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Mr. Speaker, volunteerism plays an important role in contributing to healthy, safe and vibrant communities in the NWT. Community volunteers are essential to community health and well-being and we recognize their role in contributing to a strong and resilient territory.

To acknowledge the vital contributions of our volunteers the NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards program was developed in 1991. The awards provide an opportunity to recognize outstanding volunteers in the NWT and highlight the importance of volunteerism to NWT residents. 

Mr. Speaker, today I want to acknowledge and celebrate the 2020 NWT Outstanding Volunteer Award winners. This year, due to the health protocols around public gatherings, it was decided to create a video recognizing the recipients of the award, this video will be released for viewing today.

Recipients of the NWT Outstanding Volunteer awards for 2020 are:

• Outstanding Elder Award – Marino Casebeer
• Outstanding Youth Award – Anna Seagrave
• Outstanding Individual Award   – Caihla MacCuish
• Outstanding Group Award – Inclusion NWT, Board of Directors

I would like to briefly highlight each award winner:

•            Marino Casebeer has been a volunteer with the Folk on the Rocks Music Festival for upwards of 30 years. He has been an integral part of organizing the Folk on the Rocks stages, artists, gear, soundchecks and schedule throughout his tenure as the Head Stage Manager among many other roles. He has passed his love of music, the Folk on the Rocks Festival and volunteering onto his family. All of his children have been active volunteers with the festival for years. As part of winning this award, Marino received $1,000 to donate to an organization of his choice.  His donation will go to Folk on the Rocks.

•            Anna Seagrave has been an active volunteer in the community of Yellowknife for many years. She volunteers with a variety of projects including Fostering Open eXpression among Youth, or FOXY, the YWCA Youth Council, Yellowknife Catholic School Indigenous Education Program, and she teaches throat singing to the youth at Weledeh Catholic Schools.  She is a role model in her work to preserve Inuit culture and to support Northern young women to succeed in the NWT. She is a peer leader who promotes healthy choices and encourages young women to believe in themselves. As part of winning this, award Anna received $1,000 to donate to an organization of her choice. She chose FOXY.

•            Caihla MacCuish has served on the Board of directors for the Yellowknife Association of Community Living, she is the co-chair of the Yellowknife Dance Collective, and has been a member and chair of the Yellowknife Community Garden Collective board. Caihla has dedicated her time to carrying out committee work, delivering community workshops and classes, organizing fundraisers, and contributing to the visions and missions of the organizations that she volunteers with. Her positive outlook and dedication to making her community healthier and happier is evident in every project she becomes a part of. As part of winning this award, Caihla received $1,000 to donate to an organization of her choice. Her donation will go to the Yellowknife Women’s Society.

•            Our final recipient, for Outstanding Group Award is Inclusion NWT. Inclusion NWT provides lifelong support and services to individuals with disabilities and their families. The Board consists of nine members who are responsible for establishing the Association’s policies and overall direction. The Board works exceptionally hard to fully support the staff at Inclusion NWT so that they can effectively interact with and support individuals with disabilities and their families. The Inclusion NWT Board meets regularly to identify gaps in community needs and come up with plans around filling those gaps and providing the best support possible. As part of winning this award, the Board of Directors received $1,000 to donate to an organization of their choice. They chose their own Inclusion NWT’s Respite Services Program.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Cabinet I send my congratulations to everyone receiving the awards this year, and to those who were nominated. I would like to acknowledge the importance of the volunteer work they contributed throughout their communities.

Lastly, I want to remind everyone that nominations for NWT Outstanding Volunteer awards are open year-round, please encourage your constituents to submit nominations.

Mashi, Mr.Speaker.