Terry was raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and moved to Fort Saskatchewan with her husband Paul in 1979. They have two daughters, Heather and Jennifer. Terry graduated 1977 from the University of Waterloo with a bachelor of Environmental Studies degree in Geography and has had careers in land use planning, residential real estate, new home sales, and economic development. Has been employed with the City of Fort Saskatchewan since 1987, first as an assistant development officer and since 1992 as the Economic Development Director. In 1996 Terry obtained her professional economic development designation from the University of Waterloo and the Economic Developers of Canada Association. In recognition of efforts on behalf of the City of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta’s Industrial Heartland, and the Metro Edmonton Economic Development Team, the Economic Developers of Alberta awarded Terry the Economic Developer of the Year award in 1998. Terry has been recognized as an official ambassador for the city and in 2004 was recognized as a Star of the Century. In her spare time Terry likes to read, crochet and make chocolates, having operated a small home based business called Chocolates by Terry.