Unstoppable in the face of adversity, this year’s SFU Terry Fox Gold Medal recipient has shown resilience through life-altering challenges and is dedicated to using her knowledge and experience to improve the lives of others. 

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences student Allie Dufour, set to finish a bachelor’s degree in Gender, Sexuality, Women’s Studies, and Curriculum and Instruction, will be awarded SFU’s 2024 Terry Fox Gold Medal. Each year, this award is granted to one SFU student who demonstrates courage in the face of adversity and possesses qualities of a role model. 
 
Dufour’s dreams and aspirations were temporarily sidelined by a traumatic event. In early 2016, while walking on the sidewalk, she was struck and pinned under a large truck that caused multiple injuries requiring ongoing physical and mental rehabilitation. She overcame the adversity of her journey and is driven to help others. She took on a role as a community support worker working closely with individuals facing physical and mental abilities, work that shaped Dufour’s professional path and deepened her understanding of the daily complexity that individuals with adverse abilities and limitations face. She has also advocated for systemic changes, promoting awareness and fostering a culture of empathy and inclusion within our communities. 
 
Dufour spent three years working at the Vancouver School Board, supporting elementary school students with various abilities and limitations, ensuring they had the support needed to thrive academically and socially. It was during this time that Dufour felt compelled to pursue a career as a teacher, driven by a passion to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and contribute positively to our educational system. 
 
Dufour continues to achieve success, recognized recently in her studies at SFU by being on the Dean’s Honour Roll, a testament to her dedication and academic commitment. As she completes her bachelor’s degree, she is already looking ahead to fulfilling her academic quest. She is excited to join the Professional Development Program in the Indigenous Perspectives Teacher Education Module this fall.  
 
Her journey thus far has instilled the value of resilience, empathy and the power of embracing adversity as a catalyst for personal growth and meaningful service.  
 
Receiving the Terry Fox Award motives Dufour to begin her teaching career with bravery and she hopes to inspire others to do the same.  

 
When asked what the honour means to her, she shares that it symbolizes recognition of the strength and sheer determination during the hardest time of her life. It will be a lifelong reminder that she has the courage and dedication to persevere through ongoing challenges.  

 
“Today I see myself not just as a survivor, but as someone who found purpose in adversity,” says Dufour.