Hon. George Abbott - Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Member for Shuswap

Father we pause and thank you for the Hon. George Abbott, we thank you for his dedication to serve the citizens of the North Okanagan/Shuswap Riding and the Province of British Columbia. I ask that you would bless him with Divine Wisdom as he endeavours to do what is right for the betterment of the whole in regards to his position as The Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation for our Province.

Father you know what is uppermost on George’s mind today…please bring clarity to uncertainty, bring peace where there may be unrest, cause doors of opportunity that have been locked to open up. Father, thank you in advance, for Your Divine protection upon him and his family. In the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen!

George Abbott was appointed Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and government deputy house leader on June 10, 2009. He was re-elected as MLA for the Shuswap on May 12, 2009.

He had served as Minister of Health since June 16, 2005 and previously served as Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services and Minister of Sustainable Resource Management.

George has also been deputy house leader for the Official Opposition and was critic for municipal affairs and forests. He was Deputy Chair of the Select Standing Committees on Forests, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, and was a member of the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs. Additionally, he sat on the Official Opposition Caucus Committee on Crime.

First elected as MLA in 1996 to represent the riding of Shuswap, George was re-elected in 2001 and again in 2005. Before his election to the Legislative Assembly, George was a political science instructor at Okanagan University College. He also owned the oldest and largest berry farm in the Interior.

He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia and his Master of Arts in political science from the University of Victoria.

George was the chair of the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District. He was also involved in amateur sports as a minor hockey coach.

George and Lesley Abbott live in Sicamous and have three children.