Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize a remarkable Cape Bretoner who touched many lives in her 85 years.
Elizabeth Beaton was born in New Waterford, Cape Breton in March 1918. At 15, she found her true calling in life, joined the Ursuline order and became Sister Bess Beaton. Though she would spend the next 70 years working in Edmonton as a dedicated teacher, she found time to occasionally return to her beloved Cape Breton.
In addition to teaching, she was also an avid athlete in her younger days. That interest in sports was recognized by the basketball team at Edmonton's Archbishop Jordan High School, which made her an honourary member, complete with her own team jersey.
Her death in January of this year has left the world and the many people she touched a little poorer, but when she was here she made our lives a lot richer.