MLA Heather Sweet, Edmonton - Manning

In Your great wisdom, You choose people from a variety of backgrounds to serve the people of Alberta. We are thankful that You have chosen an advocate like Heather Sweet and put her in a place of leadership and influence.  We ask that You would strengthen and enhance her gifts as she serves as Deputy Chair of Committees and we pray that You would help with every aspect of her job.  Keep her in good health and renew her strength that the people she serves would benefit and be blessed because of her.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Heather Sweet was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Edmonton-Manning, on May 5, 2015. On March 9, 2016, she was elected as the Deputy Chair of Committees.  She previously served as chair of the Standing Committee on Families and Communities and as member of the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices.

Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly, Ms. Sweet worked for over a decade as a registered social worker. From 2005 to 2015 she worked in child protection services, focusing on high-risk youth, and previous to this, she worked for a year with the Metis Child and Family Services Society.

She was a member of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees' Committee on Political Action and served as chapter chair for Edmonton and Area Human Services workers.

Active in her community, Ms. Sweet has volunteered at the Vancouver Olympics and the Edmonton Folk Music Festival and with FIFA Edmonton. She was recently honoured to be among those selected to attend the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference in 2015.

MLA Dr. David Swann, Calgary-Mountain View

Lord we ask You to bless Dr. Swann in the many duties he must fulfill.  Give him clarity and the ability to make good decisions Lead him into opportunities that will be for the benefit of his constituents and all Albertans.  Fill his heart with your grace and peace and may his family be aware of Your love and care for them. In Christ's name, Amen.

David Swann was elected to his fourth term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the constituency of Calgary-Mountain View on May 5, 2015. From December 15, 2008 to September 12, 2011, Dr. Swann served as leader of the Alberta Liberal caucus, Her Majesty’s Official Opposition.  He currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Families and Communities.   He previously served as critic for Health and Wellness and Executive Council.

Dr. Swann graduated from the University of Alberta with his B.MSc. in 1971, his MD in 1973 and from the University of Calgary with his FRCP(C) in 1988. He practiced as a family physician from 1975 to 1984 and then as a public health consultant from 1988 to 2004.  Dr. Swann is active within his community and was responsible for initiating the Healthy City Project in Calgary in 1987. He was also a part of developing the first pesticide-free park in Calgary in 1998 and has been involved in a number of anti-sanctions, anti-war movements from 1995 to 2004, which included three trips to Iraq.

He was involved in the publication of Finding My Voice for Peace (from Canada and the New American Empire, ed. George Melnyk). Dr. Swann was also honoured with the Gold Star Teaching Award in both 1999 and 2003 from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary.  Dr. Swann has been actively involved in raising issues of human security and human rights both locally (farm-workers) and internationally (Darfur).

Dr. Swann and his wife, Laureen, have three children. During his free time he enjoys peace and justice work, music and singing, jogging, woodworking and writing.

MLA Graham D Sucha, Calgary-Shaw

We lift Graham Sucha up to you Lord today, that you would minister to him.  You have placed him on the Standing Committee on Alberta Economic Future, Standing Committee on Private Bills and Ministerial Panel on Child Intervention. May you give him wisdom as he fulfills his duties in these departments of the legislature. Give him strategies from Heaven to be implemented into these committee’s to better the future for all Albertans and their safety. Bless Graham Sucha, his three children and all Albertans in Jesus name Amen.

 

Graham Sucha was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Calgary-Shaw, on May 5, 2015.  He currently serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future and is a member of the Standing Committee on Private Bills.  Mr. Sucha also serves on the Ministerial Panel on Child Intervention.  Mr. Sucha previously served as a member of the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund, the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship and the Select Special Ethics and Accountability Committee.

Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly, he worked for over a decade in restaurant management, overseeing several restaurants in the Calgary area. While there he aided in raising money for several charities including the Special Olympics and 2013 Flood Relief.

He holds a diploma in television and broadcasting from Algonquin College and studied political science at Carleton University in Ottawa. While in Ottawa he completed a broadcasting placement with the Canadian armed forces’ Army News.

A second generation Calgarian growing up in Marlborough Park Graham is proud of his family heritage that has roots in Great Britain and Slovakia. A father of three, he currently resides in the community of Midnapore.

MLA Rick Strankman, Drumheller-Stettler

As we pray for MLA Rick Strankman this day, we first of all thank You for the leadership he provides for the people in the constituency of Drumheller-Stettler. We thank You for the passion and persistence that MLA Strankmen has in wanting the best for the people he serves. As the Shadow Minister of Property and Surface Rights, help him to see all that You would want him to see – grant him insight. We thank You for Your hand that is upon him and we decree Your blessing and protection upon him and his family. Amen

Rick Strankman was elected to his second term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the constituency of Drumheller-Stettler on May 5, 2015.  He currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Private Bills.

Mr. Strankman has owned and operated a farming business since 1973. From 1999 to 2011 he also volunteered as secretary/treasurer of the Western Barley Growers Association. Although initially interested in agriculture, Mr. Strankman became increasingly involved in politics and social activism in response to federal regulation of the agriculture industry, including legislation relating to the Canadian Wheat Board.

Mr. Strankman was jailed in 2002 after being charged under the Customs Act for taking 756 bushels of wheat across the U.S. border in protest of the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly. He and the other farmers that were arrested received a pardon from Prime Minister Stephen Harper on August 1, 2012, when the federal government’s Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act came into effect, which allowed producers to opt out of the Canadian Wheat Board and sell wheat on the open market. He served one week of a 180 day sentence.

His commitment to public service began early on and as a youth Mr. Strankman was honored with the Queen’s scout award by Boy Scouts of Canada.  Mr. Strankman also has a keen interest in aviation and has held a pilot’s license and done aerial application since 1974. He and his wife Dianne live in Altario and have two grown children.