Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to recognize the exceptional youth of my riding and thank them for making their voices heard. Firstly, in the gallery today I have 13 students from the Fort Simpson Bompas Elementary School whom I will be recognizing later today. I hope you’re enjoying the speeches called Members’ statements today. Because we just started, they are taking much longer, and I thank you for your patience up there.

In the first week of May, like Mr. Speaker said, young people from across the territory gathered here at the Legislative Assembly for the Youth Parliament. That included Ms. Sylvia Pascal-Matt from the Thomas Simpson School, who represented Nahendeh and did a fantastic job. I also want to say her younger sister Abigail is also here with the Grade 6 class here today. Welcome.

While I was in Fort Simpson this past month, I had the opportunity to speak with these Grade 6 students at Bompas Elementary. I spoke with them about the role of the MLA, how government operates and how people can effect change. Bompas students as well as students from the Thomas Simpson Secondary are gearing up and training hard for the annual NWT Track and Field Championships in Hay River next week. The Grade 6 students mentioned how useful it would be to have the community of Fort Simpson fitted with a new track and field. Not only could they train for competitions like the annual Hay River meet, they

could even host it one day, serving as ambassadors for Fort Simpson.

The community of Fort Simpson has not had track facilities since the early 1990s. Sadly, our children of Fort Simpson are training in the playgrounds and training on a gravel road next to the school. An outdoor track would enable students to practice and train properly, not just one sport but many, helping them find new ways to have fun and stay active. Participants at any skill level would benefit, from first-time beginners to those training for territorial and national high performance competitions. It would also be a valuable addition to the community at large, giving everybody in Fort Simpson a new place to exercise and, as I said, the capacity to host meets would also enable students like the ones I spoke about to build friendships across the NWT, to work with their friends, meet new people and improve their skills.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted