) Senator Patrick Burns- Canada's "Cattle King"

131) Senator Patrick Burns- Canada's "Cattle King"

Senator Patrick Burns became known as the "Cattle King." and it's not hard to see why. At one time his cattle empire stretched 450,000 acres from Cochrane south to the American border! He also, started or bought over 100 retail meat shops in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. He also established 65 creameries and cheese factories and even 18 wholesale fruit houses!

In 1912 the Senator along with three other wealthy ranchers financed the very first Calgary Stampede in 1912 and they became known as "The Big Four."

Finally, to celebrate his 75th birthday a huge cake was baked that fed 15,000 people. In 2008, Senator Patrick Burns was voted "Alberta's Greatest Citizen".

By Rob Lennard

132) Senator Stan Waters- The first Elected Senator in Canada

Although The Black Devils suffered a 77% casualty rate, they achieved what seemed to be an impossible victory and became legends in the process. Over the following years Stan steadily ascended in rank, ending his career a Lieutenant-General and Commander of Canadian Forces Mobile Command. From there Stanley Waters, a man of many passions, went into business. He held a number of executive positions at Loram Group including president, and became a cofounder of the Bowfort Group of companies.

Towards the end of his business career though, Stan got into politics, becoming a founding member of Preston Manning’s Reform Party of Canada. As such, he won in an unorthodox and unprecedented provincial election for a vacant Senate seat with strong support from Albertans, despite reservations from the Prime Minister. This was a truly historic moment for The Reform Party of Canada as well as Canada’s Senate. As Canada’s first Senator to be appointed to his Senate seat following a provincial Senate election, Stanley Charles Waters was a strong Western-Canadian voice in a Senate increasingly dominated by Eastern Canada. Stanley advocated for more Albertan representation in Federal Government, and pushed the Government to adopt a "Triple E Senate” (Elected, Effective and Equal) during the constitutional debates of 1990–91. Sadly, Stanley Waters passed away in September of 1991, but his heroism on the battlefield and righteous crusade for Alberta in Federal Government shall be remembered for a long time.

By Lloyd Templeton

133) Senator Thelma Chalifoux- First Metis Woman Appointed Senator

Thelma Chalifoux is a Métis woman and she was the first Metis woman to be elected to the Senate of Canada. She was born in 1929 in Calgary, Alberta. She grew up during the depression. She was the Vice-President of the Aboriginal Women’s Development Corporation. She was also the first Métis woman to become a member of the University of Alberta Senate. In 1997, she became a member of the Senate of Canada. In 2004, she was also given a Honourary Doctorate of Law from the University of Toronto.

Senator Thelma Chalifoux is a single mother who has 8 children, and because of this, she is very passionate about women’s issues. She was also the first Aboriginal woman to talk on the radio. In 1994, Senator Thelma Chalifoux was the first Metis woman to be given a National Aboriginal Achievement Award. She also led the National Métis Senate and the Alberta Métis Senate. She is also Métis Elder for Nechi Institute. Senator Thelma Chalifoux also helped start the Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre. She has 32 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.

By Laura Peace

134) Senator Walter Twinn, Band Chief and Boxing Promoter

Walter Twinn was born on March 29, 1934 in Slave Lake, Alberta as part of the Sawridge band. He was first elected chief in 1966 and at this time, oil was found on his people’s land. Walter wisely used the money his band received for the oil to improve their lives. He started the Sawridge Hotel in Slave Lake, and later set up Sawridge Hotels in other towns and cities in Alberta. He also set up the Sawridge truck stop on Highway 88, providing gasoline and other services for those in the trucking industry.

During the time Walter was chief, the Sawridge band opened the Sawridge Plaza Mall in 1990 near Slave Lake, and the band took over a water bottling company in British Columbia. Walter Twinn was also a leader in the Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council, which helped start the region’s first Native police force for the eight reserves that make up the Slave Lake Region.

Walter Twinn was a part of the Alberta sports community, and was a big supporter of the sport of boxing in Alberta. His hotels often raised money through fundraising for minor sports teams. Long before the hockey arena was built on the band’s land, Walter was providing money to promote sport in the community.

Walter Twinn was appointed to the Senate on September 2, 1990 and served as a Senator for over seven years. He was part of the Federal Government’s Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples from 1997 to 1999. Walter passed away on October 30, 1997 at the age of 63 years old.

By Tom Elder

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