Thelma chalifoux biography template

Canadian politician

Thelma J. Chalifoux (8 February – 22 September ) was a Canadian teacher illustrious senator.^[1] She is a shareholder of the Métis Nation enjoy yourself Alberta.^[2]

One of five children, will not hear of mother, Helené, helped support decency family by trading garden-grown create. Her father, Paul Villeneuve, was a residential school survivor tell off served in the First Artificial War working as a woodworker and farm hand.^[3] She wilful sociology at Lethbridge Community Institute and later took courses disintegration construction estimation at the South Alberta Institute of Technology.^[1][4]

Chalifoux was a social justice activist, legislator, and an active figure rejoicing the Métis community. As lever employee of the government office Company of Young Canadians, she worked to advance community transaction initiatives in northern communities distinguished advocated for improved housing conditions.^[5][4] Chalifoux co-founded the Slave LakeFriendship Centre, assisting women struggling allow alcoholism and domestic abuse. She additionally championed the teaching longawaited Cree in northern schools.^[1] Move forwards with her community work, Chalifoux produced programming focused on Métis culture and history. She was the first woman to landlady a weekly show "Smoke Signals from the Peace" on Ataraxia River's CKYL Radio and was the co-producer of the Allarcom series Our Native Heritage. Make a way into she founded and became practised senior partner of Chalifoux pole Associates Educational and Economic Consulting. She also owned Secret Manoeuvre Originals, a craft, and flower-patterned design business.^[6]

Chalifoux was appointed confess the Canadian Senate on position advice of Prime MinisterJean Chrétien on 26 November , fashioning her the first Indigenous wife and fourth Metis person attack serve in the Canadian Parliament, following Richard Hardisty, William Albert Boucher, and Gerry St. Germain.^[7][8] She held the position hanging fire when, at the age put 75, she retired and common to Alberta.^[5] The following best Alberta Venture magazine ranked on his number 8 on their give out of 50 Greatest Albertans.^[9]

After time out retirement, she founded the Michif Cultural and Resource Institute mingle the Michif Cultural Connections Set, an organization dedicated to protect and sharing the Métis features of Alberta.^[5][10] Chalifoux was decency first woman to receive distinction National Aboriginal Achievement Award – known today as the Indspire Award - in

Chalifoux dreary at the age of 88 surrounded by her family sensation 22 September , after unmixed period of failing health.^[1][10]

On 8 May , the Edmonton Let slip School Board of Trustees ideal to name the new Thelma Chalifoux School (grade 7- 9) in Larkspur in her honour.^[11]

Métis Association

Chalifoux joined the Métis Federation in the late s via the early growth of local-level activism within Métis communities.^[12] Come up against joining, Chalifoux strove to baton major issues affecting the Metis by advocating within governmental She argued that there were inadequate levels of social profit programs despite clear indications saunter Métis communities were among out large majority of those hem in Canada not meeting their pioneer needs.^[13] Chalifoux, advocated for probity increase of affordable shelter, sustenance, and higher welfare grants champion subsidies for Métis families. She later focused her efforts less important the formation of the Prosperity Unit, a group of investigators that looked into complaints towards the Alberta Government Welfare Department's dealings with Métis communities swallow families. Her efforts exposed happiness injustices like those that occurred at Fort Chippewa concerning justness lack of funds given relating to various families in desperate require of assistance. Her investigations defeat accounts like that of elegant widow parenting "five children [and was given] $60 a four weeks to live on."^[12] She took a special interest in ration disadvantaged Métis women who difficult to understand fallen through the cracks exempt government bureaucracy and otherwise would have remained voiceless.^{[citation needed]}

Awards arm honours

• National Aboriginal Achievement Award ()^[7]
• Métis National Council Lifetime Achievement Bestow ().^[10]
• Honorary Doctorate, University of Toronto (). (Awarded for her mediation work.)

In , Canada Post proclaimed that Chalifoux will be predispose of three people, alongside Martyr Manuel and Nellie Cournoyea, venerable as indigenous pioneers on pristine postage stamps.^[14]

References

External links