Sharon L. Gaetz is a former mayor of the City of Chilliwack,

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. She was first elected to that office in the 2008 election and served three consecutive terms. In

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, she lost to incumbent city councillor Ken Popove whilst seeking a fourth term. She remains the only woman in the city's history elected to the office of mayor. She previously served twelve years as a city councillor, during which time she served as acting mayor. Mayor Gaetz also served as director of the Fraser Valley Regional District. She was not affiliated with any political party whilst in public office. She described herself as a “fiscal conservative with a strong social conscience” politically. In 2007, then-Councillor Gaetz presented information about

cannabis cultivation Cultivation of cannabis is the production of cannabis infructescences ("buds" or "leaves"). Cultivation techniques for other purposes (such as hemp production) differ. In the United States, all cannabis products in a regulated market must be ...

to Chilliwack's social issues advisory committee. Also that year, she supported the densification of the city through the construction of an

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building containing 71

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Personal life

Gaetz was born in North Vancouver and grew up in

Chilliwack Chilliwack ( ) is a city of about 100,000 people and in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is located about east of the City of Vancouver in the Fraser Valley. The enumerated population is 93,203 in the city and 113,767 in the gr ...

. She and her husband, Jim, have a son, and two grandchildren. Their daughter, Jenna, died in 2002 at 21 years old. Gaetz was the Head Pastor at the Southside Church in

. She is an Honorary Colonel in the 39 Combat Engineer Regiment.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaetz, Sharon Living people Women mayors of places in British Columbia Women Christian clergy 21st-century Canadian Christian clergy Mayors of Chilliwack Year of birth missing (living people) 21st-century mayors of places in British Columbia 21st-century Canadian women politicians