Ottawa, Ontario
Denise Batters
Denise Batters is an experienced lawyer and mental health advocate. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Regina and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan.
Ms. Batters was admitted to the Saskatchewan Bar in 1995, and was in private practice in Saskatchewan until 2007. She was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2008. From November 2007 until June 2012, she was the Chief of Staff to Saskatchewan's Minister of Justice. In June 2012, Ms. Batters became the Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs for the Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan.
She has been an active member of the business community through directorships and involvement in the Regina Women's Network and the Regina and District Chamber of Commerce.
Ms. Batters is a strong supporter and champion of mental health and suicide prevention. In 2010 and 2012, she helped organize charity golf tournaments that raised a total of $50,000 in honour of her late husband, former Member of Parliament Dave Batters, who fought anxiety and depression. The funds raised were used to produce and broadcast a television commercial focusing on awareness about depression and suicide.
Ms. Batters resides in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Her Senate appointment is effective immediately.
Lynn Beyak
Lynn Beyak is an accomplished small-business owner in northwestern Ontario with several years of experience in real estate, insurance, and tourism.
Mrs. Beyak has been involved in her community since 1982, from classroom volunteer to vice-chair of the Fort Frances-Rainy River board of education. In 1994, Mrs. Beyak participated in a roundtable for violence prevention in schools that led to the development of a code of ethics, which became a model for school boards across Ontario. She has also participated in fora on preventing violence in school, crime prevention, and education equality.
Mrs. Beyak has chaired the Ontario Parent Council, been a member of the board of directors of the Trillium Foundation, sat on the inaugural board of the Real Estate Council of Ontario, and has held a dual licence for real estate and insurance.
Mrs. Beyak resides in Dryden, Ontario.
Her Senate appointment is effective immediately.
Doug Black
Doug Black is Vice Chair and Senior Counsel of the law firm Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP. Mr. Black has a Bachelor of Laws degree from Dalhousie University and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2001.
Mr. Black has served as chair of the Board of Governors of the University of Calgary, governor emeritus of the Banff Centre, and chair of the Michaëlle Jean Foundation. Mr. Black is the chair and founding president of the Energy Policy Institute of Canada.
Mr. Black is deeply involved in his community, and was awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005 in recognition of his many contributions. In 2012, he was named one of the top 25 most influential lawyers in Canada by Canadian Lawyer Magazine.
Doug Black was selected by the people of Alberta in the Senate consultation process last spring.
Mr. Black resides in Calgary, Alberta.
His Senate appointment is effective immediately.
Victor Oh
Victor Oh is the President of Wyford Holdings, a property development and management business.
Mr. Oh is the founding chairman of the Canada-China Business Communication Council, the chair of Safe City Mississauga and a member of the Board of Governors of Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning.
As an immigrant, he has devoted himself to helping newcomers establish themselves in Canada and start their own businesses. Mr. Oh is an active volunteer and a leader in his community.
Throughout the years, Mr. Oh has been recognized for his contributions to Ontario and Canada. He was awarded the Robert Boyne Memorial Award by the Peel Regional Police Services Board in 2007 and the prestigious Citation for Citizenship by the Government of Canada in 2008. In 2011, the Canadian Immigrant magazine named him one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants.
Mr. Oh resides in Mississauga, Ontario.
His Senate appointment is effective immediately.
David Wells
David Wells most recently served as Deputy CEO of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board. Mr. Wells has over 30 years experience in international business and management of government and regulatory affairs.
Mr. Wells has held senior management positions in business and government, including as president of Wells Solutions Group Inc., as president and CEO of SPC Inc., and in senior roles to the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. He has served as a delegate for Canada at the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization as well as the International Regulators' Forum on global offshore safety. He is a member of the International Upstream Forum, a think tank on advancements in upstream oil industry development. Mr. Wells has received awards and recognition in the field of international fishery economics and resource management.
Mr. Wells' community involvement is varied. He has volunteered with the Avalon Celtics Minor Hockey Association and the Big Brothers of Canada Mentoring Program and has served on his neighbourhood School Council. He is a high-altitude alpine mountaineer and has climbed in the Himalaya, Andes and the Russian Caucasus, summiting the highest peaks in both Africa and Europe.
He currently resides in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
His Senate appointment is effective immediately.
