Mr. Speaker, each year, two students from each of the seven secondary schools in my riding are selected to participate in a program called the “Capital Experience”. It was started 19 years ago by my predecessor, Barry Devolin. During the past three days in Ottawa, they have learned about the various career opportunities that await them.
I would like to introduce this year's participants: Calvin Smith and Evan Lane from I.E. Weldon, Sofia Entzin-Telford from Fenelon Falls, Sadie Evans-Fockler and Trevin Bain-Gross from Haliburton Highlands, Sara Woychesko and Daniel Patterson from St. Thomas Aquinas, Ella Wilson and Becca Lang from LCVI, Bronte Weber and Tyler Pettit from Brock, and Allison Carroll and Brayden Boughton from Crestwood.
I would like to thank the sponsors: the Lions clubs, Rotary clubs and local legions. I would also like to thank the guest speakers for their ongoing support of the program. It is my hope that these students will be inspired as they consider their future.
To that end, I invite my colleagues to welcome these young leaders to Ottawa.