Ms. Maria Fitzpatrick - MLA for Lethbridge-East

Father God, we pray that You would make Your presence real to MLA Maria Fitzpatrick and be with her today.  May the people she represents in Lethbridge – East come to the forefront of her mind and we pray that she will see beyond the obvious to discern needs and urgent situations that require addressing.  Lord, give her strength and courage as she serves in her constituency.  We speak blessings over her and her family.  Amen.

 

Maria Fitzpatrick was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Lethbridge-East, on May 5, 2015.

She currently serves as deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing and as a member of the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future.

Prior to her service with the Legislative Assembly she dedicated over 30 years of her life in the field of corrections. During this time she spent 20 years within operations serving as a parole officer both in the institution and the community; as a recreation supervisor, a basic literacy teacher and acting education co-ordinator; she served federally and with the territorial government of the Northwest Territories. She finished her career in corrections working for National Headquarters of the Correctional Service of Canada working in policy and project management. Maria took a 3 year leave of absence during her career when she was elected as the regional executive vice-president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada in the National Capital Region. Maria's work career began as a teacher with the Catholic school board in St. John's, Newfoundland.

Ms. Fitzpatrick's extensive community service spans over several decades and involves participation on several boards and in numerous associations, including United Way Ottawa, the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the National Association of Federal Retirees. In addition, she served as chair of the Lethbridge Regional Women's Committee, as vice-president of the Canadian Federation of University Women and as an event organizer with the Ottawa Regional Women's Committee. She is also a member of the McKillop United church choir. Maria actively worked with other volunteers in the community garden at the Agricultural Research Station in Lethbridge to provide produce to the Inter-faith food bank since 2013.

Born and educated in Newfoundland, she attended Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland, between 1966 and 1972 and received a diploma in education from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia in 1988.

Ms. Fitzpatrick is a well-known proponent of an active lifestyle. She was named St. John's female athlete of the year in 1969 and over the years has coached a number of track and field teams in several jurisdictions.

A resident of Lethbridge, she has called Alberta home for close to 20 years. She has three children.

Mr. Derek Fildebrandt - MLA for Strathmore-Brooks

We thank You Lord that You will give MLA Derek Fildebrandt the ability to serve his constituents and serve as the official oppositions shadow Minister of Finance and Treasury Board.  May he experience a wisdom and knowledge that is above and beyond his own.  We pray that he will have eyes to see the good path You have laid out for him today that will lead to success.  Amen.

Derek Fildebrandt was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Strathmore-Brooks, on May 5, 2015.

He currently serves as Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and as a member of the Special Standing Committee on Members' Services.

As well he serves as the Official Opposition's shadow minister of Finance and Treasury Board.

Prior to serving as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Fildebrandt was the Alberta director and national research director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. He also previously worked as a policy analyst for the Forum of Labour Market Ministers for the British Columbia Public Service.

Born and educated in Ontario, Mr. Fildebrandt received his bachelor of arts, history and political science from Carleton University.

Mr. Fildebrandt enjoys a number of outdoor activities such as fishing, sport shooting and canoeing.

Mr. Richard Feehan - MLA for Edmonton-Rutherford

Heavenly Father, bless MLA Mr. Richard Feehan today with strength and wise counsel as her serves the people of Edmonton – Rutherford.  Thank You for the experience he brings to his portfolio and to his constituents from the years spent in social work.  May he rise to fulfill the tasks at hand with courage and conviction.  Bless him and his family with peace today.  In Jesus Name, Amen

Richard Feehan was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Edmonton-Rutherford, on May 5, 2015.

Prior to his service with the Legislative Assembly he dedicated over a decade to teaching for the Edmonton division of the University of Calgary's Faculty of Social Work. Previous to this he was program director of the Edmonton Social Planning Council and vice-president of Edmonton's Catholic Social Services. He also spent more than a decade in private social work practice.

Community minded, he has served on the Clinical Advisory Team for the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services and as the U of Calgary Faculty of Social Work representative on the board for the Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family. Over the years he has also worked closely with the Glenrose hospital, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton and the Edmonton Community Adult Learning Association. His extensive community involvement also includes volunteering with arts, sports and school programs and with numerous community organizations.

Born and raised in Edmonton, he lives on Edmonton's south side with his wife, Kathaleen, and their three children, Antoine, Kate and Brenndan.

He has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Alberta, a bachelor of social work from the University of Calgary and a masters of social work from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario.

Mr. Mike Ellis - MLA for Calgary-West

Heavenly Father we pray for MLA Mike Ellis today.  Thank You for his faithfulness to serve the people of Calgary for many years as a constable.  We pray that You would enable him to initiate changes that will bring peace and security for all Albertan’s.  We ask God that You would watch over Mr. Ellis and his family because of Your great love for them.  Amen.

Mike Ellis was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the constituency of Calgary-West in a by-election on October 27, 2014. He was re-elected on May 5, 2015.

He currently serves as a member of the standing committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund and the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing.

He has previously served as a member of the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund and the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing.

Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Ellis spent 12 years with the Calgary Police Service. During his tenure he served eight years in the position of constable and three as patrol sergeant. In recognition of his service he received a 10-year distinguished service medal in 2013.

During Mr. Ellis’s policing career his focus was primarily on community policing, which included working with some of Calgary’s most vulnerable citizens through the Alberta Secretariat for Action on Homelessness. He specialized in judicial administration law and incident command, and also trained other officers in how to help victims of crime.

Mr. Ellis has studied in the bachelor of policing program at Charles Sturt University in Australia. He also holds a management certificate from Mount Royal College and leadership certification from the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Mr. Ellis is married to Hollie, and together they have three children.

Honourable David Eggen - MLA for Edmonton-Calder

Heavenly Father, bless Honourable David Eggen.  May he know continued wisdom to fulfill his duties and stands for the rights of all Albertan’s.  Give him patience for the challenges he faces as he walks through his day of committee meetings and give him oversight to initiatives while serving the people of Alberta.  Bless him today with strength and peace.  Amen.

Minister of Education

Minister of Culture and Tourism

David Eggen was sworn in as the Minister of Education and as the Minister of Culture and Tourism on May 24, 2015.

Mr. Eggen was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Edmonton-Calder on April 23, 2012 and again on May 5, 2015. 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 has served as a member of the following committees:

• Standing Committee on Families and Communities
• Standing Committee on Legislative Offices
• Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future
• Select Special Chief Electoral Officer Search Committee
• Select Special Ethics Commissioner Search Committee
• Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund

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. Wayne Drysdale - MLA for Grande Prairie-Wapiti

Heavenly Father, we ask you today for MLA Mr. Wayne Drysdale that You would be with him in his daily duties, and those commitments before him.  Guide him in the decisions he needs to make with wisdom and understanding, for the good of the people he is serving for the third term in Grande Prairie – Wapiti.  Bless and keep him and his family with peace.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

  

Wayne Drysdale was elected to his third term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Grande Prairie-Wapiti on May 5, 2015.

He currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Private Bills and the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship.

He had previously served as Minister of Transportation and as Minister of Infrastructure.

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 daughters Tory and Sydney 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.

Pray Alberta Remembers

On this day we take a moment out of our busy lives, we take a moment, that so many before us can no longer. We remember those who have passed, those who loved and where loved. We remember the sacrifice they made that we could live, sometimes unexciting lives.

More recently we remember the events that tore through our ordinary lives and caused simple men and women to go and perform great and sometimes unimaginable things.

Thank you to those who can’t hear our silent and humble acknowledgement. Thank you to those who can, those who were left behind. To the Mothers, Fathers, Uncles, Aunts sons and daughters.

Remember the people that were part of our communities and families.

In this moment of remembrance, Take a moment of silence and afterwards speak to the younger generations, share with them the loss, the sorrow and the pain. In remembering and sharing the lives lost will continue to live on.

Thank you Lord Jesus, for your Sacrifice and Resurrection that gives us hope for life after death. Thank you for cleansing us from all the things we’ve done that make us less than we were meant to be. I pray that you will help us realise your hand in dealing with our grief. Thank you for the Grace we don’t deserve and sometimes are ignorant of. On this day of remembrance please help us see and understand the sacrifices made that we might continue as we do.

Amen.