Mr. Speaker, I was lucky to grow up in the North. The North has a way of wrapping itself around the people who call it home, embracing people, land, and culture. Regardless of whether people plant their feet for a year, ten, or a lifetime, their roots are bound to this place and, more importantly, its people. In the North, bonds extend beyond traditional friendships because, here, we don't make friends; we make family.

Yesterday, the North lost a member of its family, Haylee Carlson. As children, we shared dance classes. I was drawn to Haylee's enviable vibrant confidence; as a photographer, to her smile that started in her eyes; and, as a public servant here in the Legislative Assembly, I was impressed by her professionalism, unwavering ability to always stay two steps ahead, and as the glue that holds this branch of government together. Haylee was assertive, confident, and motivated. She was fiercely independent and fiercely loved.

Mr. Speaker, a few years ago, I met a man who told me he was going to die, and that made him one of the lucky ones. He explained that, of all the eggs in the world, he made it to a viable pregnancy and, of everything that could go wrong in pregnancy, he was born. After his birth, his mother was told he had a degenerative disease and wasn't expected to live past the age of eight. On the day we met, we were the same age and both parents of young children.

He beat the odds given to his mother on his birthday, but every day he knew that life may take a devastating turn; but he lived. He learned to ride a bike, graduate high school, started a business, got married, and welcomed two children. Despite the uncertainty, he lived, and every day we are here makes us the lucky ones.

Mr. Speaker, Haylee left behind a beautiful daughter, Shanli, who she shares with her husband Mike; an incredible memory bank shared with her sisters, family, friends, acquaintances, and colleagues; and, for the 19^th Legislative Assembly, a well-trained clerks' office.

Haylee also left us with a painful reminder that we don't live forever. We all die, and our time here is not infinite, not for any of us. We don't know how long we have, and it is not within our control, but what we can control is what we choose to do with our time and the legacy we choose to leave behind. Haylee left us a great legacy, and we are the lucky ones.