Mr. Jeff Wilson - MLA for Calgary-Shaw

Dear God, We pray today for Mr. Jeff Wilson as he fulfills the duties he is responsible for and represents the people of Calgary -Shaw. Give him wisdom to make decisions and courage to carry them out. Please keep him and his family safe under your protection. Be with him in all his travels. Amen  (Gr. 6 Student)

Jeff Wilson was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Calgary-Shaw on April 23, 2012.

Mr. Wilson is a member of the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices and the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing.

He previously served as a member of the Select Special Conflicts of Interest Act Review Committee and the Standing Committee on Families and Communities.

Mr. Wilson graduated from Harry Collinge High school in Hinton. He completed a broadcasting diploma at Mount Royal college in Calgary in 2000. He has worked in the communications field ever since, both as an entrepreneur and as an employee with AVW-TELAV, a North American audiovisual solutions company.

Mr. Wilson first became involved in politics while attending Mount Royal college, where he served as president of the Broadcasting Society from 1999 to 2000. An active member of his community, he has volunteered at Calgary’s Ronald McDonald House and with the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter.

Mr. Greg Weadick - MLA for Lethbridge-West

Dear Lord, We pray that you would be with Mr. Greg Weadick as he makes decisions for our province in order that we may have a better future. May he experience calm and peace throughout his day and when he may feel stressed may he also know that your presence is with him. We pray that you protect him in his journeys throughout the province. Lastly, we pray that you would give him the words to say when he needs to make speeches. Amen  (Gr. 6 Student)

Greg Weadick was elected to his second term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Lethbridge-West on April 23, 2012.

Mr. Weadick currently serves as a member on the Standing Committee on Families and Communities.

He previously served as Minister of Municipal Affairs and as Associate Minister of Recovery and Reconstruction of Southeast Alberta and as Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs. During his first term, Mr. Weadick served as Minister of Advanced Education and Technology and as a member of the Cabinet Policy Committee on the Economy.

Mr. Weadick also served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Advanced Education and Technology. He has also served on the following committees:

• Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services
• Standing Committee on the Economy
• Standing Committee on Public Accounts

He has deep roots in Lethbridge, being the fourth generation of his family to call the city home. He was among some of the first students at the University of Lethbridge's new west side campus, earning his bachelor of science in 1976 before beginning his career as a certified irrigation design consultant. He has also owned and operated several successful small businesses in Lethbridge.

Mr. Weadick was first elected to Lethbridge city council in 1991 and continued to serve for nine years. As a member of council he helped guide the city's pay-as-you-go strategy that put the city on firm financial ground. Mr. Weadick also served on provincial task forces on police funding and air transportation while on council.

During his 25-plus years of volunteer service in Lethbridge he helped found the Lethbridge Rotary Dragonboat Festival, which has gone on to become one of the most anticipated events of the year. He was the founding president of the Lethbridge Youth Foundation and 5th on 5th Youth Services, which has helped thousands of young people get their education back on track and become contributing members of society.

He also helped promote the city as chairman of the Economic Development, Agriculture & Tourism Committee and as a member of the Downtown LA Board. He has served on the Lethbridge & District Exhibition Board and the Lethbridge Senior Friendly Committee, the police commission, and is a longtime Rotarian. As a businessman Mr. Weadick has long been associated with the Lethbridge and District Chamber of Commerce, including several years as a director.

He and his wife, Joanne, also a former alderman, recently celebrated their 31st anniversary. They have two children, Josh and Lauren, both currently attending University.

Mr. George VanderBurg - MLA for Whitecourt-Ste. Anne

Heavenly Father, Today we lift up MLA Mr. George Vanderburg. Grant him favour with those he works with and give him wisdom and insight into the issues he faces each day. Lord, we pray that you would give him new vision, new revelation and new strategies to help him accomplish much for his constituents and the province. We pray for your blessings on the leadership skills he brings to his position. Amen  (Gr. 6 student)

Government Whip

George VanderBurg was elected to his fourth term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Whitecourt-Ste. Anne on April 23, 2012. He currently serves as the Government Whip, and as a member of the Government’s Operations Committee. He is also the deputy chair of the Special Standing Committee on Members Services. He previously served as a member of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing.

Mr. VanderBurg is the former Associate Minister of Seniors (reporting to the Minister of Health) and he previously served as Minister of Seniors, Minister of Government Services, and Acting Minister of Innovation and Science.

Mr. VanderBurg has also served as a member of the following councils and committees:

• Standing Committee of Families and Communities
• Cabinet Policy Committee on Public Health & Safety
• Canadian Energy Research Institute
• Personal Information Protection Act Review Committee (deputy chair)
• Standing Committee on Legislative Offices Committee
• Standing Committee on Government Services
• Seniors Advisory Council for Alberta (chair)
• Standing Committee on Public Accounts (vice-chair)
• Advisory Council on Electricity
• Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund
• Standing Committee on Private Bills
• Standing Policy Committee on Agriculture and Municipal Affairs
• MLA Tourism Funding Review Committee
• School Construction and Operating Review Committee
• Roles and Responsibilities Committee, Municipal Affairs
• MLA Precious Minerals and Mines Strategy Committee
• Northlands Park Board (director)
• Transmission Advisory Commission (chair)

Prior to becoming the MLA for Whitecourt-Ste. Anne in 2001, Mr. VanderBurg served 15 years in municipal politics. He served as the mayor of Whitecourt for almost nine years and spent six as a town councillor.

Over the years Mr. VanderBurg was an active Rotarian, and he and his wife, Liz, were successful owners and operators of various businesses in northern Alberta. He was president of the Whitecourt Chamber of Commerce and was the recipient of the Chamber of Commerce president’s award. Mr. VanderBurg has also been named Whitecourt’s citizen of the year and been awarded the Alberta Chamber of Commerce small business of the year award.

Mr. VanderBurg and his wife have been married for 35 years, have two sons, Kris (Amanda) and Jake (Crystal) and live in Whitecourt.

Mrs. Kerry Towle - MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake

Dear Father, We want to pray for MLA Mrs. Kerry Towle today. Please be with her as she goes through her daily life. We thank you that you will continue to love, protect her and bless her and her family. We ask that you give Mrs. Towle strength and help her through the days that are difficult. Give her wisdom and understanding for all the things she must do. May she know that people in Alberta are grateful that she is seeking to make Alberta a better place.  Amen  (Gr. 6 Student)

Kerry Towle was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake on April 23, 2012. 

Mrs. Towle serves on the Special Standing Committee on Members' Services.

Previously, she served as a member of the following standing committees:

• Families and Communities
• Alberta’s Economic Future
• Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing

A graduate of Innisfail high school and Reeves College, Mrs. Towle has worked in real estate for the past six years and is an Associate Broker. Prior to this, she worked for almost 10 years with the David Thompson Regional Health Authority as the executive assistant to the Nursing Leader. She also worked in human resources with the department of Indian and northern affairs, now known as Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

Mrs. Towle and her husband were turkey producers from 2003 to 2008.

Mrs. Towle was a strong advocate for her brother Ron who had Huntington’s Disease until his death in 2010.

She served for six years with the Royal Canadian Army Cadets as both a cadet and a cadet officer in Red Deer and Whitehorse, Yukon.

Mrs. Towle has hiked the Chillkoot Trail in the Yukon three times. Mrs. Towle and her family enjoy travelling and have backpacked extensively throughout Africa, Southeast Asia and Central America. Her family also hosts a Japanese high school student every year.

Dr. David Swann - MLA for Calgary-Mountain View

Lord God, Bless Dr. David Swann in his work, for with such things shall come a reward, a great reward for everything he has done. Open doors for him so that his work is even more effective. Grant him favour with those he works with and give him wisdom and insight into the issues he faces each day. Amen (Gr. 6 Student)

David Swann was elected to his third term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the constituency of Calgary-Mountain View on April 23, 2012. From December 15, 2008 to September 12, 2011, Dr. Swann served as leader of the Alberta Liberal caucus, Her Majesty’s Official Opposition.

Dr. Swann currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Private Bills and the Standing Committee on Families and Communities.

He previously served as critic for Health and Wellness and Executive Council. Additionally, Dr. Swann served as a member of the following Standing Committees:

• Public Health and Safety
• Private Bills
• Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing

During his first term Dr. Swann was environment critic and also served as deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Resources and Environment and as a member of the Private Bills Committee and the Standing Committee on Health.

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 practised 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.

Mr. Rick Strankman - MLA for Drumheller-Stettler

Dear God, We pray for MLA Rick Strankman as he is making decisions for our province. Give him rest at times when he could be really stressed. Lord, may he have time for quality relationships with his grown children and we ask you to bless his wife and family. We also pray that you will give him strength and good health as he works to accomplish his many tasks. Amen (Prayer from a Gr. 6 Student)

Rick Strankman was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the constituency of Drumheller-Stettler on April 23, 2012.

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.

Mr. Pat Stier - MLA for Livingstone-Macleod

May Your blessing, Lord God be upon MLA Pat Stier and may he be rewarded for the years of service and giving to the people of Livingstone – MacLeod and indeed toward all Albertans.  Grant him health and strength for each new day.  May he gain new knowledge on how to make changes he deems necessary to build successful communities.  Bless Mr. Stier with peace throughout his days and good rest at night.  Amen.

Pat Stier was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Livingstone-Macleod on April 23, 2012.

Mr. Stier has lived in Alberta’s foothills region his entire life. He was raised on the family ranch near De Winton, where he and his family have raised Angus cattle, Arabian horses and various crops for more than 30 years. He attended school in Okotoks.

Throughout his working career Mr. Stier was employed primarily in the seismic data segment of the oil and gas industry in Calgary. He is President of River Canyon Enterprises Inc., a rural land planning consulting company in the foothills region.

Mr. Stier has many years of experience in municipal government including service on planning, subdivision, development, and assessment boards prior to his election as a municipal councillor from 2004 to 2007 with the Municipal District of Foothills. He served as President of the Dunbow Road Area Residents Association from 1988 to 1999.