Hon. George Abbott - Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Member for Shuswap

Heavenly Father, we pray for George Abbott today.  We ask that you would grant him tremendous wisdom and strength as he serves our province in this very important portfolio.  Lord, we pray that you would help him to love mercy, do rightly and walk humbly before You and before all men.

Bless him and his family today! 

We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen

George Abbott was appointed Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and government deputy house leader on June 10, 2009. He was re-elected as MLA for the Shuswap on May 12, 2009.

He had served as Minister of Health since June 16, 2005 and previously served as 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.

MLA Bob Simpson - Cariboo North

Our Gracious Father we pray for MLA. Bob Simpson today and thank You for the special leadership qualities You have blessed him with.  Lord, we realize his past experiences in business, education , his service in the Canadian Navy, have prepared him for the position he now holds as MLA. We thank you , that he is continuing to serve in this riding,for another term , which he does, so faithfully and well.

Grant him Your grace and wisdom to discern how best , to fulfill his duties . We pray You will bless the work of his hands, to benefit those he represents in Cariboo-North

We bless and appreciate his family , for their sacrifice of time and effort, so that Bob , may serve in the province of BC. Dear Lord,keep them all safe and well, in Your loving care.

Bob Simpson was re-elected as the MLA for Cariboo North on May 12, 2009. He was first elected to the Legislature in 2005.


Bob serves as opposition critic for Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation.


A former small business owner and entrepreneur, Bob was most recently Corporate Manager, Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership Development for a major forest products company.


Born in Scotland, Bob's family immigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1967 and he moved to British Columbia in 1973 when he joined the Canadian Navy. He has two undergraduate degrees and a Teaching Certificate from the University of Victoria.


Bob is a former National Triathlon Champion in his age group and was named BC’s Male Triathlete of the Year in 2002; he is also an avid mountain biker and runner.


Bob, his wife Trish, and their two teenage children live in Quesnel

MLA Nicholas Simons - Powell River-Sunshine Coast

Creator God, You have blessed the Sunshine Coast with ocean, mountains, lakes, forests-a beautiful masterpiece.

You have blessed us with a caring and thoughtful MLA, Nicholas Simons.  Honor his commitment and sacrifice to his constituents with wisdom, compassion and understanding.  Guide his heart and mind in the issues that concern us. Help him to work well here with the various people groups he tries to represent.

And,Oh Lord, bless our riding with wisdom from above as Nicholas represents us in the Legislature, voicing our needs and concerns to the larger governmental body.

We thank you for Nicholas and pray your hand will always be upon him.


Nicholas Simons was elected as the MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast on May 17, 2005 and again on May 12, 2009.


Nicholas serves as Opposition Critic for Children and Family Development.


Nicholas spent over fifteen years working in the areas of health, justice, social services and child welfare. For the past eight years he served as the Director of Health and Social Development for the Sechelt Nation, where he was the Executive Director of Child and Family Services.


Prior to his employment with the Band, he worked as a child-protection social worker and as a consultant for private firms and various governments in areas including law reform, child welfare, legal education and crime prevention.


Nicholas lectured in Criminology, taught child-protection social work to those working in aboriginal communities, and is a proponent of First Nations autonomy in child welfare.


Nicholas is a cello teacher and performer, former-President of the Sunshine Coast Arts Council and has served as a coach with Sechelt Minor Softball.


Nicholas lives with his partner on the Sunshine Coast

MLA Michael Sather - Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows

Lord, we come to you today for Michael Sather, MLA for Maple Ridge - Pitt Meadows.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for leaders who are passionate about the environment and nature.  We are especially thankful for Mr. Sathers interest in caring for the wilderness and his experience in agriculture, the environment, education, small business, social services and health care.

We ask, Father, that you will network him with other like-minded men and women, on both sides of the house. We ask that out of their discussions will come forth many new ideas and plans that 'all things will work together for good'. May his training and background be appreciated by all who hear him speak, and wisdom flow from him in such a way that, although a member of the Opposition, his ideas will produce rich fruit for our Province.

We ask this in Jesus' Name.  Amen

Michael Sather was re-elected as the MLA for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows on May 12, 2009. He was first elected to the Legislature in 2005. Michael serves as deputy opposition critic for Environment. Michael attained a teaching certificate from the University of Alberta and taught school in Alberta. Michael later attained his Bachelor of Science in Zoology at the University of Alberta. He moved to British Columbia in 1974 and pursued a career studying wildlife for the next ten years. In 1985 he became a wilderness guide and set up a small business as owner/operator of Hummingbird Nature Tours in Maple Ridge.

Michael also served as the Constituency Assistant to former NDP MLA Bill Hartley.


Michael attained his Masters Degree in Psychology in 1998 and was employed as a Mental Health Therapist for the Fraser Health Authority for three and a half years prior to being elected MLA.


Michael has an extensive background and experience in agriculture, education, environment, small business, social services and health care. Michael lives with his spouse, writer and conservationist Annette LeBox. He has two stepchildren, Christian and Sara.

MLA John Rustad - Nechako Lakes

Father, we come to you today for John Rustad of the Nechako Lakes riding.  You know his extensive background in forestry and his ability to work on innovative projects.

We ask, Lord, that you will fill his mind with wisdom, that he may use his background knowledge and his ability to bring new ideas into focus, to bring great prosperity to the region he is representing.

You have given us our forests, Father, and for them we are truly grateful. We ask that they will be managed and harvested wisely for the good of all people in our Province.

You have also raised John to be a member of several Select Standing Committees with social and financial applications.

We pray for his family and his riding, that they may prosper at this time and be blessed because of your hand on this man.  We pray all this in the great Name of Jesus. Amen.

John Rustad was re-elected to represent the newly redistributed riding of Nechako Lakes on May 12, 2009, and was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Silviculture to the Minister of Forests and Range on June 10, 2009. He was previously elected as MLA for the riding of Prince George-Omineca in the 2005 provincial election.


John currently co-chairs the Farm Assessment Review Panel and has chaired the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations, the Select Standing Committee to Appoint a Police Complaint Commissioner and the Government Caucus Committee on Social Development. He was also a member of the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth, the Select Standing Committee on Education, the Selection Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services and the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts.


Since 2005, John has chaired the Northern Caucus of B.C. and has toured extensively throughout the North to listen and bring forward issues that affect those communities. He is also a chair of B.C.’s Outdoor Caucus and government representative to PNWER (Pacific Northwest Economic Region).


Born and raised in Prince George, John has worked in the forest industry for more than 20 years. He formed Western Geographic Information Systems Inc. in 1995, offering a consulting service to the forest industry. Previously he was the Geographic Information Systems department manager for Timberline Forest Inventory Consultants in Prince George. John also owns a woodlot license and has been involved in land development projects.


Elected as a school trustee in 2002, John has worked on innovative projects throughout the district, including the South Fort George Family Resource Centre, a project designed to combine social services from a variety of agencies. John also championed the renovation and expansion of the College Heights Secondary School (CHSS) through a self-financed project; and advocated for the new Trade and Technical Program of Excellence for Grade 10-12 students and the Healthy Choices Committee designed to promote healthy choices in diet and exercise within schools.


John and his wife Kim were married in 1995. John is an avid soccer player and he and Kim enjoy theatre, golf, skiing and the outdoors.

MLA Doug Routley - Nanaimo North Cowichan

Heavenly Father, we ask that you would bless Doug Routley today. We recognize that You have given him many gifts and abilities that enable him to serve his consitituents and our province very well. Help him as he adjusts to serving a new riding and new consitituents. Minister to his life and his relationships. Let your blessing be upon him today we pray!

In Jesus Name, Amen!

Doug Routley, born May 9, 1961 in New Westminster, BC, grew up in Duncan, BC. Doug comes from a family of educators and attended the public schools of the Cowichan Valley. He also attended Camosun College before traveling to Japan, where he lived and worked for one year.

Doug's close friendships and connections to the Cowichan First Nation people began as a boy playing road hockey and attending school with his friends from Cowichan. He has continued building on that connection in politics, first as a school trustee and now as MLA. Doug has a diverse background in industry, business, unions and politics. He has work experience in logging and sawmilling, treeplanting, construction, as well as working as an ESL teacher, business owner and operator, school custodian, union representative, school trustee and MLA.

While in Japan, Doug taught English and studied Sumea, traditional Japanese ink painting. He was a bicycle racer and while training in Japan, met a renowned Japanese bicycle manufacturer. Doug became English teacher to the family of this bicycle manufacturer and was given North American rights to his products. After his return to Canada, Doug established a company with a retail bicycle store in Vancouver and a wholesale/distribution chain which had dealers throughout Canada and the USA with warehouses in Vancouver, Ontario and California.

Doug was elected as the MLA for Cowichan-Ladysmith on May 17, 2005 and re-elected as MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan on May 12, 2009 He serves as Opposition Critic for Apprenticeship and Training, and also served as Deputy Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Education.


Doug has two daughters, Sasha, 21 and Madeline, 13.

MLA Bill Routley - Cowichan

Our Father in Heaven: I thank you and praise your Holy Name for your servant Bill Routley. Bill is an MLA of Duncan and Cowichan Bay area for the province of British Columbia. Lord I pray that your mighty hand be with Bill in all that he does for his constituents and for our beautiful province.

I pray your protection over Bill and his family. As Bill serves you Lord I ask a spiritual joy to fill Bill’s heart , along with the strength and wisdom to fulfill his mission. Help him to see your will, to love justice and walk humbly before you.

Thank you Lord for Bill Routley.

Bill Routley was elected MLA for Cowichan Valley on May 12, 2009. Bill serves as deputy opposition critic for Forests and Range.

Bill began his career in the Forest industry working at the Youbou Sawmill where he became active first as the Safety Chairman, and then as Plant Chairman. He was elected the President of IWA Local 1-80; now USW-Steelworkers Local 1-1937.

Bill served as a Pension Trustee on the IWA-Forest Industry Pension Plan. He was a member of the IWA-Forest Industry Pension Audit Committee, and was a Trustee on the IWA-Forest Industry Health and Welfare Benefit Plan. Bill's service to the community includes five years as a School Trustee in Lake Cowichan (1980 -1985).

Bill and his wife Charmaine enjoy the company of their two grown children, son Noah and daughter Alisha who have provided the gift of five wonderful grandchildren; ages four to nine years. While Bill and Charmaine currently reside in Duncan, they started their family in Youbou and then lived at Marble Bay on Lake Cowichan for many years. Bill and Charmaine were very active in Lake Cowichan with their involvement in Boy Scouts(Beavers) and Girl Guides.

Bill and Charmaine owned a home decorating business "Decorating Den" for many years.