hon. John van Dongen - Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General

Today we are praying for John van Dongen, member for Abbotsford Clayburn and Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

Heavenly Father we give thanks for John van Dongen and for his ongoing work in the government and in the community. Here is a man that has garnered much trust in his riding of Abbotsford-Clayburn as is seen by the record of being elected over and over again. Trust and respect are not given but earned and in these areas it is evident that John walks tall and is known for these qualities. Thank you that he is being used in the political field and that he has and will continue to make a difference in all the areas that are given to him to serve in. We pray for a blessing for him and his family.

John van Dongen was first elected in 1995 in a by-election to represent the riding of Abbotsford and was re-elected in 1996, 2001, and 2005.

John van Dongen was recently appointed Solicitor General and Minister of Public Safety. He previously served as Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations and as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. He is also a member of the Government Caucus Committee on Social Development. For the past several years, John served on the Hospital Construction Committee for the new Abbotsford Hospital and Cancer Centre.

Before his election to the Legislative Assembly, Mr. van Dongen operated a dairy farm in Abbotsford. He studied agricultural economics at the University of British Columbia.

Mr. van Dongen was involved in farm organizations and businesses for almost two decades. He was on the board of directors of the B.C. Dairy Foundation, Agrifoods International Co-operative (Dairyland) the B.C. Federation of Dairymen's Association and the Federal Farm Debt Review Board.

He was Chair of the Building and Finance Committee of St. Joseph's Church in Mission. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is the father of two sons and has one granddaughter.