Born and raised in Moncton, NB, Bradshaw spent much of her career at the forefront of the nonprofit sector in her community dealing with homelessness, mental health and children and young people at risk. Bradshaw was known to have lung cancer. She died Saturday afternoon, according to her family. Bradshaw spent 10 years in federal politics and was elected a Liberal member of the Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe. He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for International Cooperation, Minister for French, Minister for Labor, Minister for State and Minister for the Homeless. She also served as Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women. In her community and in the House of Commons, Claudette Bradshaw has dedicated all her time, talents and efforts to helping others. Because of this, there is no doubt that it changed the lives of many – and made this country a better place. My thoughts are with her loved ones today. – @JustinTrudeau
Despite its many national achievements, Bradshaw has maintained a strong defense presence in New Brunswick, including raising awareness of the dangers of fetal alcohol syndrome and improving access to affordable housing. In 2010, she was named recipient of the Order of Monkton and praised for being the “voice and advocate of the poor and disadvantaged” in her community. Nick Bradshaw, one of her two sons, said his mother’s legacy was that she knew how to give a good hug and how she maintained a strong relationship with everyone in her midst. He said everyone could count on a warm hug from Branco. “You can ask anyone who took one of her hugs, they will tell you that she was a very kind person who loved people,” she said. “This is something I know many people will miss.” He said Branco, then federal minister, broke the protocol when he greeted Queen Elizabeth on her last trip to New Brunswick. He could not resist the urge to hug her. “They knew she was hugging, so the RCMP warned her and said, ‘Look, you should not address her unless she talks to you and you should not touch her,’” he said. He said his mother put her hand on the queen’s back as she stepped on the tarmac. I said, ‘He will hug this woman and make her taser in front of the whole Moncton.’ He said Moncton is where his mother felt most comfortable. Branco was known nationally for her hugs. (RADIO-CANADA / Patrick Lacelle)
He said that what he will miss most from his mother is to call her and see her interact with others. “He really went through our lives through a lot of ups and downs and helped us get down,” he said. “She was our captain.” He said his mother lived a life of high stress, constantly working to achieve her goals. This affected her body and in 2015 she suffered a stroke. While recovering from this, he developed various cancers and was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer near the end of 2021. He was receiving chemotherapy treatments. He said he did not feel well on Saturday. The family called an ambulance, but it was too late. “By the time they got here her heart had just faded,” she said. “We were here with her, you can not ask for better than that.” She died peacefully at home with her two sons and her 50-year-old husband, Douglas Branchow.

Where it started

Claudette Bradshaw began her career in social work in 1968, as a program coordinator for the Boys and Girls Club of Moncton for six years, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia.
He founded the Moncton Headstart Early Family Intervention Center and served as its executive director. The nonprofit childcare program was the first licensed daycare center in New Brunswick. “What a legacy this woman has left behind,” said Caroline Donnelle, the current CEO of Moncton Headstart. “She was a wonderful woman, an awesome woman, and one who created an organism that is almost 50 years old and still strong.” Donnelle said the services available to young people and families at risk would not be the same today without Bradshaw’s work in this area. Bradshaw died peacefully next to her two sons and husband on Saturday. (RADIO-CANADA)
Bradshaw’s career took a turn in 1997 when she entered politics. He received the Médaille Richelieu International and an honorary doctorate in social work from the Université de Moncton By 2006, Bradshaw was ready to leave federal politics and did not run for re-election. It was then that Bradshaw was appointed as the New Brunswick Premier Task Force on the status of community nonprofits. She was appointed coordinator for the Mental Health Commission of Canada a year later, which led to the launch of Housing First, a $ 110 million research project on chronic mental illness and homelessness. This led to the development of the At Home / Chez Soi program in Moncton, offering furnished apartments and support to more than 100 people living on the street.