At the public board meeting on June 17th, staff and the Board of Education recognized Dr. Michael Audet for his leadership and commitment to building meaningful relationships with First Nations, Rights Holders, Inuit and Métis in Chilliwack. 

Dr. Audet served the Chilliwack School District beginning in the late 1990s, holding various key leadership roles—Principal, Director of Instruction, Assistant Superintendent, and ultimately, Superintendent until 2011. His legacy is intricately connected to Chilliwack School District's journey toward Reconciliation and relationship-building with Indigenous communities.

At the public board meeting, District Principal Brenda Point and Assistant Superintendent David Manuel shared a presentation celebrating the district’s transformation from the Indigenous Education Advisory Council (IEAC) to the Indigenous Advisory Council—a journey recognized by the Ministry of Education and Child Care. Chilliwack was among the first districts in the province to submit its Terms of Reference in alignment with Bill 40 - a testament to the foundational work that began under Dr. Audet’s leadership. 

In the late 1990’s and early 2000s, Dr. Audet helped establish the original IEAC (Indigenous Education Advisory Committee), rooted in the core values of Responsibility, Respect, and Reciprocity—principles he not only upheld, but lived. He understood that reciprocity means more than partnership; it’s about building relationships grounded in mutual respect, shared understanding, and recognition of Indigenous knowledge, culture, and ways of being.

"Dr. Audet embodied this principle of reciprocity. He practiced leadership that was generational in its depth— honouring roles, responsibilities, and the long-term nature of trust-building with patience and wisdom," said Superintendent Rohan Arul-pragasam. "Long before the introduction of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), Dr. Audet led with a distinction-based approach—ensuring that the unique rights, priorities, and voices of each First Nations were honoured in Chilliwack School District's work. As early as 2002, he recognized what the future would require, even before Indigenous Education funding policies were established. He understood that authentic relationships are the cornerstone of lasting progress." 

"On a personal note, what I’ve shared with you today about relationships was something I experienced myself when I joined the district in 2004," said Arul-pragasam. "Michael, you always ensured that each person you met felt a genuine sense of belonging to this organization. Because of your ability to sense, to see, to feel - and to lead with both your head and your heart - we are in a strong place today as a district. Your legacy continues to guide us."