Patricia Gretchen Mann Brewin[1] (born December 23, 1938), known as Gretchen, is a Canadian politician.

Gretchen Brewin
33rd Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
In office
March 26, 1998 – February 29, 2000
PremierGlen Clark
Dan Miller
Ujjal Dosanjh
Lieutenant GovernorGarde Gardom
Preceded byDale Lovick
Succeeded byBill Hartley
Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
In office
June 25, 1996 – March 26, 1998
Preceded byDale Lovick
Succeeded byBill Hartley
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Victoria-Beacon Hill
In office
October 17, 1991 – May 16, 2001
Preceded byRiding Established
Succeeded byJeff Bray
Mayor of Victoria
In office
1985–1990
Preceded byPeter Pollen
Succeeded byDavid Turner
Personal details
Born
Patricia Gretchen Mann

(1938-12-23) December 23, 1938 (age 85)
Ottawa, Ontario
Political partyNew Democratic
SpouseJohn Brewin

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 (Cooperative Commonwealth Federation), and founding members of its new version, the NDP. Andrew Brewin, her father-in-law, was a member of parliament from 1962 to 1979. She and John had four children, Gillian (1959), Andrew (1960), Jennifer (1963), and Alison (1964) Brewin.

Brewin 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 husband John took a position with the NDP Barrett government. Brewin returned to university, receiving her BA in political science from the University of Victoria in 1978.

Brewin 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.[2]

Brewin served as a NDP Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for the riding of Victoria-Beacon Hill from 1991 to 2001.[3][4][5] 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.[6]

Brewin and John divorced in 1991. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, and has 7 grandchildren, 3 stepgrandchildren, 2 step-great-grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild.

References

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  1. ^ "The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved 2014-02-14.
  2. ^ (18 November 1985). Incumbents Fare Well With B.C. Voters, Calgary Herald
  3. ^ The Canadian Parliamentary Guide. Gale Canada. 1993. ISBN 9780921925316. ISSN 0315-6168.
  4. ^ (2 February 2011). Farnworth fights as happy warrior Archived 2015-09-01 at the Wayback Machine, Vancouver Sun ("Gretchen Brewin, former NDP MLA, cabinet minister and Speaker of the legislature...")
  5. ^ (12 May 2009). Victoria-Beacon Hill, CBC ("Victoria-Beacon Hill: In 1991, New Democrat Gretchen Brewin defeated Liberal Karen Bill by 3,505 votes.")
  6. ^ "Ms. Gretchen Mann Brewin". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
British Columbia provincial government of Ujjal Dosanjh
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Lois Boone Minister of Children and Families
February 29, 2000–November 1, 2000
Edward John