Mr. Silver: I rise on behalf of the Yukon Liberal Party and also the Official Opposition to tribute the grads of the Yukon School of Visual Arts in Dawson City. SOVA, as it is known, is an incredibly important institution to the residents of Dawson, and I hope that the students graduating look back at their time in the Klondike with great fondness.

Mr. Silver: Today I rise on behalf of the Liberal caucus to also pay tribute to the National Day of Mourning. On April 28 every year, we come together and we remember the workers whose lives have been lost and those who have been injured while on the job and to renew our collective commitment to occupational health and safety.

Mr. Silver: Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of all of my colleagues in the Legislative Assembly to tribute Lorenzo Grimard on his 100^th birthday.

April 23, 2106 in Dawson City not only marked the earliest day on record for the breakup of the Yukon River, but it was also cause for the celebration for the oldest-living francophone in the territory: Mr. Lorenzo Grimard.

Mr. Silver:   Mr. Speaker, I joyfully stand today to pay tribute to Yukon Education Week on behalf of the Yukon Liberal Party. This year’s theme, “A strong team builds bright futures”, reminds us all of the saying that it does take a village to raise a child. Education doesn’t just happen in the classroom, Mr. Speaker. I think we can all agree that we learn something new every day, which comes from a wide range of sources.

Mr. Silver: I also rise today on behalf of the Liberal caucus to pay tribute to Earth Day. Canada is celebrating its 25^th Earth Day by promoting a Rooting 4 Trees campaign with the goal of planting 25,000 trees in the month of April.

Mr. Silver: I would like to rise on behalf of the Liberal caucus to also pay tribute to Biodiversity Awareness Month.

April is a month of great change in the Yukon. The snow melts — or in this year’s case a bit earlier — buds begin to open and animals come out of hibernation. It is a grand display of our territory’s biodiversity. Biodiversity defines many stages of biological interaction within species, between species and between ecosystems. It is an ever-changing balance with time and is greatly affected by human activity. As individuals, we all have a part to play in ensuring that our actions do not have a negative effect on the flora and fauna, but instead promote healthy human interaction with them.

Mr. Silver: I also rise today on behalf of the Liberal caucus to pay tribute to the International Day for Monuments and Sites, also known as World Heritage Day. This year, April 18 is dedicated the heritage of sports. Sports and physical expression are at the root of many cultures, demonstrating values, emotion and intent. The preservation of heritage provides an eye into the development of cultures, including architecture and art.

Mr. Silver: Mr. Speaker, I also want to rise and pay tribute to National Volunteer Week.

I want to talk specifically about my community. We had some great tributes here about the generalities, but I wanted to draw down on some specific volunteers in my town. It was employment that brought me to Dawson City, Mr. Speaker, but it was the spirit of volunteerism and the community involvement that made this vibrant community my home.

Mr. Silver: Mr. Speaker, I stand also to pay tribute to Cancer Awareness Month, known as Daffodil Month. This is when Canadians show their support for cancer research and prevention and those currently fighting cancer by wearing a daffodil on their collar. The bright, happy daffodil represents hope for those who are on a cancer journey.  

Mr. Silver: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of the Yukon Liberals and also the Official Opposition, I also would like to tribute the bridge building competition and thank the minister for his tribute.

I am going to specifically make a special recognition to Robert Service School’s Clive Betts. This is the 17^th year that Clive has sent grade-4 bridges to the competition. It is the 23^rd annual this year, so that means that there have only been six years in which Robert Service School and Clive Betts haven’t participated.