Mr. Speaker, On April 1 we welcomed Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon. This was her first official visit to Nunavut as the first Indigenous and first Inuk Governor General of Canada.
It was an especially joyous moment as we celebrated the 25th anniversary of our territory.
Mr. Speaker, it was truly an honour to receive Her Excellency and His Excellency Whit Fraser here at the Legislative Assembly. I was joined by Commissioner Eva Aariak, Iqaluit Members of the Legislative Assembly George Hickes, Janet Brewster and Adam Lightstone, Mayor Solomon Awa, the Canadian Rangers, Major Sean Brinkema of the Canadian Armed Forces, detachment commander in Nunavut for Joint Task Force North, and Nunavut Member of Parliament Lori Idlout.
Throughout her visit, the Governor General graciously greeted Nunavummiut like family. Her warmth was contagious.
On the evening of April 1, we held a community celebration with hundreds of Iqalungmiut – from young children to Elders – joining us for country food, music and dancing.
In her speech that evening, the Governor General said: “I am home.” It was clear the sentiment went both ways. She received a standing ovation after her speech, in which she spoke of the progress being made in the territory.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.