Nadine
Alumni Member
Nadine Chalifoux (Green Butterfly Woman) she/her, is a Cree woman, independent advocate, and peer support leader dedicated to making mental health, housing, and disability services more accessible for those who need them. With over a decade of experience, she has played a key role in shaping community-driven solutions for marginalized populations.
Nadine’s journey has been shaped by homelessness, trauma, disability, and systemic barriers. She has lived through the challenges of navigating services that are difficult, disconnected, and often dismissive of the people they are meant to help. Instead of accepting these failures as normal, she committed herself to breaking down barriers, ensuring people get the help they need, and pushing for a system that actually works.
She previously worked as a Peer Navigator with the E4C Wellness Network, helping people find stable housing, connect with mental health supports, and access peer resources. That experience reinforced what she already knew—services are often not designed for the people who need them most. Now, Nadine focuses on advocacy, policy change, and system-wide improvements to make sure people don’t have to fight as hard just to survive.
Beyond her frontline work, Nadine has been a powerful advocate in policy spaces, using her voice to push for systemic change that centers lived experience. She was recognized with the 2018 ROOPH Award for her contributions to housing and community advocacy.
Nadine also has a strong background in business and entrepreneurship, having managed and owned multiple businesses. She understands the importance of economic empowerment and financial security as tools for long-term stability and healing.
Her vision is a future where no one has to fight to access the support they deserve.
Her message to others: “You are not alone. You don’t have to go through this by yourself—there are people who care, who want to help, and who will stand beside you. Reach out. You deserve support.”
Q&A
Can you share a bit about yourself and what inspired you to join the Council?
I’m Nadine (Green Butterfly Woman), a Cree woman, an advocate, and someone who has lived through the systems we’re trying to change. My life has been full of challenges; homelessness, trauma, disability, navigating social services, and fighting for my basic needs, but every hardship taught me something about the gaps in our system and the ways we can do better.
I got into advocacy because I don’t want people to have to fight as hard as I did just to get the help they need. I’ve spent over a decade working on housing, peer support, disability rights, and mental health accessibility, always with the goal of bringing real change to the people who need it most.
I used to work as a Peer Navigator with E4C Wellness Network, helping people find housing, access mental health care, and get connected to resources. That experience reinforced everything I already knew—that the system makes it way too hard for people to get the help they need. Now, I focus on advocacy and policy change to make sure we’re not just supporting people one by one, but actually fixing the system itself.
What do you personally bring to the Council? (What are the unique perspectives that you bring?)
I bring lived experience, honesty, and the ability to cut through the nonsense. I know firsthand what it’s like to be denied housing, ignored by the system, and treated like a problem instead of a person. I also know how powerful it is when someone actually listens, believes in you, and helps you navigate the mess of services out there.
I’ve been working for years to bridge the gaps between services and the people who need them. Whether it’s through peer navigation, system advocacy, or just calling things out when they aren’t working, I do this work because I believe everyone deserves a chance at stability, healing, and dignity.
What are your interests outside of mental health advocacy?
Everything I do comes back to community and connection. Whether it’s spending time with people, sharing stories, or lifting others up, I believe that we heal together, not alone.
I also come from a business background; I’ve run restaurants, built businesses, and worked in leadership roles. That experience has given me a different perspective on advocacy, because I know how much economic security and financial independence matter in breaking cycles of poverty and trauma.
And of course, my culture and traditions are a huge part of who I am. Being able to connect with my Cree identity, share teachings, and learn from others is something I value deeply.
What are your hopes for the future of mental health in our community?
I want to see a system where people aren’t treated like a number, where they don’t have to beg for basic support, and where we actually take a holistic approach to wellness. You can’t just slap a mental health label on someone and expect them to get better without addressing housing, poverty, addiction, disability, and social support at the same time.
We need more peer support, more lived experience in leadership, and services that actually meet people where they are instead of making them jump through endless hoops. My hope is that we keep pushing for a system that respects people as human beings first.
What message would you like to share with someone who might be struggling with their mental health right now?
You are not alone. I know it feels like the world is working against you sometimes, but there are people who care; people who want to see you safe, stable, and supported.
You don’t have to fight through this alone. There are people who understand, who will sit with you, listen, and help you find the support you deserve. Keep going. You matter.