Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour the 125th anniversary of the New Westminster Salmonbellies and to celebrate North America's oldest lacrosse club, winner of 24 national Mann Cup championships, in the greatest lacrosse city in the world.
New Westminster, the oldest city in western Canada, is the home of the Salmonbellies, who are to lacrosse what the Montreal Canadiens are to hockey. We are proud of our bellies, and you can only say that in New West, Mr. Speaker.
The Salmonbellies are active members in the community, participating in the annual Hyack parade, hosting events for Canadian military personnel, sponsoring “Cops for Cancer” with the New Westminster police department, and putting on many camps and clinics with the New Westminster Minor Lacrosse Association. The Salmonbellies' 24 Mann Cup banners hang from the rafters in Queen's Park Arena. This year I am confident that the team will bring home its 25th Mann Cup national championship banner.
Congratulations to the Salmonbellies on behalf of the citizens of New Westminster. Go bellies!