Sheila Fougere

Sheila Fougere is a Canadian politician. She was the first woman elected to Halifax Regional Council and has served as the Councillor for District 14, Connaught-Quinpool since 1998.

Background

A native Haligonian, she attended both Dalhousie University and the University of North Texas. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Recreation from Dalhousie and a Certificate in Municipal Governing from Henson College of Public Affairs.

Prior to entering politics, Fougere worked from 1984 through 1989 as Manager of Conference Services and concurrently as Manager of Off-campus Housing at Dalhousie. In 1989 she worked as Marketing Coordinator for Where Magazine and then left full-time employment to be a stay at home mother to her two children. Over the next nine years, she worked on a variety of part-time and contract projects in her capacity as a meeting and special event planner.

In 1995 she was hired by the Province of Nova Scotia to coordinate the role of several hundred volunteers for the G-7 Summit. That same year she was hired by Oxford School to develop and coordinate special programs for the school's 300 junior high school students - a project she continued for two and a half years. She also worked and volunteered as a Certified First Aid and Basic Life Support instructor for four years. Throughout her adult life she has served in a variety of capacities with numerous community, professional and sport organizations.

Sheila Fougere has been married to Joe Fougere for 22 years. They have two children. She is an avid reader, a soccer player and veteran soccer coach. She loves to read, sew, and play the piano for enjoyment. She has studied and retains a strong interest in the Japanese language and culture and has travelled extensively.

Political Life

Fougere was first elected as Halifax Regional Councillor for District 14, Connaught-Quinpool, in 1998.

In her years as Councillor she has held positions on a variety of other committees dealing with issues including: economic development, natural gas distribution, emergency measures, education funding, heritage, solid waste, pensions, and special events.

In 2004 Fougere ran for the Canadian House of Commons, representing the Liberal Party of Canada in Halifax, but lost to Alexa McDonough of the New Democratic Party. Fougere received 17,267 votes to McDonough's 18,341.

On November 3, 2007, Fougere announced that she would be running for the office of Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality in the 2008 election. [Massinson, Stephane, [http://sheilafougere.ca/news/oct17_2007.html?sid=72022&sc=89 "Sheila Fougere officially announces run for mayor's office"] "Halifax Daily News", October 17, 2007]

External Links

[http://www.sheilafougere.ca/ Mayoral Candidacy Homepage]

Notes