Sylvia retired as a real estate agent after working in various occupations in British Columbia for the federal government and later as an insurance agent. In her early years in Edmonton, 30 years ago, she volunteered as co-chair and peer counsellor at the Gay and Lesbian Community

Centre of Edmonton (GLCCE). She organized the Take Back the Night rally in 1995. She served on the Board of the Greater Edmonton Alliance, with special interest in affordable housing, agricultural land use.