Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw attention to the 57th Festival du Voyageur, which just wrapped up in Winnipeg. Created to honour the legacy of the voyageurs and to celebrate western Canada's francophone community, this festival embodies a spirit of courage, solidarity and pride.
The voyageur spirit is what brings nation builders together in the dead of winter to celebrate their culture and pass it down with passion. For close to 60 years, this event has brought thousands of people together to enjoy music, history, food and jaw-dropping snow sculptures. This year, more than 70,000 festival-goers braved the cold. More than 200 artists took to the stage, from the festival's grand opening to the Valentine's Day celebrations, ending with Louis Riel Day. The Festival du Voyageur is the largest francophone cultural event in Manitoba and western Canada.
My heartfelt thanks go out to the organizers, artists and volunteers. Hey ho!