Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak about a great organization that I have been involved with for the past 10 years. In the winter of 2008 I received an email to see if I would be interested in facilitating the Northern Youth Abroad program. I will not go into the details about our conversations on how I ended up facilitating for them.
Since being selected to be a facilitator, I have worked with 14 international teams, two Northern NYA Next teams, and Canadian program teams. I have personally worked with 155 youth participants from the NWT and Nunavut in these 10 years, as well as another 323 youth during this time. Some of these youth are here today, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I also had the honour to group lead in 2011. This involved spending eight weeks with my team and co-leaders, including Murina Sabourin from Fort Providence. Mr. Speaker, NYA was created in 1996 and was first offered in 1998 pre-division. The Government of Northwest Territories was one of the organization's first funders. It expanded to serve youth in NWT beginning in 2005. To date 180 youth from the NWT have participated in the Canadian programs, and 68 have gone on to do the International or NYA Next program.
Last year they received 280 applications for 58 spots. Two youth from the NWT, Steven Nande from Fort Liard and Murina Sabourin from Fort Providence, have won the Outstanding Alumni Award, and today they will be joined by Janelle Nitsiza from Whati at the NYA anniversary celebration. Mindy Willett, John Stewart, and Lois Philipp received the NYA's Outstanding Volunteer Award and will be joined by Robert Warburton and Sarah McLeod tonight.
They have strong support from businesses in NWT. This includes Canadian North, the Tlicho Government, Dominion Diamonds Corporation, the Sahtu Dene Council, the MS Naidoo Memorial Trust Fund, and Nunastar Fund for Northern Children. Mr. Speaker, more than 80 per cent of past participants went on to graduate high school.
There are three phrases in the NYA program; the Canadian, NYA Next, and International. Mr. Speaker, I have witnessed this organization grow in the past 10 years. It is about what is good for our youth and how they help them. It is amazing that this organization and staff are so committed to our youth. I would like to thank them for their commitment.
I would also like to thank the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and Municipal and Community Affairs. I would just seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement, Mr. Speaker.
---Unanimous consent granted