MLA: Bruce Ralston - Surrey-Whalley

We pray for MLA: Bruce Ralston today.  We are thankful for his service to our province and to the people of his constituency.  We pray for Your blessing upon his life.  Help him as he works with constituents and staff as an advocate.  As he serves as Finance critic, our prayer is that You would give him wisdom and insight.  Help him as he fills this important role within our province.  May he know Your strength, grace and favor in all that he does.  Amen.

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.