Claude Richmond - Kamloops

Claude Richmond, Member for Kamloops, served as Minister of Employment and Income Assistance from June 16, 2005 to June 23, 2008 and previously as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

He was elected in 2001, as the 35th Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, and re-elected in 2005. Mr. Richmond was born in Blue River, British Columbia and educated in the Kamloops area.

Prior to his first election to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in a 1981 by-election, Mr. Richmond served with the Royal Canadian Air Force and worked for twenty-five years in small business.

From 1974 to 1977, Mr. Richmond served two terms as a City of Kamloops councillor and from 1978 to 1982 managed CHNL radio station. Mr. Richmond was re-elected in 1983 and 1986 serving until 1991. During his three terms as Member for Kamloops, he served as Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for Expo '86, Minister of Social Services and Housing, and Minister of Forests. From 1988 to 1991, he also served as Government House Leader. In recent years, Mr. Richmond worked as a business consultant to the resource industries and markets and also held the position of managing director of the Kamloops Airport Limited.

Mr. Richmond and his wife Patricia have three children and two grandchildren. He is the bandmaster of the Kamloops Rube Band, a group of thirty-five musicians who travel the world as goodwill ambassadors for Kamloops and British Columbia. He is also an avid golfer and motorcyclist.


Heavenly Father, we thank you for a legacy of service to our province and the City of Kamloops.  We are grateful for the hours of sacrifice and selfless service Mr. Richmond has given to our province as he has sought to serve British Columbia.  We pray that as he enters retirement, his transition would be easy and that he would enjoy many years together with his wife, children and grandchildren.  We would also ask that You would raise up many others like Mr. Richmond who would follow his example of public service.  Bless him today and in his retirement we pray.

Amen

Hon. Linda Reid - Minister of State for Childcare, Member for Richmond East

Today we are praying for the Hon. Linda Reid, Minister of State for Childcare and Member for Richmond East.

Linda Reid was appointed Minister of State for Childcare on June 16, 2005. She had served as Minister of State for Early Childhood Development since June 5, 2001. She was first elected in 1991 to represent the riding of Richmond East and was re-elected in 1996, 2001 and 2005.

Linda previously served in a variety of critic roles for the Official Opposition, including children and families, health, attorney general, municipal affairs, and science, technology and research.

She sits as a member of the Government Caucus Committee on Education.

Before her election to the Legislative Assembly, Linda worked as a language therapist, teacher and school administrator for the Richmond School District.

She graduated from the University of British Columbia with an education degree and earned a master of arts from UBC specializing in education, exceptional learners, language acquisition and public administration.

Linda was the BC chair for the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind and a director of the Garden City Hospice Society. She has been active in the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, the Asia-Pacific Business Association, and the Canadian Council for Exceptional Children and the Family Court Committee of Richmond. She was a founding member of the Richmond Chinatown Lions Club and was chair of the British Columbia Youth Parliament board from 1986 to 1991.

Linda and her husband Sheldon live in Richmond and have two children - Olivia and Will.

Precious Lord, we are so inspired as we read through the long list of accomplishments, achievements and offices held by the Hon. Linda Reid.  We honour her appointment of Minister for Childcare.  We recognize Your heart in the work that she does as a minister.  We thank You for her commitment, expertise and devotion to the children of our province.  Father we ask that you would give her creative ideas and workable solutions to every challenge that she faces.  Surround her with a spectacular team that shares her vision and works with her in harmony.

Father, let your favour, wisdom and blessing rest upon Minister Reid today as she walks through this day and every day.  Bless her husband and family in every way.

MLA Bruce Ralston - Surrey-Whalley

Bruce Ralston was elected as the MLA for Surrey - Whalley on May 17, 2005.  Bruce serves as Opposition Critic for Finance and Economic Development.  Bruce is a lawyer in Surrey, where he has operated his own law firm for 18 years.

A member of the VanCity Savings Credit Union board of directors since 1995, Bruce served as the chair of the board from 2001 to 2003.

Bruce also served on the Surrey City Council from 1988 to 1993. He promoted planned development for healthy neighbourhoods for Surrey families. He is a former board member of Surrey Memorial Hospital and the Surrey Public Library.   Bruce is also a former president of the BC NDP.

Bruce was born in Victoria and grew up in Vancouver. He has degrees in history and law from the University of British Columbia and a degree in history from the University of Cambridge in England.

Bruce is married to Miriam Sobrino. They have three children, 15, 13 and 10, who attend public schools in Surrey and New Westminster. They are active in their community through a number of community and sports organizations.

We pray for Bruce today and ask for protection for him and his family. With one of the largest municipalities to oversee as well as one that has had much violence attached to it we ask that Bruce would be used to bring about a peace and a unity to the cultures that exist within the borders of Surrey-Whalley. We ask that he be given great wisdom as well as to be a powerful voice for calling cultures and ethnic groups to work together in harmony and for the betterment of community. We pray that Bruce would also be used within the political realm as a peacemaker and the voice of reason . Bless Bruce and his family and surround them with a hedge of protection.

MLA Chuck Puchmayer - New Westminster

Chuck Puchmayr was elected as the MLA for New Westminster on May 17, 2005.

Chuck serves as Opposition Critic for Labour. Chuck is a long-time New Westminster resident who has proudly served his community on City Council since 1996.

He is also a past Director of Westminster Legal Services Society, and was a founding organizer of the New Westminster Food Bank and Unemployment Action Centre. He was a founding executive member of the Kelvin Neighbourhood Residents Association.

Chuck coached minor hockey and lacrosse, and brought Jr. B Lacrosse back to New Westminster.

Together, he and his partner, Amber, have four adult children. Chuck is also a proud grandfather. He recently announced that he has been diagnosed with liver cancer and will not be running for re-election. He has recently received a liver transplant and is proceeding with treatment for his medical condition.

Father we thank you for the leaders we have in this province. We thank you for the desire in different ones to make a difference. Father we bless what you have put within Chuck to better our province. Father we pray your blessing upon this. We ask for wisdom for him as he carries out the task before him. We ask you to keep his heart close to the people and we ask for wisdom to know how to help those that he is appointed to oversee. Give him joy in his work. We ask you Father to keep him fresh in his vision and we ask you Father to give him hope so that he can release that to others.

In Jesus name,

Hon. Mary Polak - Minister of Healthy Living and Sport and MLA for Langley

Mary Polak was appointed Minister of Healthy Living and Sport on June 23, 2008. She was elected to the Legislature in 2005 to represent Langley. On December 19, 2006, the Premier appointed her as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health for the Conversation on Health.

Mary currently sits on the Cabinet Committee on New Relationship Coordination and the Government Caucus Committee on Social Development. She has served on the Government Caucus Committee for Natural Resources and the Economy, the Select Standing Committees for Children and Youth, Education and Public Accounts. She has also been a member of the Cabinet Committee on Agenda Development and the Special Committee to Review the Personal Information Protection Act.

Before being elected to the Legislative Assembly, Mary was director of operations for a small polling and research firm and a trustee and former chair of the Surrey School Board. Under her leadership, Surrey became the first school district in B.C. to balance its books according to generally accepted accounting principles. She also led an initiative to make Surrey the first school district in the province to publish school-by-school results for both elementary and secondary schools.

Throughout her nine years in local government, Mary has worked with many regional and provincial organizations. As a representative to the Lower Mainland Consortium of School Districts for Successful Settlement, she twice presented briefs to the Federal Immigration Commission. In the mid 1990s, Mary chaired the Council of British Columbia School Districts and in 2003, she was elected to the board of directors of the British Columbia School Trustees Association.

Mary lives in the Willoughby area of Langley.

Father, we bring the Hon. Mary Polak before you today.  We thank you for her desire to serve those around her and the diligence with which she does it.  Thank you for her recent promotion and the increased influence and authority you have given to her.   Help her as she provides leadership to our province in the area of Healthy Living and Sport.  Give her insight into key issues that will cause British Columbians to benefit in many ways.  Bless her as she gives herself to serving our province in this important role.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Hon. Barry Penner - Minister of Environment and Minister responsible for Water Stewardship and Sustainable Communities

Today we are praying for the Hon. Barry Penner - Minister of Environment and Minister responsible for Water Stewardship and Sustainable Communities on June 16, 2005.

Barry Penner was appointed Minister of Environment and Minister responsible for Water Stewardship and Sustainable Communities on June 16, 2005.

Barry Penner was first elected to represent Chilliwack in 1996, and was re-elected in the new riding of Chilliwack-Kent in 2001 and 2005.

Barry was raised in Chilliwack. He studied political science and economics at Simon Fraser University to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree. He later earned his law degree from the University of Victoria. A former park ranger and sawmill worker, Barry also worked as a B.C. Legislative intern in Victoria. In 1991, he worked for an International law firm in Bangkok, Thailand and then later practiced law in Chilliwack until his election in 1996.

Barry previously served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Government House Leader, as Chair of the Government Caucus Committee on Natural Resources, and was a member of the Legislature's Standing Committee on Crown Corporations.

Barry was appointed by Premier Campbell as the co-chair of B.C.’s Alternative Energy and Power Technology Task Force in April 2005.

He has also chaired the Legislature’s Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct and Private Bills, and served as a member of the Legislature's Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, and the Cabinet Committee for Legislative Review.

Premier Campbell appointed Barry in 2001 to lead BC's delegation to the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER). He served as President of PNWER from June 2002 to July 2003 and remains active in PNWER issues.

Barry represents and lives in the electoral district of Chilliwack-Kent.

Our dear Heavenly Father;



Father we recognize this is not an easy appointment that You have given Honorable Barry Penner as our Minister of Environment and Minister responsible for Water Stewardship and Sustainable Communities. We thank You for his brilliant mind and many years of commitment to our beloved Canada. We pray that You would give him creative ideas and strategies that would help him in the task that is set before him. We pray for excellent health and Your peace that surpasses all our understanding. Let Your blessing be upon him and flow through him each and every day.


We ask this in confidence, knowing You hear every prayer that is spoken. In Jesus name, Amen.

Hon. Wally Oppal - Attorney General - Member for Vancouver-Fraserview

Wally was appointed Attorney General on June 16, 2005. He was elected in the riding of Vancouver-Fraserview in the 2005 provincial general election. Wally has dedicated his entire working life to improving social justice and community safety. He was born in the Vancouver-Fraserview neighborhood, attended law school at UBC, and then returned home to practice law for 14 years.

Wally was appointed to the County Court of British Columbia in 1981 and to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 1985. In 2003, he was appointed to the British Columbia Court of Appeal.

Wally’s passion for the Canadian legal system is exemplified by the various positions he has held throughout the years:

Permanent group leader of the Advocacy course of the Continuing Legal Education Society


President, Law Courts Education Society of British Columbia


Former Director, Family Services of Greater Vancouver


Member, 1993 Ad Hoc Advisory Committee for a National Strategy on Community Safety and Crime Prevention


Director, B.C. Coalition for Safer Communities


Member, Supreme Court National Criminal Law Programme Judges Criminal Law Committee


Author of report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into Policing in British Columbia.


Wally is an avid reader, enjoys staying physically fit by playing basketball, as well as coaching in the Steve Nash basketball league. In his teens, Wally had a professional baseball tryout. Wally is married and has two children, both still in school.

Everlasting Father,

It is so evident that the Honorable Wally Oppal has a tremendous heart and passion for people, social justice and community safety. We thank You Lord for placing this call on his life and we acknowledge that he is a man of distiction and integrity. Thank You for Wally's passion for the Canadian legal system and may that passion be contagious to others and inspire them onto great and marvellous things! We recognize the spirit of excellence upon Mr. Oppal. Please Lord, continue to grant him favor with his collegues and constituents.



May Wally's wife and children look back at this time in their lives years from now, and may their hearts be full of fond memories. May they always have time as a family and bless them above and beyond measure.

We ask this in the name of Jesus