Mr. Speaker, as National Volunteer Week comes to a close I would like to take this time to recognize and celebrate the contributions made by all volunteers in our country.
National Volunteer Week is a time to say thanks to the 6.5 million volunteers in Canada who prove again that Canadians have the ability to give generously and selfishly of their own time and expertise in order to make the lives of others better.
Volunteers strengthen communities. Volunteering is an investment in our communities and volunteers are our most valuable resource.
Where would our communities be if we did not have the commitment of our volunteers?
Winston Churchill once said “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give”.
Mother Theresa once said “Small things done with great love bring joy and peace”.
And a wise unknown author said “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time, they just have the heart”.
On behalf of my constituents and myself, I want to thank all volunteers for their efforts to make our community better and to make Canada strong.