Check against delivery.

Mr, Speaker, I am going to begin my statement in Dinjii Zhu’ Ginjik.

[Following portion will be spoken in Dinjii Zhu’ Ginjik]

Mr. Speaker, as we approach the end of the 2024-2025 school year, I want to congratulate all the students of the Northwest Territories and celebrate their successes. Whether they are graduating from junior kindergarten, high school or a post-secondary institution like Aurora College or Collège Nordique, the territory’s graduates have so much to be proud of.

[Resume English]

Mr. Speaker, the Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 Performance Measures Report will be published in the coming months, however, I wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate NWT student successes, both data-driven and anecdotal.

School attendance is vital for student success, so I want to recognize École Boréale in Hay River. Out of all regional centres and small community schools, École Boréale had the highest average attendance rate, at 91% in the last school year. I would also like to recognize Louie Norwegian School in Jean Marie River, whose attendance increased by over 25% last year.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to congratulate the 94 students who enrolled in the South Slave’s Phoenix School in the last school year. This is the highest number of Phoenix enrolments since we started tracking. The Phoenix program helps students complete their high school education through modularized learning on their own schedule, a flexible approach allowing them to meeting other obligations at the same time, like family and work. 

At Chief Paul Niditchie School in Tsiigehtchic, the school is celebrating the first graduates to complete Grades 10 to 12 at home in the community, while Mangilaluk students in Tuktoyaktuk are enjoying some of the newly renovated school facilities.

At Helen Kalvak School in Ulukhaktok, students took learning outside the classroom on a recent visit to Ottawa and the Canadian Parliament buildings, while students from East Three Secondary visited London, England this past summer.

At Deninu School in Fort Resolution, both graduates have already been accepted into post-secondary programs for next year, including Caleb Simon who will enter the HVAC trades at NAIT, and Hannah Beck who will attend Aurora College.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to acknowledge Yellowknife high school students Stella Fairman and Audrey Debogorski, who recently received the prestigious Loran Scholarship. Their applications stood out against candidates from across Canada and they were among the 36 winners chosen from 6,000 applicants.

Stella and Audrey were chosen not only for their marks, but also character, commitment to service, and leadership potential.

Mr. Speaker, our students’ success would not be possible without the support of dedicated and compassionate educators, school staff and education leaders. Among the education leaders who have made a difference in the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of students was the former Chair of the Tłı̨chǫ Community Services Agency, the late Ted Blondin. Mr. Blondin was dedicated to preserving and sharing Elders’ stories and histories and helped negotiate impact and benefits agreements that provided scholarships, training and employment to the Tłı̨chǫ people. Mr. Blondin also chaired both the Arctic College and the Mine Training Society. Mr. Blondin was inducted into the Education Hall of Fame in 2015 for “Significant contribution to student learning by an Elder”. We will miss Ted Blondin, and remember his legacy that will continue to inspire Northern education leaders for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to finish today in Dinjii Zhu’ Ginjik.

[The following will be spoken in Dinjii Zhu’ Ginjik]

Mr. Speaker, as we head into the season of convocations, milestones and transitions, let us all take the time to congratulate our students and the dedicated individuals who helped them reach these moments: the educators, school staff, volunteers, friends and family.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.