For the Chorney Family,
I was a student at BCHS when Max was an Assistant Principal. He walked those halls diligently and found a way to maintain peace, build connections and improve the student experience. He was a figure head and we all knew to “obey” the rules, but he also always had time and space to ensure your perspective was respected. I have to say that he definitely made high school a safer place for a lot of students and as I have run into him outside of school as an adult - he always had time for a heartfelt chat. Max left this world a truly better place - thank you for sharing him with us. I hope your memories bring you laughter and comfort always!!

Liebe Elsa, liebe Family from Max, 
Unser allerherzlichsten Beileid zu deinem Verlust. Wir sind alle geschockt über den plötzlichen Tod von Max. Wir wünschen dir und der ganzen Familie, sehr viel Kraft für die Zeit die nun kommt. 
Herzliches Beileid schicken dir Bettina und Wolfgang, sowie Familie Reuter
Germany

Dear Brian, Kathleen, Matthew, Daniel and families,
I greatly admired both your mom Joanne and your dad as wonderful loving parents. I also had the privilege to work with them as colleagues .
My heart felt sympathies to you all at this difficult time. God bless

To Elsa and the family, I am so sorry for your loss and offer my condolences to you all!
Max was a great person to work with! He was hardworking and a supportive and caring person. It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to get to know him throughout the years at Bellerose. He shared many stories with Renee and I over lunch through the years at school. He was diligent in all that he did. I know that he will be greatly missed by his family-that he loved and was so proud of, as well as his numerous friends. Thanks Max for making our workplace such a welcoming and friendly space, for your care and love for students and staff!

So sad. Hard to believe a friend from high school and university has passed away. So glad that Max, Denise and I had a chance to sit down at Costco a couple months ago for a hotdog, pop and a long talk. A life well lived Max. 'Til we meet again, my friend.

image from Grade 12 Eastglen Composite High School

I’m so very sorry for your loss and offer my deepest condolences to all the family.  Max was a warm and caring man and a very efficient administrator at Bellerose.  I am so glad I got to work with him for many years.  He truly cared for and about family, students and staff.  He will be missed.

I am so thankful to have had Max as a mentor and as a friend.  I will miss him greatly and owe him many thanks for guiding me throughout my time starting out as a young CTS teacher.  My thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time.

Elsa, I do not know you personally, but I wanted to share a memory for you about Mr Chorney. He was one of the school supervisors for our school trip to Greece. He was such a fun teacher, and made the trip such a fun experience. I remember on one of our last nights in Athens, there was an outdoor candle light prayer for Easter. Max shared about how he was thinking of you in this moment, and how he had thought you would have loved to have been there- he was even moved to tears in this moment. The Bellerose community will all feel the loss of Mr Chorney. He has been the face of Bellerose for a lot of us. He made the bulldog family a pack that always comes together- no matter how many years we are apart. 
Deepest sympathies. So saddened to hear this.

Max was a great educator. Dude genuinely cared about his students.  Always wanted to see his students do well and the only students who had a problem with Max were those who were lazy and/or weren’t living up to their full potential.  Keep on rocking the sweater vest up in heaven pal. RIP

Max was more than a colleague, he was a steady, generous presence whose kindness reached everyone around him. He had such a big heart, and you could always count on him to show up when it mattered. Last June he came out to my retirement party simply to stand with me and celebrate that milestone. That was just who Max was, faithful, loyal, and always thinking of others.

I remember the days when he would pull me out of the classroom to help track down students who had wandered off into the field, when they should have been in class. I’m convinced he sent me ahead because he knew they’d run if they saw Mr. Chorney coming. Even in moments like those, Max’s good humor and sense of purpose shone through. He cared deeply for the young people we worked with, and he carried himself with a strong moral compass that guided everything he did.

To Max’s family, please know what a privilege it was to work alongside him. You were truly blessed to have such a mentor, role model, and man of integrity in your lives. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all of you. May you find comfort in knowing how deeply he was respected and how fondly he will be remembered.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Max as a colleague and friend for years.  His zest for life was reflected in the sparkle of his eyes.  There are many jokes made with respect to Alberta's seasons, and to Max there were but two:  hunting season and fishing season (which often overlapped).  Max (also known as Stan Schmenge: lead accordionist for the renowned Schmenge Travelling Band) displayed a huge heart and willingness to help any and everybody.  

May all friends and family members reflect fondly and often of the cherished memories shared!

Mr. Chorney Was My High School Principal September2012-June 2016 He Help Me Lots
In February 2013 Help Me Lots AWhen My Mom & Step Dad Seprated

He was a kind man, he always wanted what was best for Bellerose highschool kids when I was in highschool. He will be thoroughly missed. Thank you for the great memories.

Very sad to hear this news! Taught with Max at Paul Kane first in 1974 then years later as fellow school administrator.
Always found him grounded, genuine and forthright. My late wife Debbie truly loved working with Max both at Paul Kane and Bellerose.  
Rest in peace to a wonderful person from us both.

Max was my vice principal back from 2010-2013. 2011-2012 was a hard year for me. My grades were slipping. I had a sour attitude. Mr. Chorney would pull me in his office from time to time and check in. He would encourage me to do my  best and whatever I was going through was only temporary. He was a very kind man. He will forever be missed and I only share fond memories of him

Our condolences to the family and prayers to you all as you remember Max and the full life he lived. 
Much love to you, 
Phil Sembaliuk and Natalie Prytuluk

My deepest condolences to you all. Max taught me at Paul Kane in the mid 70’s. He was a teacher I looked up to & respected. It was an honor to have him help guide our daughters through their high school experience in the early 2000’s. I was lucky to have maintained a friendship with him through that entire time. I will miss him.

My dear friend. I will miss your big hugs Max❤️
My condolences to your family as I am sure they will miss those hugs as well.

My condolences to the family at this difficult time.

Max was more than a colleague to me, and provided me with great insight and mentorship as a fellow administrator.  More importantly, he was always happy to share hunting and fishing stories, many that reflected his strong  core values.  He will be missed.

My deepest condolences to the family.  Max was a lovely man who got many a struggling student through high school! Known to many students as the Chorndog, he was loved by all.  
He could fix almost anything and certainly did at 
Bellerose - even though it was certainly not his job to do so.  
Max was just the best!!

Max was a caring teacher and friend. He had a positive influence on students , and staff and he made a difference in the lives of others.
Our deepest sympathy to his family.
Lowell and Laurel Throndson

Mr. Chorney was one of the teachers who inspired me to become an Industrial Arts  teacher myself. He later became known to me as  "Max" when I ended up teaching Construction at Paul Kane High; the high school I graduated from many years prior. He was always a positive person who encouraged everyone to do their best and be their best.
Condolences to the family.  He will always be remembered.
Rosalba Politi

My deepest condolences to all of Max's family.

My very fondest memories of my time as a student at PK centred around working in the Yearbook Club and in the Industrial Arts lab—both under Max's guidance. He was one of the teachers who inspired within me a sense of "you can do anything!". Although I didn't have the honour of working with Max as a staff member, I did run into him from time to time and he always remembered me, even years later.

The thousands of students whose lives you've touched with your generosity, caring, and trust are greatly in your debt. Rest easy, Max.

I am so sorry to hear of  your loss . Max was a great person. Our deepest sympathy to Elsa and family.

Dear Brian & family, Kathleen & family, Matthew & family, Daniel & family - there are no words to express the sympathy I feel for each of you in the loss of your dear Father and Gido.  Find peace in knowing that your Father/Gido was taken up to heaven by a choir of angels and is now safe in the arms of our Lord.  Your dear Mother/Grandmother was the first to welcome him to his eternal home with open arms and her love.  
I wish to extend to each of you my deepest sympathy at this difficult time.

We were honoured to have known Max Chorney, not only as lifelong friends, but as mutually treated family members throughout our life’s journeys.  

Max’s impact on us and so many others was profound. His wisdom, reliability and kindness touched many lives. We will always cherish our memories of Max, the many fun, joyful, and even sad times we shared. He had an amazing spirit. He was a principled, true gentleman and a rock for his families. His legacy lives on in all of them.

Heartfelt condolences with love,
Tom and Debra Fiddler

Dear Max,  you were such a strong oak tree for all of us to lean on and such a cut above.  I recall so many conversations that we had through the years, in and out of the building, and the many times you would come into the shop to share your interest and appreciated perspectives. You had our backs, and I felt blessed knowing you were there among us and always doing everything you could to keep things positively going.  May you rest in peace and love, my friend,  you have so earned it.    

To family, relatives and friends, my deepest sympathy.  He will be so dearly missed as much as I know he was loved.  

My condolences,

1983 was the year I met Max as my teacher. At that time the economy had crashed causing my father to go bankrupt and lose all his restaurants. Being I was the oldest child in my family , my father asked me to go to work to help put food on the table for my family. I enrolled  in Maxes grade 10 work experience class. He got me my work experience job at Riverside Yamaha now known as Riverside Motosports . Little did I know that his efforts in helping me get the job ended up turning into my career. I’m still at Riverside 42 years later as the general manager and I’ve had an amazing career full of amazing experiences riding motorcycles in many countries around the world. He would often visit me for a few laughs and updates on each others lives. Our last visit was a few months ago. I had shared information on my new house I built on a cliff overlooking the North Saskatchewan River. I thanked him for getting me my job and I wanted him to come see what his kind gesture and efforts amounted to being I never graduated due to supporting my family. He really wanted to come visit me on the River at the new house when we settled in.. I’m saddened that he never got the chance. I will miss him and am forever grateful for getting me the greatest career I could of gotten 
Thank you Mr Chorney.. I will miss you my friend

I enjoyed singing with Max in the CYMK choir in the ‘70s and had a nice visit with him at church a few years ago. A very nice guy. Вічная Памʼять!

On Max


Before the beginning
Of any a Mardi Gras season,
There was always Orthodox Christmas 
To be celebrated at school

We’d all be back after the Christmas break, 
Usually a couple of days in,
When the announcement over the intercom
Came on just before lunch:  

All staff are reminded 
To stop
By the staff room 
This lunch break 



I got there
And there was
A feast aplenty 
Before us

All 
Sorts
Of delicious and 
Comforting  food 

Some 
Dishes
I had
Never seen before 

I came upon a bowl of blanched and peeled garlic cloves,
And there 
Beside me
Was Max

What a treat! Thanks, big guy! 
Now, what are these things, Max? 
Brian, they are called
Ukrainian chiclets!

Working with Max was an experience! Under the scary gruff exterior lay a heart of gold- caring, compassionate, humble. He may have barked at a few students in his lifetime, but it was because he truly cared about kids and getting them to see the full potential he saw in them. There are many, many students who graduated high school due to  Max’s insistence that they persevere and get it done. I saw him as an admirable educator, a loving Dad and Gido, and a proud husband. He was a wonderful man to work with, one I truly thought would live forever with his passion for life.  Rest in Peace Max, and my sincere condolences to his family.

I worked with Max at Bellerose for about ten years. I remember, during one of my sub contracts, how gruff he seemed; I don't mind admitting I was a little intimidated by him at first.  When I was later hired permanently, Max was the person who opened the doors for me to enter the school on my first day. I remember how warmly he greeted me; it totally changed my view of him - and that's how he remained. Gruff exterior, but soft and squishy on the inside. I truly admired him on several levels. In fact, when we had "dress like a teacher" day, I chose to dress as the legendary Max Chorney.  I know he will be dearly missed; my heartfelt condolences to those closest to him.

I’m deeply saddened by the passing of Max. He was a great all around individual. I sang with Max and played fast ball with him. A great man gone too soon.  Vichnaya Pamyat dear friend. Peter Holoiday Gibbons AB

I am so sorry to hear about Max's passing. He used to work at the summer camp I attended for years with his late wife and he was a hardworking and kind man that will be missed dearly by those who were close to him. Vichna pam'yat, memory eternal.

OBITUARY

Maxuim "Max" Peter Samuel Chorney

27 February, 1952 – 6 December, 2025

Memories Funeral Home

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