Penny Collenette (born May 20, 1950, in Oakville, Ontario) is a Canadian lawyer, professor and political figure of the Liberal Party of Canada. The wife of former Liberal Member of Parliament and cabinet minister David Collenette, she sought, and won, the 2008 Liberal nomination over community activist and businessman Scott Bradley for the riding of Ottawa Centre, which was held by Paul Dewar of the New Democratic Party. She came in second to Dewar in the election. She was vice-chair of the human rights committee for Liberal International in 1987, and director of volunteers for Jean Chrétien’s leadership race in 1984 and campaign director in the successful 1990 bid, as well as national director and director of legal services for the Liberal Party of Canada in the 1993 election. She was subsequently named Director of Appointments for the Prime Minister's office, making hundreds of appointments over four years on the job. In 2013, Collenette was admitted to the Order of Ontario for her work in ethics and human rights. References External links http://www.pennycollenette.ca/ 1950 births Canadian Anglicans Carleton University alumni Candidates in the 2008 Canadian federal election Living people Members of the Order of Ontario Ontario candidates for Member of Parliament People from Oakville, Ontario Spouses of Canadian politicians University of Ottawa faculty Women in Ontario politics 21st-century Canadian women politicians Liberal Party of Canada candidates for the Canadian House of Commons