Hon. Pierre J. Dalphond: Honourable senators, first, I want to add to what you just said, Your Honour, and welcome Patrick Chan to the chamber. He is one of Canada’s great Olympians — a gold and silver medallist — and the world and national champion several times over in figure skating.

Mr. Chan, you are an inspiration to all of us. Sometimes we skate here but nothing worth a gold medal.

Second, as leader of the independent senators of the Progressive Senate Group, I want to officially welcome our newest colleague, the Honourable Suze Youance, who is from my own province of Quebec.

As I’ve mentioned in previous speeches, being able to welcome new senators to this chamber is an aspect of my role as leader that I very much enjoy. I’m pleased that this practice will continue, as it is a testament to the new Senate.

Senator Youance arrived in Canada with her husband in 2006 and completed her master’s degree at Montréal’s École de technologie supérieure in 2010.

Then she continued on at the same institution to begin a doctoral program, no less. Her thesis focused on seismic, or earthquake, design. Initially, she wanted to do her thesis on Haiti, but unfortunately, Haiti’s earthquake happened before the thesis was finished. She therefore chose as her thesis topic the evaluation of seismic risk in Montreal concerning public health buildings, such as hospitals and care centres. Her thesis led to a doctoral degree, and I noticed yesterday that she had been cited approvingly by researchers and other scientists because she was one of the first people to write on the subject and develop risk assessment methods. She also confided in me that while she was in Haiti in 2009, shortly before the earthquake, she had told some of her friends and family members that if an earthquake ever happened, such and such a building would fall but her parents’ home would remain standing. She also told her sister not to stay in a certain room of her home because there was some risk there. When the earthquake hit, her parents’ home was spared and the wall in question in her sister’s home collapsed.

Not only did she earn a master’s degree and a doctorate, but she also had two children, a boy and a girl, while studying.

Consider this: She was 39 years old when she first came to Canada, and she started a family while pursuing her studies, ultimately earning a PhD. She is a pioneer, a woman who is not afraid of a challenge. As you know, she is now an ambassador for ÉTS and many other places. Her message to women, especially racialized women, is this: “You were born here. Don’t be afraid to push ahead. I was born somewhere else.” Today, she is a member of the Senate of Canada. What a wonderful journey for the entire Haitian community in Montreal. Welcome to the Senate, Senator Youance. We are delighted to have you here.