Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I wasn't able to speak about this last session day -- I was not feeling well -- so I thought I'd share my statement on International Women's Day.

As I was saying, Mr. Speaker, in honour of International Women's Day, which was officially recognized yesterday, on Sunday, March 8^th, I would like to share some remarks to highlight this occasion. First, I'd like to share some facts about what led to International Women's Day becoming a worldwide celebration. The first Women's Day took place in the U.S. on February 28, 1909. However, that celebration was only recognized domestically within the U.S. The first official Women's Day on an international scale was held two years later in March 1911 in Germany, Austria, and in Denmark.

2020 marks the 111^th global commemoration for women, as International Women's Day was first celebrated in 1909. This day was meant to celebrate social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This day is about calling out the many injustices that women are faced with every day, and the constant battle to fight for and safeguard women's rights.

While it's important, Mr. Speaker, to be informed about the many struggles that women must deal with on a regular basis, I'd like to celebrate this past International Women's Day by sharing a story about a special woman in my life, and that lady was my great-grandmother, Adeline Mandeville.

I remember, one quick story, before I went to university. I was going to a job in the TransCanada Pipelines, and she told me -- I'll say another story in Chipewyan shortly here, but she told me, "Speak straight. Don't lie. Work out. Now, get out of the house, and go work, and I can live on my old age pension." "Go work," she said. She was a straight shooter, straight to the point, and I love her for that because I don't know where I would be if she was not like that.

I would like to say a few words in my language, and this is an excerpt of what happened when I was a kid. My great-grandfather Modeste was also there. We were going duck hunting. [English translation not available]. There was a gunshot boom, and I looked up, and I thought it was my great-grandfather shooting, but, no, it was my great-grandmother. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted