6 June 2006
Sixty
students representing 18 Regional Science Fairs, together with their proud parents
and family members, gathered at Queen's Park to showcase their science fair projects
to MPPs and Sponsors of Sci-Tech Ontario. John Wilkinson, MPP for Perth-Middlesex
and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of the Environment, brought greetings
on behalf of the Minister, the Honourable Laurel Broten. Twenty-five MPPs who
attended were able to visit the students from their Ridings and get some appreciation
of the outstanding work being done by Ontario’s young scientists. Sci-Tech
Ontario is grateful to the event’s sponsor, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment,
for supporting this annual celebration of Team Sci-Tech Ontario for the second
year in a row. Deb Matthews, MPP for London North, read a statement into the Record
of the Ontario Legislative Assembly celebrating the achievements of these young
Ontario scientists.
I would like to take a moment to recognize
the bright minds that are in our Legislature today, and I'm not talking about
the ones on the floor. With us today we have some of the most intelligent, innovative
and creative students in all of Ontario. They were regional science fair finalists
selected to compete with students from across the country in a week-long science
fair in Saguenay, Quebec. Naturally, some of them are from my riding of London
North Centre.
Chen Sun and Ratna Varma, from Orchard Park Public School,
and David Wang from my alma mater, A.B. Lucas Secondary School, participated in
this national fair. Also, David Wang won the 2006 Intel International Science
and Engineering Fair in Indianapolis just last month.
I am proud that our
government is committed to research and development in Ontario. Through the major
investments we've made in our public education system, we continue to develop
these bright young minds. The students here today prove why these investments
are vital. These students are the innovators and inventors who will make great
strides in the years ahead. I am sure that some day soon we'll all marvel at Chen's
camera for space, Ratna's fuel-efficient ideas and David's advances in diabetes
research.
I'd also like to recognize the great volunteers at Sci-TechOntario,
including my dear friend Dr. Patrick Whippey, who worked tirelessly and enthusiastically
to support and encourage our young people in science and research. Congratulations
to all of you.