Mr. Shaye Anderson - MLA for Leduc-Beaumont

Father in heaven, we pray for Mr. Shayne Anderson that You would multiply his time and renew his energy.  Guide and direct his steps as he attends to important business today.  Bless his family and may they have health, strength and many enjoyable times together.  In Jesus Name,  Amen.

Shaye Anderson was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Leduc-Beaumont on May 5, 2015.

He currently serves as the deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and as a member of the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future. He previously served as a member of the Standing Committee on Private Bills and as a member of the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship.

Mr. Anderson attended postsecondary studies in British Columbia, from where he originally hails. He obtained a diploma in physical education from Malaspina University-College, now known as Vancouver Island University, and also attended the University of Victoria’s Faculty of Education.

For over 10 years Mr. Anderson has worked as a telecommunications technician; his employers include Telus Communications, Vista Telecom Networks and Shaw Cable. In 2015 Mr. Anderson was the recipient of Telus Communications’ Customer First champion award.

Mr. Anderson has been involved with the Telecommunications Workers Union and United Steelworkers local 1944 as a shop steward and vice-president.

An avid sportsman, Mr. Anderson plays competitive fastball and rugby; he also helps coach his two sons’ soccer and baseball teams.

He and his wife, Kelly, have two sons, Declan and Maddoc.

Mrs. Leela Sharon Aheer - MLA for Chestermere-Rocky View

Father, we pray for Your presence to be with MLA Ms. Leela Aheer as she serves the people of Chestermere – Rocky View.  Guide her thoughts and may she know what is best to do in order to see the success she envisions for Albertans.  Give her renewed strength and good health to continue to carry out her role.  In Christ’s Name, Amen.

Leela Sharon Aheer was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Chestermere-Rocky View on May 5, 2015.

She currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship.

Mrs. Aheer has been a proud small-business owner since 1998. She has successfully operated a number of small businesses, each employing several people, including the Aheer Studio of Performance and Chestermere's WestCreek Auto Wash.

Mrs. Aheer studied political science at the University of Calgary for several years before obtaining a bachelor's degree in music from the University of Manitoba. She is a professional musician and is classically trained in all styles. She plays the flute and teaches voice, piano and guitar. Mrs. Aheer has won various awards at the Calgary Kiwanis music festival and has nine songs published to her credit. With her group Minerva she collaborated on a CD entitled Follow Me, which received a national release in Canada. She is fluent in French and also sings and instructs voice in French, Italian, German, Spanish, Punjabi, Hindi and Telugu. She and her students have won awards and scholarships for voice and musical theatre.

Mrs. Aheer is an active volunteer, especially in areas of music and the arts. She is known to lend her time and energy to more than 50 events per year and has received numerous accolades for her efforts, including the volunteer of the year award from the town of Chestermere in 2013. Mrs. Aheer is a dedicated advocate for individuals with special needs and regularly spends her time volunteering at hospitals and other care facilities.

Mrs. Aheer along with her family – husband, Malkeet, and two children, Akesh and Sehran – reside in Chestermere.

Mr. Tany Yao - MLA for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo

Father in heaven, we pray for Your blessing to be on MLA Mr. Tany Yao today.  We are grateful for the skills he brings to his position and the care he has for the people of Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo who have suffered so much loss.  We pray that You would give him wisdom in everything he does.  Amen

Tany Yao was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo, on May 5, 2015.

He currently is a member of the Standing Committee on Families and Communities.

Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly, he worked on his property portfolio between 2011 and 2015.

Before this, he began a 20 year career in emergency response services in 1991 in Ponoka. He then enrolled in NAIT's paramedic program and then worked with the Alberta Central Air Ambulance in Lac La Biche. He also worked for Peace Regional Emergency Medical Services and the Fort McMurray Fire Department. While with the FMFD he acted in a supervisory role and another four years as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Operations - EMS.

In addition to holding a diploma in paramedics, he has undergone extensive firefighter training. He also received certification in project management and in business administration.

Over the years he has volunteered his time to support various charitable organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club, the United Way, Muscular Dystrophy Canada, the Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the Canadian Cancer Society's Relay For Life.

Ms. Denise Woollard - MLA for Edmonton-Mill Creek

Dear God, we ask that You would be with MLA Ms. Denise Woollard and multiply her time as she goes about her day.   Renew her energy and may she sense that You walk with her.  We pray blessings on the leadership skills she brings to her role.  We thank You for her dedication and commitment while serving in our legislature.  Amen

Denise Woollard was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Edmonton-Mill Creek, on May 5, 2015.

She currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices and as a member of the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship.  She previously served as chair of the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices and as a member of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing.

Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly, Ms. Woollard was working as a university facilitator at the University of Alberta. Previous to this, she worked for 16 years as an educational psychologist at schools throughout the province.

She also spent many years as a teacher and school counsellor for Northland and Parkland school divisions.

An avid volunteer, she has dedicated over 35 years to community service, including serving on the board of directors for the Wabamun Public Library and volunteering for the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, the Citadel Theatre and the Canadian Federation of University Women.

Her extensive educational background includes a master's in education, a bachelor of arts in English, a professional diploma and a diploma in special education.

Ms. Woollard was raised in Edmonton and she and her adult children are long time Edmonton residents.

Mr. Cameron Westhead - MLA for Banff-Cochrane

Lord God, be with MLA Mr. Cameron Westhead as he goes through each and every day and guide him we pray.   Thank You for bringing him the resources required to accomplish the things he sees that need to be done in his constituency of Banff – Cochrane.  May he be blessed with rest and health and be refreshed today. Amen

Cameron Westhead was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Banff-Cochrane, on May 5, 2015.

He currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. He previously served as a member of the Standing Committee on Families and Communities.

Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Westhead was a registered nurse with Alberta Health Services for 10 years, beginning in 2005. He most recently worked in the operating room at the Foothills hospital. During this time he also served as a workplace representative, an elected position which he held for four years.

He holds a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Toronto and a bachelor of arts from Nipissing University.

Mr. Westhead and his wife call Bragg Creek home.

Honourable Robert Wanner - MLA for Medicine Hat

Heavenly Father, be with Hon. Robert Wanner, as he serves the constituents of Medicine Hat and in his important role as speaker of the House.  Thank you for his leadership and the fine example he is of one who sincerely cares for the needs of his colleagues and all he represents.  Guide him today and may he experience Your presence and peace.  Amen.

Speaker

Robert E. Wanner was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Medicine Hat, on May 5, 2015. On June 11, 2015, he was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

As Speaker he serves as chair of the Special Standing Committee on Members' Services and as president of the Alberta branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

Prior to his service with the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Wanner devoted 15 years to Canadians Reaching Out to the World's Children Foundation (CARO), of which he is a founding member and was president from 2000 to 2015. CARO is a Medicine Hat based foundation that is dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable children in Medicine Hat and around the world.

Mr. Wanner started his career as a social worker with the province of Alberta in Grande Prairie, Alberta. He then enjoyed a lengthy career with the city of Medicine Hat, where he worked for over 35 years in various senior management and executive-level positions, including as director of preventive social services, as the Medicine Hat Police Service's director of administration and planning and as the superintendent of social planning and housing. In 1995 he was appointed to the executive leadership of the city of Medicine Hat as the public services commissioner, and he then served as a project leader of a major organizational development initiative.

He is a registered social worker (RSW), qualified mediator (QMed) and registered family mediator (RFM). In 2005 he formed and operated a private mediation, conflict resolution and small property development business.

Extensively involved in his community, Mr. Wanner has over 40 years of community service experience, including as a senator for the University of Calgary; a founding member and past president of the Gas City Former Employees Association; a volunteer for the Salvation Army, the United Way and several community theatre organizations and, most recently, as chair of a family care clinic (FCC) steering committee.

He holds a bachelor of arts from the University of Saskatchewan, a master of arts in social welfare policy from McMaster University and a master of business administration from the University of Calgary.

Born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Mr. Wanner has called Medicine Hat home since 1972. He and his wife, Joan Emard-Wanner, have four children and 11 grandchildren.

Mr. Glenn van Dijken - MLA for Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock

We pray your blessings today on MLA Glenn van Dijken, knowing that you are aware of all he needs to do and carry out to make this day meaningful and successful. May he look to you, for you know all things and especially that you do all things well. May what he does today make him feel a sense of well-being and success with all he puts his hand to. Bless him and his family. In Jesus Name, Amen

Glenn van Dijken was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock, on May 5, 2015.

He currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices and as a member of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing. He is also a member of the Select Special Ethics and Accountability Committee.

Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly, Mr. van Dijken's activities centred on operating his family grain farm in Dapp, Alberta, for which he and his spouse, Barb, were named Outstanding Young Farmers of Alberta in 2001.

He has also worked on various committees and boards. He co-chaired the Canadian Outstanding Young Farmer program from 2009 to 2010 and served on the board of directors for the Federated Co-operative Limited from 2011 to 2015, the Goldeye Foundation Society from 2011 to 2015 and the Neerlandia Co-operative Association Limited from 1996 to 2008.

A founding member of the Western Hog Exchange (WHE), Mr. van Dijken was a WHE director for 12 years, between 1997 and 2011, serving five years as vice-chair and two as chair.

Other community activity for Mr. van Dijken includes serving on his church council and volunteering as a hockey and baseball coach.