Mr. Ronald Orr - MLA for Lacombe-Ponoka

Father God, we pray that You would make Your presence very real to Mr. Ronald Orr and be with him through the tasks before him today.  May the people he represents in Lacombe – Ponoka come to the forefront of his mind and we pray that he will see beyond the obvious to discern needs and urgent situations that require addressing.  Lord, give him strength and courage as he serves in his constituency.  We speak your blessing over him and his family.  Amen.

Ronald Orr was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Lacombe-Ponoka on May 5, 2015. He currently serves as a member of the Special Standing Committee on Members' Services. Mr. Orr previously served as a member of the Standing Committee on Families and Communities.

Mr. Orr has a master’s degree in theology and is an ordained minister. He also holds a journeyman carpenter’s 

ticket and a registered housing professional certificate and has previously owned a general contracting business.

His community involvement includes board positions with a number of charitable organizations, including the Gull Lake Centre and Calgary’s Mustard Seed Society. He also served as a public information officer for the municipal emergency management team for the village of Clive, Alberta.

Mr. Orr was born in Calgary and has lived in Lacombe-Ponoka for 13 years. He and his wife, Donna Marie, have three children.

Premier Rachel Notley - MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona

Father in Heaven, we ask that You would give our Premier an extra measure of grace as she serves the people of Alberta.  May she experience a wisdom and knowledge above and beyond her own.  We pray that she will have eyes to see the good path You have laid out for her today that will lead to success.  This we pray in the Name of Jesus.  Amen.

Premier of Alberta

Rachel Notley was sworn in as the province's 17th Premier on May 24, 2015. She grew up in Fairview, Alberta, and is the daughter of former Alberta ND leader Grant Notley and his wife Sandy.

Having grown up in a passionate political family that believed in the importance of building a fairer, more inclusive society, Rachel was naturally drawn to work to make her home province better, and first ran for election for the Alberta New Democrats in Edmonton-Strathcona in 2008. She was re-elected in 2012 and again in 2015.

Rachel holds a bachelor of arts in political science from the University of Alberta, and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. She has worked for a variety of labour unions in both Alberta and British Columbia and served as a ministerial advisor to British Columbia's Attorney General in the 1990s. Rachel's work during her legal career focused on labour law, workers' compensation advocacy and workplace health and safety issues.

Rachel lives in Edmonton's Old Strathcona neighbourhood, along with her husband Lou and their two children Ethan and Sophie.

Mr. Jason Nixon - MLA for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre

Father in Heaven, we come into your presence today on behalf of Mr. Jason Nixon. We ask that you would give him favor in the vital roles he holds in provincial politics. Thank you that you give him plans and strategies to deal with current issues in our province and provision of resources to carry them out. May Mr. Nixon sense your presence with him and be encouraged.

Jason Nixon was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre on May 5, 2015. He currently serves as Official Opposition Whip.

Mr. Nixon serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices and the Special Standing Committee on Members' Services.

He previously served as a member of the Select Special Ethics and Accountability Committee.

Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Nixon's employment experience largely centred on supporting The Mustard Seed, a Christian not-for-profit organization. Over the course of the 25 years in which he was involved with the charitable organization he served in many roles, including as executive director, a position he held between 2006 and 2011.

More recently and while furthering his studies, Mr. Nixon was elected president of the Athabasca University Students' Union (AUSU), a position he held between April 2014 and May 2015. Previous to this he served as AUSU vice-president of finance and administration from April 2012 to April 2014.

Mr. Nixon's additional employment experience includes working in management for health and safety consulting firms and in business for the oil and gas industry.

He holds a diploma in business administration management from SAIT and a national construction safety officer designation from the Alberta Construction Safety Association.

Mr. Nixon lives just west of Sundre with his wife, Tiffany, and his three children.

Mr. Chris Nielsen - MLA for Edmonton-Decore

Heavenly Father, bless MLA Mr. Chris Nielsen with strength and wise counsel as he serves the people of Edmonton – Decore.  Thank You for the experience he brings to his portfolio and to his constituents.  Surround him with knowledgeable people who will enable him to bring about success and advancement to the people of Alberta.  May he rise to fulfill his tasks at hand with courage and conviction.  Amen.

Chris Nielsen was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Edmonton-Decore, on May 5, 2015.

He currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship and the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing.

He previously served as deputy chair of the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund and as a member of the Special Standing Committee on Members' Services and the Select Special Ethics and Accountability Committee.

Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Nielsen worked as a shipper/receiver for 26 years, beginning in 1990. During his extensive career he represented his colleagues as shop steward for 15 years and filled various committee positions within local 401 of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

Mr. Nielsen's community work also includes volunteering with the Children's Heart Society in a variety of capacities, including as secretary and as director.

He studied engineering design at NAIT from 1986 to 88.

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he and his family have called Edmonton home since 1982.

Honourable Ricardo Miranda - MLA for Calgary-Cross

Heavenly Father we pray for MLA Ricardo Mirando today.  Thank You for his faithfulness to serve the people of Calgary – Cross.  We pray that You would enable him to initiate changes that will bring advancement in the economy and security for all Albertans’.  We ask God that You would watch over Mr. Mirando and his family showing Your great love for them.  Amen.  

Minister of Culture and Tourism

Ricardo Miranda was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Calgary-Cross, on May 5, 2015. On February 2, 2016, he was appointed Minister of Culture and Tourism.

Preceding the ministry appointment, Mr. Miranda served as chair of the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future and as a member of the Select Special Ethics and Accountability Committee and the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund.

Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Miranda worked as a flight attendant for 15 years and as a servicing representative, member organizer and researcher with the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

Mr. Miranda holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Calgary, and is working towards a secondary degree in industrial relations with a long term view of obtaining a PhD.

Ms. Barb Miller - MLA for Red Deer-South

Lord God, we are thankful today for MLA Ms. Barbara Miller, of the South Red deer riding. We pray for you continued direction Heavenly Father as she stands in the place of making decisions that affect the community she represents in the beautiful Park land of Central Alberta that serves the needs of both urban and rural people. We pray for her constituents that they would prosper and be blessed as you Lord, work through her. We ask for health, protection and peace for her in Jesus name, Amen

Barb Miller was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Red Deer-South, on May 5, 2015.

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

She previously served as chair of the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund and as deputy chair of the Select Special Ethics and Accountability Committee.

Prior to her serving with the Legislative Assembly, Mrs. Miller was a union steward for the United Food and Commercial Workers local 401. She served on her union’s executive committee as the vice president for Central Alberta. She has also served on her union’s health and safety and women’s committees.

Barb was also the president of the Red Deer and District Labour Council and sat on the executive council of the Alberta Federation of Labour.

Community-focused, Mrs. Miller volunteered for the point-in-time homeless count, and is a strong advocate for the elimination of homelessness.

Born and raised in Edmonton, this proud mother of three and grandmother of two has lived in Red Deer with her husband since 2002.

Karen McPherson - MLA for Calgary-Mackay-Nose Hill

Father God, we acknowledge that You are present in the constituency of Calgary-MacKay-Nose Hill and with MLA Ms. Karen McPherson today. Guide her in the duties and appointments that are before her and give her the measure of wisdom that she requires to be successful. We pray that new doors of opportunity would open to her to meet key leaders in her community. Amen

Karen McPherson was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Calgary-Mackay-Nose Hill, on May 5, 2015.

She currently serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Private Bills and as a member of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing.

She previously served as a member of the Standing Committee on Families and Communities.

Before being elected, Ms. McPherson's career spanned roles as varied as Collaboration Analyst, Collaboration and E-mail Architect and Manager, Business Continuity Consultant and Business Analyst in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, in industries such as Chemicals, Manufacturing and for more than 20 years, in Oil and Gas.

As part of her commitment to contributing to the community Ms. McPherson has served as Secretary for Old Colony Habitat for Humanity in Norton, Massachusetts, a wrangler when Calgary hosted the Juno Awards in 2008 and a judge of the Calgary Youth Science Fair for seven years.

Ms. McPherson has two grown children, a small grouchy dog and enjoys travelling to learn about the world we live in.