Mr. Speaker, there are people of such energy, vision, tenacity, and commitment to community that they become the foundation of the quality of life we all enjoy. Natalie Chapman is such a person. She has devoted herself to building a loving community around those who are socially isolated.

After Natalie served over 20 years as director of the West Island Association for the Intellectually Handicapped, friends recently gathered to wish her a happy and well-deserved retirement and to honour her remarkable advocacy for those with intellectual disabilities and their families.

Natalie believes deeply that it not only takes a village to raise a child and to care for the vulnerable, but that it also takes goodwill and investment to keep that village strong. Natalie leaves WIAIH a resilient community resource, confidently focused on the future. Natalie has created a lasting legacy and set the bar high for what it means to care for and fashion a community that truly includes everyone.