Paterson was born and raised in Edmonton and is the great-granddaughter of physician, William Morrison MacKay.

[2] Paterson sculpted numerous public commissions, including Lois Hole "A Legacy of Love and Learning", and the "Famous Five" monuments in Calgary, Alberta's Olympic Square and on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario.

[3][4] A detail image from the "Famous Five" monuments was featured on a Canada Post stamp in October 1999, and was pictured on the Canadian $50.00 bill.

Monument, includes an empty chair which the artist added in order to make the sculpture more interactive.

[5] In 2000, Paterson was honoured by U of A with a Distinguished Alumni Award,[6] and in 2021, was named to the Order of Canada for her extraordinary contributions.