MLA Bruce Ralston - Surrey-Whalley

Dearest Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for raising up Bruce Ralston, Opposition House Leader and MLA for Surrey-Whalley, into a position of leadership in our province.  We thank You that he has invested his time, energy and God-given talent into helping lead and shape our province.  May you give him the wisdom and insight he needs to make right and integral decisions that line up with Your will.  May he be refreshed as he works on our behalf and may You bless him with good health and abundant energy so he may complete all the tasks you have set before him.  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 House Leader. 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 18 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, 20, 18 and 15, who grew up in Whalley and attended public schools in Surrey and New Westminster. The elder two attend Canadian universities, while the youngest is entering Grade 10. The family is active in their community through a number of community and sports organizations.