Mrs. Heather Forsyth - MLA for Calgary-Fish Creek

We pray Your blessing today on MLA Heather Forsyth, knowing that You are aware of all she needs to do and carry out to make this day meaningful and successful.  May she look to You who knows all things and especially that You do all things well.  May what she does today make her feel a sense of well-being and susses with all she puts her hand to.   Bless her and her family.  In Jesus Name,  Amen.

Heather Forsyth was first elected MLA for Calgary-Fish Creek in 1993. On January 4, 2010, Mrs. Forsyth joined the Wildrose Caucus. She currently serves as deputy chair for the Standing Committee on Families and Communities and as a member of the Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services.

She previously served on the following standing committees of the Legislative Assembly:

• Families and Communities
• Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing
• Public Accounts
• Public Health and Safety
• Alberta Heritage Savings Trust fund
• Private Bills
• Government Services

As a result of her work with children, in 2002 she was named Reader’s Digest Canadian Hero. One of her greatest honours was being bestowed the Blackfoot name Aahsoikinnah-kaiki, which means healing woman.

Prior to becoming an MLA, Mrs. Forsyth worked as a sales and marketing manager in the advertising industry for 15 years, during which she received the Silver Marketing Award and the 1989 President’s Award.

Prior to entering provincial politics, she also volunteered with community groups, the Children’s Wish Foundation, the provincial Youth Justice Committee, the Alberta Social Services Appeal Advisory Board and the Calgary Board of Health.

Mrs. Forsyth is an avid reader and enjoys playing golf, gardening and spending time with her family and friends. She is also the founder and current chair of the Peanut Butter Classic Society, a non-profit organization which puts on a golf tournament yearly to raise much-needed funding for charities that help women and children. A native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, she lives in Calgary with her husband, Gordon, and has two sons.

Ms. Jacquie Fenske - MLA for Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville

Heavenly Father, thank You for MLA Ms. Jacquie Fenske and the energy she brings to the role she is carrying out in the co9nstituency of Fort Saskatchewan – Vegreville and in our Alberta Legislature.  As she goes about the business of attending committee meetings and collaborating with colleagues may she experience Your diving wisdom for the decisions she is faced with.  In Jesus Name,  Amen.

Jacquie Fenske was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville on April 23, 2012. She currently serves on the Standing Committee on Private Bills.

She previously served as a member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship, the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future and the Select Special Conflicts of Interest Act Review Committee.

Ms. Fenske earned a bachelor of education degree at the University of Alberta and taught for Edmonton public schools prior to operating her family’s group of companies, Fifendekel. In addition to her teaching and business pursuits, she served on Strathcona county council on two separate occasions, from 1995 to 1998 and from 2004 to 2012.

A third-generation Strathcona county resident, Ms. Fenske has served on numerous provincial and local boards in the past decade. She was regional director of the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies as well as having served as president of the Josephburg Agricultural Society. Ms. Fenske has also served as the president of the Fort Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey club but her passion lies in the performing arts. She has directed several musical productions including Grease and Guys and Dolls.

Ms. Fenske is an active volunteer with Northlands. She lives southeast of Josephburg near Elk Island Park with her family.

Honourable Kyle Fawcett - MLA for Calgary-Klein

Father God, we focus our prayer today for Honourable Kyle Fawcett as he seeks to meet the needs of his constituents in the Calgary – Klein constituency.  Thank you that You bring those people around him today who will not only support him but bring new skills and resources to fulfill his vision.  May he feel energized with Your strength.  We pray this in Your name Lord, amen.

Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour

Kyle Fawcett was elected to his second term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Calgary-Klein on April 23, 2012. On May 26, 2014, he was sworn in as Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour.

Previous to this, he served as Associate Minister of Recovery and Reconstruction of Southwest Alberta, Associate Minister of Finance and as parliamentary assistant for Treasury Board and Enterprise. He has also served as a member of the following:

• Treasury Board
• Standing Committee on Public Accounts
• Standing Committee on Finance
• Government Legislation Review Committee
• Youth Secretariat (chair)
• Alberta Delegate Council for the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER)

As well, Mr. Fawcett served as Chair of the Cabinet Policy Committee on the Economy on the Standing Committees on Health and Private Bills and the Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services. Prior to serving as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Mr. Fawcett provided research consultant services in support of both private industry and nonprofit projects.

In addition, Mr. Fawcett served as a public school board trustee from 2004 to 2007. As trustee he served in a variety of capacities, including:

• chair of both the audit committee and the policy committee
• board liaison to the Calgary Board of Education/Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) Liaison Committee
• board representative to the ATA collective agreement interpretation committee

A graduate of the University of Calgary, Mr. Fawcett has a bachelor of arts degree in political science and economics.

Born and raised in Calgary, Mr. Fawcett has kept active in the community coaching youth baseball and football and mentoring junior and senior high school youth in northeast Calgary as part of the Alberta Mentorship Foundation for Youth program.

Mr. David Eggen - MLA for Edmonton-Calder

Heavenly Father, we join together in prayer for Mr. David Eggen today as he represents and serves the wonderful people of Edmonton – Calder.  May he sense your presence with him giving him strength and empowering him to fulfill the many tasks before him and make the decisions necessary for success today.  These things we pray in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

David Eggen was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Edmonton-Calder on April 23, 2012. He previously represented the constituency from 2004 to 2008 and served as the ND’s critic for energy, education, environment and sustainable resource development.

Mr. Eggen is a member of the following committees:

• Select Special Ethics Commissioner Search Committee
• Standing Committee on Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund
• Standing Committee on Legislative Offices
• Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future

He previously served as a member of the Select Special Chief Electoral Officer Search Committee.

Mr. Eggen was educated at the University of Alberta, where he received a bachelor of education degree in 1984. He then went to Zimbabwe, where he taught for three years. Upon his return to Edmonton he taught at a number of local schools from 1990 to 2004.

Mr. Eggen has also worked in the field of public health care as executive director of Friends of Medicare. He is also a member of the Canadian Health Coalition’s board of directors.

In addition to his contributions to education and health care, Mr. Eggen is a trustee with the Forum for Young Albertans and a chair leader of the Canadian Paraplegic Association.

The Eggen family has lived and worked in northwest Edmonton for more than 20 years.

Honourable Wayne Drysdale - MLA for Grande Prairie-Wapiti

Father in Heaven, we thank You for Honourable Wayne Drysdale and that You are with him as he makes critical decisions and interacts with fellow colleagues and constituents today.  Give him renewed strength and good health to carry out his calling.  Bless him and his family and may their lives be filled with Your peace.  Amen

Minister of Transportation

Minister of Infrastructure

Wayne Drysdale was elected to his second term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Grande Prairie-Wapiti on April 23, 2012. He was appointed Minister of Transportation on December 13, 2013. In addition, he was also sworn in as Minister of Infrastructure on May 15, 2014, a position he had held previously as well.

Mr. Drysdale has also served as deputy whip and as a member of the following Standing Committees of the Legislative Assembly:

• Private Bills
• Finance

Previous committee involvement includes serving as a member of the Treasury Board, chairing the cabinet policy committee on Resources and the Environment, and serving on the cabinet policy committee on Public Safety and Services and the Standing Committees on Public Accounts and Resources and Environment.

Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Mr. Drysdale spent 15 years as councilor for the municipal district of Greenview and served as chair of both the Agricultural Service Board and the Municipal Planning Commission.

Active in his community, Mr. Drysdale has served on the following boards:

• Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Medical Service (vice-chair and founding member)
• Community Futures Grande Prairie & Region
• Grovedale/South Wapiti Recreation Board
• Alberta Milk Producers
• Alberta Beef Producers
• Grovedale Volunteer Fire Department

Mr. Drysdale and his wife, Sherry, live on the family farm in the Grande Prairie area. Their daughter, Jodie, along with her husband, Don, and daughter Tory also live in the region. In 2001, following the tragic death of their son, Troy, the family established a bursary for local students pursuing a career in emergency services, fire or EMS in Northern Alberta. To date the bursary has helped fill 49 emergency response positions in the region.

Mr. David C. Dorward - MLA for Edmonton-Gold Bar

Lord God, we pray today for Edmonton – Gold Bar’s legislative representative Mr. David Dorward.  Thank You Lord for the good plans You have for the people of this constituency and we pray that You would lead and direct Mr. Dorward’s steps so those plans can be realized.  You are a faithful God and we thank You that You give new strength every day for all that is before him today.  In Jesus Name,  amen.

David Dorward was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Edmonton-Gold Bar on April 23, 2012 and currently serves as Deputy Government Whip. On May 8, 2012, Mr. Dorward was appointed as a member of Alberta’s Treasury Board. In addition, he is also a member of the following committees:

• Standing Committee on Public Accounts (deputy chair)
• Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund

He previously served as deputy chair of the Select Special Conflicts of Interest ActReview Committee and as a member of the Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services and the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future. As well he is on the Excellence in Teaching Task Force and the Results Based Budgeting Challenge Panel.

Mr. Dorward has lived in Edmonton-Gold Bar for more than 50 years. He attended Avonmore, Donnan and Bonnie Doon schools. He is a graduate of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and the University of Alberta, and was recognized by NAIT as one of its top 50 graduates of the last 50 years.

An experienced Chartered Accountant and Certified Management Accountant, Mr. Dorward founded his own company, Dorward & Company Chartered Accountants LLP in 1994. In 2009 his company was a finalist for the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Owner of the Year Award.

Throughout his life Mr. Dorward has contributed to his community in many ways. He has served on numerous local and provincial boards, including the Edmonton Epilepsy Association, Basketball Alberta and the Children’s Ability Fund. He founded Edmonton’s Saville Community Sports Centre (GO Centre), the largest community and sport centre of its type in North America. As well he serves as president of the Edmonton Grads Basketball Centre, the group that operates basketball programming at the GO Centre. In addition to coaching youth basketball for more than 12 years, he organized the basketball program for many Edmonton-Gold Bar communities. Mr. Dorward has also served as a United Way director of finance and administration.

In 2009 he received an honorable mention for the Alberta Outstanding Community Leader Award, presented by the then Lieutenant Governor, Norman Kwong.

Mr. Dorward and his wife, Janice, are proud to call Edmonton-Gold Bar home. They have four children and 13 grandchildren.

Mr. Ian Donovan - MLA for Little Bow

God, we acknowledge that You are present in the constituency of Little Bow and with MLA Mr. Ian Donovan today.  Guide him in the many tasks and appointments that are before him and give him the measure of wisdom that is needed.   We pray that he will have a refreshing summer as he connects with family and friends.  Amen.

Ian Donovan was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Little Bow on April 23, 2012. He was appointed to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts on May 24, 2012.

He previously served as a member of the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future.

Mr. Donovan was born in High River and calls the hamlet of Mossleigh home. A graduate of Senator Riley high school, he has operated a grain farm in Mossleigh for 20 years. In addition to his running his farm, he is a long-time member and former director of the Blackie Seed Cleaning Association.

Mr. Donovan is an active member of his community, having been involved with the Lions Club of Mossleigh and Community Futures Highwood, a nonprofit community-owned business development organization, for the past 15 years. He also served as councillor for division 9 of Vulcan county from 1995 until his election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.

Donovan lives with his wife, Serena, and their children on their farm in Mossleigh.