Honourable Gordon Dirks - MLA for Calgary-Elbow

Dear Lord, we thank you for your servant, the Honourable Gordon Dirks. We pray that You will continue to bring wisdom and careful consideration for the growing needs of our young population. We pray during this time of rapid growth in our province, that You will help the Minister of Education and his team balance the needs of the youth and the diverse technical needs of our post-secondary populace. Amen.

Minister of Education

Gordon Dirks was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the riding of Calgary-Elbow on October 27, 2014. He currently serves as Minister of Education.

Mr. Dirks’ extensive public service experience dates back more than 30 years. Most recently he served as school trustee with the Calgary Board of Education from 1999 to 2010. He also served as the Calgary Board of Education Board Chair.

Prior to his work with the Calgary Board of Education, Mr. Dirks was Assistant Deputy Minister of the Corporate Services Department of Family and Social Services from 1990 to 1993.

In addition, between 1982 and 1986 he served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, where he was appointed Minister of Urban Affairs, Housing and Social Services. He was also a member of the Treasury Board and the Planning and Priorities Committee.

Furthermore, Mr. Dirks served as the Vice-President of External Relations for Ambrose University from 2006 to 2010 and as the president of Rocky Mountain College from 1993 to 1996.

An active member of his community, Mr. Dirks worked for the Centre Street church as Executive Pastor from 2010 to 2014, a position he previously held with the Beulah Alliance church from 1993 to 1996. He is also a member of the Corpath business forum.

Previous community activity included membership on the following:

• Governance Committee for Centre Point: Advancing Non-profit Management (chair)
• Imagine Calgary Steering Committee
• Government of Alberta Results-based Budgeting Review Committee

Mr. Dirks holds a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Regina.

He and his wife, Evangeline, live in Calgary. They have two adult children and three grandchildren.