Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a cornerstone of the Thunder Bay community, a great Canadian and a friend, Stephen Wright. Stephen used to say that his hobby was people, and he led his life that way. It was all about service to the community.
He worked with Hockey Canada. He created PRO Kids to support underprivileged kids' participation in sports. He led no fewer than five winning political campaigns. Stephen was a tireless advocate for health care in northwestern Ontario. He was chairman of the board of Thunder Bay Regional and helped to bring it both a medical school and a cardiac care unit.
To every endeavour, Stephen brought his characteristic wisdom, patience, compassion and sense of humour. Stephen represented the very best of Canada. His impact on Thunder Bay and those who knew him will be felt for many years to come. We thank Stephen for all he did, and we miss him.