Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in the House to pay tribute to all of the coaches in Gatineau and across the country.
We always take time to acknowledge the athletic achievements of our athletes, children and young people, but their coaches are often forgotten.
I am sure each one of my colleagues had a coach who had a positive impact on them or on someone they know.
Coaches have an important job, both athletically and personally. They encourage our athletes to excel, through victory and defeat. These men and women are important and accessible role models in all of our communities.
I have witnessed this at the games and tournaments I attend in my role as MP. Coaches are often volunteers and do not count the hours they work, but they are always there for those early-morning and late-night practices.