A provincial memorial service for former B.C. premier John Horgan┬аwill take place Sunday afternoon.
Horgan, who led the B.C. government from 2017 to 2022,┬аdied on Nov. 12┬аat the age of 65.┬а
The service will be held at the Q Centre in Colwood, B.C., just southeast of Horgan’s home community of Langford on southern Vancouver Island.
CBC News will carry the service live┬аon┬аCBC News B.C.,┬аCBC Gem┬аand┬аcbc.ca/bc,┬аas well as on┬аTikTok┬аand┬аYouTube,┬аbeginning at 1 p.m. PT.
John Horgan, who served as B.C.’s New Democrat premier for five years before stepping down in 2022, has died at the age of 65. Former B.C. premier Glen Clark describes Horgan as genuine and callers to BC Today express gratitude for Horgan’s leadership during his time in government.
The government says┬аHorgan’s┬аprovincial state memorial service will be led by Rev. Dr. Keith Howard. Lt.-Gov.┬аJanet Austin, Premier David Eby and other dignitaries will be attending.
Members of the public were required to get tickets┬аto attend the provincial memorial service.┬аDoors will open at 11:45 a.m., and the service will start at 1 p.m.┬а
Horgan’s passing was mourned┬аacross the political spectrum, and the province┬аannounced┬аthe public would be able to sign a book of condolences starting Nov. 14 until the day after his memorial service.
Horgan┬аwas first elected to the B.C. Legislature in 2005 and┬аbecame leader of the NDP in 2014, representing Langford┬аthroughout.
He garnered a strong legacy as a leader who could work across the political aisle. After his retirement from the premiership, he was appointed as Canada’s ambassador to Germany.
Politically, the former premier’s legacy will be defined by bringing the B.C. NDP┬аtwo terms in power and passing┬аa range of affordability policies amid the spiking cost of living and several crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of major flooding and wildfire disasters.
“What John really brought to the table was an ability to say everybody has good ideas,” Carole James, another former leader of the B.C.┬аNDP and Horgan’s longtime friend, told CBC’s┬аOn The Island.
“He was, of course,┬аa strong New Democrat and believed in the values that New Democrats do. But … he also recognized that good ideas can come from anywhere and he’d tell us that as caucus often.”
James said Horgan loved to connect with people, and described him as the “people’s premier” who helped the public see politicians in a different light.
