Denise Batters

Denise Leanne Batters (born June 18, 1970) is a Canadian politician who has served in the Senate of Canada since January 25, 2013, representing Saskatchewan.[1] She is a member of the Conservative Party of Canada.[1]

The Honourable

Denise Batters
Senator
for Saskatchewan
Assumed office
January 25, 2013
Nominated byStephen Harper
Appointed byDavid Johnston
Personal details
Born (1970-06-18) June 18, 1970
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Political partyConservative
Spouse(s)Dave Batters
(m. 1997-2009)
EducationUniversity of Regina (BA) University of Saskatchewan (Law)
ProfessionLawyer, politician

Early life and education

Born in Regina, Batters received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Regina in 1991.[2] In 1994, she obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan and was admitted to the bar in 1995.[3]

Batters was in private practice until 2007 and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2008.[3] From 2007 to 2012, she served as the Chief of Staff to Saskatchewan Minister of Justice Don Morgan.[3] From 2012 to 2013, Batters worked for Saskatchewan's Crown Investments Corporation as executive director of regulatory affairs.[4]

Mental health advocate

On June 29, 2009, Batters' husband, former Palliser Conservative Member of Parliament Dave Batters, died by suicide at the age of 39.[5] In the wake of his death, Denise Batters became a mental health advocate. She organized a number of Dave Batters Memorial Golf Tournaments, which raised more than $195,000 for mental illness awareness and suicide prevention.[6] Denise directed the proceeds of these fundraisers towards the production of a television commercial aimed at men aged 30–50 struggling with anxiety and depression.[7] In 2012, she testified before the House of Commons Health Committee in support of a national suicide prevention framework.[8] Denise Batters was awarded the Canadian Association on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) Champion of Mental Health Award (Parliamentarian) in 2015.[9] In October 2017, she received a "Difference Maker" award from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) for her work in the area of mental health.[10]

Senator

In January 2013, she was appointed to the Senate of Canada on the advice of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.[11] Senator Batters currently serves as the Deputy Chair of the Senate Standing Committee of Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.[6] She is also a member of the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, the Senate Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament, and the Subcommittee on Senate Communications.[6]

Personal life

Denise Batters met her future husband, Dave Batters, in 1989, while they were crossing the street at a political convention.[12] They married in 1997. Dave Batters served as the Conservative Member of Parliament for the federal Saskatchewan riding of Palliser from 2004-2008. After a battle with depression and anxiety, Dave died by suicide in 2009.[13]

References
  1. "'Harper majority' now sits in Senate". canoe.ca, January 25, 2013.
  2. "University of Regina - External Relations". ourspace.uregina.ca. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  3. "Senate of Canada - Senator Denise Batters". Senate of Canada. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  4. "Stephen Harper appoints five new senators". Toronto Star, January 25, 2012.
  5. "Former MP Dave Batters takes own life | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  6. Canada, Senate of. "Senate of Canada - Senator Denise Batters". Senate of Canada. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  7. "A Soul Mate Remembers and Fuels the Suicide Prevention Movement in Canada | (collateral damage)". leftbehindbysuicide.org. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  8. "Evidence - HESA (41-1) - No. 33 - House of Commons of Canada". Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  9. "Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health | Champions of Mental Health". www.camimh.ca. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  10. "Announcing Mental Health Difference Makers from Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan". Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  11. "PM Harper appoints 5 new senators | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  12. "MP's widow pleads for suicide prevention plan | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  13. Kozlowski, Joanne (Spring 2013). ""Denise Batters: An Appointment to the Senate"" (PDF). Campion College at University of Regina. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
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