Making a difference in children’s lives has always been a priority for Shelly Gelfand, but it was her own kids who helped bring her back to where her story began. A CHS 1982 Grade 9 alumna, Shelly returned to CJA as Principal in the summer of 2025, choosing the school she and later, her children, attended for the final chapter of her career. For Shelly, returning to the school that raised her and her kids is a privilege that she holds with great pride.
She first arrived at the school in Grade 5 after her family immigrated from South Africa, and the school community welcomed her with open arms. Some of the closest friends she made then are the friends she holds most dear now.
Shelly remembers her teachers’ passion for learning and connecting with students. Mr. Holt, her science teacher, is just one example. “He had a way of connecting [with everyone] and making the students feel seen,” Shelly explains. She also mentions Mrs. Jackson as “joyful, a big personality and a big laugh; she was all about relationships and gave the kids confidence.”
Shelly learned at CJA what it means to be a proud Jew and not to be afraid to share who you are outside of the CJA bubble. The connections that she made within the walls of CJA have not been forgotten. In fact, Shelly considers the Calgary Jewish community as her extended family, with a strong bond built through Jewish identity and the confidence and solidarity it brings.
Years later, Shelly had the honour of sending her daughter, Jennifer (Class of 2009) and son, Ayden (Class of 2011), to the CJA. Watching them form their own friendships, find their place in the community and continue many of the connections she valued as a student led Shelly to reflect on her own time at the school. It also gave her a deeper appreciation for why those connections matter and, ultimately, why giving back to the CJA became so important to her.
Shelly’s Jewish identity has remained a constant throughout her life. From her involvement in BBYO as a teenager to the traditions and celebrations she shares with her family, she has always been proud of her Jewish identity and has carried that confidence with her throughout her life and career.
That sense of connection across generations even showed up during our interview, when Shelly’s father stopped by for a surprise visit to the school to drop off challah from the JCC for the staff. The challah baking done at the Jewish Centre is a part of her mom’s legacy. Shelly shares, “She passed away a year ago, and so it is near and dear to us.”
Returning to CJA as Principal brings Shelly’s career in education back to a place that has been part of her life for decades. Although she did respite work in high school, what matters most to Shelly is the impact she hopes to make on each student. Just as teachers like Mr. Holt and Mrs. Jackson had a lasting impact on her, Shelly hopes to do the same for students at CJA today, making that impact one of her biggest achievements.