Mr. Speaker, last week was a truly great week in my riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla.
On Friday morning I joined a very large and very excited group of students from Uplands Elementary School to have a live conversation with Canada's very own Chris Hadfield. Our conversation was carried out live through the ARISS amateur radio program. To say these students were very inspired by this experience is an understatement.
Later in the day I visited Summerland Middle School and had the honour to present Canadian Olympian Kristi Richards with a Diamond Jubilee Medal. The staff and students at Summerland Middle School have a very special relationship with Ms. Richards. Kristi is a talented young leader and is a positive role model to young people in my riding.
I believe we are stronger as a nation when proud Canadians such as Commander Hadfield and Kristi Richards so positively influence our next generation of young leaders.