Gretchen Brewin
Patricia Gretchen Mann Brewin was born in Ottawa, Ontario to mother Marjorie Mann and Walter Mann on December 23, 1938. Gretchen has one sister, Susan Mann. She graduated from Glebe Collegiate and attended the University of Toronto for one year before marrying John Brewin in 1958. Her parents and parents-in-law were all active in the CCF, and founding members of its new version, the NDP. Andrew Brewin, her father in law, was a member of parliament from 196 She and John had four children, Gillian, Andrew, Jennifer and Alison Brewin.
Gretchen began her political career in Scarborough, Ontario when she was elected to the School Board in the 1960s. She and her family moved to Victoria in 1973 where John took a position with the NDP Barrett government. Gretchen returned to university, getting her BA in political science from the University of Victoria in 1978.
Gretchen was elected to Victoria city council in 1979, then elected as Mayor of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, in November 1985 and served until 1990. She was the first female mayor in the city's history.
She served as a NDP Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for the riding of Victoria-Beacon Hill from 1991 to 2001. Brewin was speaker for the legislative assembly of BC from March 1998 to February 2000. From February to November 2000, she was a member of the provincial cabinet, serving as Minister for Children and Families.
She and John divorced in 1991. She lives in Vancouver, BC and has 7 grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren, 2 step great-grandchildren and 1 great grand-child.
