- Born
- September 7, 1964 — Edmonton, Alberta
- Family
- Married to Peter Taylor, children including a daughter who lives in Vancouver
- Education
- Honours bachelor of arts degree in English literature and minor in French and comparative literature from the University of Alberta in 1986; master's degree in journalism from Stanford University
- Career
- Journalist with the Edmonton Journal newspaper, producer for CBC Radio
- Political Experience
- Appointed to the Senate of Canada on October 3, 2018
- Notable
- Two National Newspaper Awards for investigations and analysis of Alberta's troubled child welfare system. Recognition from the UNESCO Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom, and from Journalists for Human Rights. Part of two Edmonton Journal “breaking news” teams that won National Newspaper Awards for their coverage of the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire and for their stories on the murders of four RCMP officers in 2005 at Rochfort Bridge, Alberta.
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before her appointment to the Senate in 2018, Paula Simons was a well-known journalist and columnist. She spent more than two decades at the Edmonton Journal, where she wrote extensively about Alberta politics, urban affairs, and social issues. Her work also included producing documentaries and podcasts. Since becoming a senator, her public disclosures with the Senate Ethics Officer list assets such as publicly traded securities. She is also an author, having written a book about the history of Edmonton.
Key Relationships & Connections
Paula Simons was appointed to the Senate on the recommendation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, through the independent advisory board process established in 2016. She is a member of the Independent Senators Group (ISG), a non-partisan group of senators who are not affiliated with a political party caucus. As a prominent former journalist in Edmonton, she has developed a wide network of contacts in Alberta's political, cultural, and community circles over her career.