Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the full sponsorship of Horizons North of the NWT High Performance Hockey Program. Congratulations to the athletes, six of whom are from my constituency, and their coaches, for striving to be the first ever hockey team from the NWT to participate in the 1999 Canada Winter Games in Cornerbrook, Newfoundland.
I would also like to congratulate 19 of my constituents from Nunavut, 14 athletes and 5 coaches, who participated in the 1997 Canada Summer Games in Brandon, setting our highest participation rate ever.
I have seen the positive impact of sports on young people's lives, teaching many skills such as teamwork, determination and commitment. Canadians from across the country were impressed with the calibre of our athletes.
I urge all the youth of Nunavut and the rest of Canada to participate in sports either as athletes or as volunteers.