Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my hometown of Charlottetown for being one of the seven national winners in the Winterlights Celebrations.
The Winterlights Celebrations encourage civic pride, neighbourhood and heritage awareness, and beautification through a national competition. These celebrations are a winter version of the communities in bloom program held each and every summer.
Volunteer judges evaluated the cities on the decoration of public, private and commercial properties for festive celebrations, winter activities and visual presentation.
A major attraction in Charlottetown this year was the first annual Jack Frost Children's Winterfest. Volunteer involvement and projects like turkey drives, the work of the food bank, and toys for tots also contributed to Charlottetown's win.
Charlottetown placed first in the category for cities with a population between 20,000 and 50,000. In 2002-03 Charlottetown won in the capital cities category.
I would like to offer my congratulations to the people of Charlottetown.