Tegwyn Skye Curtis

## The Hon. Tegwyn Skye Curtis MP PC

The Hon. Tegwyn Skye Curtis is most well known for as the Deaf MP, who in more than one instance used ASL in her speeches. She was active as of MPSP19. She served as Deputy Speaker during the first all-virtual Model Parliament in 2021, and will be serving as Speaker for Model Parliament 2022. She represented Saskatoon-University in 2019, but changed to proudly represent Cowichan-Malahat-Langford for the rest of her Model Parliament years. She hopes that she has left a mark on Model Parliament that no matter your ability, Model Parliament can be the place where you find your home at uOttawa. She also credits Model Parliament as the place where you can meet your best friends, and she thank the event for bringing her The Rt. Hon. Zachary Robicheau, The Hon. Srishti Roy, and The Hon. Chelsey-Lynn Rousselle.

## Early Life

Tegwyn Skye was born and raised in Northern Alberta as a proud Franco-Albertan, but spent her high school years on Vancouver Island which is how she came to represent Cowichan-Malahat-Langford, the place she considers home. She started at uOttawa as a business student at Telfer in fall of 2017, before transferring to her true passion of History and Political Science in the fall of 2018. She is Deaf, and lives with a mobility-affecting disease and is often seen rocking around campus on her crutches.

## MPSP19

Tegwyn Skye initially joined when a high school friend Caitlin Wardrop invited her to the Registration Day on Facebook. Tegwyn Skye represented Saskatoon-University and began as a backbencher in the Toga Party government, and a member of the Special Committee on the Parliament Fire. She crossed the floor partway through the second day to join the Biscuit Party, the opposition to the Tea Party, and served as the Critic of Haggis and The Highlands.

## MPSP20

Tegwyn Skye returned, now representing Cowichan-Malahat-Langford as the Critic of Culture and Heritage for the Rat Party. Prior to the start of MPSP20, she fell gravely ill, which resulted in her losing her voice for three weeks, and spent the majority of Opening Ceremonies and Day 1 with no voice, sporting a very large water bottle and many Fisherman's friends (that were then tossed across the aisle to the Rt. Honourable Keith de Silva when he lost his voice after a speech). She earned a standing ovation from the house after her SO31 done entirely in ASL, thanking Model Parliamentarians for their service and acceptance.

## MPSP21

Tegwyn Skye was a member of the presiding team as Deputy Speaker for the first fully virtual Model Parliament event. She was featured in a National Roast article highlighting some of the Women of Model Parliament. Tegwyn Skye saw her role as deputy speaker as an important one to both making the day run smoothly, as well as making new members feel welcome and accepted, especially in the all-virtual setting.

## MPSP22

Tegwyn Skye will be serving as Speaker of the House. Tegwyn Skye's role as Speaker is meant to help organize the event, as well as see the day run smoothly along with the rest of her team. She also feel that as Speaker, she has a responsibility to promote the bilingualism of the event, encourage a welcoming environment for and from returning and new members.