MLA Dawn Black - New Westminster

Today we are praying for Dawn Black, member for New Westminster.


Heavenly Father,


We thank you for Dawn Black and her enthusiasm and desire to make a difference in our province.  Grant her wisdom, grace and new strategies each day.  We ask for continued blessings and protection for her and her family.


In Jesus Name,

Amen

Regrettably, Dawn's profile was not available on the Legislature site when we were preparing this profile.  We will add it as soon as it is available.  We did find the following profile information from another site and hope that you find it helpful as you pray for her.


Dawn was the Member of Parliament for New Westminster—Burnaby from 1988 to 1993, and was re-elected for New Westminster—Coquitlam in 2006.



Dawn served as a Member of the Board of the Justice Institute of BC, Habitat for Humanity, the Progressive Housing Society and Legal Services BC


Dawn is an effective representative and vocal advocate for her constituents
Dawn lives in New Westminster with her husband Peter. She is the proud mother of three sons, Stuart, Matthew and David, and a grandmother to seven young grandchildren, Christopher, Ian, Meagan, Lauren, Kate, and twins Maggie and Becca.

Hon. Bill Bennett - Minister of Community and Rural Development, Member for Kootenay East

Lord, we thank you that you have called Bill Bennett to serve You and our Province in this wway.  We ask for your blessing upon him and his family in abundant measure.  Give him Your wisdom and strength as he fulfills his responsibilities and serves the people of the East Kootenays.  Watch over him and protect him in every way.

We ask this in Jesus Name, Amen.


Bill Bennett was re-elected as MLA for Kootenay East on May 12, 2009.


Bill Bennett was appointed Minister Community and Rural Development on June 10, 2009. In 2007, he became Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, a member of the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth, and Chair of the BC Outdoor Caucus. He previously served as Minister of State for Mining.

Bill Bennett was elected to represent the riding of East Kootenay in the 2001 provincial election and re-elected in 2005. Bill served on the Government Caucus Committee on Natural Resources and is a member of the Kootenay Caucus. He was also deputy chair of the Parliamentary Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts, a member of the Government Caucus Committee on Natural Resources, a member of the Premier's Olympic Live Sites Committee, the Caucus Committee on Treaties, the Waste Management Review Committee and is a legislative member of the committee for the Pacific Northwest Economic Region. Bill served on the Committee of Development of the Provincial Noxious Weed Strategy, the Land Use Task Force as well as the Small Scale Salvage Committee and the Mining Task Force.

He formerly served as deputy chair of the Legislative Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations and as a member of the Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct Committee, Standing Orders and Private Bills Committee.

Before being elected, Bill was a partner in a Cranbrook law firm. In 1976, he earned an honours degree in English from the University of Guelph and in 1992 a law degree from Queen's University.

Bill owned and operated successful fly-in wilderness lodges in the Northwest Territories and Manitoba from 1977 to 1992. In 1988, he worked as a tourism consultant with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs and to the Manitoba Keewatin Tribal Council.

Bill was a Cranbrook Rotary Club member who has also served as BC Chamber of Commerce first vice-chair (1999), Cranbrook & District Chamber of Commerce president (1997 & 1998), Kootenay Ice WHL franchise committee member (1998), and Kootenay Bar Association president (1998). In 1997 and 1998 he was elected Cranbrook Business Person of the Year.

Born in 1950, Bill and his wife Beth married in 1974 and have two children, Dylan and Daniel. They have lived in the constituency since 1994. Bill is a passionate snowboarder who also hunts, fishes and hikes.

Hon. Patrick Bell - Forests and Range and Minister Responsible for the Integrated Land, Member for Prince George Mackenzie

Today we are praying for the Hon. Pat Bell.

Father, today we pray for Pat Bell. We pray you will keep him, watch over him and bless him with health. We ask that you give him wisdom in his critical role in Forests and Range and Minister Responsible for the Integrated Land Management Bureau; as he partners to lead our government.



Give him insight, opportunity and favor with all parties, interests and governments.


May you grant him Your favor and may you provide all he needs to govern with strength.


Thank you for him - help him O God.


Pat Bell was re-elected to a third term as MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie on May 12, 2009.


Bell was appointed Forests and Range and Minister Responsible for the Integrated Land
Management Bureau on June 10, 2009.  He previously served as Minister for Agriculture and Lands and as Minister of State for Mining.

Bell was elected to represent the riding of Prince George North in the 2001 election and re-elected in 2005.

He has served on the Government Caucus Committee on Natural Resources and B.C. Task Force on Mining, and as chair of the Small Scale Salvage Review Committee. Bell has also served on the Legislative Select Standing Committees on Education and Crown Corporations.

Prior to becoming an MLA, Bell owned a trucking company and co-owned a logging company. He owns two Wendy's Restaurants in Prince George.

Committed to youth sport, Bell chaired the junior golf program at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club from 1993 to 1997. He also coached high school volleyball and supported the Prince George Barracuda Swim Club. Bell served for several years on the Tourism Prince George Board of Directors.

Born in Vancouver and educated at the University of British Columbia, Bell has lived in Prince George since 1988. He and his wife Brenda have three children.

MLA Donna Barnett - Member for Cariboo-Chilcotin

Today we are praying for Donna Barnett, the member for Cariboo Chilcotin. 

Heavenly Father, we come to you on behalf of Donna Barnett.  We thank you for her broad experience that has prepared her very well for this role.  Lord, we ask that as she enters this new chapter of service and sacrifice in her life that you would bless her greatly and help her in every way.  Give her great grace as she adjusts to new responsibilities and opportunities.  Help her serve with distinction and excellence we pray.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Donna Barnett was elected MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin on May 12, 2009.


A self-employed business owner and realtor, Donna served as mayor of the District of 100 Mile House from 1986 to 1990 and again from 1996 to 2008.

During that time, Donna served as co-chair of the Council of Resource Community Mayors, as well as chair of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition. Additionally, she was a member of the federal government’s Minister of Natural Resources Committee and a member of the Premier's Climate Action Team.

Donna’s political experience is very diverse. She has been either a member of or involved in: the Cariboo Regional District and Hospital District, Community Policing, the Premier's Task Force on Opportunities, Land Use Planning, Health Care, the Restorative Justice Committee, the Regional Economic Development Committee, the BC Open Learning Agency, the Board of Directors for the Cariboo College and the Chamber of Commerce.

With over 35 years of community involvement, Donna has been a Rotarian, a member of the 100 Mile House Kinettes, a member of the 100 Mile Outriders Club, chair of the Spirit of BC 100 Mile House Community Committee, chair of the100 Mile Chapter of Kisport, chair of the 100 Mile & District Safety Committee, a member of Measuring up the North 100 Mile Committee, chair of the 100 Mile Advisory Committee for the Industrial Hemp Pilot Project, a member of the 100 Mile House Museum Society, a member of the Lower Bridge Creek Watershed Society and served as chair of the South Cariboo Planning Council.

Donna has been the recipient of many awards including the 2008 Women in Resource Communities Woman of the Year Award and 2006 BC Government Community Achievement Award.

Donna and her husband Jack have two grown children and one grandchild.

Hon. Bill Barrisoff - Speaker and MLA for Penticton

Today we are praying for the Hon. Bill Barrisoff, Speaker and Member for Penticton Okanagan Valley.

Almighty and Everlasting Lord,

This day we have the privilege of praying for Bill Barisoff, who holds the position of Speaker. We acknowledge the immense accomplishments and abilities that Mr. Barisoff has, and the desire to serve his constituents. Thank you for his committment to our country, Government and the people of Canada. Give him the stamina he needs to keep up with such a busy scedule and the ability to keep balance between his family life and work. We ask Your abundant blessings will shower over Bill, Edna, Glen, Michael, Darren, Eliza and Kayla today and all throughout 2009.

Bill Barisoff was elected Speaker on September 12, 2005 and has 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 for Penticton-Okanagan Valley .

Mr. Barisoff, 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, Michael, Darren, daughter-in-law Eliza and grand-daughter Kayla Ramos Barisoff.

MLA Harry Bains - Surrey Newton

Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for Harry Bains.  We are grateful for individuals who are committed to living their lives for something that is larger than they are.  We see his commitment to service and to his community and we ask that you bless him greatly for his willingness to serve through leadership.  As he begins a new term as MLA we ask for Your hand to rest upon him and to strengthen him.  Protect him, help him and bless him we pray.

In Jesus Name,  Amen

Harry Bains was elected as the MLA for Surrey-Newton on May 17, 2005 and again on May 12, 2009.

Harry serves as Opposition Critic for the Olympics and Sport.

Harry has been active in the Surrey community for many years. He has years of experience in education having served on the Kwantlen College Board of Governors between 1993 and 1999. He has also volunteered with organizations like Habitat for Humanity.

Harry was an elected officer of Steelworkers-IWA Canada local 2171 for over fifteen years. He served most recently as Vice president of his local, where he led negotiations and engaged in bargaining for better working conditions for working people.

Harry and his wife Rajvinder live in Surrey. They have two children, Kulpreet and Jasmeen.

MLA Robin Austin - Member for Skeena

Today we are praying for Robin Austin, Member for Skeena.


We give thanks for Robin Austin and for the position he holds in the government. Father, we lift him up today in prayer and ask that you would bless him for his commitment. We pray for him and his family and ask that you would strengthen each and everyone as it isn’t easy for families to be apart especially as a father to three active teens. We pray for a bond of unity and peace for his home.


Robin Austin was re- elected as the MLA for Skeena on May 12, 2009.

Robin serves as Opposition Critic for Fisheries and is the Opposition's lead Critic on Rural Issues.


Robin was employed as a Community Schools Coordinator for a Non-Profit Society in Terrace. Prior to entering the social work field, Robin spent 20 years working in the Private Sector for both large corporations and small businesses associated with the Hotel/Tourism industry.

Robin has a B.A. from Strathclyde University in Scotland as well as a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Northern BC.

Robin and his wife have been married for twenty years and are the parents of three active teenagers.