Denise Batters

Denise Leanne Batters (born June 18, 1970) is a Canadian politician, who was named to the Senate of Canada to represent Saskatchewan on January 25, 2013. She is a member of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Early life and education

Batters graduated from the University of Regina in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1994, she obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan.

Career

Batters worked for Saskatchewan's Crown Investments Corporation as executive director of regulatory affairs.

Personal life

She met her future husband Dave Batters in 1989 crossing a Saskatoon street while at a Progressive Conservative convention. They married in 1997, and Dave Batters sat as a Conservative MP in the House of Commons from 2004 to 2008. In 2009, her husband committed suicide following a battle with depression. Following Dave Batters' death, Denise Batters became an advocate for mental health research and treatment, including lobbying for a national suicide prevention strategy.