Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Tregebov attended the University of Manitoba, Cornell and Boston universities. For many years she lived in Toronto, working as a freelance writer, editor, and Creative Writing Instructor. She taught Continuing Education for Ryerson University and was on faculty at the Banff Centre for the Arts. In January, 2005 she began work as an Assistant Professor in the Creative Writing Program at the University of British Columbia, specializing in poetry and translation.