Senator Thelma Chalifoux Award

Potential candidates for the Senator Thelma Chalifoux Award are individuals or organizations that have consistently demonstrated commitment to Aboriginal student success.

Born in Calgary, Senator Thelma Chalifoux enjoyed an outstanding career that took many interesting turns, but always focused on making life better for others. Senator Chalifoux was the first Métis woman in Canada’s Senate, appointed by the Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien on November 26, 1997 to represent Alberta. She served until February 8, 2004.

Senator Chalifoux acted as a key land claims negotiator, was the founder of the Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre, and was instrumental in developing the Métis Association of Alberta Land and Welfare Departments. She devoted several years to Alberta Native Communications Society and was an active participant in the community development movement of the Company of Young Canadians. Senator Chalifoux’s own commitment to the Aboriginal community earned her the recognition of being named NAIT’s Distinguished Friend of the Institute in 2002. She also received an Honorary Diploma in Business Administration in 2003.