ALBERT J. G. CHARTRAND

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

ALBERT J. G. CHARTRAND July 11, 1929 - July 16, 2004 On Friday, July 16, 2004 in Tuxedo Villa, Albert passed away peacefully at age 75 years. Albert leaves to mourn his wife of 28 years, Margaret (Nicol Sealey) his children, Tom (Sharon) in Portland Oregon, Valerie (John) in Vancouver, Frank (Jennifer) in Los Angeles and Peter (Karen) in Minneapolis; and his grandchildren, Jesse, Chelsea, Jacob, Courtney, Michael, Anna and Kyle; also his step-children, Gavin in Winnipeg, Dawn in Dauphin and Brydon (Michele) in Lac du Bonnet; as well as grandchildren, Fraser, Alysha, Heather, TJ and great-grandchildren, Austin and Jordan. He also leaves his sisters, Irene Gilpen in London, ON, Christine Best in Burlington, ON and his brother Ted in The Pas, MB; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. Albert spent 25 years serving his country as a member of the Armed Forces and served in Korea, Germany, Cyprus, Egypt and at home. After his retirement to the public sector in 1972, he joined the Manitoba Metis Federation and became the Director of Education. He was a driving force behind planning, developing and establishing the Native Education Branch of the Manitoba Department of Education. Albert then took up the task of becoming the Chief Court Communicator for the Province of Manitoba, a service developed to assist aboriginal peoples wend their way through the cultural barriers of the court system. Albert was responsible for the development of many programmes designed to assist aboriginal peoples in this province. In 1973 Albert planned, organized and developed his own company called the Native Clan Organization, an organization that assisted aboriginal offenders who were and had been incarcerated within jails and prisons. He introduced into Manitoba prisons/jails - the first aboriginal liaison workers, Elders, and culturally specific programming for aboriginal offenders. In conjunction with the Native Clan Organization, he developed a parole supervision programme, Project Neecheewam (juvenile corrections), Regina House - a halfway house for aboriginal offenders on parole, the Forensic Behavioural Management Clinic (sexual offenders), Project For Industrial Native Training - which developed fibreglass canoes and later Weathercheck - a cellulose insulation manufacturing company. In addition, Albert also initiated Project Rene which took offenders out of the provincial jails and provided them with employment skills and life skills, proving that this direction of rehabilitation had a viable future in the criminal justice system. He was also instrumental in advancing the idea of electronic monitoring of non violent individuals sentenced by the courts, thereby lessening the populations of Canadian prisons. Albert was also a member of the Royal Commission on Sentencing Reform in Canada. After his second retirement in 1990, Albert accepted an appointment to the National Parole Board of Canada, serving in the Prairie Region for three years. After this, he acted as a consultant to various organizations, provincial and federal government departments. Albert was a pioneer in the services offered to aboriginal offenders and was duly recognized and honoured on numerous occasions by The Governments of Canada and Manitoba as well as aboriginal peoples. Throughout the last 25 years, Albert became an accomplished wood carver specializing in birds and animals. His work won him honours at various levels and resulted in his craft being displayed in prominent locations in the country. Throughout his life Albert was an avid hunter and outdoorsman. The family would like to thank the staff at the Tuxedo Nursing Home for the care provided to Albert during his time there. Cremation has taken place. His funeral will be held in The Pas on August 14, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations may be made to Project Neecheewam, 591 Sherbrook St., Winnipeg, MB R3B 2W9 or the Manitoba Wildlife Federation, 70 Stevenson Rd., Winnipeg, MB R3H 0W7.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 31, 2004