Madam Speaker, today on April 22 we mark the beginning of National Dance Week, a cross-Canada celebration of dance. The week will culminate on April 29, which is recognized as International Dance Day.
Canadians love to dance. We like to see dance. In 2013, there were more than 1.1 million attendees to 2,700 performances by 88 Canadian dance companies.
We volunteer for dance. Forty-two hundred volunteers collectively contributed 8,200 hours of their time to these dance companies in 2013.
Our children love to dance. In 2013, over 625,000 Canadian kids and youths were registered in organized dance, making dance the third most popular organized physical activity.
I am proud to say that my riding of Davenport is rich with these dance programs and organizations, including Dreamwalker Dance Company.
In recognition of our love of dance, I would like to celebrate all those right across Canada who contribute to engaging Canadians through dance in their communities.