Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today is National Girls and Women in Sports Day. When girls play sports, they're not just chasing a ball, crossing a finish line, or scoring a goal. They're chasing dreams, climbing over barriers, and scoring victories that last a lifetime. Sports teach courage, discipline, and the unshakable belief that no challenge is too big. These lessons are life changing. Every sprint, every jump, every game builds confidence, grit, and leadership, qualities that carry them far beyond the field and take a lifelong outlook from "I can't" to "I can" and "I will."
Studies show that girls in sports are healthier, more confident, and often perform better academically. But beyond numbers, sports give girls the strength to stand tall and the courage to keep going when life gets tough. They often come with built-in community, mentors, and support networks. Yet too many girls still face barriers, and those barriers look different across the Northwest Territories. Fewer opportunities, less support, and outdated stereotypes that ultimately serve none of us.
We must break down these walls, create opportunity, and stay involved. And when we give girls the chance to play, we give them the chance to lead, inspire, and yes, change the world. It doesn't need to be elite Olympic style training either. Getting out snowshoeing, lifting weights, join the ping pong team, but watch out for Fort Providence; they're deadly.
Mr. Speaker, sport requires champions. Volunteers are the fuel that move our kids, and I am so thankful for the support, the sport champions across the territory, like Shakita Jensen, award-winning hockey coach with no kids of her own but out there consistently leading youth. Like Caitlin Fabian Farrell, creating safe spaces for girls to learn strength training. Like Toby Taylor, who coaches every sport the school offers. Alex Malakoe, who with young kids of her own and a busy job, continues to show up as a coach and travel for Special Olympics. Like Veronica McDonald who routinely dominates in Arctic sports, inspiring the next generation of northern athletes to dig in. And moms like Aurora Kodakat who live by example. I'm not sure where Aurora gets her energy, but she's an inspiration with an endless battery life.
So let's cheer loud, let's invest more, and make sure every girl knows that the court, the track, the field, the gym, and the trails are hers too because when girls rise in sports, they rise in life, and when girls rise, we all rise. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
