Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Sturgeon Creek): Madam Speaker, do I have leave for a nonpolitical statement?
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Sturgeon Creek have leave for a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. McAlpine: Today Manitoba's Jewish community gathers to observe the remembrance and traditions of Passover. Pesach commemorates the struggle of the Jews to gain their freedom from the rule of Pharaoh, and it is the centuries-old story of the human spirit's ability to overcome adversity and oppression. The prayers and ceremonies of this holiday recall the physical endurance and the spiritual renewal of the tribes of Israel throughout their wanderings in the wilderness after fleeing their captivity in Egypt.
Our Jewish community is joining their brethren the world over in observing the Seder of other Pesach traditions. These are a reaffirmation of the strength of their faith, their heritage and their culture down through the ages, and it is a living bond between a people, their God and their very proud history. Manitobans of Jewish descent have proudly contributed this and other aspects of their heritage to the great multicultural mosaic in our province and in our country. Manitobans recognize that each and every celebration or observance represents a significant contribution to our community and the quality of life within it.
In recognition and respect for the Jewish community of Manitoba for their achievements and their contribution to our province, I ask the members of this House to join with me in extending our sincerest wishes for and during this special holiday, Passover. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Steve Ashton (Thompson): Madam Speaker, might I have leave for a nonpolitical statement?
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Thompson have leave for a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. Ashton: I wanted to take this opportunity on a personal basis to extend my condolences to the people of Fargo and Grand Forks. As we in Manitoba start to deal with the flood, I am sure many of us have been watching with horror the communities that many of us have come to know well, our good friends and neighbours in the United States, and particularly in Grand Forks. I just cannot imagine what the people of Grand Forks are going through currently.
What I want to do is reflect on the irony because just two weeks ago yesterday my family and I were actually hosted by the people of Grand Forks when we were caught in the snowstorm, and the people of Grand Forks and the people of Emerson on this side of the border were hosts to many of us. We spent two nights in Grand Forks, and despite the difficult circumstances, I can tell you the hospitality of the people in Grand Forks, the efforts that were made towards providing for those of us who were unexpected guests in the city of Grand Forks, was greatly appreciated.
I have talked to people who spent three days in Emerson and were hosted by that community. I want to reflect on that and say that I think I speak for all members of this House and certainly all Manitobans in saying that our hearts are with the people of Grand Forks and Fargo and, I know, with the many communities of Manitoba that are starting to be affected in the same way.
I also want to make a commitment. I know personally that I will be doing whatever I can to help the communities affected both here in Manitoba and Grand Forks. In fact, when we were in Grand Forks, my father-in-law had the unfortunate circumstances of breaking his wrist and received excellent medical care in that community before receiving final medical care in Manitoba. So, from a personal basis, I wanted to thank the people of Grand Forks and say that their plight will not be forgotten by those of us in Manitoba even as we deal with our own circumstances.
I know that many communities are being affected. There will be communities in northern Manitoba affected. I was in Split Lake yesterday; they are potentially going to be flooded. As I head out later on to help my brother, who had the misfortune of moving to Kingston Row as of April 1 this year, as I go and help him with the sandbags, I reflect on the fact that it can affect all of us. Nature is very powerful in this part of the world. I think the community spirit and the international cross-border spirit that we have seen in the last few days bodes well and, once again, I really extend my condolences to the people of Grand Forks and the rest of the people in North Dakota at this time as we start to deal with the very same sort of circumstances.
Ms. Jean Friesen (Wolseley): Leave to make a nonpolitical statement?
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable member for Wolseley have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Ms. Friesen: I would like to offer the congratulations of this side of the House and I am sure all members of this House to Mr. Ryan Runearth who was recently awarded a volunteer award by the Province of Manitoba. Ryan Runearth is a 16-year-old young man from both the Ojibwa and Sioux First Nations, and he lives in my constituency and is a Grade 10 student at Tech Voc High School. Ryan is known primarily as a hoop dancer. He is both self-taught and someone who has learned from attendance at many powwows and from learning and observing others. I think anyone who has had the opportunity to watch Ryan dance and to see him teach others is very much aware of the many, many hours that he has spent learning these skills.
Ryan is recognized for living and practising traditional ways and as a volunteer teaching other aboriginal youth things which he knows to be of great importance to them. He has had considerable volunteer involvement at Folklorama as Folklorama's youth ambassador for the First Nations Pavilion in 1995 and 1996, and he has continued over a number of years to volunteer for innovative cultural programs in schools in Winnipeg, particularly Gordon Bell and Hampstead schools. He works at lunch hours, he works after school on a regular basis, and he helps young people to learn ways which they might not otherwise have the opportunity to do and helps young children in particular to make outfits for those who cannot afford them.
His nominator is Mrs. Brenda Longclaws, the vice-principal of Gordon Bell School, and she recognized particularly the example that Ryan offers to many students within their school. We would like to recognize today not only Ryan but his family as well, and in particular his mother, Vicky Runearth, and we extend our congratulations to Ryan and to all his family.
Hon. James McCrae (Minister of Environment): Madam Speaker, might I have leave to make a nonpolitical statement?
Madam Speaker: Does the honourable Minister of Environment have leave to make a nonpolitical statement? [agreed]
Mr. McCrae: It gives me great pleasure to salute three Manitobans who have distinguished themselves through amateur sport in our province and were so recognized at the 3M Coach of the Year Awards Program this past weekend. The first of these individuals is Louis Nelissen of Portage la Prairie who was the recipient of the Vince Leah Award. Mr. Nelissen has been a coach at the recreational grassroots level for 32 years. He has coached young athletes in baseball, hockey, tennis, badminton, and soccer.
The second individual is Marilyn Partrick of Brandon who was recipient of the Dr. Jack Hunt Award for coaches at the developmental level. Mrs. Partrick has been a figure-skating coach for 31 years, the last 26 with the Brandon Figure Skating Club.
* (1440)
The third individual is Roger Meager of Winnipeg who was recipient of the Peter Williamson Award for high-performance coaches. Mr. Meager has been the provincial rowing coach for the past two and a half years after relocating from the University of London, England, where he had been the rowing coach for 10 years.
The partnership of a coach and athlete is the foundation and the driving force of sport. Coaches are the primary custodians and communicators of sport values. Their presence is powerful and constant. The influence a coach has on the lives of our children is sometimes greater than that even of a parent or teacher. Good coaches nurture good people, building strong characters and building strong communities. The three award winners were selected from a group of 36 nominees, all outstanding coaches in their own right.
I would ask all honourable members to join me in congratulating Louis Nelissen, Marilyn Partrick and Roger Meager on their Coach of the Year Awards and salute them for their leadership, time, dedication and commitment to coaching and the significant contribution they make to the development of amateur athletes in our province.
Thank you.