Michelle Chidley is a co-founder and chair of the Fertility Alberta Advocacy and Outreach Association. Fertility Alberta is a non-profit advocacy group that aims to increase access to treatments for Albertans who require fertility care to build their families.

A former patient, Chidley and her husband required in vitro fertilization to conceive their two beautiful children. Grateful for having drug coverage through a workplace benefits plan and the ability to take out loans for the remaining cost, the difficult journey to have kids sparked Chidley’s desire to help make the path to parenthood easier for others.

Harnessing the time, talents and passion of current and former patients, the volunteer board at Fertility Alberta works tirelessly to advocate for private and public financial assistance for costly fertility care for Albertans. Their work earned national recognition in April when Fertility Alberta received Fertility Matters Canada’s 2024 Changemaker Award for Advocacy.