I’ll be sharing my time with the member from Nickel Belt.

Speaker, before I begin, I want to introduce a friend of mine who is not going to be able to be here for question period but came down from Sudbury. Bruce McComber is joining us in the gallery. I think he’s excited to be here. I think he’s even more excited to meet the member for Kiiwetinoong today as well.

Bruce has done a lot of things for the Indigenous community in my riding, including recognizing the importance of Ramsey Lake and the original name of Bitimagamasing, which means “the water that lies beside the hill.” Welcome to Queen’s Park, Bruce.

I want to begin by recognizing and thanking the member from Flamborough–Glanbrook for Bill 81, which would proclaim May 30 as Croatian Heritage Day.

The member from Niagara Centre wasn’t able to speak to the bill today and asked if I could share some words that were from Nicholas Turkovich, a 22-year-old member of the Croatian National Home in Welland. Nicholas had this to say: “The Croatian community of Niagara is a large and proud heritage group which has played an important role in the history of the region.

“Croatians hold a very unique and vibrant culture filled with music, dance, food and language.

“They take every chance to celebrate and share their culture with others in festivals across the region.

“Through the building of cultural community centres, churches, and banquet halls, Croatian heritage has been able to thrive in Niagara throughout the generations by fostering a sense of belonging.

“Bill 81, the Croatian Heritage Day Act, very graciously recognizes the vibrant community that the Croatian people of Niagara have been able to grow over the last century.

“It beautifully commemorates the contributions that Croatians have made to the Niagara region and beyond.

“We at the Croatian National Home in Welland thank MPP Jeff Burch for allowing us to speak about our culture and share our heritage’s history in Niagara, and we thank the Ontario Legislature for considering the Croatian community with Bill 81.”

When I was speaking about this, knowing the member is originally from Sudbury, I was trying to think of what I would say that she wouldn’t cover already. I’m sure we’ve both been to the Croatian hall on Kathleen. But I was thinking about this bill in particular. Typically on Thursday mornings, Speaker, the member is in the Chair. I know from personal conversations, one of the things she loves most about being here as an MPP is being a Deputy Speaker, and I think it’s very telling that she gave up the Chair to speak to this bill today and bring forward her bill today and chose the importance of this bill to her and her community. I want to recognize that.

While I was looking for stories to share about the Croatian hall that would go beyond having a beer and watching soccer or their love for soccer, I found this article from the Croatia Week newspaper from November 2023, and this phrase caught my eye: “There, in the heart of mining country, the story of ... Sudbury’s Croatian community is not just a narrative; it is a love letter to the past, a celebration of the present, and a promise to the future.”

There’s nothing I could write that would be better than this article. It’s from Croatia Week newspaper from November 2023. It’s titled, “Visit to Sudbury—A Love Letter to Croatian Identity and a Tear for Vukovar.”

“In the heart of Ontario’s north, a story of longing, love, and heritage unfolds within Sudbury’s lakes of (g)old. It is there too, amidst the rugged landscapes and sky-soaring chimneys, that the Croatian identity found its roots in Canada.

“It is in Sudbury that the inaugural Canadian-Croatian Folklore Festival cast its enchanting spell 49 years ago, weaving tales of tradition and pride that still echo through generations.

“Sudbury, a crucible of Croatian culture, proudly cradles Adria—the oldest Croatian soccer club in Canada, a testament to the enduring passion that beats within the hearts of its people.

“In 1934, against the backdrop of a world in flux, the Croatian Center in Sudbury emerged as a beacon of unity. Its foundations, laid with a commitment to preserve and celebrate Croatian heritage, stand as a testament to the resilience of a community that weathered the winds of change.

“There, in the heart of mining country, the story of ... Sudbury’s Croatian community is not just a narrative; it is a love letter to the past, a celebration of the present, and a promise to the future....

“The Croatian community in Sudbury stands as a cultural cornerstone, a testament to the enduring significance of preserving one’s heritage in the embrace of a foreign land. Beyond the geographic boundaries, this community serves as a living bridge, connecting the present to a storied past.”

I just thought that was beautiful, and so there’s nothing more I can say.

I’m very proud to support Bill 81, which would proclaim May 30 as Croatian Heritage Day in Ontario.