MLA: Don McRae

It is with gratefulness to God that we offer up this prayer of blessing for Don McRae our newly elected MLA here in the Comox Valley. Our prayer first of all is for Don and his family. Father in Heaven we would ask you to keep Don’s family including his wife Deanne and their beautiful daughter Gracie under your loving care and protection. Secondly we pray that Don would be granted wisdom from God as he seeks to lead and represent the many needs and concerns in the Comox Valley and British Columbia. Finally our prayer is that Don would know he is not alone, but has many friends who care and are committed to encouraging and praying for him on a regular basis. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen

Don McRae was elected on May 12, 2009 as MLA for the riding of Comox Valley.

Don was born and raised in the Comox Valley. For the past 14 years he has taught at GP Vanier Secondary School. Aside from teaching Social Studies, Military History, and Psychology, he has also served as a rugby coach, athletic director, department chair, and Staff Leadership Committee Chair.


Don has served as a Courtenay City Councillor for the past seven years. During his time on council, he has served as a municipal director for both the Comox Strathcona Regional District and the newly restructured Comox Valley Regional District. He has also been a member of the Comox Strathcona Hospital Board, vice-chair of the Comox Valley Sewer and Water Committees and numerous community organizations and boards. In 2008, he was also appointed by Premier Campbell to the Citizen’s Conservation Council.


He is an avid jogger and enjoys hiking and fly fishing. Don has been married to his wife Deanne for 14 years and they have a six year old daughter, Gracie Ava.

MLA: Hon. Mary McNeil

Heavenly Father, we thank you for Mary McNeil today and lift her up in prayer in her new portfolio as Minister of State for the Olympics and ActNow BC. We pray that she makes wise decisions for the many challenges in her new role. We pray for the smooth running of all the events and for the participants in the upcoming 2010 Olympics and that it will be a very positive event in every way for all of BC.

Surround her, her husband, four daughters and their families with your love and protection.


We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen


Mary McNeil was appointed Minister of State for The Olympics and Actnow BC.



Minister McNeil was elected MLA for Vancouver-False Creek in the 2009 general provincial election.


Most recently, Mary served as president and CEO of the BC Cancer Foundation for eight years. She has served in key roles for international economic events including the G7 meetings in Halifax and Toronto, APEC in Vancouver and the XI international conference on AIDS. Mary has also served on the Vancouver Police Board for four years.


Mary was born and educated in Vancouver and has lived in Yaletown for 11 years with her husband of 38 years, Rod. She has raised four daughters and currently has eleven grandchildren

MLA: Joan McIntyre

Heavenly Father, today, we ask for a blessing on Joan McIntyre. Thank you for her past commitment as Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations and now as she sits on various cabinet committees. We pray for integrity and sound judgment when decisions are made that affect the people of BC. We pray for her good health, a smooth-running office and staff, plus blessings on her husband and two children.

In your name, Lord. Amen





Joan was appointed to the Agenda and Priorities Committee on June 10, 2009. She previously served as Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations.


In 1980, Joan co-founded the well-known BC polling firm of McIntyre & Mustel Research Associates Ltd. She sold her interest in 1996 to work independently and to concentrate more on the qualitative side of the research business.


Throughout her career, Joan has conducted political research and provided counsel on many campaigns. She has also mentored and encouraged young people to become engaged in the political process to ensure they have a direct say in their future.


A long time supporter of the 2010 Olympic Bid, Joan was appointed in 2002 to a communications advisory committee for the Bid and was fortunate to be in Prague for the winning IOC announcement.

She also served as the Deputy Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and was a member on the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations and the Agricultural Planning Government Caucus Committee.


Joan grew up in Toronto, Ontario, and attended the University of Toronto's Trinity College. She graduated with an Honours BA in Political Science in 1971. An avid skier and sailor, Joan takes full advantage of living in one of the healthiest and active ridings in Canada.


Joan and her husband Andrew Pottinger have lived in West Vancouver since 1983 and they have two children, Leigh and Drew.Joan McIntyre was first elected in the riding of West Vancouver-Garibaldi in the 2005 provincial general election and re-elected in the riding of West Vancouver-Sea to Sky in 2009.

MLA: Norm Macdonald

Heavenly Father, thank you for blessing Norm MacDonald for a second term in office as MLA for Columbia-Revelstoke. Give him the strength and stamina to be an effective Opposition Critic for Education. We thank you for his past background as a principal and teacher for many years. We pray that he stands up to what is just and best for childrens’ education in BC. Bless and protect him and his family in Golden.

In your name, Jesus. Amen

Norm Macdonald was re-elected as the MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke on May 12, 2009. He was first elected to the Legislature in 2005.

Norm serves as opposition critic for Forests and Range.

Recently the principal of Nicholson Elementary School, Norm has taught for more than 15 years in the Columbia Valley. He has a further six years experience teaching in Africa. Norm served as a Councillor and was then elected Mayor of Golden in 1996. Norm Macdonald lives in Golden with his wife Karen and two teenage daughters.

MLA: Hon. Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid - Minister of Education and Minister Responsible for Early Learning and Literacy

Lord, we Thank You that you have called Margaret to make a difference in the Education System. We pray for wisdom from above and fresh ideas that will benefit all in our Province. Give her favour in the eyes of all she comes in contact with and the strength, ability and desire to really make a difference and be a positive influence in Parliament. Bless her family life, her health and give her confidence as she serves in this important role. We Thank You Father for this opportunity for better health for our Province. In Jesus name we ask this. Amen

Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid was elected MLA for Vancouver-Fairview in the 2009 general provincial election.



Margaret has been a family physician for 23 years. She served on the board of the BC Medical Association for 12 years and was president in 2006-2007. The BCMA is a voluntary association of 11,000 members comprised of British Columbia's physicians, medical residents, and medical students. During her time with the BCMA, Margaret met with key leaders from government and other organizations.


Margaret experienced the health care system as a patient after an early diagnosis of breast cancer in 2007. She received treatment and has fully recovered.


Originally from Saskatchewan, Margaret and her husband Robert moved to Rossland, BC in 1989. Since the mid-1990s, both Robert’s and Margaret’s work brought them more frequently to Vancouver, where ultimately they decided to settle. Margaret enjoys golf, bridge, playing piano, kayaking and treasures the time she spends with family and friends.

MLA: Norm Letnick

Heavenly Father, we pray for MLA Norm Letnick as he serves the people of Kelowna. We pray that you will guide and direct him to present himself in a true light and to represent You in all matters he has to handle. I pray, Lord, that he will seek You first and that he may hear Your voice alone guiding and directing him in making decisions and handling important matters for our Province.

I pray this in Jesus’ most precious name. Amen

Norm was elected as MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country on May 12, 2009 in the provincial general election.



His previous community service experience includes serving on Kelowna City Council since 2005 and working with the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Kelowna Rotary and Gyro Clubs. Norm was chair of the city’s Affordable and Special Needs Housing Task Force where he successfully led Kelowna through a year of public consultations and workshops to develop the eight key recommendations he presented to council in 2006.


As well, Norm represented the central Okanagan on the province’s single business license implementation committee which resulted in reduced cost and red tape for mobile businesses throughout the Okanagan/Similkameen, and he worked as the selection process leader on the City of Kelowna’s Roads Task Force which recommended transportation network access to the new W. R. Bennett Bridge.


Before moving to Kelowna, Norm lived in Banff and owned two H&R Block franchises, a Motorola dealership, and a computer store. He served on the Banff Chamber of Commerce, as president of the Banff Rotary Club, and was chairman of both the Banff Hospital Board and Municipal Planning Commission. Norm also served the Banff community as a city councillor, first elected in 1992 and re-elected in 1995. He was also president of the Banff Housing Corporation developing over $20 million in affordable housing.


Norm was an instructor in the business program at Okanagan College and he holds a Bachelor of Commerce, a Master of Business Administration and is currently working toward a Ph.D. in health economics at UBC Okanagan, focusing on international research to improve health care for British Columbians.


He is bilingual in English and French, enjoys biking, hiking, golf, reading, good movies and helping others reach their full potential. He and his wife Helene have three children.

MLA: John Les

Father we thank you for those you have placed in power in our community. We pray for our Chilliwack MLA John Les as he carries out his duties. We pray your Holy Spirit will guide him in wisdom and in truth. We pray for good health, peace and supernatural ability to cope with all the pressures and demands placed on John in office. Bless Mattie, his wife, and their children and help them to balance the needs of the City and the Province with their family needs, and individual needs Lord. We pray that all our politicians will remember the foundation of our society is based on Biblical principles; and that they will work together to uphold those principles in the community. Give them a sense of confidence and integrity that is based on your truths and will draw our community to you Lord. We Thank You for your gracious patience and kindness to us and all the blessings you have placed on our leaders and community. Help our leaders to keep it a safe place to live, worship, work and play. Be with John as he makes the important decisions facing our community and our Province. In Jesus name. Amen

John Les was re-elected as MLA to represent the new riding of Chilliwack in the spring of 2009.



John has served as Solicitor General, Minister of Small Business and Economic Development.


Mr. Les was first elected to represent the riding of Chilliwack-Sumas in 2001 and re-elected in 2005.

He served as Government Caucus Chair, and also chaired the Legislative Special Committee on the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform. Mr. Les has served on the Government Caucus Committee on Economy and Government Operations, as well as the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations. He has also been chair of the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, and was formerly a member of the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills.


Before being elected to the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Les served for three years as a Chilliwack municipal councillor before he became Mayor from 1987 to 1999. During his 13 years as Mayor, he served on a number of bodies, including Chair of the Fraser Valley Regional District; Trustee of the Municipal Finance Authority of B.C.; Director of Union of BC Municipalities; and President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.


In his private business career, Mr. Les was a partner in a Chilliwack dairy operation, an award-winning realtor, as well as the owner of a successful land development company.


Mr. Les is an Honorary Rotarian, who was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of his exemplary community service, by the Rotary Club of Chilliwack.


Mr. Les and his wife Mattie live in Chilliwack and have six children and 11 grandchildren