Dr. Herb Belcourt 1931-2017

Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF) regrets to announce the passing of Dr. Herb Belcourt, one of the Founders of the Belcourt Brosseau Métis Awards (BBMA) at ECF.

“Herb was an inspiration not only to the Métis community but our country as a whole,” Martin Garber-Conrad says. “His passing is truly a loss, but because of his vision the BBMAs will continue to provide opportunity to Métis students across the province as they realize self-sufficiency through post-secondary education and skills development.”

The BBMA were established in 2001 by the directors of the Canative Housing Corporation, including Dr. Belcourt.

Since 2002, the BBMA have provided more than $6.7 million in over 1,500 awards to more than 1,100 Métis Albertans studying at institutions across Alberta. These awards are the largest non-governmental source of student funding for Métis students in Canada. And they are but a part of the legacy Dr. Belcourt leaves behind.

In addition to his involvement with BBMA, Dr. Belcourt has a long history of community leadership, including with Canative Housing, the RCMP K Division Commanding Officer’s Aboriginal Advisory Committee, the Board of Edmonton Police Foundation, and the Board of NorQuest College.

Accolades include receiving the Queen’s Silver, Golden, and Diamond Jubilee Medals, the Order of Canada, an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Alberta, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, Alberta Business Hall of Fame, and most recently, being named to the City of Edmonton Community Service Hall of Fame with BBMA co-founders Georges Brosseau and Orval Belcourt.

Dr. Belcourt has been a big part of ECF over the last 16 years and we will miss him sincerely.