Francais ENDORSEMENTS: Sam Lavoie, President YLC | Adam Quirk, Director NFLD & LB Young liberals | Dustin Alcorn, Abbotsford BC Riding Association | Lewis Rhodes, President University of VIctoria Young Liberals | Joel Tallerico, Calgary West Board of Directors | Jules Varshavska, VP Campus LIfe University of Toronto Scarborough Young Liberals | Shane Mackenzie, Ottawa-Vanier Young Liberal President | Nathan Barnes, Past-President of the Newfoundland Young Liberals | Michael VIckers, President Nova Scotia Young Liberals | Nokha Dakroub, VP Policy Mississauga-East Cooksville riding | David Searle, Membre du Conseil d'Administration du comte de Westmount-Ville-Marie | Vishal G. Arora, Past-President, Brampton-Springdale Federal Young Liberals | Kaisha Thompson, FOunding Member and President Bruce Grey Owen Sound Young Liberals | Guy Arseneault, P.C. | The Hon. Charlie Watt, P.C. | The Hon. Jean-Jacques Blais, P.C., Q.C. | Bonnie Brown | The Hon. Maria Minna, P.C. | The Hon. Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette, P.C. | The Hon. Senator Pierrette Ringuette-Maltais | The Hon. Senator Lt. Col Joseph A. Day | The Hon. Senator Marie Poulin | The Hon. Senator Wilfred Moore | The Hon. Gurbax S. Malhi, P.C. | The Hon. Jerry Grafstein, P.C. | Joyce Murray | The Hon. Herb Dhaliwal, P.C. | Sukh Dhaliwal | Kevin Lamoureux | The Rt. Hon. Herb Gray, P.C., C.C. | Jim Kane - President, Winnipeg Centre | Bill McElroy - President, Esquimalt Juan de Fuca | The Hon. Karen Redman, P.C. | The Hon. Andrew Telegdi, P.C. | The Hon. Bryon Wilfert, P.C. | Alan Tonks | Marlene Catterall | The Hon. Wayne Easter, P.C. | Paul Zed | Richard Patten, MPP (retired) | The Hon. Larry Bagnell, P.C. | The Hon. Robert Thibault, P.C. | The Hon. Sue Barnes, P.C. | The Hon. Sarmite (Sam) Bulte, P.C. | The Hon. Senator Francis Fox | The Hon. Senator Terry Mercer | Dr. Bernard Patry | CONNECT WITH SHEILA  Facebook Twitter

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About Sheila

The Honourable Sheila Copps, known as one of Canada’s foremost female politicians, has been a prominent figure in Canadian public life for almost 35 years. Known for being feisty and tough, she was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. Sheila entered politics in 1981 by becoming the first Liberal in over 50 years to represent the provincial riding of Hamilton Centre. In 1984, she was elected Member of Parliament for the riding of Hamilton East and was re-elected in five successive elections.

Sheila was the first woman to ever hold the position of Deputy Prime Minister and served for ten years in the federal cabinet, both as Minister of the Environment and Minister of Canadian Heritage. From her work on diversity and inclusion, to protection of the environment, to support for young Canadians and women, Sheila has had a storied career and left an indelible mark on Canadian public policy.

Among her achievements, she brought forward what was the strongest federal environmental assessment legislation in the world; established Young Canada Works to provide annual summer employment for youth; brought in copyright protection for Canadian recording artists; and led ministers of culture from over 50 nations in the development of the first ever International Network on Cultural Diversity.

Sheila earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in French and English from the University of Western Ontario in London, and pursued further studies at McMaster University in Hamilton and the University of Rouen in France. In 1998, she received an Honourary Doctorate in Law from Université Sainte-Anne in Nova Scotia in recognition of her efforts to promote bilingualism and her commitment to advancing the French language and culture in Canada.

In recent years, Sheila has been working both in French and English as a journalist, broadcaster, and political commentator. She is the author of two books, Nobody’s Baby and Worth Fighting For, she is currently residing in Ottawa with her husband, Austin Thorne. Together, the couple has four children and four grandchildren.