MLA Deron Bilous; Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview

Father, we thank you for MLA Deron Bilous and his compassionate heart as he mentors and teaches our future – Youth! Bless him as he serves as MLA for Edmonton – Beverly – Clareview. Give him direction on the issues facing his constituency and the Province. In the name of Jesus.

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 traveling.

June 1, 2012

MLA Gary Bikman; Cardston-Taber-Warner

Lord, guide and bless MLA Gary Bikman give him the awareness of the needs and issues in his constituency of Carston – Taber – Warner. Empower him the wisdom in every decision he must make on the committees he serves! Bless he and his wife as they parent and guide their family. In Jesus name.

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.

March 19, 2013

Honourable Manmeet S. Bhullar; Calgary-Greenway

Lord, we pray for Hon. Manmeet Bhullar; we pray you will guide and direct every decision he makes as he serves as Minister of Social Alberta. Empower him with great wisdom and compassion in this Ministry. Lord, help him to sense your love and care for him.  In Jesus Name

Minister of Service Alberta

Manmeet Bhullar was elected to his second term as MLA for Calgary-Greenway on April 23, 2012. On May 8, 2012 Mr. Bhullar was sworn in as Minister of Service Alberta. Previously, Mr. Bhullar also served as Political Minister-Calgary.

He has also served as Parliamentary Assistant for Advanced Education and Technology, and he was reappointed as Parliamentary Assistant for Municipal Affairs in January 2010.

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)

June 6, 2012

MLA Naresh Bhardwaj; Edmonton-Ellerslie

Father, we thank you for MLA Naresh Bhardwaj who gracious serves his constituents of Edmonton  - Ellerslie as well as our Province. We pray you grant him wisdom and understanding for the decisions concerning issues he is faced with as they arise. Bless him and his family with strength and unity as he serves in this office. In Jesus name

Mr. Bhardwaj was elected to his second term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton-Ellerslie on April 23, 2012. In addition to his duties as an MLA, Mr. Bhardwaj serves as chair of the capital region caucus. He also sits on the following committees: the Legislative Review Committee, the Standing Committee on Private Bills, and the Standing Committee on Alberta´s Economic Future.

Previously he served on 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.

June 27, 2013

MLA Drew Barnes: Cypress-Medicine Hat

Dear Heavenly Father, we are grateful today for the MLA for Cypress – Medicine Hat, Mr. Drew Barnes.  We pray that he would experience new wisdom, direction and insight as he carries out his various responsibilities. May he be surrounded with individuals who will support and assist him in his role in the Legislature. In Your name, Amen.

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

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.

June 6, 2012

MLA Joe Anglin: Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre

Dear Lord, we thank you for MLA, Mr. Joe Anglin as he serves the people of Rimbey – Rocky Mountain House – Sundre. We pray that you would bless him for the many hours of active service and the care he has shown towards the people of these communities. May he experience wisdom as he carries out his role as Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Resources Stewardship. In Jesus name, Amen

Joe Anglin was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre on April 23, 2012. He currently serves as deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship and as a member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.

Mr. Anglin served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam era before becoming a police officer. He then obtained a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in education. Mr. Anglin worked as a lineman for a public electric utility before going on to work for AT&T, the world’s largest corporation. He obtained a diploma in engineering and worked his way up into executive management. During his time with AT&T he taught fibre-optic transmission engineering at the Bell Labs training facilities in Chicago and served as the White House communications liaison for George Bush Sr. in Kennebunkport, Maine.

In the late 1990s Mr. Anglin became a unit leader for the Canadian Coast Guard’s fast-response search and rescue operations on the Pacific coast. In 2000, as the unit leader, Joe organized and led the Canadian national search and rescue team to victory in the World Marine Search and Rescue competitions.

Most recently Mr. Anglin was the founder and CEO of ASIG Inc., which operated as an international financial services firm. With offices located in Vancouver and Washington, ASIG specialized in trading derivatives, oil contracts, gas contracts and currencies.

An active member of his community, Mr. Anglin successfully organized and led the Lavesta Area Group, an association of southern Alberta landowners opposed to the construction of a 500KV electricity transmission line through their area, from 2006 to 2010. He served as chair of the Rimoka Housing Foundation from 2010 to 2012 and also served as a town councillor in Rimbey from 2010 until his election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.

In 2007 the Edmonton Journal named Mr. Anglin one of the top 10 people who made a difference. In 2008 Alberta Venture named him one of Alberta’s 50 most influential people.

Mr. Anglin currently lives in Rimbey with his wife, Deborah, and their two children.

March 19, 2013

MLA Rob Anderson: Airdrie

Father in Heaven we ask you to bless MLA, Mr. Rob Anderson as he serves in our legislature, representing the people of Airdrie. We pray, Lord, that you would direct his thoughts and plans as he works with others on the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund. We ask that you would refresh him with new strength as he carries out this important role. Amen

Rob Anderson was elected to his second term in Alberta’s Legislative Assembly as the Member for Airdrie on April 23, 2012.

He currently serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and as a member of the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund.

In addition to his regular duties, he previously served on the following committees of the Legislative Assembly:

• Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship
• Standing Committee on Education
• Standing Committee on Finance
• Special Standing Committee on Members´ Services
• Standing Committee on Private Bills
• Standing Committee on Public Safety and Services

On January 4, 2010, Mr. Anderson joined the Wildrose Caucus.

Born in Edmonton on June 13, 1977, Mr. Anderson is the oldest of seven children. The family lived in Sherwood Park for most of his early years before moving in 1990 to Airdrie, which has been home ever since. During his youth he spent much of his time playing sports, particularly hockey and football. Two of his most memorable achievements are winning the Edmonton city championship as defensive captain for the Salisbury high school football team in Sherwood Park and being named the starting goaltender for the Brigham Young University Cougars hockey team. He also dedicated himself to earning his Boy Scouts of Canada chief scout award.

In 2003 Mr. Anderson graduated magna cum laude from Brigham Young University with a bachelor of arts in communications. Three years later he obtained a bachelor of laws from the University of Alberta, graduating with 'distinction' honours.

While at law school Mr. Anderson earned the coveted Merv Leitch QC scholarship for superior academic standing in constitutional law and demonstrated participation in related extracurricular activities, which in his case included his cofounding the organization Students for a Stronger Alberta. This group advocated for democratic reform and more meaningful voter participation in the democratic process, printed a university newspaper (The Independent), focused on debating relevant public policy and political issues of the day and organized a speaker series on strengthening democracy. He further demonstrated his interest in legal issues as they relate to the political sphere by earning the highest academic standing in the U of A law school's law and democratic process course.

Prior to his election as a Member of the Legislative Assembly Mr. Anderson practiced corporate litigation law at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Calgary. Aside from the opportunity to work with some of Canada's most knowledgeable legal minds, this experience provided him with firsthand insight into how and why companies succeed or fail.

At 19 years old Mr. Anderson spent two years engaging in mission service in Taiwan. During this time he had the opportunity to learn to speak Mandarin Chinese fluently, work as a caregiver for high-needs individuals, teach English as a second language and forge friendships that he enjoys to this day. It turns out that learning Mandarin Chinese was a blessing in more ways than one. In 2008, his parents adopted a little girl from China.

Mr. Anderson and his wife, Anita, live in Airdrie, where they raise their four sons: Derek, Bryce, Spencer and Joshua. He also has the opportunity to spend time with his parents, four brothers and two sisters, who live nearby.

March 19, 2013