Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, on behalf of the Government Representative Office, I rise today to welcome Senator Iris Petten to the Senate of Canada.

Senator Petten holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Vocational Education from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Later, her alma mater would honour her with an honorary degree, a Doctor of Laws.

An important part of Senator Petten’s previous career was defined by her time in the business world and her success as an entrepreneur. In 1984, Senator Petten began her career in the fishing industry with Fishery Products International. She would then be a founding shareholder and serve as Vice-President of Grand Atlantic Seafoods. In 2000, she would co-found Ocean Choice International, where she remained until 2008.

It was as early as her childhood that Senator Petten began her apprenticeship in the world of fishing. Her father was a fisherman and a boatbuilder, as were generations before him.

Senator Petten, your deep roots will prove invaluable in advancing matters of importance to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, but I suspect much of your knowledge and skills of the fishing industry are transferable, and they will surely serve as a boon and an asset to the Pacific and Arctic coastal regions and the maritime challenges that we know they face.

[Translation]

In addition to a long and brilliant career in the Atlantic fishing industry, Senator Petten has been an active member of her community, namely by serving three terms as the chair of the Board of Regents of Memorial University of Newfoundland from 2013 to 2022.

[English]

Senator Petten, once again, welcome to the Senate of Canada. We are honoured to count you among our colleagues. I speak for all of us, but I’m especially sure that Senators Manning, Marshall, Wells and Ravalia will ensure that you’re made to feel very much at home here in Ottawa, as will we all.

Welcome, and thank you very much.