Our earnest prayer today is for MLA: Honourable Rich Coleman, Minister of Natural Gas Development, Minister Responsible for Housing and Deputy Premier of our government in this marvellous province. We pray for his well being. Give him stamina and good health so that he may apply fully his many God given talents to wise governance, sound judgement and compassion for his constituents and all the good folk of British Columbia. He well deserves the many honours he has received. With You, Lord, at his side to guide him, he will fulfill well the mandate his constituents have given him. Bless him and his wife with goodness, mercy and joy. In the name of our creator, we pray. Amen.
Rich Coleman was re-elected for a fifth term as MLA for Fort Langley-Aldergrove on May 14, 2013.
Rich was appointed Deputy Premier and the Minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing on June 10, 2013.
He is currently vice-chair of the Cabinet Working Group on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and the Priorities and Planning Committee. He is a member of the Treasury Board, the Cabinet Committee on Strong Economy, and the Environment and Land Use Committee.
Rich’s previous cabinet positions include Minister of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas and Minister Responsible for Housing, Deputy Premier, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Minister Responsible for Housing, Minister of Housing and Social Development and Minister of Forests and Range.
Rich’s dedication and passion for public service was shaped by his parents—a father who was a civil servant and a mother who was school teacher. They taught their children that community came first, and that serving others was the noblest thing a person could commit themselves to. That community-first attitude has guided Rich his entire life.
Before entering public life, Rich was governor of the BC Kinsmen, president of the Aldergrove Chamber of Commerce, Langley’s 1988 Volunteer of the Year, and a director on several volunteer boards. As a member of the Aldergrove Kinsmen Club in the 1980s, Rich oversaw the volunteer fundraising and construction efforts that built the Aldergrove Kinsmen Community Centre, a vital community facility which houses a preschool, library, workout area, and meeting space. The Club was also involved in building a successful housing project in Aldergrove. Rich is a life member of the Kinsmen.
In recognition of his tireless and long-term work in the community, Rich has been awarded both Rotary’s top honour, the Paul Harris Fellowship, and the Kinsmen’s highest honour, the Hal Rogers Fellowship. Rich was the second person ever honoured with the Hal Rogers—the first being Kin founder Hal Rogers himself.
Rich and his wife Michele live in the Fraser Valley.