Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have been talking a great deal about education in the last few weeks and months. This is Education Week and I would like to recognize and salute all the NWT educators among us who make a difference in people’s lives.

We – and I include myself, because teachers never stop being educators – are everywhere in our lives. Yes, educators are in our schools, teaching kindergarten to Grade 12, but they are also in our gyms, our fitness centres and our yoga institutes, at the NWT Literacy Council and their workers are community workers who are in every one of our communities, and in our libraries. They are the coaches of our sports teams; the supervisors of our other extracurricular activities, both inside and outside of school; they are the professionals mentoring new employees in the workplace; supervisors in the workplace; Aurora College, day and evening instructors; visiting and/or guest speakers in schools and at community events; training course instructors; our elders; every one of our parents; and our siblings.

I have, no doubt, missed a few examples to give you; the point is: educators abound. They are in every aspect of our lives. Many of us remember one particular individual who had an impact on us, either in school, at work or in an activity that we took part in, an individual who taught us, shaped us, made us think, enhanced our lives and helped us grow.

So, now as Education Week ends, remember that person. Thank them in person if you can, give them a silent thanks if you cannot.

To my colleagues I have a request. As you return to your communities in the next day or so, take stock of those around you who are educators, not just teachers, but all kinds of educators, and thank them for making a difference, a difference to you and to all the others in the NWT that they influenced. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.