MLA Norm Macdonald Member for Columbia River - Revelstoke

"Father, Norm has a heart for teaching and training children both here and in a third world like Africa.  May Your Presence be felt as he serves both his family and his constituency.  Please give him in-depth knowledge and wisdom regarding his role in Forest and Range and Integrated Land Management. We ask that You anoint him for his leadership role in the Columbia River - Revelstoke region.  In Jesus' Name, Amen."

Norm Macdonald was re-elected as the MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke on May 12, 2009. He was first elected to the Legislature in 2005.

Norm serves as opposition critic for Forest and Range and Integrated Land Management.

Recently the principal of Nicholson Elementary School, Norm has taught for more than 15 years in the Columbia Valley.

He has a further six years experience teaching in Africa.

Norm served as a Councillor and was then elected Mayor of Golden in 1996.

Norm Macdonald lives in Golden with his wife Karen and two teenage daughters.

MLA Hon. Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid Vancouver-Fairview Minister of Tourism, Trade and Investment and Minister Responsible for the Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat

Today as we pray abundant blessings on Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid and on all she is entrusted with as minister of Education, we are also very aware of the importance of this particular portfolio to our children, the youth and adults of this province. We pray her dedication and commitment to this responsible position will be abundantly rewarded by granting her divine wisdom, clarity of vision, and ability to make right and sound decisions, for a smooth running educational system in this province. Our prayer for Hon . Margaret Mac Diarmid. Psalm 27:14 "Wait on the Lord be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait I say on he Lord." Amen

Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid was appointed Minister of Education and Minister Responsible for Early Learning and Literacy on June 10, 2009.

Minister MacDiarmid was elected MLA for Vancouver-Fairview in the 2009 general provincial election.

Margaret has been a family physician for 23 years. She served on the board of the BC Medical Association for 12 years and was president in 2006-2007. The BCMA is a voluntary association of 11,000 members comprised of British Columbia's physicians, medical residents, and medical students. During her time with the BCMA, Margaret met with key leaders from government and other organizations.

Margaret experienced the health care system as a patient after an early diagnosis of breast cancer in 2007. She received treatment and has fully recovered.

Originally from Saskatchewan, Margaret and her husband Robert moved to Rossland, BC in 1989. Since the mid-1990s, both Robert’s and Margaret’s work brought them more frequently to Vancouver, where ultimately they decided to settle. Margaret enjoys golf, bridge, playing piano, kayaking and treasures the time she spends with family and friends.

MLA Norm Letnick Member for Kelowna-Lake Country

Thank You God for Norm Letnick. Thank You for his leadership in many areas in Parliament. Lord, please be close to Norm and may he feel Your presence. Guide his hands and mind as he continues to serve Kelowna - Lake Country.

Norm was elected as MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country on May 12, 2009 in the provincial general election.

Norm is the Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders, and Private Bills and is on the Select Standing Committees on Public Accounts as well as Finance and Government Services. He is also the President, Francophone Parliamentary Assembly, B.C. Section.

His previous community service experience includes serving on Kelowna City Council from 2005-2008, the Kelowna Rotary and Gyro Clubs, and a council member of St. Charles Garnier Parish. Norm has served on the city’s Housing Committee, the Downtown Entertainment District Task Force, the Parks, Recreation, and Culture Task Forces, and as chair of the city’s Affordable and Special Needs Housing Task Force.

As well, Norm represented the central Okanagan on the province’s single business license implementation committee which resulted in reduced cost and red tape for mobile businesses throughout the Okanagan/Similkameen, and he worked as the selection process leader on the City of Kelowna’s Roads Task Force which recommended transportation network access improvements to the new W. R. Bennett Bridge.

Before moving to Kelowna, Norm lived in Banff and owned two H&R Block franchises, a Motorola dealership, and a computer store. He served on the Banff Tourism Bureau, as president of the Banff Rotary Club, secretary/treasurer of the Banff Shine Club, and was chairman of both the Banff Hospital Board and Municipal Planning Commission. Norm also served the Banff community as a city councillor, first elected in 1992 and re-elected in 1995. He was also president of the Banff Housing Corporation developing over $20 million in affordable housing.

Before being called to Provincial service, Norm was an instructor in the business program at Okanagan College and he holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary, a Master of Business Administration degree from Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, and is currently working toward a Ph.D. in health economics at UBC Okanagan, focusing on international research to improve health care for British Columbians.

Norm was the 2009 recipient of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Regional Community Champion Award for his work with the Gala of Hope helping to fund raise $624,000 over three years.

He is bilingual in English and French, enjoys sports, reading, good movies and helping others reach their full potential. He and his wife Helene have three children.

MLA John Les Member for Chilliwack

Thank You Lord for John Les who takes a particular interest those who serve our communities in small businesses. Lord, we ask that You guide him in his new position as Parliamentary Secretary for HST. Thank You for the wealth of knowledge and background that he brings to this position. Release to him creative ideas and solutions in all that he encounters today.

John Les was re-elected as MLA to represent the new riding of Chilliwack in the spring of 2009.

John has served as Solicitor General, Minister of Small Business and Economic Development.

Mr. Les was first elected to represent the riding of Chilliwack-Sumas in 2001 and re-elected in 2005.

He served as Government Caucus Chair, and also chaired the Legislative Special Committee on the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform. Mr. Les has served on the Government Caucus Committee on Economy and Government Operations, as well as the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations. He has also been chair of the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, and was formerly a member of the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills.

Before being elected to the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Les served for three years as a Chilliwack municipal councillor before he became Mayor from 1987 to 1999. During his 13 years as Mayor, he served on a number of bodies, including Chair of the Fraser Valley Regional District; Trustee of the Municipal Finance Authority of B.C.; Director of Union of BC Municipalities; and President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

In his private business career, Mr. Les was a partner in a Chilliwack dairy operation, an award-winning realtor, as well as the owner of a successful land development company.

Mr. Les is an Honorary Rotarian, who was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of his exemplary community service, by the Rotary Club of Chilliwack.

Mr. Les and his wife Mattie live in Chilliwack and have six children and 13 grandchildren.

MLA Blair Lekstrom Member for Peace River South

Dear God, we thank You that we can bring before You today MLA: Blair Lekstrom from Peace River South. We thank You God for this MLA who loves the outdoors and had served the people of BC since 2001 in various positions. We ask Lord that You continue to give Blair the stamina and wisdom as he continue to serve the Peace River South area and the people of BC for Your glory.

In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Blair Lekstrom was re-elected to a third term as MLA for Peace River South on May 12, 2009.

Blair has served as Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources and Minister of Community Development. He was first elected in the 2001 provincial general election in the riding of Peace River South, and was re-elected for a second term in the 2005 general election.

Previously, Blair chaired the Legislative Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services (2001, 2002, 2005 and 2006) and served on the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the Agriculture Policy Development Committee, the Legislative Review Committee and the Government Caucus Committee on the Economy. In the past he has also served as the Chair of the Legislative Committee to review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the BC Offshore Oil and Gas Committee. He has been a member of the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, the Select Standing Committee on Health, the Northern Caucus Committee, the Cabinet Committee on Agenda & Priorities, and the Legislative Committee on the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform.

Before becoming an MLA, Blair was serving his second term as Mayor of the City of Dawson Creek. He was first elected mayor in 1996, after serving for three years as a councillor.

Born in 1961 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Blair moved to Dawson Creek later that year and has lived there ever since. Following graduation from South Peace Secondary School, Blair started with BC Tel in 1979 and worked for the next 17 years as an installer-repairman until his election as Mayor in 1996. He was a Peace River Regional District member and served on the North Central Municipal Association executive.

Blair's previous appointments include serving as a Municipal Finance Authority board member, North Central Municipal Association president, BC Task Force on Bank Mergers member, BC Agri-Food Policy Working Group member, and Union of BC Municipalities executive member.

Blair's community involvements included: Dawson Creek & District Hospital Foundation board member, Board Member, Pouce Coupe Long-Term Care Facility as well as participation in a wide range of community groups in his capacity as Mayor of Dawson Creek.

He and wife Vicki were married in 1982. They have two children. Blair is an avid motorcyclist and enjoys working on and riding his Harley Davidson. Other hobbies include: carpentry, camping with his family, and playing baseball and hockey.

MLA Richard T. Lee Member for Burnaby North

We are very thankful for the cultural diversity that exists in our province. You have prepared Mr. Lee to serve his constituents as an advocate and a leader. Help him to excel in this avenue of service in the same way that he has excelled prior to entering politics. Give him tremendous favour within his community and within his caucus so that the needs and concerns of his constituents can be heard and well cared for.  Let your blessing be upon him and his family today.

 We ask this in Jesus Name, Amen.

Richard T. Lee was first elected as the MLA for the riding of Burnaby North in 2001 and was re-elected to his third term in the May 2009 provincial general election. He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for the Asia-Pacific Initiative on June 16, 2005.

Currently, Richard also serves as a member of the Legislative Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Select Standing Committee on Legislative Initiatives and a member of the Select Standing Committee on Education.

Previously, Richard also served as member of the Legislative Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, the Legislative Special Committee to Review the Police Complaint Process, the Special Committee to Appoint a Police Complaint Commissioner, Vice-chair of the Special Committee to Appoint a Merit Commissioner, the Government Caucus Committee on Economy and Government Operations, the Government Caucus Multicultural Committee and as Chair of the Government Caucus Asian Economic Development Committee.

Before being elected to the Legislature, Richard was a programmer analyst at TRIUMF, Canada's national particle research facility. In 1976, he earned a Combined Honours Bachelor of Science degree from UBC in physics and mathematics and in 1980 a Masters of Science from UBC in Applied Mathematics. While studying, Richard worked as a research assistant from 1975 to 1977 and then as a teaching assistant from 1977 to 1979 with the Department of Mathematics at UBC. From 1979 to 1982 he worked as a programmer at TRIUMF and in 1982 became a programmer analyst. Richard attended the United States Particle Accelerator School at Berkeley in 1989 and once again in 1990 at Harvard University.

In 1971 Richard moved to British Columbia where his grandfather settled since 1913. He and his wife Anne married in 1986 and have lived in Burnaby since then. They have three children.

MLA Harry Lali Member for Fraser - Nicola

We bring Harry Lali before You and ask Your blessing on him as he serves his constituency. Thank You for his willingness to use his resources in the best way he is able. Let him know that You love him Lord and care about everything he does. Be with his family too as they interact together in their homes.

Harry Lali served as Minister of Transportation and Highways from February, 1998, to February, 2001. He was the longest serving NDP Highways Minister in British Columbia. Previously, Harry served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Forests from June, 1996, to February, 1998.

Harry serves as opposition critic for Multiculturalism.

In 1988, Harry was elected City Councillor in Merritt for one term. In 1991, Harry was elected Member of the Legislative Assembly for Yale-Lillooet, re-elected MLA in 1996, and 2005. He was elected to a fourth term on May 12, 2009.

Harry is 51 years old and was born in Jullundur District, Punjab, and currently lives in Merritt. He was educated at the University of Victoria and the University of British Columbia, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and South Asia Area Studies. Harry is the founder of the group that established the Chair of Punjabi and Sikh Studies at the University of British Columbia.

Before his election to the Legislature, Harry was an Employment Counsellor for the federally-sponsored Merritt Outreach Program from 1986 – 1991. He has also worked at MOSAIC in Vancouver. Harry is a former member of the IWA Local 1-417 when he spent 11 summers working in the sawmill industry in Interior B.C. Harry is also a former co-owner of a sporting goods store.

From 2001 – 2006 Harry owned his own business that was involved in international development and technology transfer to developing countries, namely in the field of environmental technologies and power generation.

Harry and his wife, Rani, are the proud parents of two sons and one daughter.