MLA: Hon. George Abbott - Shuswap - Minister of Education

Father, we thank You for the Minister of Education, MLA: Hon. George Abbott, and ask that You will lead him in ways that will preserve the greatest natural resource that our province and nation has, our children.  Continue to guide him in overseeing the education of our children to be individuals  of ethics, integrity with strong principles, morals, and character that will impact our nation and the world. Families and children are at the very center of Your heart and the strength of a city, province and nation and will help keep our nation a global leader.   May 2012 bring him into prosperity in all areas of endeavour, in Jesus' name. Amen.

George Abbott is currently the Minister of Education. Previously, he served as Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation.  He was re-elected as MLA for the Shuswap on May 12, 2009. George is also a member of the Priorities and Planning Committee and the Cabinet Committee on Families First.

Prior to the 2009 election, he served as Minister of Health since June 16, 2005, Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services and Minister of Sustainable Resource Management.

George has also been deputy house leader for the Official Opposition and was critic for municipal affairs and forests. He was Deputy Chair of the Select Standing Committees on Forests, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, and was a member of the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs. Additionally, he sat on the Official Opposition Caucus Committee on Crime.

First elected as MLA in 1996 to represent the riding of Shuswap, George was re-elected in 2001 and again in 2005. Before his election to the Legislative Assembly, George was a political science instructor at Okanagan University College. He also owned the oldest and largest berry farm in the Interior.

He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia and his Master of Arts in political science from the University of Victoria.

George was the chair of the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District. He was also involved in amateur sports as a minor hockey coach.

George and Lesley Abbott live in Sicamous and have three children.