As years went on, Sharlene’s mom grew stronger, advanced in her career, and was able to better provide as she seized opportunities. Sharlene was taught from a young age to be honest, hardworking, committed, and with whatever you do, give it your best and do it well. As a youngster, Sharlene was described as tenacious (some would say stubborn), compassionate and driven. ​ Thankfully, Sharlene had ‘gifts’ sprinkled throughout her life. These gifts included her loving maternal grandparents that were bright spots in her life; finding faith in and relationship with God, and having the opportunity to attend Christian High School. It was at the Christian school she made lifelong friendships and met two teachers who had a significant influence and impact on her. ​ From as young as she can remember, Sharlene wanted to help people and protect those who couldn’t protect themselves, so she set her sights on becoming a police officer. However, it was anything but a straight line to achieving her goal. First, she met her husband, Tom, when she was in her mid-teens. While attending Kwantlen University studying Criminology, she and Tom got engaged, and a short time later she was expecting their first child. Soon, they married. All this before Sharlene was twenty years old. Sharlene and her husband had two more children, and their family was complete. The early years were hard, but fortunately, she and her husband grew closer through the difficulties and took life’s challenges on together. After having her three children, she pursued her career as a police officer, and in 1997 that dream was realized. Sharlene enjoyed a full and diverse policing career while raising her family, which left little time or energy to take on anything more. Because of Sharlene’s own experience from her upbringing, combined with a strong desire to support and protect others, the seeds of Cherub’s Inn were sown. But because of her all-encompassing career and the demands of raising a family, she tucked this vision for Cherub’s Inn away until her children became adults and she retired from her career. Sharlene’s vision and the need for Cherub’s Inn were reignited through first-hand experience when her daughter, Corine, became a single teen mom. ​ One of the defining moments of this experience came when Sharlene realized that Corine knew the door back home was open, and she could find support and a positive environment to face the challenges of becoming a young mom. Sharlene and her husband (and their two sons) walked with her through this journey. Sadly, this is not the case for many.