Hon. Donald Neil Plett (Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, my wife Betty and I had the privilege of watching a wonderful sporting event recently, the 2022 Under-18 Canadian Boys and Girls Curling Championships. This week-long event was hosted by the Oakville Curling Club from May 1 to May 7, and they put on a world-class event. There were more than 200 curlers in attendance, along with 42 coaches and a multitude of parents, grandparents, siblings and friends.

I want to thank the City of Oakville and the Oakville Curling Club for hosting the championships and congratulate them for putting on a professional, well-organized event. It truly was exceptional and no small undertaking, with most provinces putting forward two women’s and two men’s teams.

I had the privilege of taking part in this fabulous event over the past two weekends as an active and enthusiastic participant from the bleachers. However, colleagues, I must confess that I was not cheering for a Manitoba team like I normally would. Instead, I was rooting for the Alberta provincial champion, skipped by none other than my granddaughter Myla Plett, as they competed tirelessly for the win.

Honourable senators, what a competition it was. Alberta had two women’s teams at the championships, with the second Alberta team skipped by a young lady named Claire Booth. Over the last two years, Claire and her team have given Myla’s team their biggest challenges on the ice, and the Canadian Under-18 Championships were to be no different. Team Booth went into semi-finals with a record of five and one, while Team Plett had four wins and two losses. When Team Booth beat Saskatchewan in their semi-final game, and Team Plett beat Quebec in their pool, the Alberta teams found themselves again face to face for an all-Alberta final. In the end, patience combined with strategy worked to the advantage of Team Plett, as they scored a 5 to 1 win, becoming the gold medal winners of the Under-18 Canadian Girls Curling Championships.

I want to offer my congratulations to the entire team for their victory, including Myla Plett as skip, Rachel Jacques as third, Alyssa Nedohin as second, Lauren Miller as lead and Chloe Fediuk as alternate, along with their coach, Blair Lenton. I am proud of them all, but it probably goes without saying that I am beyond proud that the best women’s under-18 curler in Canada calls me grandpa.

Myla, you have my love and my congratulations. And to paraphrase my good friend, colleague and Paralympian gold medallist Senator Chantal Petitclerc’s kind words, I am delighted to see that we both share the same fighting spirit. Colleagues, please join me in congratulating not only Team Plett but all of the athletes who competed, wishing them the very best in all future competitions. Thank you.