Chalifour acknowledged by SCSBA with Julian Paslawski Meritorious Service Award

Retired Prince Albert Catholic Faculty Division Trustee and vice chair Maurice Chalifour was not too long ago acknowledged for his contributions to Catholic schooling.

Chalifour was the recipient of the Julian Paslawski Meritorious Service Award offered by the Saskatchewan Catholic Faculty Board’s Affiliation (SCBA).

This award is offered to people who’ve demonstrated distinctive dedication and contributions to the Catholic instructional neighborhood. In a particular ceremony, held at Lloydminster on Oct.21., Chalifour was celebrated for his excellent management in Prince Albert.

“I used to be honoured and on the identical time I used to be humbled,” Chalifour mentioned. “It’s, I feel, fairly a prestigious award I by no means anticipated to get.”

Suzanne Stubbs, Board Chair of the Prince Albert Roman Catholic Separate Faculty Division, mentioned Chalifour is a really distinctive particular person whose service to the neighborhood goes past mere responsibility, reflecting on his deep vocational calling.

“Maurice Chalifour embodies a wealth of private {and professional} experiences and a gracious spirit of volunteerism,” Stubbs mentioned in a press launch. “His tireless efforts have immensely enriched the Catholic Schooling neighborhood domestically and provincially. He stays an esteemed and valued member of the Catholic instructional neighborhood and a lifelong good friend to the Prince Albert Board of Schooling.”

Chalifour joined the division as a trainer in 1969. He finally grew to become a principal in 1987, serving within the place at St. Anne and Holy Cross faculties earlier than formally retiring from instructing in 1995. He continued to serve instead trainer till 2004.

Chalifour was elected as a Trustee in 2011. Throughout his time as a Trustee, he performed a pivotal position within the functioning of assorted committees, together with the Audit Committee, Discipleship Committee, and Workers Appreciation and Recognition Committee. He additionally served because the liaison for the Prince Albert Catholic Schooling Basis and assumed the position of Vice-Chair of the varsity board.

No matter his position, Chalifour mentioned he wished to assist put together college students to take the following step in schooling and life.

“I feel it’s actually necessary, getting ready younger folks to be able to chase their desires and after they graduate that they’ll lead a superb Christian life,” he mentioned.

As a Trustee, Chalifour was a key determine in necessary conferences with stakeholders, and his involvement was essential to the success of the provincial fundraising campaigns. He was enthusiastic about preserving native voices in Catholic schooling, and he actively engaged with native parish communities to underscore this significance. His dedication prolonged to being appointed to the Board of Director for the Saskatchewan Catholic Faculty Boards Affiliation.

He mentioned that all through his profession, help from employees has at all times been key.

“I consider that the Catholic Faculties are getting ready their college students very properly for his or her future after they graduate and attain for his or her desires sooner or later,” Chalifour mentioned.

“These are a few of the most necessary issues I believed in. I believed that after I was a classroom trainer and I nonetheless consider that also as a trustee,” he added.

Chalifour, alongside along with his fellow former trustee, Albert Provost, co-founded the Prince Albert Catholic Schooling Basis.

This basis served as a bridge between Catholic faculties, parishes, and the broader neighborhood, upholding the imaginative and prescient, mission, and core values of the Catholic Faculty system.

Chalifour performed a pivotal position in elevating over $600,000 for important upgrades at École St. Mary Excessive Faculty in 2003 and supported the nationwide fundraising initiatives like “Toonies for Tuition” for Catholic schooling.

Past his instructional pursuits, Chalifour is a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus and has beforehand chaired the Columbian Centre Board of Administrators. He’s an lively participant in his parish and a devoted neighborhood member.

Chalifour retired from the Prince Albert Catholic Faculty Division board of schooling in Nov., 2022.

michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca