Ms. Pearl Calahasen - MLA for Lesser Slave Lake

God our Father, we pray for Your blessings to rest upon Ms. Pearl Calahasen as she represents the fine people of her constituency of Lesser Slave Lake.  May You continue to enable her to serve with wisdom and integrity.  Grant her strength as she travels through her riding and give her words of encouragement for those who are still rebuilding in their community.  Fill her with Your grace in every area of life.  Amen.

Pearl Calahasen was elected to her seventh term as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Lesser Slave Lake on April 23, 2012. She currently serves as Legislative Secretary, First Nations Education and Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour (Reporting to the Premier and the Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour). Ms. Calahasen also serves as a member of the Treasury Board and as a member of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing, as well as the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship.

Ms. Calahasen previously served as a member of the following committees:

• Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services
• Standing Committee on Private Bills
• Standing Committee on Community Development
• Standing Committee on Public Accounts

Since she was first elected to the Alberta Legislature in 1989, Ms. Calahasen served as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, minister without portfolio responsible for children’s services, Associate Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and as a member of the Standing Committee on Resources and Environment.

Pearl Calahasen was born and raised in Grouard, Alberta. She has a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Alberta and a master’s degree from the University of Oregon. She is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Education.

Her professional experience includes teaching Grades 1-12, serving as a continuing education co-ordinator at Alberta Vocational College in Lesser Slave Lake (now Northern Lakes College) and working as a private consultant developing and evaluating educational materials.

Ms. Calahasen has been a champion of Native education programs. She led the development of the first Native language program introduced in Alberta schools and was responsible for developing the Cree language program for adult students. As a consultant with Alberta Education Ms. Calahasen was the principal advisor for the development of the Native education policy, curriculum materials and language development and programming.

Actively involved in community affairs, Ms. Calahasen has served as a member of the Native economic development program, as an Alberta human rights commissioner and as a volunteer tutor for illiterate adults. She has canvassed for the Heart Fund and Cancer Society and has been actively involved in community sports as a player, coach and administrator. Ms. Calahasen was one of the founding members of the University of Alberta Native Students’ Association.

Ms. Calahasen has been recognized by the Aboriginal community as a role model and has received many awards. Some of these include:

• Esquao Circle of Honour
• Honorary membership in the Kapawe’no First Nation
• Honorary Chief of Tallcree First Nation
• Induction into the Blackfoot Women’s Society
• The National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Public Service
• Aboriginal Role Model Award

In addition to these honours and awards, the board of governors representing universities and colleges in Alberta granted Ms. Calahasen the Distinguished Achievement Award Celebrating Success.