Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Rosa Kisoun nee Cockney was born on March 5, 1956, to Walter and Winnie Cockney at Herschel Island, Yukon Territory. She grew up amongst several DEW line sites, as well as in Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik, Northwest Territories. She attended Samuel Hearne Secondary School, Sir Alexander Mckenzie School in Inuvik and graduated in 1974. She met the love of her life, Gerry Kisoun, in early 1972/73. Rosa and Gerry were married on November 28, 1975, at the Igloo Church. And this was one of the first ecumenical weddings to happen in Inuvik.

Gerry was a Royal Canadian Mounted Police member, and they were stationed in Calgary, Alberta; Manning, Alberta; Whitehorse, Yukon; Pelly Crossing, Yukon; Watson Lake, Yukon; Tuktoyaktuk, and finally back home in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, where they raised their family together. They have four children - Claudine, Patricia, Caroline, and Gerald Andrew.

Gerry was also the deputy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from 2011 to 2017. Rosa always stood by and supported her husband in his working career as well as his personal life as he has volunteered for so many committees and organizations throughout Inuvik; as well as his tourism company where Rosa was always baking him bannock for his tourists.

Rosa worked as an accountant for the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation for over 20 years until her retirement. She took great pride in her work. She was also an avid seamstress and sewer that made many homemade Halloween costumes, dresses, fur mitts, slippers, beaded cardholders, and cross-stitched hangings, just to name a few, for all for her family, friends, and especially her special friends.

Rosa was diagnosed with cancer in 2011. She fought a long courageous battle and she was not ready to leave her family just yet. Rosa passed away peacefully on April 22nd, 2023, with family by her side.

She will be fondly remembered for the outpouring love she had for her family, friends, her baking, her sewing, cooking shows, an avid sports and music lover, especially the love for her husband of 47 years Gerry, their children Claudine, Dennis, Noah, Haili, Carmella and Winnie Blake, Tricia and KK Hansen, Carey and Autty Kisoun, and her only son Drew Kisoun, as well as her great granddaughters Aaliyah and Makena Vittrekwa. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Boot Lake. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and community.

Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Government House Leader.

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, I had the honour today of inducting a number of people and an organization into the Education Hall of Fame, and we have a number of individuals today who were part of that ceremony. So I'd like to begin by recognizing Kelsey Wrightson who is with the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning. Dechinta was inducted in the category of post-secondary education, and they received the Minister's choice award.

Charlene Liske from N'dilo. She was inducted in the community outreach category.

Lima Baroryee She was inducted in the early childhood category. And with us today are her daughters Remi and Lidia Costa.

Al Karasiuk from Fort Smith, and he was inducted in the junior kindergarten to grade 12 category.

And Colleen Eckert from Yellowknife, and from all over the North actually, was inducted in the leadership in education category.

Mr. Speaker, it's an honour when I get to participate in these events and honour such great individuals who contributed so much. So I just wanted to recognize them here in the House today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River North. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I see Ed Hoff in the gallery today. He is a neighbour, a retired engineer, and a solid community volunteer, and I'd like to welcome him to the House. Thank you.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Great Slave.

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also rise to recognize Ed Hoff in the galley. I have known Ed since I was here 15 years ago. He has been a great mentor and friend, and I'm not sure that he actually has retired because I don't think engineers really retire; we just consult until the end. And I just want to say if anybody wants to know anything about Yellowknife's permafrost, Ed could give you a great walking tour of that. So welcome, Ed, to the gallery. Thank you.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Ruth Wright here in the House today. She's a constituent of mine and she used to be my old dog's -- my dog sitter. He actually used to run away, run away when I was home to her house.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife South.

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was also going to acknowledge Angela and Clay Balsillie who were here to hear the obituary for Rosa Kisoun. They're residents of Yellowknife South.

Mr. Speaker, and while we're on the topic of many old friends, it sounds like I have three new friends I also wanted to recognize. I have guests here today from PNWER. That is the Pacific Northwest Economic Region. And with me today in the House, we have president of the organization Chuck Winder who is also the president of the Idaho State Senate; vice-president of PNWER, Rick Glumac who is the British Columbia MLA for Port Moody-Coquitlam. And, Mr. Speaker, we have PNWER's CEO and executive director Matt Morrison also joining us. Thank you.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife South. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.