PrayAB Remembers

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friend”. John 15:13

Dear Heavenly Father,

We are reminded that the culture of the Canadian Armed Forces is a culture of honour. We join together, people of all ages and with many others across this nation to show our gratitude for those who have given their lives for our nation and for their friends and pray they would continue to be remembered for their great courage.

We honour them today.

We pray for the families across Canada who are mourning the loss of loved ones, that they would experience your comfort and peace.

We pray for Canada’s Veterans involved in past wars and peacekeeping missions. We know that some will bear wounds for life, have given their limbs, or have given their inner peace in service for their country.

We honour them today.

We pray for all those coping with injuries that they would receive the care, services and benefits needed that will bring them and their families back to health, wholeness and vitality.

We pray for all our men and women in uniform here and overseas that you would be with them and give them courage and strength in the face of danger.

                                                                           In Your Name,

                                                                                         Amen

Ms. Laurie Blakeman - MLA for Edmonton-Centre

Heavenly Father, thank You for Laurie Blakeman, member of the legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton – Centre.  We ask You for Your great blessings to come upon her as she serves in her many diverse responsibilities.  May she experience continued strength and wisdom and joy in all she does confident she is making a difference.  In Your Name, Amen. 

Laurie Blakeman was first elected as Edmonton-Centre MLA in 1997 and is now in her fifth term. She currently serves as Alberta Liberal House Leader in the Alberta Legislature.

She currently serves on the following committees:

• Standing Committee on Legislative Offices
• Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship
• Select Special Ethics Commissioner Search Committee

In addition, Ms. Blakeman served as deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Energy and was a member of the following committees:

• Standing Committee on Community Development
• Select Special Information and Privacy Commissioner Search
• Select Special Conflicts of Interest Act Review Committee
• Select Special Chief Electoral Officer Search Committee

Ms. Blakeman has served as critic for eight other portfolios, including Health and Wellness.

Ms. Blakeman has a bachelor of fine arts degree in acting and a certificate in public administration, both from the University of Alberta. Before serving in the provincial Legislature, she enjoyed a successful career in the theatre both as a performer and an administrator with Phoenix Theatre, Theatre Network, and Celebration of Women in the Arts.

Ms. Blakeman is a former executive director of the Alberta Advisory Council on Women’s Issues and past president of Celebration of Women in the Arts as well as the founding member of the Edmonton National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. In 1999 she received a YWCA Woman of Distinction Award.

A long-time resident of Edmonton’s Rossdale neighbourhood, Ms. Blakeman is married to Ben Henderson, Edmonton city councillor for ward 8. They share their home with two large dogs and two cats.

Mr. Deron Bilous - MLA for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview

Dear God, we pray together today for Mr. Deron Bilous as he serves the riding of Edmonton – Beverly – Clareview.  We thank You for the role he fulfills in our legislature and pray that he would do it with passion and integrity.  May he have favour with those he connects with today.   Amen.

Deron Bilous was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview on April 23, 2012. He was appointed to the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing on May 24, 2012. He was appointed to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship on May 28, 2012.

Mr. Bilous was born and raised in Edmonton and is very proud of his Ukrainian ancestry. He graduated from the University of Alberta with a bachelor of education degree in 2001. For the past five years he has taught and mentored students at Edmonton’s Inner City High School.

An active volunteer in his community, Mr. Bilous has been a member of the Beverly Heights Community League and vice-president of the Boyle Street Community League. From 2008 to 2011 he served as a board member on the Edmonton Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee.

Mr. Bilous also participated in the Canada World Youth program in 1995-96, working in Edmonton, Saint Jerome in Quebec and Tunisia.

Mr. Bilous lives in Beverly Heights. In his spare time he enjoys playing recreational hockey and other sports as well as travelling.

Mr. Gary Bikman - MLA for Cardston-Taber-Warner

We thank You Dear Lord for MLA Gary Bikman.  Thank You for his devoted service to the people of Cardston – Taber and Warner.  May he receive Your ongoing wisdom, strength and peace.  We pray today that You would give him insight into the many challenging matters he must deal with on a daily basis.  Bless him and his staff as they give of themselves day after day.  Amen

Gary Bikman was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Cardston-Taber-Warner on April 23, 2012. He currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship and the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices. Previously he served as deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future.

Mr. Bikman was born and raised in southern Alberta. He holds a bachelor’s of science degree and a master’s in business administration degree from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

Mr. Bikman has extensive business experience, having successfully owned and managed an oilfield service company for 25 years. He cofounded and led ChopStix Restaurants from 2006 to 2010 and ChopStix International Franchising Inc. from 2010 to 2012. Mr. Bikman is also an experienced and dedicated educator, having been a sessional instructor at the University of Lethbridge’s faculty of management and at Lethbridge College.

An active member of his community, Mr. Bikman has frequently served as Stirling’s mayor, deputy mayor and councillor since 1980. He has also served intermittently as a member of the Chinook Arch Regional Library Board and as a scout leader in the village of Stirling.

Mr. Bikman and his first wife, Suzy, moved to Stirling in 1972. She died of cancer in 1989, leaving their nine children motherless.

He later met and married Sheila Cooper-Leavitt. Together with her four children their blended family totals 13, with over 30 grandchildren. They continue to reside in Stirling.

In his spare time he enjoys sports, yard work, leading self-employment workshops and teaching ethics and morality to teenagers. He is also an avid reader.

Honourable Manmeet S. Bhullar - MLA for Calgary-Greenway

Lord God in heaven, we ask that You continue to bless Hon. Manmeet Bhullar as he serves the great people of Greenway in Calgary and as he fulfills his role in our government.  May he be aware of Your love and peace enveloping his life.  Thank You for his staff and we pray that You would continually surround him with Your presence.  We ask in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Minister of Infrastructure

Manmeet Bhullar was elected to his second term as MLA for Calgary-Greenway on April 23, 2012. On September 15, 2014, Mr. Bhullar was sworn in as Minister Infrastructure. He previously served as Minister of Human Services and as Minister of Service Alberta.

He also serves as a member of the Treasury Board as well as the Government committees on Agenda and Priorities and Operations.

Mr. Bhullar was formerly Political Minister-Calgary, Parliamentary Assistant for Advanced Education and Technology and Parliamentary Assistant for Municipal Affairs.

Mr. Bhullar serves as representative for Calgary-Greenway, but his community involvement began long before he was elected to office. He created a youth development organization with the hope to empower young people and encourage participation in positive acts of community service rather than turning to harmful activities. His community service has earned him many awards including the Alberta Centennial Medal, the Centennial Medallion, and the Athabasca University Leadership Award.

Formerly, Mr. Bhullar served as a member of the following standing committees of the Legislative Assembly

• Legislative Offices
• Community Services
• Members’ Services

Mr. Bhullar has also served as a member of the Select Special Chief Electoral Officer Search Committee. He was the representative for the Alberta government on the board for WorldSkills 2009.

Mr. Bhullar has also carried the following legislation during his time as MLA:

• Bill 7,the Post-secondary Learning Amendment Act, 2008
• Bill 30, the Alberta Evidence Amendment Act, 2008
• Bill 4, the Post-secondary Learning Amendment Act, 2009 – allowing Mount Royal and MacEwan Colleges to become Universities.
• Bill 6, the Emergency Management Amendment Act, 2010
• Motion 508, a motion encouraging innovation in education (27th Legislature, 2nd Session)

Honourable Naresh Bhardwaj - MLA for Edmonton-Ellerslie

Lord God, we thank You that You give Hon. Naresh Bhardwaj favour with all the individuals he works with today.  We pray for wisdom in decision making and the strategies needed to put new initiatives in place.  We pray for health and good times of rest so he can be most effective in his role in our legislature,  Amen. 

Associate Minister of Persons with Disabilities (Reporting to the Minister of Human Services)

Mr. Bhardwaj was elected to his second term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton-Ellerslie on April 23, 2012. He currently serves as Associate Minister of Persons with Disabilities.

In addition to his duties as an MLA, Mr. Bhardwaj was previously the chair of the capital region caucus. He also served on the following committees: the Legislative Review Committee, the Standing Committee on Private Bills, the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future as well as the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing.

Mr. Bhardwaj moved to Alberta with his family in 1976. He became a journeyman automotive mechanic in 1983 before going back to school and graduating from the U of A with a double major. Naresh then spent the next 18 years working as a teacher in Pincher Creek, Whitecourt, Red Deer, Calgary and Edmonton, teaching predominantly automotives, mathematics and physical education.

Mr. Bhardwaj has been actively involved with Edmonton communities for over 36 years, serving on many associations, establishing Youth Link, a youth employment training program, and coaching soccer at the community league level and for Juventus U-18.

Mr. Bhardwaj was married in 1982 to his wife, Sunita, and has three children: Sarah, Stephen and Neeraj.

Mr. Drew Barnes - MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat

Father God, we present Mr. Drew Barns to You in prayer asking that You would give him strength and well-being in every area of life so that he may fulfill his call to meet the needs of his constituents of Medicine Hat.  May he be aware of the resources available to him to be a success in his role.  Thank You Lord, for his hard work and that he is known as an individual with integrity.  May he and his family members be blessed.

Drew Barnes was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Cypress-Medicine Hat on April 23, 2012.

Mr. Barnes serves on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and on the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund.

Previously, Mr. Barnes was a member of the Standing Committees on Private bills and Resource Stewardship.

Mr. Barnes was born in Moosomin, Saskatchewan, and moved to Medicine Hat with his family in 1974. Upon graduation from Medicine Hat high school, he continued his studies at Camrose Lutheran College and the University of Alberta. Upon completion of his bachelor of commerce degree from the U of A, he pursued an award-winning career in real estate.

Mr. Barnes owned and managed a successful real estate office in Medicine Hat during his 26-year career in real estate. A member of the Medicine Hat Real Estate Board from 1983 to 2009, he served as board president in 1991.

An entrepreneur and businessman, Mr. Barnes owns a number of businesses in Medicine Hat which include a construction company, a storage facility and a property management company. He also owns commercial and residential property all over southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan and has irrigation and ranchland, raising commercial beef and rodeo stock.

An active member of the community, Drew has been involved in many organizations in Medicine Hat and area. He has served as campaign chair and president of the United Way of Southeastern Alberta. A former president of the Kiwanis Club and Opportunity Capital Corporation, Drew enjoys working with others to forward a common cause. He was also a past member of the Kinsmen and Hockey Hounds. In his spare time Drew enjoys playing and coaching many sports, including golf, hockey, baseball and soccer, and watching his sons play football.