Appointed to the Senate of Canada on July 2, 1986, Norman Atkins acquired more than 27 years of experience in the field of communications before assuming his responsibilities as a member of the upper chamber of Parliament.

Senator Atkins is a former President of Camp Associates Advertising Limited, a wholly Canadian-owned, full-service advertising agency, serving clients in the private and public sectors at home and abroad.  He joined the agency in 1959 and served in a number of capacities prior to becoming President in 1968.  Senator Atkins also played an active role within the advertising industry and was a Director of the Institute of Canadian Advertising between 1982 and 1985.

Senator Atkins is a Past President and Honourary Director of the Albany Club of Toronto and was the coordinating Chair of Diabetes Canada from 1982 to 1987.  He has also served as a Director of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, the Dellcrest Children's Centre and the Institute for Political Involvement, as well as being Chair for the Camp Trillium-Rainbow Lake Fundraising Campaign.

Senator Atkins has a long personal history of political involvement, having contributed his time and energies to the service of the Progressive Conservative Party at both the national and provincial levels for more than three decades.  He has held senior organizational responsibility in a number of election campaigns and has served as an advisor to the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney; The Rt. Hon. Robert L. Stanfield, former Leader of the PC Party of Canada and to the Hon. William G. Davis, former Premier of Ontario.

Senator Atkins served as National Campaign Chair during the 1984 federal election when a Progressive Conservative government was elected, and on August 1, 1986, he was named National Chair of Organization for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada by the Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney.

Most recently, Senator Atkins served as National Campaign Chair for the 1988 federal campaign, which concluded with the election of a historic second Progressive Conservative majority government. 

Senator Atkins is presently  the Chair of the Progressive Conservative Senate Caucus. He previously served as Chair of the National Caucus from 1993-97.  He is currently Deputy Chair of Internal, Economy, Budgets and Administration, a member of the Defence and Security Committee and the Veterans Affairs Committee. 

Since 1988, Senator Atkins has been involved in a number of special projects and community activities including working closely in the development and implementation of the Federated Health Campaign in Ontario and the Healthpartners campaign in the Federal Public Service.

Senator Atkins was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.  His family is from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, where he has spent a great deal of time over the years.  He is a graduate of Appleby College in Oakville, Ontario and of Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, where he completed the Bachelor of Arts program in 1957. Senator Atkins subsequently received an Honourary Doctorate in Civil Law in 2000, from Acadia University.

Over the years, Senator Atkins has been involved both politically, in the community and with charities, as an organizer and a participant in a number of important causes and events.

1997-1999         Chair Camp Trillium-Rainbow Lake Fundraising Campaign

1997*          Chair of the PC Senate Caucus

1993-97       Chair of the PC National Caucus

1992            Director and member of Bid Steering
                   Committee Expo 98 Corporation for the City of Toronto

1990            Member of Bid Steering Committee, Expo 2000 for the City of Toronto

l988             Federal election campaign (National Campaign Chair)

1986            Appointed National Chair of Organization, P.C. Party of Canada

1985            Ontario leadership campaign (Campaign Chair for Larry Grossman)

1985            Ontario leadership campaign (Campaign Chair for Roy McMurtry)

1984            Federal election campaign (National Campaign Chair)

1983            Bermuda general election (Senior Consultant to the United Bermuda Party)

1982            New Brunswick provincial election campaign (Communications Coordinator and Organization Advisory)

1982            Newfoundland provincial election campaign (Campaign Communications Advisor)

1981            Ontario provincial election campaign (Campaign Chair)

1979            Newfoundland provincial election campaign (Communications Coordinator and Organization Advisory)

1978            New Brunswick provincial election campaign (Communications and Organization Advisor)

1977            Ontario provincial election campaign (Campaign Co-Chair)

1975            Ontario provincial election campaign (Campaign Manager)

1974            Federal election campaign (Director of Operations)

1974            New Brunswick provincial election campaign (Communications and Organization Advisor)

1972            Federal election campaign (Communications Co-ordinator)

1971            Ontario provincial election campaign (Campaign Manager)

1971            Ontario leadership campaign (Campaign Chair for Allan Lawrence)

1970            Prince Edward Island provincial campaign (Communications and Organization Advisor)

1970            Nova Scotia provincial election campaign (Communications Co-ordinator)

1970            New Brunswick provincial election campaign (Organization Advisory)

1968            Federal election campaign (Campaign Manager in Don Valley riding for D.K.Camp)

1967            Nova Scotia provincial election campaign (Communications Co-ordinator/Organizational Advisor)

1967            Federal leadership campaign (Convention Co-Chair for R. L. Stanfield)

1966            Campaign for National President (Campaign Manager for D.K. Camp)

1965            Federal election (Campaign Manager in Eglinton riding for D.K.Camp)

1964            Federal policy conference - "National Conference on Canadian Goals"
(Member of  Planning Committee and On-Site Organizer)

Campaign for National President (Campaign Manager for D.K. Camp)

1963            Nova Scotia provincial election campaign (Communications and Production Co-ordinator)

1963            Federal election campaign (Production Co-ordinator)

1962            Manitoba provincial election campaign (Communications and Production Co-ordinator)

1962            Federal election campaign (Production Co-ordinator)

1960            New Brunswick provincial election campaign (Communications and Production Co-ordinator)

1960            Nova Scotia provincial election campaign (Communications and Production Co-ordinator)   

1957            Federal election campaign (Assistant to Campaign Co-ordinator for Atlantic Canada)

1956            Nova Scotia provincial campaign (student organizer)

1956            New Brunswick provincial campaign (Assistant to Campaign Co-ordinator and Gofer)

1952            New Brunswick provincial campaign (Assistant to Campaign Co-ordinator and Gofer)

*Currently serving as Chairman