Sheldon, the son of Rose and Joe Mindell, was born in Winnipeg and grew up, with his sister, Shayla, on Enniskillen Avenue in West Kildonan. He was educated at Talmud Torah, Jefferson Junior High and Garden City Collegiate. He graduated from the University of Manitoba and began his professional career in the field of education.

Sheldon grew up in a family environment fostering positive feelings about Jewishness and service to the community. These feelings were enhanced by his Talmud Torah education and by his participation in the activities at the Y.M.H.A. community centre and in an A.Z.A. chapter. He harbors pleasant memories of sports and social activities at the Y, especially Saturday night dances as a teenager. He fondly recalls going to Winnipeg Goldeyes games after Saturday mornings at synagogue - "tallis in one hand, baseball glove in the other." As an adult, Sheldon has served as a member of the Boards of the Chai Folk Ensemble and Camp Massad, and on the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba's Endowment Book of Life Committee.

Sheldon continues to have a rewarding and successful career in his chosen occupation. He is an educator and counsellor, having served as President of the Winnipeg Counsellor's Association, Principal of the Winnipeg School Division #1 Summer School program, and executive member of the Winnipeg Teachers' Association. Sheldon has also ventured into the business world as the general partner in Rumors Comedy Club.

Sheldon hopes to be remembered for his sense of humor and balance when viewing life. He is extremely proud of his son Drew, his wife Tannis, and his parents. He takes particular pride in the devotion to community of his maternal grandparents, Sam and Faigie Malmed. Sam visited Jewish patients in hospital on a daily basis for sixty years. Sheldon says that he is "excited about the Endowment Book of Life as it offers all members of our community the opportunity to be involved in the continued development of a fund to maintain and expand the resources and services needed to keep the Winnipeg Jewish community thriving and vital.