Honourable Verlyn Olson - MLA for Wetaskiwin-Camrose

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Honourable Verlyn Olson.   Bless him in the positions that he holds in the Alberta legislature.  May he seek Your help and wisdom in all that he puts his hand to do today for the well-being of those he serves in QC, Wetaskiwin – Camrose.   Keep him from harm and give him enjoyable times with his family.  In Jesus Name,  Amen.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

Verlyn Olson, QC, was elected to his second term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Wetaskiwin-Camrose on April 23, 2012. On May 8, 2012 he was named Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. Mr. Olson serves as Deputy House Leader.

During his first term as MLA, Mr. Olson served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General. He also served as deputy chair on the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities; chair of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Workforce Planning Committee and as a member of the Cabinet Policy Committee on Public Health & Safety.

Previously, Mr. Olson served on the Standing Committees on Public Accounts, Private Bills and Health.

Prior to serving as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Mr. Olson was a partner with the law firm Andreassen Olson Borth, where his practice focused primarily on real estate, wills, estates and counselling small businesses, assisting farmers, families, seniors and dependent adults.

Additionally, since 1987 Mr. Olson has spoken at various seminars covering topics such as farm estate planning, wills and enduring powers of attorney.

Mr. Olson received both his bachelor of arts in history with distinction and a bachelor of laws from the University of Alberta.

Born and raised in Camrose, Mr. Olson has a long history of community involvement, including coaching local baseball and hockey and membership with the following organizations:

• Viking Cup International Hockey Tournament Steering Committee
• The Bethany Group (Health Care/Seniors Housing Board)
• Alberta Motion Picture Development Corporation Board
• Camrose Sport Development Society
• Armena Athletic Association (chair)
• Camrose Lutheran College Corporation (Augustana University College) Board of Regents

He and his wife, Mardell, have three adult children and four grandchildren.

Ms. Cathy Olesen - MLA for Sherwood Park

Heavenly Father, bless MLA Cathy Olesen, today with Your grace and peace and may she seek Your wisdom and help for the challenges that come before her.  May she be an encouragement to those with whom she interacts and a woman of honor.   Give her fun times with her family.   In Jesus Name, amen.

Cathy Olesen was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Sherwood Park on April 23, 2012.

In addition to serving as chair of the Standing Committee on Families and Communities, Ms. Olesen is a member of the Standing Committee on Private Bills and the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing. She serves on the board of directors for Climate Change Central, and is also currently a member of the results-based budgeting challenge panel for municipalities and regional planning. More recently she was appointed to the MLA implementation team working on the review and implementation of the retail market review recommendations to strengthen Alberta’s retail electricity market.

She previously served as 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.

Among western Canada’s earliest pioneers, Ms. Olesen’s McPhail ancestors came to what was then the Hudson’s Bay land grant, known as Rupert’s Land, to work in the fur trade well before Confederation.

Ms. Olesen was born in Winnipeg. She attended the University of Manitoba, receiving a bachelor of arts in political science and economics in 1981. The following year Ms. Olesen moved to Alberta, where she worked in environmental planning with the Energy Resources Conservation Board for five years. She was also a stay-at-home mother for seven years. 

During this time she also cultivated her painting and volunteer work and was appointed as a public member of the Strathcona Subdivision and Development Appeal Board in 1992.

Ms. Olesen served as Strathcona county councillor in 1995 in urban and rural ward 4. First-term accomplishments included the establishment of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association, a co-operative association of four municipalities united to promote industrial development and stimulus within the capital region.

Ms. Olesen repeated her success in 1998, when through a plebiscite she championed the building of Millenium Place, the first recreational complex of its size in western Canada. Ms. Olesen was acclaimed councillor in 2001.

Ms. Olesen contested the mayor’s chair in 2004 and was re-elected in 2007. During Ms. Olesen’s six years as mayor, from 2004 to 2010, Strathcona county attracted substantial industrial and residential development: a new seniors’ lodge, miles of trails, the Ardrossan arena expansion, the new county library complex, the redevelopment of Broadmoor Arena and Clubhouse and the approval of the new Bethel fire station and training facility.

In addition to her role as mayor, Ms. Olesen has served on a wide range of boards and associations. She has served as vice-chair of the Capital Region Board, vice-chair of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association, director with the Capital Region Wastewater Commission, director of the Telus Community Board and president of the Trans Canada Yellowhead Highway Association. She is also a member of the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society.

Ms. Olesen is married to Rex Adam, and together they are proud parents of four accomplished adults.

Honourable Frank Oberle - MLA for Peace River

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Honourable Frank Oberle and his role in the Alberta government.  May he be a man of integrity and compassion as he leads in the affairs of the Aboriginal people of Alberta.  Give him divine wisdom and insight to carry out his day to day duties with Your grace.   Bless his family times.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Minister of Aboriginal Relations

Frank Oberle was elected to his third term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the constituency of Peace River on April 23, 2012 and was appointed as Minister of Aboriginal Relations on December 13, 2013. He is also Deputy House Leader.

Mr. Oberle was formerly the Associate Minister of Services for Persons with Disabilities (reporting to the Minister of Human Services) and Minister of Sustainable Resource Development.

Previously, he has served as Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security, Chief Government Whip and on the following standing committees of the Legislative Assembly:

• Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing
• Resources and Environment
• Private Bills Committee
• Public Accounts Committee

Mr. Oberle studied forest resource technology at the College of New Caledonia in Prince George in 1980 and obtained his bachelor of science in forestry from the University of New Brunswick in 1988. Mr. Oberle won the Governor General’s award (gold medal) in forestry in 1988, the highest university achievement.

From 1988 to 2004, Mr. Oberle worked for Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd., first as a management forester and then as senior forestry advisor. He is a registered professional forester (RPF) with the College of Professional Foresters (CAPF).

Mr. Oberle is no stranger to the political arena. His father, Frank Oberle Sr., was a Member of Parliament for Prince George-Peace River from 1973 to 1993 and held portfolios including Minister of Forestry and Minister of State for Science and Technology.

Mr. Oberle is an active member of the community and has been involved with many boards and organizations:

• Métis Harvesting Committee
• Co-chair Alberta Forest Research Institute (AFRI) from 2004 to 2006
• Parent council, Good Shepherd school
• Economic Development Board chair for Peace River in 2000
• RCMP Community Advisory Board from 2001 to 2004
• Peace River town council from 2001 to 2004
• Member of the East Peace Regional Landfill Board from 2001 to 2004

He and his wife, Debbie, have two children and in his spare time he enjoys fishing, woodworking and river boating.

Ms. Rachel Notley - MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona

Heavenly Father, we come to you on behalf of MLA Rachel Notley.   Thank you for the experience and integrity that she brings to the Alberta Legislature.  May she know Your peace, and wisdom, as she works for and with the people of Edmonton – Strathcona.   We pray that she would be a woman character who will stand strong in her moral convictions bringing honor to her and her family.  In Jesus Name, amen.

Rachel Notley grew up in Fairview, Alberta, and is the daughter of former Alberta NDP 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.

As the New Democrat critic for Human Services, Environment, Advanced Education and Justice, much of Rachel’s work has focused on issues such as improving the lives of children in government care, protecting our water and our land, and human rights advocacy.

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.

Honourable Diana McQueen - MLA for Drayton Valley-Devon

Heavenly Father we thank you for Honourable Diana McQueen, watch over her to give her wisdom and understanding for all the needs of the people she serves in Drayton Valley – Devon.   May she experience Your love, care and help in the difficult decisions that come before her as Minister of Energy.   May Your peace be with her and her family.  In Jesus Name,  Amen.

Minister of Energy

Diana McQueen was elected to her second term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Drayton Valley-Devon on April 23, 2012. On December 13, 2013, Mrs. McQueen was sworn-in as Minister of Energy. She previously served as Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD).

Mrs. McQueen’s work this term has focused on integrated resource management. Under her leadership, ESRD has taken decisive action on a number of issues important to Albertans in 2012, including:

• Implementing Alberta’s first regional plan under the Land-use Framework, the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan;
• Partnering with the federal government to begin implementation of a new comprehensive environmental monitoring program in the oil sands region;
• Working to strengthen Alberta’s relationship with Asia to facilitate trade of forest products and share best practices and learnings; and,
• Spearheading the creation of a single regulatory system for all oil and gas developments in Alberta.

Prior to her election, Mrs. McQueen served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy and the Minister of Environment. Outside the legislature, she is active in her community, and has served as a school board chair and trustee, and as the mayor of Drayton Valley.

Honourable Ric McIver - MLA for Calgary-Hays

Father in Heaven today we pray for Your blessing upon Honorable Ric McIver.   May You bring him and all of Alberta’s leadership into unity for the good of this generation and generations to come.  May he have an ear to hear Your clear direction in all the matters he attends to.  We also ask that he would have eyes to see the needs of his constituents and may their concerns come to his attention.  Lord we pray for guidance from above to bring correction and solve the problems at hand in a way that will bring success and prosperity to this province.  Amen.

Minister of Infrastructure

Ric McIver was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Calgary-Hays on April 23, 2012. On December 13, 2013, he was sworn in as Minister of Infrastructure and is a member of the Treasury Board committee.

Previously, Mr. McIver served as Minister of Transportation and was the first person in this post to be selected from one of Alberta’s major cities.

Ric previously served the residents of Calgary-Hays as the alderman on Calgary city council for ward 12 from 2001 to 2010, a span of three terms. In that time he served on the board of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, the Calgary Police Commission and the Metropolitan Calgary Foundation. He also served as chair of the Calgary Housing Company.

Ric became an Albertan on July 26, 1981. He has worked in the food industry in many different roles, including national sales manager and sales and marketing manager of different organizations. He has also owned and operated a food distribution and marketing wholesale business.

Ric is married to Christine, the founder and CEO of the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta. Between them they have four children and two grandchildren, all living in Calgary.

Mr. Everett McDonald - MLA for Grande Prairie-Smoky

Father in Heaven we ask for Your wisdom and knowledge to be imparted to MLA Everett McDonald.  We pray that the people he represents would always be on his heart and that he would continue to look after them with dignity and respect.  We also ask that he would be blessed by finding a close connection with his constituents and find great favor in all the work he does for all Albertans.  Amen.

Everett McDonald was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Grande Prairie-Smoky on April 23, 2012.

In addition to his duties as an MLA, he also serves on the following committees:

• Standing Committee on Legislative Offices (deputy chair)
• Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future
• Special Standing Committee on Members’ Service
• Select Special Ethics Commissioner Search Committee

Mr. McDonald was recently appointed as chair of the MLA implementation team working on the review and implementation of the retail market review recommendations to strengthen Alberta’s retail electricity market.

He previously served as a member of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing, the Select Special Conflicts of Interest Act Review Committee and the Select Special Chief Electoral Officer Search Committee.

Mr. McDonald was born and raised in Grande Prairie and is a third-generation farmer; he has been farming in the same district of the county that his grandfather homesteaded in 1911.

First elected to the County of Grande Prairie No. 1 Council in 1992, Mr. McDonald served in various capacities during his tenure, including as chair of numerous commissions and boards and as deputy reeve. He then served as reeve from 2004 until his election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Mr. McDonald was the chairman of the Crystal Creek Conservation Society and also represented the county on various provincial committees, including the Alberta Growth Summit and the provincial Mountain Pine Beetle Advisory Committee. In addition, he was also a founding board member of Aquatera, a municipally owned utility corporation, the first of its kind in the province.

Golf, fishing, hockey and curling are some of Mr. McDonald’s favourite pastimes. He and his wife, Tina, have four children and are also the proud grandparents of two grandsons.