MLA: John van Dongen - Abbotsford South

Father, we thank You for MLA:John van Dongen. We ask Father that in this season of transition that You hold him steady in the purpose, wisdom, understanding and revelation that he has for his constituents and the province of British Columbia.  Continue to lead him into all that You have planned for him by opening the right doors and closing the doors that are not in your plans. We ask that You would also watch over his family and keep them joyous and healthy.

John van Dongen was re-elected as MLA to serve the new riding of Abbotsford-South in the spring of 2009.

John was first elected in 1995 in a by-election to represent the riding of Abbotsford and was re-elected in 1996, 2001, and 2005.

Mr. van Dongen has served as the Solicitor General and Minister of Public Safety.  He has also served as Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations and as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. He has also been a member of the Government Caucus Committee on Social Development.  For the past several years, John served on the Hospital Construction Committee for the new Abbotsford Hospital and Cancer Centre.

Before his election to the Legislative Assembly, Mr. van Dongen operated a dairy farm in Abbotsford. He studied agricultural economics at the University of British Columbia.

Mr. van Dongen was involved in farm organizations and businesses for almost two decades. He was on the board of directors of the B.C. Dairy Foundation, Agrifoods International Co-operative (Dairyland) the B.C. Federation of Dairymen's Association and the Federal Farm Debt Review Board.

He was Chair of the Building and Finance Committee of St. Joseph's Church in Mission.  He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus.  He is the father of two sons and has one granddaughter.