graduations, when hard-working students put on their ties and tassels and walk up to get their diplomas.

The Thomas Simpson School graduation ceremony is taking place in the school grounds in Fort Simpson this Saturday. This year’s ceremony is going to be very special. There are 26 prospective Grade 12 graduates, the biggest graduating class in the history of the school. I send congratulations to all the teachers and parents who made this happen.

The students come from Fort Simpson and also other communities in the Nahendeh, and I can’t fault them for ambition. The theme this year’s grads have chosen is, “To Infinity and Beyond.” Perhaps someday one of them will become another Chris Hadfield, orbiting high above our planet; or maybe some of them will settle in Yellowknife Bay. Yellowknife Bay, Mars, that is, Mr. Speaker.

I do hope that infinity includes the Northwest Territories and especially the Nahendeh riding. But Infinity and Beyond is the right theme because these students have so much potential. They will become community workers, tradespeople, entrepreneurs, parents and professionals the people need to build this Northwest Territories.

Congratulations to all the graduates, the proud families, their teachers and the staff at the Thomas Simpson School. As well, congratulations to Karilene Isaiah, the only grad from Fort Liard this year.

It also gives me great pleasure to recognize my niece, Shermayne Menicoche-Moses, who is graduating today with a B.A. in management.

---Applause

I wish all Thomas Simpson High School graduating students infinite success wherever their future plans may be. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.