Mr. Speaker, Women's History Month is about celebrating women's role in and contributions to Canadian history and society.
Every day women across Canada strive to make a difference in the lives of other women and in their communities. The Governor General's awards in commemoration of the Persons Case were established in 1979 to recognize the lifetime achievements of five women who, in the spirit of the Famous Five, have done just that. More recently, a sixth award has been added to recognize the contributions of young Canadian women who prove that no matter what one's age it is never too early to make a difference in the lives of others.
It is with great pride that I rise to congratulate the six women who have received this year's awards. The recipients for the 2002 Governor General's awards in commemoration of the Persons Case are: Margaret-Ann Armour of Edmonton, Alberta; Françoise David of Montreal, Quebec; Michele Landsberg of Toronto, Ontario; Nancy Riche of St. John's, Newfoundland; and Elisapie Ootova of Pond Inlet, Nunavut. Megan Reid of Leamington, Ontario is the recipient of the youth award.