MLA Hon. Shirley Bond Prince George-Valemount Minister of Transportation and Infastructure

Our Father, as we remember Shirley Bond today, may You, indeed, bless Shirley with divine guidance and direction .We pray for discernment and insight, as she gives leadership in her portfolio. May the joy of the Lord be her strength, as she faces the many challenges that occur daily. Grant her sound judgment and good decision-making in all her work. May You shower her with favour, as she meets each challenge with confidence and courage. We pray You will abundantly bless her and her family with good health, along with a rich supply of Your loving care and protection, as she travels about the province.

In the strong name of Jesus we pray, amen

Shirley Bond was re-elected to a third term as MLA for Prince George-Valemount on May 12, 2009 and appointed Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure on June 10, 2009.

Shirley was previously appointed Minister of Education and Minister responsible for Early Learning and Literacy on June 16, 2005 and Deputy Premier on September 20, 2004. She also serves as Vice-Chair of the Treasury Board, chairs the Cabinet Committee on New Relationship Coordination, and is a member of the Cabinet climate Action Committee.

Shirley was elected in 2001 and re-elected in 2005 to represent the riding of Prince George-Mount Robson. She previously served as Minister of Advanced Education and Minister of Health Services.

Before her election to the Legislative Assembly, she served three terms on the Prince George School Board, the last as chair. She also worked with the continuing education department of the Prince George School District, becoming its business manager. She was given the B.C. Interior, North & Yukon Woman of Distinction Award for her work in public education.

Minister Bond has an arts and science diploma from the College of New Caledonia and, up until becoming MLA, was working on a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at the University of Northern BC.

She was protocol director for the 2001 Special Olympic Summer Games and sat on the boards of Carey Theological College, the Personal Living Choices Society, the Trinity Opportunity Fund Grants Committee and the City of Prince George's Standing Committee on Youth.

Shirley and Bill Bond live in Prince George. They have twin adult children.

MLA Harry Bloy Member for Burnaby-Lougheed

Thank You, Lord for guiding Harry thru nearly a decade of public service as an MLA. Thank You, also for the practical gifts and experience he brings to the various aspects of business practices and development in BC. Please bless his relationship with his wife Anita and his children Jeremy, Katie and Candice…may they be very close as a family.

Harry Bloy was first elected in the riding of Burquitlam in 2001 and was re-elected in the May 2005 provincial general election. He won election to the Legislature for a third time in 2009 for the new riding of Burnaby-Lougheed.

Harry served on the Government Caucus Committee for Natural Resources and Economy and three Select Standing Committees: Finance and Government Services; Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills; and, Legislative Initiatives. In addition, he was the Deputy Chair of Committee of the Whole.

Previously, Harry served on the Crown Corporations, Public Accounts, Finance and Government Services committees. He was also a member of the Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Prior to being an MLA, Harry was the President of a local telecommunications company. Harry earned a marketing diploma from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in Toronto after which he worked as a systems analyst before moving into retail. Starting as a district manager, he became national marketing manager for a countrywide retail chain. In 1979 Harry and his brother opened the first in a series of convenience stores and over the next 12 years developed, operated and expanded the chain before selling the business. Since the early 90's, Harry has been involved in a number of businesses including the distribution of dairy products and in an executive office leasing company.

Throughout his life, Harry has believed in the importance of volunteering. He served on the board of directors and was a founding member of the Burnaby Optimist Club. Harry also serves as a member of the Regional Council of Scouts Canada-Burnaby Region.

Harry's extensive community involvement in the riding dates back to 1979 and has included the Burquitlam Community Association, Burnaby Mountain Mantas Summer Swim Club (of which he was a founding member), former President of the Burnaby Arts Council, Burnaby Minor Lacrosse, District Parent Advisory Council and the Parent Advisory Council for his children's elementary school. He has also volunteered for many events and projects including the Healthy Heart Fun Run and Walk, Mothers March of Dimes and the BC Summer Games.

Born in 1946 in Sudbury, Ontario, Harry and his wife Anita married in 1977 and have lived in the constituency since 1978; they have three children, Jeremy, Katie and Candice. Harry enjoys walking, photography, volunteering and gardening.

MLA Hon. Iain Black Port Moody-Coquitlam Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development

We thank You Heavenly Father for Hon. Iain Black who was appointed Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development . You have blessed him with many gifts and the eagerness to better his province. We pray that You will continue to have Your hand upon him and guide him with much wisdom and grace. We ask that You bless him for the many sacrifices he has made and continue to give him the energy and knowledge to go about the many tasks before him. Bless his wife and 3 children and grant them peace and prosperity.

Iain Black was appointed Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development on June 10, 2009. He was previously Minister of Labour and Citizens' Services from June 23, 2008, to June 9, 2009.

Minister Black was elected to represent the new riding of Port Moody-Coquitlam in the 2009 provincial general election. He was first elected as an MLA for the former Port Moody-Westwood riding in 2005. Prior to his cabinet appointment, Minister Black served on the BC Provincial Treasury Board and several Select Standing Committees of the Legislature including Finance, Crown Corporations (where he served as Chair) and Public Accounts. He also served as Chair of both the Special Committee to Appoint a Conflict of Interest Commissioner and the Government Caucus Committee on Natural Resources and the Economy.

At the point of his election, Minister Black was president of the Banking Solutions Group of Open Solutions Canada. Prior to Open Solutions, Minister Black served as president or chief operating officer of both publicly traded and private technology companies, and as a partner with a national professional services firm. He started his career with IBM Canada Ltd.

Minister Black’s list of community volunteer roles includes coaching youth soccer in Coquitlam, and serving as a board director of Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. A recipient of the 40-Under-40 award in 1998, “recognizing top business achievement in British Columbians”, Minister Black is an experienced speaker at North American business and technology industry conferences, who holds an honours degree in business from the University of Manitoba.

Minister Black and his wife reside in Coquitlam with their three children.

MLA Dawn Black Member for New Wesminister

Dear Heavenly Father, we lift up MLA Dawn Black to You today. Thank you for her dedication to represent and serve her constituents in New Westminster.  Thank you for the years of experience she brings to her role as opposition critic for Advanced Education and Labour Market Development.  We ask You to bless Dawn and her family in Jesus name, amen.

Dawn Black was elected as MLA for New Westminster on May 12, 2009.

Dawn serves as opposition critic for Advanced Education and Labour Market Development.

Dawn and her family live in New Westminster. Dawn served three terms as a Member of Parliament.

The Toronto Star voted Dawn as one of the top ten MPs in Canada. The Globe and Mail featured her as one of only four Question Period standouts.

Following former New Westminster MLA Chuck Puchmayr’s announcement that he would not be seeking re-election, Dawn decided to come home and enter provincial politics.

Dawn lives with her husband Peter in New Westminster. They have three sons and seven grandchildren.

MLA Hon. Bill Bennett Kootenay East Minister of Community and Rural Development

Lord Jesus, we pray for a clear path for Hon. Bill Bennett during this time of uncertainty.  You have gifted him with a heart and mind that treasures the natural resources of our great province and a boldness to speak what is in his heart.  We ask that You will give him wisdom on how to navigate along with creative and honouring ways to continue to serve the citizens that he represents.  We pray Your blessings over his family, friends and home.

Bill Bennett was re-elected to represent the riding of Kootenay East on May 12, 2009 and was appointed Minister of Community and Rural Development on June 10, 2009. On June 11, 2010, he was appointed the Minister of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum Resources.

Bill was first elected to represent the riding of East Kootenay in 2001 and re-elected in 2005. He was previously appointed Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts on June 23, 2008, and Minister of State for Mining on June 16, 2005.

Previously, Bill was Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, a member of the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth, and chair of the B.C. Outdoor Caucus. Bill also served as the government leader on the Parliamentary Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts. In addition, he served as deputy chair of the Legislative Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations. As a rural MLA, Bill's caucus committee focus has been on natural resource issues, having participated on committees dealing with mining, forestry, agriculture and land use.

Before being elected, Bill was a partner in a Cranbrook law firm. In 1976, he earned an honours degree in English from the University of Guelph and in 1992, at the age of 42, a law degree from Queen’s University. Bill owned and operated fly-in wilderness lodges in the Northwest Territories and Manitoba from 1977 to 1993. Bill served as president of the Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce in 1997 and 1998 and was incoming chair of the BC Chamber of Commerce in 2000 when he took the plunge into provincial politics. Bill was twice elected Cranbrook Business Person of the Year and served as president of the Kootenay Bar Association.

Bill and his wife Beth married in 1974 and have two sons, Dylan and Daniel. Bill is a passionate snowboarder who enjoys the outdoors by hunting, fishing and hiking in the Canadian Rockies.

MLA Hon. Patrick Bell Prince George-Mackenzie Minister of Forests, Mines and Lands

Dearest Heavenly Father, we come to You today with thanks for Your omnipotence and great wisdom in appointing MLA, the Honourable Patrick Bell, to government for such a time as this. We ask, Lord, that You give him great wisdom, and special insights into the affairs of his portfolio in Forests and Land Management, and a desire to accomplish all that You would put in his heart.

We ask that You bless and strengthen his family unit even as they make sacrifices for his schedule and all that goes with being a government minister and an MLA to the people of Prince George-Mackenzie. Give him peace, and may he sense Your guiding hand in all he does.

Pat Bell was re-elected to a third term as MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie on May 12, 2009 and appointed Minister of Forests, Mines and Lands on October 25, 2010.

Bell was first appointed Minister of Forests and Range on June 23, 2008. He previously served as Minister for Agriculture and Lands and as Minister of State for Mining.

Bell was elected to represent the riding of Prince George North in the 2001 election and re-elected in 2005.

He has served on the Government Caucus Committee on Natural Resources and B.C. Task Force on Mining, and as chair of the Small Scale Salvage Review Committee. Bell has also served on the Legislative Select Standing Committees on Education and Crown Corporations.

Prior to becoming an MLA, Bell owned a trucking company and co-owned a logging company. He owns two Wendy's Restaurants in Prince George.

Committed to youth sport, Bell chaired the junior golf program at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club from 1993 to 1997. He also coached high school volleyball and supported the Prince George Barracuda Swim Club. Bell served for several years on the Tourism Prince George Board of Directors.

Born in Vancouver and educated at the University of British Columbia, Bell has lived in Prince George since 1988. He and his wife Brenda have three children.

MLA Donna Barnett Member for Cariboo-Chilcotin

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Donna Barnett and the time and effort she puts into her ministry work.  We pray a blessing of Your supernatural strength upon her so that she will have the energy and stamina to take on the tasks required of her in her postion.  We ask that You remind her that her strength and passion for her work come from You.  In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Donna Barnett was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Pine Beetle Community Recovery to the Ministry of Community and Rural Development on June 10, 2009. She was elected MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin on May 12.

A self-employed business owner and realtor, Donna served as mayor of the District of 100 Mile House from 1986 to 1990 and again from 1996 to 2008.

During that time, Donna served as co-chair of the Council of Resource Community Mayors, as well as chair of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition. Additionally, she was a member of the federal government’s Minister of Natural Resources Committee and a member of the Premier's Climate Action Team.

Donna’s political experience is very diverse. She has been either a member of or involved in: the Cariboo Regional District and Hospital District, Community Policing, the Premier's Task Force on Opportunities, Land Use Planning, Health Care, the Restorative Justice Committee, the Regional Economic Development Committee, the BC Open Learning Agency, the Board of Directors for the Cariboo College and the Chamber of Commerce.

With over 35 years of community involvement, Donna has been a Rotarian, a member of the 100 Mile House Kinettes, a member of the 100 Mile Outriders Club, chair of the Spirit of BC 100 Mile House Community Committee, chair of the100 Mile Chapter of Kisport, chair of the 100 Mile & District Safety Committee, a member of Measuring up the North 100 Mile Committee, chair of the 100 Mile Advisory Committee for the Industrial Hemp Pilot Project, a member of the 100 Mile House Museum Society, a member of the Lower Bridge Creek Watershed Society and served as chair of the South Cariboo Planning Council.

Donna has been the recipient of many awards including the 2008 Women in Resource Communities Woman of the Year Award and 2006 BC Government Community Achievement Award.

Donna and her husband Jack have two grown children and one grandchild.