Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the 2022 Winter Olympics ending this past Sunday, like a lot of Canadians I spent a good part of my evenings watching various competition. It was amazing watching our Canadian athletes perform on the biggest stage.
As many are aware, Liam Gill represented Canada in the snowboarding halfpipe event. Liam is a proud descendant of a long line of Dene from the North and represent the Dehcho Dene as a member of Liidlii Kue First Nation. Upon hearing the news, I reached out his grandma to congratulate her on his accomplishment.
Like most Fort Simpson residents, we put it in our calendar to watch the halfpipe competition. It was with great pride, we watched Liam's two runs.
To help do this statement, I reached out for help to put this together.
Liam is an 18-year-old snowboarder born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. His parents are Lance and Joanne Gill, grandmother is Rosemary Gill, and his grandfather was Lyle Gill and his sister Mia. He had the honour to take part in the Winter Olympic Games on the Canadian snowboarding team. He knew how important it was to represent the Dene and, further, all Indigenous people in the sport on a global stage. The support he received from coast to coast was amazing, especially all the support he received from people from the North. He believed that he was sharing his first Olympic experience with everybody that supported him. He hopes his story and presence at the Winter Olympic Games will inspire young Indigenous athletes to pursue their goals in sports and other career choices.
With the Olympics experience being over and in true Northern fashion, Liam is giving back to the North youth and his sport. He will be visiting three communities from February 23rd until early March to attend snowboarding clinics in Fort Smith, Fort Simpson, and Yellowknife. He wants to welcome people to come say 'hi' and welcome him to these communities.
I want to congratulate him on the Olympics and thank him for coming home to give back to our youth. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.