Pate grew up in a military family and attended the University of Victoria, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1980.[1] She later graduated from Dalhousie Law School in 1984 with honours in the Clinical Law Programme and has completed post graduate work in the area of forensic mental health.[2] In 2014, she was named a member of the Order of Canada for advocating on behalf of women who are marginalized, victimized or incarcerated, and for her research on women in the criminal justice system.[3][4] Pate is a former executive director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies.[3] In 2011 she was a recipient of the Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case.[5]
On October 31, 2016, it was announced that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would recommend that she be appointed to the Senate of Canada. She will sit as an independent.[6] Pate assumed office on November 10, 2016.
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In May 2022 together with two other senators Senator Anderson issued a report calling for a review of the convictions of 12 indigenous women, including the Quewezance sisters, and their exoneration.[7]
She is out as lesbian,[8] and is a member of the Canadian Pride Caucus, a non-partisan committee of Canada's LGBTQ MPs and senators.[9]
