Mr. Speaker, Waterloo region, including Kitchener Centre, was built on a merger of the ideal of hard work with the ideal of compassionate co-operation.
Our Governor General, who spent many years in our community, referred to this as a “barn-raising” mentality.
Our heritage also includes an ability to see past appearances and accents, to treat every person as valuable. These ideals have made Kitchener-Waterloo the economic engine of Canada. People are asking, “What is in the water in Waterloo region?”
Let us celebrate the Kitchener ideals of hard work, compassionate co-operation and respect for every person.
I want to pay special tribute to Connie Dietrich, a constituent who recently lost her life. Connie lived out these ideals with conviction, dedicating 15 years of her life to volunteering in palliative care.
I am very proud to be the member of Parliament for the great community of Kitchener.