MLA Hon Dr. Moira Stillwell Vancouver-Langara Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development

Dearest Heavenly Father, thank You for the dedication of the Honourable Dr. Moira Stilwell as she represents the people of Vancouver-Langara and in her role as Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. We pray You will bless Minister Stilwell with abundant wisdom and clarity of vision as she sets policy and guides her Ministry into the future. May she makes decisions that please You and that will line up with Your plan. Grant her and her family good health and uplifted spirits. We pray this in Jesus' name.

Dr. Moira Stilwell was appointed Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development on June 10, 2009.

Minister Stilwell was elected MLA for Vancouver-Langara in the 2009 provincial general election.

Dr. Moira Stilwell is a radiologist and nuclear medicine physician who has been working at BC Women’s Hospital for nearly a decade. Prior to being elected, Moira was Head of Nuclear Medicine at St. Paul’s Hospital, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Abbottsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Clinic. She was also the Co-Chair of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation 2020 Task Force. She previously worked at BC Women’s Hospital where she was Co-medical director of the Breast Health Program and staff radiologist. She was a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiology in the Faculty of Medicine at University of British Columbia.

She is the past Chair of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation/BC Yukon Chapter, has served on the Board of the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance, as well as on the BC Women’s Hospital Foundation Board.

In addition to her active involvement in promoting a healthy community, both as a volunteer and physician, Moira has been actively involved in her children’s schools and local community.

Moira has three grown children and currently lives in Vancouver with her husband Dr. Sam Lichtenstein.

MLA Hon. Ben Stewart Westside-Kelowna Minister of Community and Rural Development

Dear God, we thank You that we can come before You today knowing that You will always hear and answer our prayers. We bring before You today, the Hon. Ben Stewart who is our Minister of Community and Rural Development, elected for Westside-Kelowna. We thank You God for the diversity of talents that You had given him and for Your continual blessing over him day by day. We ask that You continue to give him wisdom and understanding as he represents BC citizens in the rural communities.

In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Ben Stewart is currently the Minister of Community and Rural Development. His past portfolios include Ministry of Citizens' Services and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism and the Public Affairs Bureau. He was elected MLA for Westside-Kelowna on May 12, 2009.

An entrepreneur, Ben founded and built Quails’ Gate into one of Canada’s leading estate wineries.

Ben has 30 years of extensive experience serving the community and is a founding director of a Venture Capital Fund for local business development. He was on the board of the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation and has been active in the fundraising and establishment of the Brookhaven Extended Care Facility Campaign, Southern Interior Cancer Centre Campaign, and the Rotary Centre for the Arts.

Ben was chair of the BC Grape Marketing Board where they successfully negotiated with provincial and federal governments on agricultural stabilization. Additionally, he was chairman of the Regional Transportation Advisory Committee for the Thompson Okanagan, as well as a member of the Presidents Community Advisory Council at UBC Okanagan.

His other experience includes having served as the past chair of VQA Canada, where they successfully resolved a number of significant international issues such as trademark protection, international mutual recognition agreements including national wine and health standards. As vice-chair of the Canadian Vintners Association, he oversaw the establishment of new national wine association offices in Ottawa and the hiring of their first CEO.

Ben has been recognized as Business Leader of the Year in Kelowna in 1998, received the Westbank Chamber of Commerce President’s Award in 2006, and recognized as Family Business of the Year by Grant Thornton in 2007. He also received the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for Community Service. He was a Kinsman, a scout leader and a member of the Canadian Ski Patrol.

Ben lives in Westside with Ruth his wife of 30 years and has three grown children.

MLA John Slater Member for Boundary - Simikameen

Father, this morning as we pray for Mr. Slater. As we pray for him today, we trust that Your peace, rest and strength will come alive in his heart, to meet whatever needs he has today. We give thanks for John’s faithful dedication of 30 years of community service to those who live in riding .. Now that he is serving as their MLA. we pray you will continue to richly bless him with the ability to see clearly and discern the needs in this community. May he find favour as he seeks to accomplish goals, that will greatly benefit the constituents, of his riding.


We ask that you will bless him daily with renewed energy, good health and safety as he travels.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen!

John Slater was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Water Supply and Allocation to the Minister of Environment on June 10, 2009. He was elected as MLA for Boundary-Similkameen on May 12, 2009. He will also be serving on the Environment and Land Use Committee.

He currently owns and operates Desert Edge Nursery, a retail/wholesale operation selling vegetable and nursery products.

John is a well-known proactive community leader in the South Okanagan having served Osoyoos for twelve years on city council and then six years as Mayor.

For nearly 30 years in Osoyoos, John has been actively involved in the community. For more than 20 years he coached youth basketball, soccer, hockey and baseball. He was a Kinsman as well as serving as Director for the Osoyoos & District Recreation Commission, the Osoyoos Child & Youth Committee, the Osoyoos Chamber of Commerce, the Okanagan Regional Library, the Interior Vegetable Marketing Agency & Greenhouse Growers Association, and was a Director of the BC Vegetable Marketing Commission.

Born and raised in Kelowna, John studied at the University of Victoria but soon returned to the Okanagan moving to Osoyoos in 1980. Over the years, he has owned and operated tourism and service industry businesses. He established a nursery and greenhouse business specializing in vegetable production where he became very involved in agricultural issues and organizations.

MLA Shane Simpson Member for Vancouver - Hastings

Dearest Heavenly Father, we thank You for MLA Shane Simpson and ask for Your merciful hand to guide him and strengthen him as he represents the people of Vancouver-Hastings and performs the duties of Opposition Critic for Housing and Social Development. Thank You for the intelligence, sense of dedication, and servant's heart You have blessed Shane with. May he feel appreciated for his hard work and may he sense Your hand upon him. We pray You will refresh his spirit as he continues in service to the people of BC. We pray this in Jesus' name.

Shane Simpson was re-elected as the MLA for Vancouver-Hastings on May 12, 2009. He was first elected to the Legislature in 2005.

Shane serves as opposition critic for Housing and Social Development.

Born and raised in Vancouver, Shane has lived, worked, and engaged in community-building activities in East Vancouver for more than 35 years.

In his professional career, Shane has worked as the Director of Policy and Communications for Smart Growth BC, Chair of the Vancouver City Planning Commission, Instructor in the Community Economic Development program at Simon Fraser University, Executive Director of the Worker Ownership Resource Center, Legislative Coordinator for the Canadian Union of Public Employees, coordinator and fundraiser for the Ray Cam Cooperative Center, executive assistant to former Vancouver East MP Margaret Mitchell, and as a self-employed consultant on business and economic development for labour, co-operative and non-profit groups.

Shane was the recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for his contribution to community in 2002. In 1992, he was awarded the Governor General's 125th Anniversary Commemorative Medal for Community Service.

Shane, his partner Cate Jones and their daughter Shayla, live in the Burrardview neighbourhood of Vancouver Hastings.

MLA Bob Simpson Member for Cariboo North

God, bless and encourage Bob Simpson. As he serves as the Opposition critic for Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation grant him great depth of understanding. Give him favor with all the people of our province and particularly our Aboriginal people. May he walk with Your wisdom and grace. As he fulfills the life of duty and family, may he have great ability to balance it all well. Cover him with health and safety.

Bob Simpson was re-elected as the MLA for Cariboo North on May 12, 2009. He was first elected to the Legislature in 2005.

Bob serves as opposition critic for Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation.

A former small business owner and entrepreneur, Bob was most recently Corporate Manager, Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership Development for a major forest products company.

Born in Scotland, Bob's family immigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1967 and he moved to British Columbia in 1973 when he joined the Canadian Navy. He has two undergraduate degrees and a Teaching Certificate from the University of Victoria.

Bob is a former National Triathlon Champion in his age group and was named BC’s Male Triathlete of the Year in 2002; he is also an avid mountain biker and runner.

Bob, his wife Trish, and their two teenage children live in Quesnel.

MLA Nicholas Simons Member for Powell River - Sunshine Coast

Heavenly Father, we pray for Nicholas Simons today. We ask that You will bless him and continue to give him wisdom in his area of responsibility that You have placed him in. We thank You for his influence in working for the care and safety of the children within our province. We ask that You will give him insight to be more affective in this area. We ask You will give him favour and bless him, his family and staff as they rest and relax during the summer break.

Nicholas Simons was first elected as MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast on May 17, 2005.

Nicholas serves as deputy opposition critic for Housing and Social Development.

Nicholas has spent over fifteen years working in the areas of health, justice, social services and child welfare.

He served as the Executive Director of Health and Social Development for the Sechelt Nation from 1997 until his election in 2005. In this role he oversaw Health, Child Welfare, Alcohol and Drugs, Financial Assistance, and Justice Programs. He also negotiated funding for innovative preventative health and social services.

Prior to his employment with the Sechelt Nation, he worked as a child-protection social worker for the Ministry for Children and Family Development, as a Financial Assistance Worker, and as the Crime Prevention Coordinator for the Northwest Territories. He has been a consultant for the Federal, Northwest Territories, and First Nations governments in areas including law reform, child welfare, and legal.

He has lectured in Criminology at Simon Fraser University (SFU), in which he has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Ottawa (1986) and a Master's degree from SFU (1993). He has taught child-protection social work to social workers working in First Nations communities.

Nicholas has been active in the arts community both as a cello teacher and performer. He has performed and recorded with local, national and international artists and is the former President of the Sunshine Coast Arts Council.

MLA Michael Sather Member for Maple Ridge - Pitt Meadows

Today, Heavenly Father, we pray for M.L.A. Michael Sather. We ask that you work in his life in such a way that he is aware that You are giving him the wisdom and strength he needs as he serves our province. We ask that today You will help him see where he can make a difference for the betterment of his constituency. Bless him as a husband and father. Help him to juggle all the responsibilities he has and help him to know that he is appreciated. Amen.

Michael Sather was re-elected as the MLA for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows on May 12, 2009. He was first elected to the Legislature in 2005.

Michael serves as deputy opposition critic for Environment.

Michael attained a teaching certificate from the University of Alberta and taught school in Alberta. Michael later attained his Bachelor of Science in Zoology at the University of Alberta.

He moved to British Columbia in 1974 and pursued a career studying wildlife for the next ten years. In 1985 he became a wilderness guide and set up a small business as owner/operator of Hummingbird Nature Tours in Maple Ridge.

Michael also served as the Constituency Assistant to former NDP MLA Bill Hartley.

Michael attained his Masters Degree in Psychology in 1998 and was employed as a Mental Health Therapist for the Fraser Health Authority for three and a half years prior to being elected MLA.

Michael has an extensive background and experience in agriculture, education, environment, small business, social services and health care.

Michael lives with his spouse, writer and conservationist Annette LeBox. He has two stepchildren, Christian and Sara.