About Senator Unger

Betty Unger was the first woman in Canadian history to be elected as a Senate Nominee and then appointed as a Senator by the Prime Minister.  Born and educated in Sexsmith, Alberta, located in the Mighty Peace River Region of Northern Alberta.  After moving to Edmonton to study at the Misericordia School of Nursing, the Capital City of Alberta became home for Betty and her family.

Mrs. Unger worked as a Registered Nurse for several years, then founded and operated an Alberta nursing services company with offices located in Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary.  Services were provided across the province, to national and Alberta life insurance companies, as well as occupational health services to industry.

Betty sold her company after an interesting twenty-five years and then engaged actively in politics, with a strong focus on Senate reform.

In 1998, she campaigned across Alberta as a Reform Party Senate Nominee and after the 2004 Provincial Election/Senatorial Election, Betty was chosen by over 320,000 Albertans to be one of their “senators-elect”!

Betty also served on several provincial and community boards including the Western Catholic Reporter (the Edmonton Archdiocesan newspaper), the Greater Edmonton Foundation (GEF), was a member of the Finance and Administration Committee of St. Joseph’s Basilica and a long-time member and supporter of the Catholic Women’s League.

In November 2005, she was awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal for service to the Province of Alberta and to Albertans.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Betty Unger to the Senate of Canada on January 6, 2012, and on February 7, 2012, Betty was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal by Senate Speaker Noël Kinsella. She served as a Senator until mandatory retirement at age 75.

LINK: CBC News  story on Senator Unger’s appointment to the Senate – 2012-01-06