She was born in Biggar, Saskatchewan, the daughter of Roy Atkinson, and received degrees in arts and education from the University of Saskatchewan. She worked as a teacher therapist and school principal for the Radius Community School in Saskatoon. Atkinson also served on the board of the Saskatoon Community Clinic.[1]
She ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Saskatchewan assembly in 1982.[1] Atkinson was first elected in 1986, while the NDP was still in opposition. When the party was elected to government in the 1991 provincial election, she held a number of major cabinet positions, including minister of social services, health, education, Crown corporations, and finance. She was a supporter of Lorne Calvert and helped him win the party leadership in 2001. After the NDP was defeated in the 2007 election, she served as deputy leader of the opposition. Atkinson announced her retirement on January 11, 2011.[2]
