Pat Atkinson

Pat Atkinson was born in Biggar. She graduated from high school in Saskatoon, and received her B.A. (Honours) degree and her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan.

She is an active member of her community, having served as a member and Vice Chair of the Saskatoon Community Clinic Board of Directors,and served in leadership roles in several community organizations.

Ms. Atkinson served as Principal and teacher-therapist with the Radius Community Education Center in Saskatoon prior to her election to the Legislative Assembly to represent the Saskatoon-Nutana constituency in 1986. She was re-elected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007.

Her first appointment to Cabinet was as Minister of Social Services in 1992, and was subsequently appointed to serve as Minister of Education in 1993, Minister of Health in 1998. Minister of Highways and Transportation and Minister Responsible for Rural Revitalization in2001. Minister of Crown Investment Board in 2003, Minister Responsible for Immigration and Deputy Government House Leader, Minister of Advanced Education and Employment in 2006 and Minister of Finance in2007.

As Minister of Education, Ms. Atkinson provided strong leadership in the renewal and expansion of Saskatchewan’s Community Schools program, for which she received a national award from the Canadian Association of Community Education. She introduced the Saskatchewan Pre-Kindergarten program to provide early intervention and education services for at-risk children.