Dr. Bob Turner - MLA for Edmonton-Whitemud

Dear God, thank you for Dr. Bob Turner and all the things that he does. Help him to have peace in all the hard times in his work. Watch over him and his family and refresh him with new energy and commitment. Thank you for the dedication he brings to our province. Please give him all the wisdom and encouragement he may need every day. Amen (Grade 6 Student)

Andrew Robert (Bob) Turner was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Edmonton-Whitemud, on May 5, 2015.

He currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and as a member on the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund. Previously he served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing.

For nearly 40 years, he has served Albertans as an oncologist at the Cross Cancer Institute, the University of Alberta Hospital and other hospitals in northern Alberta. Dr. Turner, a retired professor of Medicine at the University of Alberta, has also lectured at leading Canadian and international medical teaching facilities and done clinical research in novel therapies of leukemias and other blood disorders.

Dr. Turner attended McGill University, where he received his science and medical degrees while also serving on the student council and board of governors. He went on to train in Internal Medicine at the Royal Victoria hospital in Montreal and then in Hematology and Medical Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh.

A dedicated member of the Edmonton medical community, Dr. Turner has served in a number of working groups and committees for entities such as the Alberta Medical Association, the University of Alberta Department of Medicine, Alberta Health Services, the Alberta Cancer Board and the Canadian Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service. Dr. Turner has also been widely published in academic medical journals and has contributed to a number of medical textbooks.

Dr. Turner and his wife, Dr. Joan Allalunis-Turner, reside in Edmonton and have two children, Emily and Simon, and one grandson. Bob enjoys an active lifestyle that includes cycling, curling, skiing and running. His hobby is the study of western Canadian history, particularly explorers and mapmakers such as David Thompson.

Mr. Wes Taylor - MLA for Battle River-Wainwright

Heavenly Father, thank you for Mr. Wes Taylor and the energy he brings to the role he is carrying out in the constituency of Battle River - Wainwright and in our Alberta Legislature. As He goes about the business of attending committee meetings and collaborating with colleagues, may he experience your divine wisdom for the decisions he is faced with. Give him good health and renewed strength. Amen

Wes Taylor was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta as the Member for the constituency of Battle River-Wainwright on May 5, 2015. On June 1 he was appointed by Brian Jean as shadow cabinet spokesman for Innovation and Advanced Education.

He currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund and the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future.

Prior to his service with the Legislative Assembly Mr. Taylor was employed as a realtor from 1998 to 2014. He also has a bachelor of education degree from the University of Alberta and worked as a teacher in the Buffalo Trail school division for five years.

An active member of the community, Mr. Taylor has served as a member of the board for Wainwright Pentecostal Assembly, director of Eastalta Co-op and director of the Alberta Real Estate Association. In addition Mr. Taylor is a volunteer firefighter.

Mr. Taylor and his wife, Eileen, reside in Wainwright and have three children: Chantel, Matthew and Ashley. He enjoys golfing, motorcycles, scuba diving and autobody refinishing. He also holds a black belt in Tae-Kwon-do.

Ms. Heather Sweet - MLA for Edmonton-Manning

Heavenly Father, we focus our prayer today for MLA Ms. Heather Sweet as she seeks to meet the needs of her constituents in the Edmonton – Manning constituency. Thank you that you bring those people around her today that will not only support her but bring new skills and resources to fulfill her vision. May she feel energized with your strength. We pray this in your name, Amen

Deputy Chair of Committees

Heather Sweet was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Edmonton-Manning, on May 5, 2015. On March 9, 2016, she was elected as the Deputy Chair of Committees.

She previously served as chair of the Standing Committee on Families and Communities and as member of the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices.

Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly, Ms. Sweet worked for over a decade as a registered social worker. From 2005 to 2015 she worked in child protection services, focusing on high-risk youth, and previous to this, she worked for a year with the Metis Child and Family Services Society.

She was a member of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees' Committee on Political Action and served as chapter chair for Edmonton and Area Human Services workers.

Active in her community, Ms. Sweet has volunteered at the Vancouver Olympics and the Edmonton Folk Music Festival and with FIFA Edmonton.

She was recently honoured to be among those selected to attend the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference in 2015.

Dr. David Swann - MLA for Calgary-Mountain View

Father God, we join in prayer together for Mr. David Swann as he serves and represents the wonderful people of Calgary – Mountain View. May he sense your presence giving him strength and empowering him to fulfil the many tasks before him today. Guide him to make the decisions necessary for success today. We pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen

David Swann was elected to his fourth term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the constituency of Calgary-Mountain View on May 5, 2015. From December 15, 2008 to September 12, 2011, Dr. Swann served as leader of the Alberta Liberal caucus, Her Majesty’s Official Opposition.

He currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Families and Communities and on the Select Special Ethics and Accountability Committee.

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
• Families and Communities
• 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. Graham D. Sucha - MLA for Calgary-Shaw

Heavenly Father, we thank you for MLA Mr. Graham Sucha and that you are with him as he interacts with colleagues and constituents and makes critical decisions. Give him good health and renewed strength to carry out all that you have called him to do. Bless him and his family and may their lives be filled with your peace. Amen

Graham Sucha was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Calgary-Shaw, on May 5, 2015.

He currently serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future. He is also a member of the Standing Committee on Private Bills and the Select Special Ethics and Accountability Committee.

Mr. Sucha previously served as a member of the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund, the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship and as a member of the Standing Committee on Alberta's Economic Future.

Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly, he worked for over a decade in restaurant management, overseeing several restaurants in the Calgary area. While there he aided in raising money for several charities including the Special Olympics and 2013 Flood Relief.

He holds a diploma in television and broadcasting from Algonquin College and studied political science at Carleton University in Ottawa. While in Ottawa he completed a broadcasting placement with the Canadian armed forces' Army News.

A second generation Calgarian, Graham is proud of his family heritage that has roots in Great Britain and Slovakia. Growing up in Marlborough Park, he currently resides in Millrise with his wife and three children.

Mr. Rick Strankman - MLA for Drumheller-Stettler

Lord, we thank you for MLA Mr. Rick Strankmann and the experience he brings to his role.  Grant him favour as he works with the many people he meets and works with and give him wisdom and insight into the issues he faces each day.  Renew his strength and vision for the work You have called him to do and bring the tasks in process to completion.  Watch over and protect him as he travels and give him times of rest and rejuvenation with his friends and family.

Rick Strankman was elected to his second term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the constituency of Drumheller-Stettler on May 5, 2015.

He currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Private Bills.

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.

Mr. Strankman was jailed in 2002 after being charged under the Customs Act for taking 756 bushels of wheat across the U.S. border in protest of the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly. He and the other farmers that were arrested received a pardon from Prime Minister Stephen Harper on August 1, 2012, when the federal government’s Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act came into effect, which allowed producers to opt out of the Canadian Wheat Board and sell wheat on the open market. He served one week of a 180 day sentence.

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 license 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 are thankful for MLA Mr. Pat Stier and the experience he has had in the public sector.  We ask that You would continue to give him direction and guidance as he attends to his responsibilities.  Protect him as he travels and give him opportunities for refreshment with his colleagues and family.  May he be aware of the love and faithfulness that surrounds him.

Pat Stier was elected to his second term as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Livingstone-Macleod on May 5, 2015. During his first term he served as Chief Opposition Whip.

He currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Private Bills and was previously a member of the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship.

Mr. Stier has lived in Alberta's foothills region his entire life. He grew up 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 many years of experience in municipal government including service on planning, subdivision, development, and assessment boards prior to his election as a municipal councillor from 2004 to 2007 with the Municipal District of Foothills. He served as President of the Dunbow Road Area Residents Association from 1988 to 1999.