MLA: Tina Beaudry-Mellor, Regina University

Heavenly Father, thank you for Tina Beaudry-Mellor and the broad perspective and experience she brings.  Use it to help her be a strong voice in the legislature and give her wisdom as she serves on the various committees and advisory boards. Bless her with a refreshing summer and rich times with family and friends.  Amen.

Tina Beaudry-Mellor was nominated as the candidate for Regina University on March 18th, 2015. She is best known as a long time instructor in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Regina where she has been awarded for outstanding teaching as both a sessional and with the President's Teaching & Learning Scholars Award for Excellence in her collaboration on teaching civic engagement for post secondary institutions. Many of the MLAs on both sides of the Legislature have been invited to engage with students both in Tina's classes and at the Legislature as she regularly visits with them for the Speech from the Throne and the Budget. 

Tina has published in everything from peer reviewed journals to op-eds and business magazines, commentating both on political & social issues. She is the former Chair of Equal Voice and served on the National Board as well as a former board member of the Saskatchewan Arts Board, the Community Investments Committee of the United Way and the Regina Transition House. At the University of Regina, she served for a considerable length of time on the Community Research Unit board of the Faculty of Arts. Tina has been the chief political analyst for Global Regina for every federal and provincial election since 2007. She has provided political analysis for radio, television and print media and is a strong social media user.

In addition to her academic work, she is the owner of a small management consulting business called TBM Strategies where she has done considerable policy work, most notably on streamlining processes for clients of both the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee program and on the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative to reduce surgical wait times. She has also worked with the Continuing Education Centre of the University of Regina to write the Flexible Learning Strategy to build the institution's online, televised and blended course and program offerings for students. 

Tina is married and has two very active teenage twins, Kayman and Montana - both of whom have represented Team Sask in multiple sports: track & field, swimming and most recently, her son played quarterback for the South Sask Selects at the Texas International Bowl this February.

http://www.saskparty.com/beaudrymellor

MLA: Hon. Vaughn Solomon Schofield - Lieutenant Governor

Lord we ask your blessing on the Hon. Vaughn Solomon Schofield in her role as representative of the crown. Cause her to serve with joy in the various events and functions she finds herself. Grant her favour as she celebrates and honours the people of Saskatchewan and rich times with her husband, Gordon, and family. Amen.

Vaughn Solomon Schofield has had a successful career in business and has provided leadership to international, national, and provincial organizations.

Ms. Solomon Schofield is a strong supporter of the Canadian Forces; she served as the Provincial Chair of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council and is currently the Honourary Colonel of 38 Service Battalion.  In acknowledgement of her many contributions, she was awarded the prestigious Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service.

In the 1980s, Ms. Solomon Schofield was Chair of the Board for a 200,000 member crime prevention organization.  She travelled throughout North and South America to establish Crime Watch groups.  Fluent in English and Spanish, Ms. Solomon Schofield worked with the government of Guayaquil, Ecuador to establish their Crime Watch group and acted as an interpreter.  She also hosted a Crime Prevention television talk show in Fort Lauderdale, and was twice voted Florida's Crime Prevention Woman of the Year.

Ms. Solomon Schofield received the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal in 2009, the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal in 2005, and the Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.  She is the Chancellor of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit and Vice-Prior for the Order of St. John in Saskatchewan.  She was sworn in as Saskatchewan's 21^st Lieutenant Governor on March 22, 2012. 

Her Honour was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan and was educated at the University of Saskatchewan Regina Campus and The Rae-Vogue School in Chicago.  She and her husband Gordon Schofield have 2 children and 3 grandchildren.

MLA: Trent Wotherspoon - Regina Rosemont - Opposition Leader

Purposeful God, we believe you positioned Trent Wotherspoon as Opposition Leader for this season. Use his many life experiences and passions to help him lead his team with vision, strength and integrity. Keep him focused on what matters and grant him the ability to know the difference. Help him to make time for family as well as for those activities that refresh him. Amen.

Trent was elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011 for the constituency of Regina Rosemont. He is the Deputy Leader of the official opposition.

Trent serves as the opposition critic for Finance, Education, Municipal Relations, Urban Affairs, Economy, and the Global Transportation Hub. Trent also serves on a national committee of the CCAF, with an aim to strengthen governance and accountability.

Trent was born and raised in northwest Regina. He earned a Bachelor of Education at the U of R and has taken grad studies in education and undergrad studies in business.

Prior to politics, working with an interdisciplinary committee, Trent developed and managed within the community a nationally recognized program for youth offenders of highest-risk, that successfully increased educational attachment and reduced recidivism rates.

As an educator, Trent taught in high schools and led various new initiatives. Trent assisted in the creation of a new campus for adult students. Trent also led the development of a program for students displaying severe violent behaviours. Previously, Trent worked with a youth agency supporting at-risk youth. 

Trent has background in business as an entrepreneur, through business studies and as a past director with the Regina’s warehouse business improvement district.

Trent’s wife Stephanie is a teacher. Together, they are highly involved in the community through coaching and volunteerism, and by engaging in the many diverse cultural, arts and sporting events that enrich Regina and Saskatchewan. 

MLA: Hon. Corey Tochor - Saskatoon Eastview - Speaker of the House

Heavenly Father, thank you for the Hon. Corey Tocher and his willingness to assume responsibility as Speaker of the House in this session. Fill him with the confidence and authority needed to serve in this capacity with distinction. Bless him with a sense a very real sense of spiritual direction and peace. Allow him and Danielle to have a rich relationship with meaningful time together.

Corey Tochor was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in the 2011 provincial election for the Saskatoon Eastview constituency.

Prior to entering politics, Corey was a local Saskatoon entrepreneur who owned and operated Health Conveyance Inc., a communications company that provides electronic messaging in health facilities across the province.

Corey has been very active in his local community as past vice-president of the Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon and has volunteered on the corporate board for Telemiracle 33. He has also served as treasurer of the Kinsmen Activity Place House, which is a community center supporting Saskatoon’s inner city.

Corey was born and raised in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan. He currently resides in Saskatoon with his wife Danielle.

http://coreytochormla.com

MLA: The Honourable Brad Wall - Premier

Father, we honour our Premier, Brad Wall and the passion you have placed within him for the province of Saskatchewan. Bless him with wisdom and insight in the issues he will face. Cause him to experience a rich sense of your presence as he goes through his days. Give him and Tami quality time together enjoying those things that bring them pleasure and relaxation. In Your name, Amen.

Brad Wall was first elected Premier of Saskatchewan in the November 2007 provincial election and his government was re-elected in the 2011 provincial election.

Prior to his career in politics, Premier Wall was active in his local business community and was involved in service work spanning local events, economic development and health care recruitment.

One of his earliest forays into politics was in the late 1980's as a founding member and western Co-Chair of the Alliance for the Future of Young Canadians. This was an organization dedicated to promoting free trade.

Brad Wall was born and raised in Swift Current, which is in Saskatchewan’s southwest. He still lives there with his wife, Tami, as well as two of their three children: Colter and Faith. Their daughter Megan is enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan.

He received his post secondary education at the University of Saskatchewan where he earned an honours degree in public administration.

http://www.saskatchewan.ca/premier

Opening Prayer

Gracious Lord, in wisdom you place people in positions of authority and influence for specific times and seasons. We choose to trust your purposes and ask that you guide our prayers for our elected officials; may they ever hear your voice and reflect your heart.