Madeline Anne Kalbach

Madeline was born in Toronto, Ontario and began her post-secondary at Lakeshore Teachers College. She then attended the University of Toronto completing her BA and MA in Sociology. Madeline continued on and completed her PhD in Sociology at York University in 1989. She began her academic career as the assistant Director of the Population Research Lab at Erindale College and then later took over as the acting director of the Ethnic Studies and Population Research Laboratory.

Madeline came to the University of Calgary in 1995 and was appointed as the first Research Chair in Canadian Ethnic Studies and Professor of Sociology. During her tenure at the University of Calgary, Madeline was actively involved in the Department of Sociology as the undergraduate advisor, director of the Research Unit for Ethnic Studies and the data coordinator for the Center of Excellence for Immigration and the Metropolis Project.

Madeline was active in her profession and her early work with Professor Desmond Morton led to her interest in Demography and Ethnic Pluralism. She was active in the Canadian Sociology Association, the Canadian Population Society and the Canadian Ethnic Studies Association. Her involvement included becoming the Vice-President of the Canadian Ethnic Studies Association, President of the Canadian Population Society and Chair of various committees for the Canadian Sociology Association.

Madeline was involved in government policies throughout life, and it began with Minister Sheila Copps, her consultant activities with Statistics Canada and her appointment to the Academic Women’s Council.

She was a reliable and diligent reviewer of manuscripts for several journals as well as book publishing companies. Her reviews were clear in detail and helpful for both the author as well as for the editors to make a decision.

Madeline’s research was funded over 30 years by numerous agencies including Employment and Immigration, Health and Welfare Canada, Heritage Canada, Statistics Canada Council, and the Prairie Centre of Excellence.

Madeline published in both academic and government outlets. Her book on Ethnic Groups and Marital Choices is a seminal work that influenced subsequent research in the area. Her work for Statistics Canada in 1993, focusing on intermarriage trends, brought government policy to address immigration and ethnic relations into their realm of consideration. Her later work on religion and language patterns of ethnic groups also brought evidence of the changing demography of Canadian Society. Madeline was sought by scholars and government officials to analyze data sets and as a result she was active in making presentations in Canada as well as at international venues.

During her academic career Madeline was a mentor of both colleagues and students. Her supervision of the work of her students resulted in their graduation and the publication of their research. Her support was long-lasting and students from two decades ago still remember her support and friendships.

Madeline retired from the University of Calgary in 2006 as a Professor Emerita.

Madeline’s other endeavors:

Madeline joined the Canadian Federation for University Women, Calgary in 2005. She became President of the Calgary club in 2009, Regional Director and President of the Alberta Council from 2014-2016 and VP of Membership of the CFUW National Board. In 2019, CFUW was celebrating its 100 year anniversary resulting in the clubs nominating 100 “notable women” for their outstanding contributions to the local Clubs and National. Madeline was recognized and honoured as a Notable Woman at the award ceremonies in Winnipeg. Through the CFUW Calgary club Madeline also became involved in early literacy, becoming the Co-coordinator of My Very Own Book Project which from 2011 to 2022 raised $15,000 for Calgary Reads. Upon Calgary Reads disbanding she continued as a Co-coordinator to support CanLearn Society early literacy programs. The CFUW Calgary Club in 2025 was the recipient of the Simpson Award in recognition of their support of literacy in the City of Calgary by their support of CanLearn Society early literacy programs. Madeline also served on the CFUW National Charitable Trust Scholarship Committee which awards scholarships to women studying for graduate degrees in Canada and abroad.

Madeline, after retiring, began a new journey in her life with travel, taking her first trip with the University of Calgary’s Continuing Education Travel Study in 2006. She proceeded to take over 20 trips through that program to Cuba, Brazil, Peru, Kenya, the Arctic, Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, Namibia, Newfoundland, Yellowknife, the Galapagos Islands and Baja California (Mexico). These trips enhanced her already ongoing love of nature, birds and photography.

Madeline was a life-long birder, starting in 1967. She always said she was a demographer of people and birds. Madeline came to the Long Beach Peninsula in the State of Washington yearly beginning in 1992. She became a part of the community there preparing shorebird coastal surveys in what is known as the “Pacific Flyway”, conducting Winter Raptor surveys for the Eastern Audubon Alliance and writing a weekly column on birds for the weekly newspaper, The Chinook Observer, which contained her beautiful photos of birds. She participated every year in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count and the Great Backyard Bird Count. Madeline wrote articles on birds and where to find them in Western Oregon and Washington for the program called Nature Notes on KMUN, Public Radio, Astoria, Oregon. She co-authored a bird guide “Common Birds of the Long Beach Peninsula”, and “My Feathered Friends” a bird booklet for children. She worked on the Breeding Atlas of Ontario (published 1987) which was a five-year research project and wrote an article on Wrens for it. She published a checklist of birds for the South Peel Naturalist’s Club in 1982. Prepared the field checklist for the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge complex in 2015. Madeline was a volunteer for the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and a board member of the Friends of WNWR. She was a member and land steward at Columbia Land Trust.

When in Alberta Madeline was always out birding, weather permitting, with the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and Frank Lake among her favourite spots. Her last outing on April 30 was to find and take pictures of Mountain Blue Birds here in Alberta. She found them in Kananaskis Country, and her last pictures are of a pair of Mountain Blue birds by a nest box just starting to lay claim to the home they planned to nest in.

Madeline leaves behind Susan Stauffer, her partner, confidant, travel buddy and biggest supporter. The family thanks all the doctors and nurses that helped to keep her active and well for so long, especially Dr. Doreen Rabi, who always went above and beyond. Madeline considered her to be not only an excellent physician, but a colleague and a friend.

Madeline is survived by her brother and sister in-law, Laurie and Diane Bridger; her daughter Catharine and son-in-law David Wade; her son, Michael Richard; her grandchildren Laura (Ben) Williams, Kelly (Malcolm) Kenlock, Katie (Konrad) Piorkowski, and Michael Wade; and her great-grandchildren, Avery and Ryan Kenlock. She was predeceased by her parents, Olive and Ernest Bridger.

Given Madeline’s wishes there will not be a funeral or services. Madeline was a strong supporter of early literacy and nature. In lieu of flowers the family would request a memorial donation to the CanLearn Society early literacy programs or to the preservation of nature including, but not limited to, one of the following nonprofit organizations: Alberta Wilderness Association, Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation, Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Foundation.

This obituary has been authorized by the family for posting of Foster’s Garden Chapel Funeral Home’s website. As such, it is protected against any reproduction or redistribution without prior consent from the family.