MLA Hon. Bill Barisoff Penticton Speaker

Our gracious, eternal and loving heavenly Father, we wish to bring before you the Speaker of the House, Honorable Bill Barisoff. We recognize that he has many challenging obligations in the legislature. We pray that you will give him the insight he needs as he directs the day to day debates on the floor of the house. May he be given the gift of discernment so that he may with kindness, patience and understanding deal fairly with all the house members. We pray a blessing upon his wife and his family as well, so that they may provide much needed support for Bill. We thank you dear Lord for hearing our prayer on behalf of Bill and help us to remember to uplift him in prayer as he faces challenges throughout the year. Thank you, in the name of Jesus. Amen

Bill Barisoff was first elected Speaker on September 12, 2005, and re-elected to this position on August 25, 2009. He also served as Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection and Minister of Provincial Revenue.


Mr. Barisoff previously held a variety of critic roles for the Official Opposition, including agriculture, transportation and highways and aboriginal affairs. He served on the province's Motor Carrier Commission and was a member of the Select Standing Committees on Aboriginal Affairs and on Agriculture.

He was first elected in 1996 to represent the riding of Okanagan-Boundary and was re-elected in 2001 and in 2005 as the Member for Penticton-Okanagan Valley. In 2009 he was re-elected as the Member for Penticton.

Bill, who was born and raised in Oliver, owned a trucking firm before his election to the Legislative Assembly.

He served as a school trustee for 18 years, including eight as chair of the Southern Okanagan school board; was a volunteer firefighter in Oliver for over 25 years; and sat on the Okanagan Labour Relations Council. He was also chair of the Oliver Recreation Commission for one year.

Bill and Edna Barisoff live in Oliver. Their family includes sons Glen, his wife Hilary, and grand-son Benjamin Charles; Michael; Darren, his wife Eliza, and grand-daughter Kayla Ramos Barisoff.