Born and raised in Port Hope, Jeff graduated from Port Hope High School and then the University of Waterloo. After working 4 years in the Recreation Department for the town of Lindsay Jeff returned to Port Hope to work in his family’s Home Hardware Building Centre. He worked there until 2010 when the family sold their business. At that time he successfully ran for council and served as Port Hope’s Deputy Mayor from 2010 to 2014.Jeff has been married for 32 years to his wife Cyndi, the Gilmer’s have 3 children, Christopher, Brian, and Jennifer who all reside in Northumberland County.