MLA: Hon. Bill Barisoff - Penticton - Speaker

Everlasting, Almighty Father of the Ages, into your gracious hands we commit the Speaker of the Legislature the Honourable Bill Barisoff.  We ask for him clearness of thought and a fairness of purpose as he oversees the Legislature. You who raise up individuals for these positions are also able to endow them with the wit and wisdom required to carry out the very important obligations to the citizenry of this blessed Province of British Columbia. We ask for a special blessing of protection upon him, his gracious wife and his sons and grand children. May he sense Your tender hand lovingly guiding him in the way he should go. Give him the blessing of good health and energy day by day. May You keep him encouraged and determined to carry out his mandate with integrity and enthusiasm. We ask this in the blessed name of our Saviour Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Bill Barisoff was first elected Speaker on September 12, 2005, and re-elected to this position on August 25, 2009. He also served as Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection and Minister of Provincial Revenue.

Mr. Barisoff previously held a variety of critic roles for the Official Opposition, including agriculture, transportation and highways and aboriginal affairs. He served on the province's Motor Carrier Commission and was a member of the Select Standing Committees on Aboriginal Affairs and on Agriculture.

He was first elected in 1996 to represent the riding of Okanagan-Boundary and was re-elected in 2001 and in 2005 as the Member for Penticton-Okanagan Valley. In 2009 he was re-elected as the Member for Penticton.

Bill, who was born and raised in Oliver, owned a trucking firm before his election to the Legislative Assembly.

He served as a school trustee for 18 years, including eight as chair of the Southern Okanagan school board; was a volunteer firefighter in Oliver for over 25 years; and sat on the Okanagan Labour Relations Council. He was also chair of the Oliver Recreation Commission for one year.

Bill and Edna Barisoff live in Oliver. Their family includes sons Glen, his wife Hilary, and grand-son Benjamin Charles; Michael; Darren, his wife Eliza, and grand-daughters Kayla Ramos Barisoff and Allison Elizabeth Barisoff.