Thelma Chalifoux

Who is Thelma Chalifoux?

Thelma J. Chalifoux is a former Canadian politician and teacher. Chalifoux was the first female Métis to receive the National Aboriginal Achievement Award.

Chalifoux was appointed to the Canadian Senate on the advice of Jean Chrétien on November 26, 1997. She served in the Senate until February 8, 2004, when she retired and returned to Alberta upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.

Prior to her appointment to the Canadian senate she worked as a teacher, and was active in the Métis community. She has since returned to her roots, and now operates the Michif Cultural Institute in St. Albert, Alberta, an organization devoted to educational efforts on behalf of the local Métis community.