Tom Christensen was appointed Minister of Children and Family Development on Aug. 15, 2006.

He previously served as Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and Minister of Education.

Mr. Christensen was elected to represent the riding of Okanagan-Vernon in 2001 and re-elected in 2005.

He currently serves as chair of the Cabinet Legislative Review Committee and as a member of the Government Caucus Committee on Social Development.

Mr. Christensen graduated from the University of Victoria with a law degree in 1994, and was called to the B.C. bar in May 1995. Prior to entering politics, he practiced law at Davidson & Company and was a partner in the firm from 1999 to 2001.

Mr. Christensen was born and raised in Vernon, the fourth generation of his family to raise a family in the Vernon area. He has been involved in a number of community organizations, having held such positions as president of the Downtown Vernon Association, director of the Vernon Winter Carnival and chairperson of Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation's Annual Light-a-Bulb Fundraising Campaign.

Mr. Christensen is married and has three young children.