Patrick Brazeau facts for kids

Patrick Brazeau (born November 11, 1974) is a Canadian senator from Quebec. When he was appointed, at 34 years old, he was the youngest person to become a senator. Before joining the Senate, he was the national chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples from 2006 to 2009. He has been involved in Canadian politics for many years.

Exploring Patrick Brazeau's Background

Early Life and Education

Patrick Brazeau is an Algonquin person. He comes from the Kitigan Zibi reserve, which is near Maniwaki in Quebec. He once worked at HMCS Carleton, a unit of the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve located in Ottawa.

Patrick Brazeau studied at Heritage College (Gatineau), where he earned a Quebec Diploma of College Studies in social sciences. He also started studying civil law at the University of Ottawa, but he did not finish that program. He can speak both English and French very well, but he prefers to speak French.

Working with Indigenous Communities

In 2001, Patrick Brazeau became involved with the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP). This organization works to support Indigenous people in Canada. He was elected as the vice-chief of CAP in April 2005. From February 2006, he served as the national chief until he was officially elected to that role later in November of the same year. He is also a member of the Native Alliance of Quebec, which is connected to CAP.

Patrick Brazeau strongly believed that Section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act should be changed. He thought this section prevented Indigenous individuals from having the same human rights as others. He felt that the Indian Act sometimes put community rights above individual rights. He supported a bill called C-21, hoping it would help reform how Indigenous communities are governed and eventually lead to changes in the Indian Act.

Journey to the Senate

Becoming a Canadian Senator

On December 22, 2008, Patrick Brazeau was chosen to become a senator. This decision was made by the then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He officially became a senator on January 8, 2009. As a senator, he helps to review and create laws for Canada.

Public Appearances and Activities

Patrick Brazeau has participated in some public events outside of his political work.

Charity Boxing Match

On March 31, 2012, Patrick Brazeau took part in a special boxing match. It was a charity event where he boxed against Justin Trudeau, who was a Liberal Member of Parliament at the time and later became Prime Minister. Patrick Brazeau lost the match. He has said he would like to have another boxing match with Justin Trudeau, but Trudeau has chosen not to participate again.

Guest Referee in Wrestling

On May 30, 2015, Patrick Brazeau was a guest referee at a wrestling event for Great North Wrestling. This event took place at the Earl Armstrong Arena in Ottawa. During the match, he was even bodyslammed through a table!

Health Incident

In the early morning of January 19, 2016, Patrick Brazeau was taken to the hospital. He was found seriously injured at his home. The police stated that his injuries did not seem to be from a crime. The hospital later said that his injuries were treated successfully and were not life-threatening.