Before Politics
Jane Sterk was born and raised in Edmonton with her father who worked as the dean of education at the University of Alberta, and a mother who was a pianist. At 20 years old, in 1967, she married a man named John who went on to become a lawyer and author. Together they raised two sons. Sterk worked as a school teacher for Edmonton Public Schools for seven years. At the University of Alberta, she earned a master's degree in education and a doctorate in counseling psychology. She opened a private psychologist practice and work for the Edmonton Board of Health. In 1983, at 36 years old, she opened a computer store, Softwarehouse West, with Gary Ford, a co-worker from the Edmonton Board of Health. After a difficult first year, the business grew. By 1990 they employed 33 others, had $6 million in annual revenue, and had won the 1989 Alberta Small Business Owners of the Year from the Chamber of Commerce. In 1992 the business split off its information management section with Sterk heading new the company, USConnect Edmonton. After working for another five years, Sterk and her husband retired in 1997 and moved to Esquimalt, British Columbia with the intention of sailing around the world. The couple purchased a boat and trained how to sail. They sailed in 1999 and passed Cape Flattery off the coast of Washington before turning back due to seasickness. After further preparation, they successfully sailed to Mexico and back in 2001.
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