Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to be back in the House after another brief and beautiful summer. I would like to begin this sitting by congratulating Margaret Thom, who was appointed by the Prime Minister as the new Commissioner of the Northwest Territories in June of this year.

Ms. Thom is a very distinguished appointee, who brings a lifetime of public and community service to her role as Commissioner. She was born in Redknife as Margaret Gargan, raised on the land, and has dedicated her life to caring for her family and community as an active educator, counsellor, advocate, and volunteer.

Margaret, who herself was educated in the residential school system, went on to devote her career to teaching. She is an admired educator, who has served the DehchoDehcho Education Council as a community counsellor at Deh Gah Elementary and Secondary School in Fort Providence for close to 20 years. As such, she has played an important role in educating an entire generation of children from the Dehcho region. She is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal, a member of the Northwest Territories Education Hall of Fame, and has been awarded the Territorial Wise Woman Award.

Margaret has played an important leadership role within the Dehcho region, with many years of service to the people of the NWT. As a role model, she leads by example and promotes healing and lifestyle of wellness.

She has served on numerous boards, including as the governor of the Aurora College Board, a member of the Territorial Board of Secondary Education/Akaitcho Hall Advisory Board, and as Vice-chair of the Nats'ejee K'eh Treatment Centre.

Together, Margaret and her husband Jim raised four daughters and are now enjoying watching their nine grandchildren grow.

As if that wasn't enough, Margaret also brings to her new role many years of experience serving as the territory's deputy commissioner in 2005 to 2011.

Margaret replaces former Commissioner George Tuccaro, who retired in May 2016, and deputy commissioner Gerald Kisoun, who served on an interim basis. I would like to thank both gentlemen for their service to the NWT, and I would especially like to welcome Margaret Thom to her new role. I wish her the very best as she begins her service as the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.