50 Remarkable Alumni: Sherry Mumford’s impact continues into her 70s

Sherry Mumford’s story proves that it’s never too late to learn something new, and it’s never too late to make a difference in your community.

Sherry was a mature student and a mom when she came to UFV in the 90s. After completing a BA in Criminology, she kept on going, earning another BA in Child and Youth Care at UVic, then an MA in Criminology and a PhD from Simon Fraser. In the meantime, Sherry was launching a career that made a big impact in the community.

She worked with the Ministry of Child and Family Development as a regional addictions consultant. She joined Fraser Health’s Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) program, first as the addictions leader, then as a manager for various substance use services. She became director of MHSU in 2009 and stayed in that role until she retired.

She called it a career in 2017 after logging more than 40 years in the substance use field.

But retirement didn’t quite take root for Sherry. Now seven later, she is still active in her field.

“I stumbled into consulting when some former colleagues asked me to build a service pathway for youth at Foundry — a network of integrated health and wellness services for youth,” she recalls. “When they asked me to submit an invoice, Mumford Consulting Services was born.”

Through that venture, Sherry was part of the development of the Core Services Model: A Component of British Columbia’s Substance Use Framework, which is helping to increase funding for and expand substance use treatment services. Her most recent project saw her exploring and recommending services for highly complex patients at the provincial forensic psychiatric hospital.

While she’s easing her way out of consulting, she still sits on three boards.

As the first recipient of the university’s Distinguished Alumni award in 2003, Sherry says her time at UFV set her up for decades of success.

“The environment at UFV is welcoming, accepting, diverse and warm; the professors/facilitators are top notch and are invested in student success,” she says. “Your success is UFV’s goal, no matter what age you are. My confidence and determination were bolstered, and I am so grateful because I really needed those to progress in my field.”

Sherry says her UFV instructors — particularly Dr. Darryl Plecas, Colin Ridgewell, and Dr. Martha Dow — played big roles in her educational journey. She calls Darryl a lifelong friend and a constant source of encouragement. Sherry credits Martha for turning a scary moment into something wonderful.

“During the Criminal Justice degree program, I had to take sociology,” Sherry recalls. “I heard it was a very challenging course and I was terrified. But I met Martha, and she was an excellent professor. She was very encouraging.

“There are many folks who contributed to my knowledge and learning, but way more to my personal growth.”

Several of Sherry’s family members have also attended UFV and her daughter Raylene is about to graduate as a mature student. Sons Todd and Jared both studied business, and daughter Serene took courses towards a BA.

Now her granddaughter is considering following Grandma into criminology.

When thinking of advice for her granddaughter, Sherry says: “Go to UFV, where you have top-notch professors who have an investment in and passion for what they teach and can instill the confidence you need in a competitive, ever-changing world.”

Sherry’s decades-long commitment to helping others was formally recognized recently when the women’s addiction treatment building at Peardonville House was renamed the Sherry Mumford Centre.

Sherry is now trying to fully retire again, to focus as much as possible on enjoying time with her family.

More than 50,000 people have graduated from UFV since 1974. Over the next year, we’ll be introducing you to 50 remarkable alumni.

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