Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, we celebrated International Women's Day. In honour of the occasion, I celebrate women and all of our essential contributions to our country. Let us recognize the tremendous work of the women who came before us and ushered in the rights we enjoy today.
Women have demonstrated remarkable perseverance and determination in so many domains. For a long time, they were discriminated against or excluded from domains such as sport. With the Olympic and Paralympic Games top of mind, I want to take this opportunity to celebrate the courageous female athletes who wear our colours.
One of those women is Sherbrooke's Kim Boutin, a six-time Olympic medallist who is tied for most decorated Canadian female athlete in the history of the winter games. That is quite an accomplishment. Another is Lyne‑Marie Bilodeau, also from Sherbrooke. She was the youngest Canadian athlete at the Beijing Olympics and won three gold medals at the Canada Winter Games. Her journey proves that nothing is impossible.
In celebrating these women, we celebrate all women. Their victories, their ambitions and their triumphs are, by extension, our own.