COLWOOD, B.C. — Thousands of people who respected and loved former British Columbia premier John Horgan gathered for his memorial service in Colwood, B.C., Sunday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and B.C. Premier David Eby all attended the ceremony on Sunday on Vancouver Island.
Trudeau said Horgan was admired as a father, a husband, a leader and a friend and there is still a part of him that insists his friend, John, isn't actually gone.
He said Horgan was "quick-witted, brilliant, but unflinching in his values and beliefs."
He said Horgan lived an accomplished life as a chief of staff, as premier, as his excellency ambassador. But for those who were lucky enough to have known him, he will always be John from Langford.
"John, it was an incredible joy and privilege to have worked alongside you. But more than anything, it was an honour to call you my friend," Trudeau said.
Horgan served as B.C.’s New Democrat premier for five years before stepping down in March 2022.
He was also a five-term member of the legislature, representing the Victoria-area city of Langford, before resigning his seat in March 2023, citing health reasons after he received more than 30 radiation treatments to battle throat cancer.
He was appointed ambassador to Germany in November 2023, but in June, Horgan announced he was on leave from his post because he had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
He had also been successfully treated for bladder cancer in 2008.
He died in hospital on Nov. 12 at the age of 65.
NDP Energy Minister Adrian Dix paid tribute to Horgan on his way into the arena.
“We were great friends,” said Dix. “He was the MC at my wedding. It’s a hard day.”
Three former New Democrat premiers also attended the service, Mike Harcourt, Dan Miller and Glen Clark.
B.C. Premier David Eby took a page from Horgan's sense of humour when he spoke to the crowd.
"John and I didn't talk a lot about spiritual stuff, but I have to say, a gathering of thousands of the political elite of British Columbia in a lacrosse arena on a Sunday would be pretty close to his definition of heaven."
Horgan was a huge sports fan who kept a lacrosse stick and ball in his office and was a regular, jersey-wearing fan at Victoria Shamrocks lacrosse games.
Eby said Horgan led transformative change in the province in many ways, including with Indigenous people through the Declaration of Rights of Indigenous people.
"He changed the way many decisions were made in the province, got big money out of politics by limiting political donations, and changed the lives of kids in care by waiving tuition for them to go to college or university," Eby said.
“He was loyal, man, if you were on team Horgan, you knew it. There's a bunch of people in this room you know felt that if you felt like you're on John's team, he'd have your back no matter what.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2024.
Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press
