Mrs. Kerry Towle - MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake

Heavenly Father, it is with genuine gratitude that we come before You, lifting up MLA Kerry Towle to You in Prayer.  We pray for strategies and creative ideas to activate in her constituency of Innisfail – Sylvan Lake and for windows of opportunity and new ideas as she serves on the committee on Families and Communities.  May Your rich blessing and goodness be upon her and her family.  Amen.

Kerry Towle was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake on April 23, 2012. Mrs. Towle serves on the Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services and as the Official Opposition Deputy Whip.

Previously, she served as a member of the following standing committees:

• Families and Communities
• Alberta’s Economic Future
• Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing

A graduate of Innisfail high school and Reeves College, Mrs. Towle has worked in real estate for the past six years and is an Associate Broker. Prior to this, she worked for almost 10 years with the David Thompson Regional Health Authority as the executive assistant to the Nursing Leader. She also worked in human resources with the department of Indian and northern affairs, now known as Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

Mrs. Towle and her husband were turkey producers from 2003 to 2008.

Mrs. Towle was a strong advocate for her brother Ron who had Huntington’s Disease until his death in 2010.

She served for six years with the Royal Canadian Army Cadets as both a cadet and a cadet officer in Red Deer and Whitehorse, Yukon.

Mrs. Towle has hiked the Chillkoot Trail in the Yukon three times. Mrs. Towle and her family enjoy travelling and have backpacked extensively throughout Africa, Southeast Asia and Central America. Her family also hosts a Japanese high school student every year.

Dr. David Swann - MLA for Calgary-Mountain View

Lord, we pray for Your blessing upon Dr. David Swann today, leader of the Alberta Liberal Caucus.  We ask that You would surround him with good leaders who can provide wise counsel and continue to enable him to work towards a bright future here in Alberta.  May he have words of encouragement for all he meets today.  Bless him and his family with good restful sleep at night and days filled with joy.  Amen.

David Swann was elected to his third term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the constituency of Calgary-Mountain View on April 23, 2012. From December 15, 2008 to September 12, 2011, Dr. Swann served as leader of the Alberta Liberal caucus, Her Majesty’s Official Opposition.

Dr. Swann currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Private Bills and the Standing Committee on Families and Communities.

He previously served as critic for Health and Wellness and Executive Council. Additionally, Dr. Swann served as a member of the following Standing Committees:

• Public Health and Safety
• Private Bills
• Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing

During his first term Dr. Swann was environment critic and also served as deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Resources and Environment and as a member of the Private Bills Committee and the Standing Committee on Health.

Dr. Swann graduated from the University of Alberta with his B.MSc. in 1971, his MD in 1973 and from the University of Calgary with his FRCP(C) in 1988. He practised as a family physician from 1975 to 1984 and then as a public health consultant from 1988 to 2004.

Dr. Swann is active within his community and was responsible for initiating the Healthy City Project in Calgary in 1987. He was also a part of developing the first pesticide-free park in Calgary in 1998 and has been involved in a number of anti-sanctions, anti-war movements from 1995 to 2004, which included three trips to Iraq.

He was involved in the publication of Finding My Voice for Peace (from Canada and the New American Empire, ed. George Melnyk). Dr. Swann was also honoured with the Gold Star Teaching Award in both 1999 and 2003 from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary.

Dr. Swann has been actively involved in raising issues of human security and human rights both locally (farm-workers) and internationally (Darfur).

Dr. Swann and his wife, Laureen, have three children. During his free time he enjoys peace and justice work, music and singing, jogging, woodworking and writing.

Mr. Rick Strankman - MLA for Drumheller-Stettler

Lord God, we thank You that You have given MLA Rick Strankman a genuine heart of concern for the people he represents in Drumheller – Stettler.  We pray that as he serves on the Legislative committee on Alberta’s Economic Future that You would alert him to urgent situations and the ability to see beyond the obvious to discern what is truly needed.  We speak Your blessings over him, his family and constituency.  Amen.

Rick Strankman was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the constituency of Drumheller-Stettler on April 23, 2012.

In addition to serving on the Standing Committee on Private Bills, he is the Tourism, Parks and Recreation critic.

Previously, he served on the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future.

Mr. Strankman has owned and operated a farming business since 1973. From 1999 to 2011 he also volunteered as secretary/treasurer of the Western Barley Growers Association. Although initially interested in agriculture, Mr. Strankman became increasingly involved in politics and social activism in response to federal regulation of the agriculture industry, including legislation relating to the Canadian Wheat Board.

His commitment to public service began early on and as a youth Mr. Strankman was honored with the Queen’s scout award by Boy Scouts of Canada.

Mr. Strankman also has a keen interest in aviation and has held a pilot’s licence and done aerial application since 1974.

He and his wife Dianne live in Altario and have two grown children.

Mr. Pat Stier - MLA for Livingstone-Macleod

Lord, we pray today that Your blessings would be upon MLA Pat Stier as he serves on the standing committee on Public Accounts and Resource Leadership.  We thank You that You provided him with all the wisdom and knowledge he needs to be a good steward of his office.  Lead and guide his thoughts and decision making.  Shield him with Your protection and give him health and peace.  In Your Name, Amen.

Pat Stier was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Livingstone-Macleod on April 23, 2012.

In addition to serving on the Standing Committee on Private Bills, Mr. Stier currently serves on the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future. He previously served as a member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship.

Mr. Stier has lived in Alberta’s foothills region his entire life. He was raised on the family ranch near De Winton, where he and his family have raised Angus cattle, Arabian horses and various crops for more than 30 years. He attended school in Okotoks.

Throughout his working career Mr. Stier was employed primarily in the seismic data segment of the oil and gas industry in Calgary. He is President of River Canyon Enterprises Inc., a rural land planning consulting company in the foothills region.

Mr. Stier has experience working with and for municipal government. He served as a councillor with the Municipal District of Foothills from 2004 to 2007. He served as President of the Dunbow Road Area Residents Association from 1988 to 1999.

Dr. Richard Starke - MLA for Vermilion-Lloydminster

Lord we are grateful that You have given Dr. Richard Starke, the ability to clearly see the direction he must go and may he be enlightened by your divine wisdom for every situation he is facing.  Thank You that You enable him to see progress as he works toward a good future here in Alberta.  May the good deeds he does be returned to him abundantly.  Amen.

Richard Starke was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Vermilion-Lloydminster on April 23, 2012. He previously served as Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation.

Dr. Starke currenly serves as a member of the Treasure Board and has served as a member of the Agenda and Priorities Committee, Operations and Policy Cabinet Committee, Families and Community Ministerial Group, and Natural Resources and Environment Ministerial Group.

In addition, he previously chaired the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing and served as a member of the Standing Committees on Alberta’s Economic Future, Public Accounts and Private Bills.

Dr. Starke was born and raised in Edmonton. He attended the University of Alberta and later the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, where he graduated with a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) in 1983. Dr. Starke joined the Lloydminster Animal Hospital in 1983, became a partner in 1985 and was senior partner from 1990 until his retirement from practice in December 2011.

Dr. Starke first became interested in politics while in high school, when he participated in model parliamentary activities as a member of the TUXIS Parliament of Alberta. During his time in TUXIS Parliament he served in various Cabinet positions, as well as Premier and Speaker. He also represented Alberta at the first National Youth Parliament in Ottawa in 1980, serving as Minister of Energy. In 1985 he became the youngest person to be elected to city council in Lloydminster, 

becoming an alderman at the age of 25 and serving two terms, from 1985 to 1991.

An active member of his community, Dr. Starke has served as a member and board chair of the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation. He has been involved with the Rotary Club of Lloydminster and Rotary International since the late 1980s, and he is a founding member of Lloydminster’s German Heritage Society. He has also served as director of coaching and programs for the Lloydminster Border Blades Speed Skating Club.

Dr. Starke lives north of Lloydminster in the Durness district with his wife, Alison. Both of their sons currently attend university.

Ms. Danielle Smith - MLA for Highwood

Father in heaven, we pray that You would give Ms. Danielle Smith, leader of the Wildrose Party of Alberta the ability to tackle difficult situations with precision and with clarity.  May she have wisdom and confidence that there are good things ahead beneficial for the people of her constituency and all Albertans.  Enable her to lead with wisdom and knowledge as she fulfills her role.  May she also be surrounded by good leaders and wise counsellors.  In Your Name, Amen.

Leader of the Official Opposition

Danielle Smith was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Highwood on April 23, 2012. She was elected as leader of the Wildrose Party of Alberta on October 17, 2009.

She previously served on the Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services and the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future.

Prior to entering politics, Ms. Smith was the director of provincial affairs for Alberta with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, CFIB. She worked with all levels of government to represent the interests of CFIB’s 10,000 small-business members in Alberta.

Before joining CFIB, Ms. Smith had extensive experience in the media. She was an editorial writer and columnist at the Calgary Herald for six years. She served as host of Global Sunday, a national current affairs television talk show, and was also the host of two programs on CKMX 1060 AM radio in Calgary, Health Frontiers and Standing Ground. She has made frequent guest appearances as a commentator on TV and radio.

Ms. Smith’s public policy experience began with an internship at the Fraser Institute. She was also elected as a trustee for the Calgary board of education and served as the director of the Alberta Property Rights Initiative and the Canadian Property Rights Research Institute.

Ms. Smith received a BA in English and a BA in economics from the University of Calgary. She married her husband, David Moretta in 2006 and is the proud stepmother of David’s son Jonathan. Danielle and David live in High River with their two dogs, Caine and Colt.

Dr. Raj Sherman - MLA for Edmonton-Meadowlark

Lord, we thank You that You give Dr. Raj Sherman the ability to serve his constituents and the people of Alberta with wisdom and knowledge that is above and beyond his own.  May he have eyes to see the good path You have laid out for him today as he works with the standing committee on the Alberta Heritage and Savings Trust.  Give him strength and courage for whatever he faces today.  Amen.

Liberal Opposition Leader

Dr. Raj Sherman was elected to his second term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Edmonton-Meadowlark on April 23, 2012. In September 2011 he became Leader of the Liberal Opposition. Previously he served as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health and Wellness from March 12, 2008, to November 22, 2010.

Dr. Sherman completed his medical studies at the University of Alberta, and after obtaining his MD from the Faculty of Medicine, he specialized in family and emergency medicine. During the first term of his medical career he served as a STARS flight physician, as president of the section of emergency medicine for the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) and as a member of the AMA Health Issues Council.

Among his many professional accomplishments Dr. Sherman received a gold pin for his service with STARS, a bronze medal from the Lifesaving Society Alberta and Northwest Territories, and the Alan Drummond advocacy award from the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians.

Dr. Sherman is a past member of the University of Alberta Senate and a clinical lecturer at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine. He continues to be a keynote speaker and panellist at national health conferences.

Active in his community, Dr. Sherman is a director of the Society for Helping Lives in Poverty, a past member of the McKernan housing community, and a soccer and basketball coach. He also runs a small construction business designing and building custom-made homes.

In July 2011 he was voted one of the 50 most influential Albertans by Alberta Venture magazine.

He continues practising emergency medicine on weekends in Edmonton, Alberta.