My Speeches

Bawlf School Eracism Project Achievement

Posted on Feb 23, 2010

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Battle River-Wainwright.

Bawlf School Eracism Project Achievement

Mr. Griffiths: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a special occasion
when constituents from anywhere in Alberta are recognized on the
world stage, and I’m proud to say that today is one of those occasions.
It’s my pleasure to be able to rise today and recognize a grade
8 class from Bawlf school, within the constituency of Battle
River - Wainwright, for their participation in the Eracism debate.
Eracism is an online, world-wide debate with the goal of eradicating
racism by starting with students, our future leaders, first. The
countries represented during the debate included the United States,
India, China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and of course from
Canada, Bawlf school.
For most grade 8 students I’m sure it would be intimidating to
debate students from all corners of the world, but the students from
Bawlf school believed in themselves and in the resolution they were
debating. The resolution was: differences make us stronger. With
that belief and a great deal of debating skill Bawlf school advanced
all the way to the semifinals, Mr. Speaker. They came down to
being one of the last four teams from around the world.
I’m incredibly proud of the students’ success, but I’m most proud
of the efforts of the students and the teachers from Bawlf school,
who so effectively articulated the values and ideas of Canada and
Alberta, and I know I share in the pride of the parents in their
children’s achievements.
Differences, Mr. Speaker, certainly do make us stronger, and the
differences and the diversity within this Assembly are a perfect
example of that. After all, it is a combination of our shared experiences
and diversity that sheds light on new ways of thinking and
improving the province in which we live.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to commend the staff and students of Bawlf
school for their participation and accomplishments in the Eracism
debates and thank them for representing Alberta so well on the
international stage. Thank you.