Hon. Tom Christensen - Minister of Children and Family Development, Member for Okanagan-Vernon

Today we are praying for the Hon. Tom Christensen, Minister of Children and Family Development.

Heavenly Father, we know that children and families are near to your heart and that you place tremendous value on them and upon those who seek to protect their interests and concerns.  Thank you for Mr. Christensen and the many hours that he has invested in overseeing the provision of care for children and families in need of support and protection.  We bless him and the many people who work in his ministry on behalf of children and families.  We see that they have a difficult and challenging role and that many times they are misunderstood and find themselves in no-win scenarios.  We ask that first and foremost you would give the Minister wisdom and discernment as he seeks to provide leadership to this ministry.  Lord, let your hand be upon him in every way.  Bless his work and efforts. 

We also pray for his own family.  As you know, he recently announced that he would not be running for re-election because of his desire to spend time with his family. We ask that you would abundantly reward them with many days of quality time together and that you would bless his family tremendously as he shifts his focus to provide more time with them.

We ask these things in Jesus' Name.  Amen.

The Hon. Tom Christensen was appointed Minister Children and Family Development on August 15, 2006. He previously served as Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and Minister of Education.

Mr. Christensen was elected to represent the riding of Okanagan-Vernon in 2001.

He has served as Chair of the Government Caucus Committee on Education and as a member of the Legislative Review Committee, as well as the Select Standing Committees on Education; Aboriginal Affairs; Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills; and Legislative Initiatives.

Mr. Christensen graduated from the University of Victoria with a Law degree in 1994, and was called to the B.C. bar in May 1995. Prior to entering politics, he practiced law at Davidson, Camp & Company, and was a partner in the firm from 1999 to 2001.

Born and raised in Vernon, Mr. Christensen has been involved in a number of community organizations, having held such positions as president of the Downtown Vernon Association, director of the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation and chairperson of the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundations Annual Light-a-Bulb Fundraising Campaign.


Mr. Christensen is married and has three children.