On behalf of the Liberal caucus, I would also like to add my voice to those Yukoners recognizing the achievements of Graham Nishikawa here today. Graham, we salute your efforts and your dedication.

I rise today on behalf of the Liberal Party to honour and pay tribute to retired fire chief of the Whitehorse Fire Department and vice-president of the Association of Yukon Fire Chiefs, Mr. Clive Sparks.

Mr. Silver:   I also rise to pay tribute to the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. March 21 was designated by the UN as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, commemorating the Sharpeville massacre that took place during the heroic struggles of the people of South Africa against the institutionalized system of apartheid. The role of politicians and political parties in this atrocity was very clear as they gave legitimacy to their actions by enshrining racism and discrimination into their social policy. Within our own country and our own history, Canada has demonstrated significant racism and discrimination against aboriginal peoples and racialized communities. Just recall how many apologies our country has made to these victimized groups in recent years, Mr. Speaker.

Hansard December 9, 2013

Mr. Silver:   I rise on behalf of the Liberal Party to tribute the life of Nelson Mandela. Mr. Speaker, in writing this tribute, I could have stared at the pages for hours. He is a man beyond our comprehension. His courage, his grace and his forgiveness defy parallel in our world.

Mr. Silver:   Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Liberal caucus to also acknowledge and to pay tribute to the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

On December 6, 1989, 24 years ago tomorrow, a gunman entered a technical institute in Montreal and targeted women in the school. Before turning the gun on himself, he had killed 14 women and injured 10 others, as well as four men. He specifically targeted these women because they had beaten the odds in pursuing technical fields. They had fought against many barriers to enter a male-dominated field. For this courage, they were targeted.

Geoscience 2013

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Liberal caucus to pay tribute to the 41st annual Geoscience Forum and trade show.

Mining has come a long way from the Klondike Gold Rush. Mining has been the lifeblood of Yukon for over 100 years and it’s still with us today. Local companies have spearheaded a recent exploration boom, which is considered to be the largest geochemistry experiment in North American history, mostly due to local crews, such as the Ground Truth crew in Klondike. After exploration, these prospectors have reached out to junior companies to use their expertise on the ground in different capacities — new technologies, like GPS and mapping software, for example. Using these new, modern techniques, mining and exploration have continued to develop and adapt.

I rise today on behalf of the Liberal Caucus to pay tribute to Richard North

The Yukon loses a lot of writers. 

It’s the kind of place that inspires people, pulls them in from all around the world.  We draw more than our fair share of artists, musicians and writers, but we rarely get to keep them for long.  This is an inspiring land, but it isn’t an easy place to live.

I rise today on behalf of the Liberal caucus to pay tribute to Remembrance Day. On that day Canadians honour and remember our veterans and all who have served Canada during war, armed conflict and peace and commemorate their sacrifices.

Today I rise on behalf of the Liberal caucus to pay tribute to Movember, 2013. Movember is a month-long fundraising campaign where men start November with a clean-shaven face and then grow a stylish moustache throughout the month. Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in Canada and around the world. This moustache-growing charity event — and the men with their “Mo’s” — help raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and male mental health initiatives.

William Bruce Bowie was born on June 3^rd, 1944, to Irene and George Bowie in Vancouver. He was the youngest of four, and with nine years separating him from the next youngest, you can guess that young Bill was his Dad’s unexpected war effort.