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Heavenly Father, we thank You for laying the path that brought Bruce Ralston, MLA for Surrey-Whalley and Opposition Critic for Finance and Public Accounts, to this position at this point in time. We thank You for the experience and expertise he brings and ask that You use him to further Your purposes and will for our province. May You grant him great vision and insight into Your plans and may he be used as an influential voice You can speak through. May he encourage his peers to follow the path You have shown him, the best path, to the benefit of the people of British Columbia and beyond. Bless his family and may they discover the truth of Your Word. We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Bruce Ralston was re-elected as the MLA for Surrey - Whalley on May 12, 2009. He was first elected to the Legislature in 2005.
Bruce serves as opposition critic for Finance and Public Accounts. Bruce is currently the chair of the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts. He has also been a member of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services since 2006.
Bruce is a lawyer in Surrey, where he has operated his own law firm for many years.
From 1995 to 2006, Bruce was elected to four consecutive terms as a member of the VanCity Savings Credit Union board of directors. He served as the chair of the board from 2001 to 2003. In 2003 BC Business magazine recognized Bruce as one of BC’s leading five board chairs. From 2003 until 2005, Bruce acted as the chair of the board of VanCity Enterprises, a VanCity subsidiary with a mandate to provide innovative housing solutions throughout the Lower Mainland.
Bruce also served on the Surrey City Council from 1988 to 1993, where 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.
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. The elder two attend Canadian universities, while the youngest is in high school. The family is active in their community through a number of community and sports organizations.
Father, we ask
that Your guiding hand be upon MLA: Lana Popham. Bring her thoughts
and ideas in line with Your will and plans that she may be a mighty
force to bring about all that You purpose for her to accomplish. May
her expertise and experience be used for to bless and may her
influence over others be used to further Your wonderful plans for our
province. As she follows Your leading and Your voice widen her sphere
of influence and show Your greatness through her. Bless MLA Popham and
her family with health and prosperity during this season of celebrating Your birth. We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Lana Popham was elected
as a Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for the
Constituency of Saanich South on May 12, 2009.
She is also the New Democratic Opposition Critic for the Ministry of Agriculture.
Lana was raised on Quadra Island and has an undergraduate degree from the University of British Columbia.
Lana
has an extensive track record as a community leader, advocate and
environmental activist. For example, her recent contributions include
being a:
Member of Saanich's Planning, Transportation and Economic Development Committee,
President the Vancouver Island Grape Growers Association,
Chair of the Certification Committee for the Islands Organic Producers Association,
Commissioner on the Peninsula Agricultural Commission, and a
Voting Member of the Agri-Food Initiative Advisory Committee.
In
late 2007, Lana launched a campaign called “Think Outside the Bag” to
reduce the use of disposable bags. While initially dismissed by cynics,
in less than two years this campaign has helped to dramatically change
how consumers use plastic bags and contributed to a sea change with many
grocery stores and other retailers no longer offering them.
Lana
has lived in Saanich South since 1996. She is married to Jon Popham, a
fire-fighter, and has one young son. The family owns and operates
Barking Dog Vineyard, the first certified organic vineyard on Vancouver
Island.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your sovereign appointment of the MLA for Langley, the Honourable Mary Polak, as Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. In Your wisdom, You have brought her to this position to bring about the plans and designs You have for our province at this time. May You guide and instruct her and grant her all the wisdom necessary to carry out Your plans and desires relating to this Ministry. May great insight and understanding be hers and may Your path be clear before her. Lord may Your will be done as you give Minister Polack the courage and decisiveness necessary in making decisions. Bless her with health and surround her with loving friends. We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Mary Polak was appointed Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure on September 5, 2012.
She was re-elected to the B.C. Legislature in 2009, having represented the constituents of Langley since 2005.
Prior to her new post, Mary served as the Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Minister of Children and Family Development and Minister Responsible for Child Care, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport, andParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health for the Conversation on Health.
Mary previously sat on the Cabinet Committee on New Relationship Coordination and the Government Caucus Committee on Social Development as well as on the Government Caucus Committee for Natural Resources and the Economy, the Select Standing Committees on Children and Youth, Education and Public Accounts, 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 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 was elected to the board of directors of the British Columbia School Trustees Association.
Mary lives happily in the Willoughby area of Langley.
Thank You, Lord, for MLA: Pat Pimm. Bless him as he serves the people of Peace River North. You have entrusted him to represent a wealthy and prosperous part of our province. Help him as he does his best to serve his constituents by working as an advocate and representative on their behalf. We ask that You would bless his family and those who are closest to him throughout this holiday season. Amen.
Pat Pimm was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for the Northeast on September 5, 2012.
First elected MLA for Peace River North in the 2009 provincial election, he also serves as the deputy whip for the government caucus.
Pat has served as the Chair of the Northern Caucus and currently sits on two Select Standing Committees: Aboriginal Affairs and Finance and Government Services. Pat has served as a member of Treasury Board.
A long-time resident of the Peace River region, Pat served twelve years as councillor for the City of Fort St. John from 1993-2005. For six years, he was chair of city hall’s Finance Committee, responsible for overseeing the municipality’s budget process.
With 25 years experience in the oil and gas industry, he was co-chair of the BC Oil and Gas Conference in 2002 and 2005, bringing together industry stakeholders to identify further strategies and opportunities for economic development in British Columbia’s northeast region. He has also served on a variety of other local community boards and committees.
Pat possesses an extensive background in the construction industry. He is president of Alpha Controls Ltd, a company that provides construction, maintenance, and electrician services for numerous projects. He is also a director and vice-president of the North Peace Construction Association.
Pat was a director of the British Columbia Golf Association and past president of the Lake Point Golf and Country Club. He is a long-time youth sports volunteer, having coached golf, hockey, and minor league fastball. He enjoys travel, curling, and playing hockey. Pat is married to Jody and the father of two daughters and two sons.
Heavenly Father, we pray for MLA: Gwen O'Mahony today. Thank You for a lifetime of service to people around her. We pray that You would help her as she serves both her constituents and the people of British Columbia. Help her as she acts as an advocate and facilitator for the people in her community. Give her wisdom, courage and strength as she fulfills her various duties. Amen.
Gwen O'Mahony was elected as the MLA for Chilliwack-Hope in a by-election on April 19, 2012.
Gwen serves as the official opposition critic for Skills Training and as deputy Advanced Education critic.
Even before entering politics, Gwen made her living looking out for people's well-being. She has specialized training in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Pre-Med, and worked as a health advocate at a home for adults with developmental disabilities.
Her past experience in the private sector has helped her understand the many challenges facing small and medium-sized businesses. She is also Past President of the Abbotsford Rotaract, a college and career extension of the Rotary, and has dedicated extensive time to community environmental issues.
Gwen lives in Chilliwack.
Lord, We thank You for young leaders like Michelle Mungall who bring with them experience and wisdom beyond their years and also the energy and passion to serve others. We pray that You would bless her life today. Help her to be effective as she serves her constituents and the people of British Columbia. Amen.
At the age of 31 years-old, Michelle became the first woman elected as MLA in Nelson-Creston. Seven years earlier, in 2002, she set another record as the youngest person ever elected to Nelson City Council.
Michelle serves as opposition critic for Advanced Education, Youth and Labour Market Development.
Her university studies and her career in community development eventually brought her to Zambia, where she worked to better the lives of girls with HIV/AIDS. Michelle served as Nelson City Councillor (2002-2005); Community Coordinator, Nelson Committee on Homelessness; National Programs Assistant, YWCA Zambia; and managed the Nelson food security and micro-finance non-profit organizations.
Michelle holds a BA (Honours) in Political Science from University of Alberta and a MA in Human Security and Peacebuilding from Royal Roads University.
She was the 2008 Recipient of the National Social Sciences Humanities Research Council Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship and is bilingual in English and French.
Michelle and her partner Zak reside in their Nelson home. They enjoy skiing, hiking, local arts and being active in the region.
We thank You, God, for MLA: Hon. Don McRae as we lift him up to You today in prayer. Father, thank You for his many leadership qualities that enable him to carry out his responsibilities well. May he be able to think clearly and use effective problem solving skills in his day to day tasks as Minister of Education. Give him quality time with his wife and family during his busy work week. We are also grateful for his willingness to serve the riding of Comox Valley and ask that You would continue to bless Minister McRae and his family. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
Don McRae was appointed Minister of Education on September 5, 2012.
He was elected on May 12, 2009 as MLA for the riding of Comox Valley and previously served as Minister of Agriculture.
Don also served as Convener of the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and was a member of the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth, the Select Standing Committee on Health and the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services.
Don was born and raised in the Comox Valley. For 14 years he 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 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 two daughters, Gracie and Chloe.
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