Mr. Peter Dyck (Pembina): Madam Speaker, do I have leave to make a nonpolitical statement?

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Pembina have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]

Mr. Dyck: It is my pleasure to rise in the Chamber today and tell members about the event I attended last Friday, March 14. The Pembina Valley Development Corporation held their annual general meeting, which was followed by the Pembina Valley Business Achievement Awards Banquet at the Morden Recreation Centre.

The awards dinner recognized businesses and industries in the region for their contribution to the economy, their job creation and their success in export sales. In particular, the awards recognized local businesses that have been serving our community for many years. I believe that it is important to acknowledge the stable businesses within our communities for their contributions to the local economies.

The awards dinner was sponsored by Sill Streuber Fiske & Company, a local accounting firm. I would like to acknowledge some of the businesses in my constituency who were honoured with awards and nominations.

In the category of sales less than $1 million, Paperwork of Morden and Winkler and Creative Communications of Winkler were both nominated for a business achievement award for their sales growth and job creation.

In the category of sales between $1 million and $5 million, Kroeker Machinery Sales Ltd. of Winkler won two business achievement awards for sales growth and for export sales growth and was nominated for job creation.

Other nominees in this category were all from the Winkler area: Elias Woodwork and manufacturing limited, H.W.H. Holdings and Grandeur Housing were all nominated for their success in job creation, sales growth and export sales.

In the category of sales greater than $5 million, Monsanto Canada was nominated for sales growth and export sales growth. Delmar Commodities and Keystone Grain, both of Winkler, were both nominated for their sales. Decor Cabinets and Load Line Manufacturing were honoured for their growth in export sales. Decor Cabinets of Morden won a business achievement award for their contribution toward job creation in the community. The Winkler Co-op was also nominated for this award. Finally, Myjendie Charlton Securities of Winkler was nominated for a business achievement award in the category of new business.

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate all these nominees and business award winners for their contribution to the economy and job creation. I wish them all continued success and hope that they continue to serve the people of our community for many years to come. Thank you.

Mr. Clif Evans (Interlake): Madam Speaker, leave for a nonpolitical statement?

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Interlake have leave? [agreed]

Mr. Clif Evans: Madam Speaker, last weekend I had the pleasure of participating in the Provincial D Bantam Championships held in Wawanesa, Manitoba, along with the Riverton Eagles hockey team. Teams involved from throughout the province that were in attendance in Wawanesa this past weekend were of course from Riverton, from La Broquerie, from Hartney, from St. Eustache and Brandon and of course the host team, Wawanesa. Sworn to acknowledge and recognize the three winning medal teams in this weekend's tournament, the Gold was won by La Broquerie, Manitoba; the silver was won by Hartney, Manitoba, and the bronze was won by the Riverton Eagles from Riverton, Manitoba.

Madam Speaker, prior to acknowledging the members of the hockey team, I would like to also acknowledge the fact that the committee from Wawanesa, chaired by Mr. Peter Derkach, did a tremendous job in not only preparing for the tournament but also in providing the utmost hospitality and kindness to our kids and to our boys. I had great pleasure also in sitting down with Mr. Derkach at times and discussing hockey and not anything else.

I know that members of this House would join me in extending congratulations to the following members of the Riverton medal team: Kris Johannesson, Darren Kornelson, Mark Sigurdson, Michael Johnson, Eric Grimolfson, Tyler Evans, Warren Spring, Evan Kornelson, Jamie Mowat, Andre Brandt, Jordan Johnson, Warren Hiebert, Kelsey Plett, Ken Johnson, Eric Erickson, Tyler Sigurdson, and the coaches of this bronze winning team for the Bantam Provincial D, coaches Bob Johnson, Ken Kornelson and Clif Evans. Congratulations to Riverton.

Hon. Bonnie Mitchelson (Minister of Family Services): Madam Speaker, might I have leave to make a nonpolitical statement?

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable Minister of Family Services have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]

Mrs. Mitchelson: Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to salute the efforts of Vic Peters, Dan Carey, Chris Neufeld and Scott Grant for an exceptional week of curling last week as Manitoba's representatives to the 1997 Brier in Calgary. As we are aware, television ratings for curling are amongst the highest for any sport in our country. Throughout the week we were treated to some fine shot-making as the Peters rink completed play with a perfect 11 and 0 record. Viewers across the country were then treated to more fine play in the playoffs, and although the Peters rink was beaten by Alberta in the final, it was a game that essentially could have gone the other way with a break here or there. That is the nature of the sport.

Understating all of this is the fact that TV viewers from across Canada not only got to once again witness the exceptional curling abilities of Manitobans but another group of excellent ambassadors for the sport and our province. This resulted in Vic Peters being designated the most sportsmanlike player of the competition. In a province such as ours with so many fine curlers, it is a major task just to represent Manitoba. Those curlers that do carry the heavy weight of the buffalo on their backs because we have had more success than any other province at the Brier and our expectations as Manitobans are high.

As the Brier champion, the Peters rink, in 1992 and following Kerry Burtnyk's victory in 1995 and Jeff Stoughton's last year, there may have even been greater pressure and expectation placed on the Peters rink this year. Given their curling abilities and the manner in which they represented themselves and represented Manitoba, the Peters rink can take pride in their accomplishments this season. I would ask all honourable members to join me in saluting Vic Peters, who is a constituent of River East, Dan Carey, Chris Neufeld and Scott Grant for a tremendous effort in keeping Manitoba in the forefront of curling at this national event. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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