About Dorothy

Dorothy Shephard is a lifelong West Saint Johner. She grew up with 3 brothers and 3 sisters and all, but one still lives in the area. One brother went to Alberta in 1980.

Dorothy says she enjoyed being part of a musical family, singing with her brothers and sisters until they ‘outgrew their voices’ Her musical taste ranges from Bryan Adams through Garth Brooks, Celine Dion, Elton John and Billy Joel.

Artistically Dorothy expresses a preference for watercolour paintings and points to local artists Susan Mowery and Peggy Smith as favourites.

Dorothy enjoys reading autobiographies as well as work by Nora Roberts and John Grisham. But admits the last few years the bulk of her reading has been Government Documents.

Reading gave light to the concept of writing and let to a first manuscript, a mystery romance novel.

Familiar with hard work; she started her first job at the age of 13 and during high school she worked in the school cafeteria.

She attended high school at Saint John Vocational, the alma mater of 2 of her sisters. One sister had enrolled in Business and the other in Home Economics. Dorothy started in Business and then switched to Home Economics and excelled in it.  As happenstance goes, she ended up working in business.

Dorothy has been a volunteer all her life, starting with Girl Guides, Scouting and Little League.  Student council in middle and high school and she has belonged to IODE since age 20 and is a member of WI and Women in Business.

Among the many causes she supports are Homeless Women’s Shelter of Saint John and Bobby’s Hospice.

Dorothy spends her precious spare time staying connected with family and friends and cooking and baking – most of which she gives away. She enjoys the simple pleasures of mowing the lawn and tending to the flower garden.

When asked who she admires, Dorothy points to her Mum and also to Julie Dickson a native of Saint John’s lower West side and Order of Canada recipient, who was Superintendent of Financial Institutions for Canada during Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s time in government and Margaret Thatcher.

Travels have taken Dorothy and her husband Art as far west as Alberta and to all provinces in between. They have been up and down the east coast as far as Cleveland, Ohio and overseas to England.