Honourable Kathleen Ganley - MLA for Calgary-Buffalo

Lord, we thank You that Hon. Kathleen Ganley has been chosen to serve the people of Alberta. We pray that your hand of blessing would be upon her as she steps into the significant role of Minister of Justice and Solicitor General and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. Give her wisdom as she leads, and show her where she can be of real value to her constituents. May she be filled with compassion in her role and give her strength and endurance to carry out her duties. Bless her family and give them health and protection. In Jesus name, Amen

Kathleen Ganley was born in Edmonton and grew up in Calgary. Kathleen currently works as a labour and employment lawyer in Calgary. She primarily represents employees and unions in dealing with a variety of work-related issues. She has earned a Bachelor of Sciences in Psychology, a Bachelor of Arts (first class honours) in Philosophy, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Calgary. She was awarded the Silver Medallion in philosophy in 2008.

Kathleen is passionate about volunteerism, having volunteered continuously since she was 12. Her volunteer work has included children's day camp counselling, swim coaching, community theatre, and work in a patient care unit at the hospital. She also provides pro-bono legal services.

Honourable David Eggen - MLA for Edmonton-Calder

Heavenly Father, we thank you for MLA, the Honourable David Eggen, Minister of Education and Culture and Tourism.  Lord, surround Mr. Eggen with clarity of the issues that stand before him as he makes decisions that will affect future generations in his community and in this province.  May his thoughts and plans be guided by You and give him discernment to know what is of importance to bring about the changes that are important in these portfolios.  Give him solutions to the issues he faces on a daily basis. Provide him with all the resources he needs and also the relationships he needs to see his goals fulfilled.   Bless his family with health and an understanding of his commitment providing him with good support on the home front.   Above all, Lord, may he feel your presence as he works for the people of Alberta.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen

Minister of Education

Minister of Culture and Tourism

David Eggen was sworn in as the Minister of Education and as the Minister of Culture and Tourism on May 24, 2015.

Mr. Eggen was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Edmonton-Calder on April 23, 2012 and again on May 5, 2015. He previously represented the constituency from 2004 to 2008 and served as the ND’s critic for energy, education, environment and sustainable resource development. He currently serves as the ND Opposition House Leader.

Mr. Eggen has served as a member of the following committees:

• Standing Committee on Families and Communities
• Standing Committee on Legislative Offices
• Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future
• Select Special Chief Electoral Officer Search Committee
• Select Special Ethics Commissioner Search Committee
• Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund

Mr. Eggen was educated at the University of Alberta, where he received a bachelor of education degree in 1984. He then went to Zimbabwe, where he taught for three years. Upon his return to Edmonton he taught at a number of local schools from 1990 to 2004.

Mr. Eggen has also worked in the field of public health care as executive director of Friends of Medicare. He is also a member of the Canadian Health Coalition’s board of directors.

In addition to his contributions to education and health care, Mr. Eggen is a trustee with the Forum for Young Albertans and a chair leader of the Canadian Paraplegic Association.

The Eggen family has lived and worked in northwest Edmonton for more than 20 years.

Honourable Joe Ceci - MLA for Calgary-Fort

Heavenly Father, we thank you for MLA, the Honourable Joe Ceci, Minister of Finance and President of the Treasury Board.  We thank you for the experience he brings with him and pray your blessing on these leadership skills.  We ask, Lord, that you give him vision and direction as he deals with complex issues and that you would give him ability to make wise and good decisions which will restore trust and integrity in our government.  May your hand guide his life and bless his work.  Give him strength of character, integrity and an understanding of the complex issues that he will face on a daily basis.  Help him see clearly the issues that stand before him as he makes decisions that will affect the people of this province now and into the future.  Bless him and his family with wisdom and good health so they can be his support group and we pray that they may be aware of Your presence in their lives.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen

Ceci was born in 1957 in Toronto and attended the University of Western Ontario, receiving a degree in social work. He moved to Calgary shortly after graduating. He also attended the University of Calgary, where he received a Master's degree in social work. He previously served on Calgary City Council as the alderman for Ward 9 from 1995 to 2010. In his 2004-2007 term he was a founding member community safety councils in Inglewood-Ramsay and Forest Lawn.

Honourable Oneil Carlier - MLA for Whitecourt-Ste. Anne

Heavenly Father we lift up to You in prayer today, Honourable Oneil Carlier.   May he find his new position of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry a position where he can use his talents and gifting’s to the full benefit of the people of Alberta.   Bless and guide him as he faces the challenges of serving the people, may he do so with wisdom and fairness.  We ask that Your peace rest upon him as he begins his day.   In Jesus Name, Amen.

  

Carlier was raised in Val Marie, Saskatchewan, where his family has kept cattle and grown crops for four generations. After high school in Val Marie, he lived in Regina and Saskatoon before moving to Alberta.

Carlier worked for twenty years with Agriculture Canada as a geo-technician, assisting with construction quality control on several large projects including the Bassano Dam Rehabilitation Project and the Crawling Valley Irrigation Project, both in southern Alberta.

He became involved with his union, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), while working for Agriculture Canada. He became a regional representative with PSAC, advocating for workers' rights and social justice issues. He represented members from various agencies, including the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Environment Canada.

Honourable Deron Bilous - MLA for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview

Heavenly Father we pray for the life of Honourable Deron Bilous, for health and strength for the task before him as he steps into his new role of service to the people of Alberta, as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister of Service  Alberta today.   May he sense Your peace, Lord God.   We ask for wisdom, understanding, and clarity of vision for him to work fairly and justly for all peoples.   In Jesus Name we pray,  Amen. 

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.

God Bless Alberta and our new Government

Heavenly Father, we lift up before you today the 17^th Premier of Alberta, Premier Rachel Notley. It is our prayer that your abundant blessing would rest upon her in her role as government leader. 

We bring the newly chosen Cabinet Members before You, Hon. Brian Mason, Hon. David Eggen, Hon. Deron Bilous, Hon. Joe Ceci, Hon. Sarah Hoffman, Hon. Shannon Phillips, Hon. Irfan Sabir, Hon. Kathleen Ganley and Hon. Oneil Carlier, Hon. Lori Sigurdson, Hon. Margaret McCuaig asking that they would be unified and strong. 

As we focus our prayer on Premier Rachel Notley, we ask that You would fill her with wisdom, discernment and insight so she may be effective in bringing positive change here in our province that will make a difference in the lives of people for years to come. Give her the strength and endurance required to carry out the many new tasks set before her. 

We also join together to pray that You would give our Premier innovative ideas and initiatives that will move our province forward into success and prosperity and most important, that through her leadership Alberta would experience Your blessing. Amen 

PrayAB Update

PrayAB Prayer Network continues to be devoted to praying for our MLAs.

We pray for their success and that God would guide them and give them wisdom whether they are returning to their role of Provincial Leadership or newly stepping into it. 

Following the up and coming swearing in ceremony, we will be posting prayers once again for our MLAs.

Look for points in the coming days on Why We Should Pray For Government.

God Bless Alberta