Former Chilliwack MLA Dan Coulter has died in hospital at the age of 49, according to a statement from the B.C. NDP.
Last week, the party’s provincial director Heather Stoutenburg said in a statement that Coulter had “experienced a serious medical emergency” and that he was in hospital.
Coulter was elected to the legislature in 2020. During his time in provincial office, he served as the parliamentary secretary for accessibility and minister of state for infrastructure and transit.
He lost his seat in the October election but was appointed the next provincial director of the B.C. NDP, although he had not yet taken over the role.
“Dan was so much more than a colleague — he was a friend and a mentor,” reads the statement from Stoutenburg and party president Aaron Sumexheltza.
“He was smart, funny, thoughtful and honest. But above all things, he was kind.”
The statement says a private service will be held on Saturday — one day before a public service for former premier John Horgan, who died last month at 65.
A public service for Coulter is scheduled for Jan. 11 in Chilliwack.