As we work into the week of the Geoscience Forum, I would like to pay tribute to all the geoscientists for their contributions to the Yukon. Geoscientists include professional geologists, geophysicists, palaeontologists, seismologists and many more who have combined efforts and have literally put Yukon on the map — a little geologist joke for you there.

Back in 1887, before Yukon was a separate territory, George Dawson made his way north as the assistant director of the Geological Survey of Canada. He created numerous maps of the area. Some were the first of their kind, which were later republished to provide a much-needed reference for the thousands of stampeders who headed to the Klondike. Both Dawson City and Dawson Creek have been named in his honour.

Today we still have talented men and women examining a wide array of geological data, providing us with a scientific and knowledgeable base to develop our territory as we see fit. This information is extremely important. We need it to make informed, educated decisions on how we use our territory’s resources and how we preserve them as well. Without it, we would be blind to the range of resources the Yukon has. Prospectors, exploration companies and miners depend on the work of geoscientists. They have opened up new possibilities for Yukon and continue to support numerous industries throughout the territory.

I would like to thank the Yukon Chamber of Mines and the valued key sponsors for hosting the 2014 Geoscience Forum and show my appreciation to all the men and women who work as geoscientists in the Yukon. The Yukon Liberal Party is grateful for all that you do.