MLA Rick Thorpe - Okanagan-Westside

Today we are praying for Rick Thorpe, MLA for Okanagan-Westside

Lord, we pause to celebrate the long career of Rick Thorpe in public service.  You have used him to direct the affairs of our province for many years as a cabinet minister and we ask you to bless him for his commitment and diligence.  As he completes his public career and transitions into retirement we pray that you would fill his life with good things in every way.  We ask that these last few months of service would be enjoyable and rewarding for him.  We ask these things in Jesus name, Amen.

Rick Thorpe is currently the Vice Chair of the Treasury Board after recently having served as Minister of Small Business and Revenue and Minister Responsible for Regulatory Reform from June 16, 2005 until June 23, 2008. He previously served as Minister of Provincial Revenue, as Minister of Competition, Science and Enterprise as well as Official Opposition critic for small business, tourism and culture. He was chair of the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts and deputy chair of the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills. He also sat on the Select Standing Committees on Legislative Initiatives, and on Finance and Government Services, as well as the Official Opposition Caucus Committee on Economy.

He was first elected in 1996 to represent the riding of Okanagan-Penticton and was re-elected in 2001 and 2005 to represent Okanagan-Westside.

Before his election to the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Thorpe worked in the Canadian brewing industry for 22 years in a variety of senior management positions in Canada and internationally. He was then involved in repositioning the B.C. grape and wine industry, and was a partner in an Okanagan winery for five years.

Mr. Thorpe is a certified management accountant and was president of the Okanagan Wine Festival in 1994 and 1995. In October 2007, Mr. Thorpe was awarded the Fellow of the Society of Management Accountants of Canada – the highest honour that is given to a certified management accountant.

He has three children, two granddaughters and one grandson.