Premier Jim Prentice, PC, QC - MLA for Calgary-Foothills

Father in Heaven, we present our Premier, Jim Prentice to You today and ask that he would be aware of Your presence with him and Your discernment as he leads the Province of Alberta.  We pray that You would guide our Premier and his cabinet as they collaborate and make the crucial decisions to bring our Province into prosperity and success.  Bless him and his family and may he experience good health and renewed energy every waking day.  We pray all these things in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.

Premier

President of Executive Council

Jim Prentice, PC, QC, was sworn in as Alberta's 16th Premier on September 15, 2014. In addition to serving as both Premier and President of Executive Council, Mr. Prentice holds multiple ministerial appointments, including overseeing the portfolios for International and Intergovernmental Relations and for Aboriginal Relations. He also serves as chair of the Planning and Priorities Cabinet Committee.

Mr. Prentice's extensive public service dates back to 2004 and includes three terms as the Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre-North. During his service as an MP he oversaw various ministries, including Industry, Environment, and Indian Affairs and Northern Development. He also served as chair of the Operations Committee.

In addition to his public service Mr. Prentice has worked in private industry as both vice-chair and senior executive vice-president of CIBC, where he led the bank in the critical areas of energy infrastructure, responsible resource development and the Asian Pacific Rim.

A lawyer by trade, Mr. Prentice received his bachelor of laws from Dalhousie University and a bachelor of commerce from the University of Alberta. He was designated as a Queen's Counsel in 1992 and as a member of the Privy Council in 2006 and received his doctor of laws from the University of Alberta in 2013.

Mr. Prentice was 13 when his family moved from Ontario to Grande Cache, Alberta. He currently lives in Calgary with his wife, Karen. Together they have three daughters and recently celebrated the birth of their second grandchild.

Mr. Blake Pedersen - MLA for Medicine Hat

Heavenly Father, thank You for the good things that You have stored up for MLA Blake Pederson as he serves the people of Medicine Hat in the south east of our Province.  Help him to balance his time between his Legislative duties and meeting with the people in this rural setting.  Thank You that You give him grace for every difficult situation.  Bless him with peace and calm in his home and workplace.  Amen.

Blake Pedersen was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Medicine Hat in 2012.

Blake was born and raised in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan on the family farm. Following graduation from Gull Lake High School, Blake entered the work force with a local oilfield services supply company.

Blake participated in a 10-month Agricultural Exchange Program to Australia with the International Agricultural Exchange Association, and upon his return to Canada returned to the oilfield services supply industry. Since 1999, Blake has been the co-owner of a successful oilfield services supply company based in Redcliff.

Blake and Angela have called Medicine Hat home since 1996, and have a passion for their community, the arts, music, travel, and experiencing different cultures.

Ms. Bridget A. Pastoor - MLA for Lethbridge-East

Thank You God that You are interested in all aspects of society including the political arena.  As MLA Ms. Bridget Pastoor attends to the business at hand, may she be aware of receiving fresh wisdom and discernment to handle problems and make timely decisions.  Bless her today and reward her for her diligence and hard work.  In Your Holy Name, Amen. 

Bridget A. Pastoor was elected to her third term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the constituency of Lethbridge-East on April 23, 2012.

In addition to serving as a member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Ms. Pastoor also currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing.

Over the course of her three terms Ms. Pastoor has served on a number of additional Legislative Assembly standing committees, including:

• Families and Communities (chair)
• Public Health and Safety (deputy chair)
• Private Bills
• Government Services
• Alberta’s Economic Future

Prior to her current service as a government MLA Ms. Pastoor served the Official Opposition in various capacities, including as Deputy Leader, as Whip and as shadow minister for the following government departments: Agriculture and Rural Development, Municipal Affairs and Seniors and Community Supports.

She also participated as a member of the three-person MLA Task Force on Continuing Care Health Services and Accommodation Standards and authored an adjunct report, Blueprint for Action.

Ms. Pastoor began her career with Air Canada. After raising three children, she returned to school and graduated from Lethbridge Community College as a registered nurse and later obtained a certificate as a geriatric specialist from Grant MacEwan. Ms. Pastoor worked as an RN at the Edith Cavell care centre from 1990 to 2004.

An active member of the community and political arena for many years, she has also served in the following capacities:

• Deputy returning officer for Elections Canada, Elections Alberta and the city of Lethbridge
• Member, Canadian Pension Appeals Board,1993 to 1997
• Alderwoman, Lethbridge city council, 1998 to 2004
• Board member, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, 1999 to 2002
• Chair, Council/Corporate Review of the city of Lethbridge, 2001 to 2004

As a city alderwoman she was also a member of the Library Board, the Exhibition Board and the Municipal Planning Commission. Further, she was a member of the University of Lethbridge Senate from 1985 to 1991, the Alberta Student Finance Board and the Canada Pension Appeals Board tribunal.

Ms. Pastoor was awarded a government of Canada commemorative medal for the 125th anniversary of confederation in 1992 and the government of Alberta centennial medal in 2005 and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal in2012. In 2009 she was awarded the YWCA of Lethbridge and district women of distinction award, and named the YWCA champion.

Born Bridget Antoinette Brennan in St. Boniface, Manitoba, she has three daughters, two of which have served as city councillors, two grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

Her interests include social justice and political history.

Honourable Verlyn Olson, QC - MLA for Wetaskiwin-Camrose

We thank You Lord today for Honourable Verlyn Olson and the role that he fills as cabinet minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.   May he be aware of needs that must be addressed to keep this aspect of our province strong and moving ahead with success.  Protect him and keep him safe in his travels and may he experience health and well-being all through 2015.  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. Olsen also serves as a member of the Government’s Agenda and Priorities Committee.

Mr. Olson previously served as Deputy House Leader. During his first term as MLA, he 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 as well as 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

Lord God, we join together to pray for MLA Cathy Oleson that You would connect her with people in her constituency and that she would be aware of their needs in this growing region of Sherwood Park.  We ask that things would go smoothly for her today and solutions and answers would be found quickly for situations and questions at hand.  May she be filled with joy today as she serves the people of Alberta.  These things we pray in the Name of Jesus, 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

Dear Heavenly Father we are grateful for Honourable Frank Oberle and the wisdom and experience he brings to his portfolio.  May he experience fresh insight, creativity and be led to people with new innovation as it applies to this significant ministry in this province.  Thank You that You give him strength to carry out plans and tasks before him today.  In all the busyness we pray he would have time for family and relationships in his life and experience sufficient rest at night.  In Your Name, Amen.

Minister of Energy

Deputy Government House Leader

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 Minister of Energy on September 15, 2014. 

He also serves as Deputy Government House Leader.

Additionally, he is a member of the Treasury Board and serves on several government committees, including the Planning and Priorities Cabinet Committee, the Operations Committee, the Standing Policy Committee on Environment and Energy and the Legislative Policy Committee.

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

He has also served as Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security and as Chief Government Whip.

He obtained a diploma in 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 is a registered professional forester (RPF) with the College of Professional Foresters (CAPF).

Ms. Rachel Notley - MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona

Lord, we are reminded that it is You who has given us this day and we pray for MLA Ms. Rachel Notley that she would have joy as she goes through her day.  Thank You for the sincere care she shows towards her constituents and may she have divine insight and understanding as to how to meet their needs and make the Albertans she serves successful.  Bless her in her work and in her leisure.  In Christ’s name,  Amen.

Leader of the ND Opposition

Rachel Notley was elected as the Leader of the Alberta New Democrats on October 18, 2014. 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.

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.