A provincial memorial service for former B.C. premier John Horgan is taking place Sunday afternoon.
Horgan, who led the B.C. government from 2017 to 2022, died on Nov. 12 at the age of 65.
The service is being held at the Q Centre in Colwood, B.C., just southeast of Horgan’s home community of Langford on southern Vancouver Island.
CBC News is carrying the service live on CBC News B.C., CBC Gem and cbc.ca/bc, as well as on TikTok and YouTube. It began at 1 p.m. PT.
CBC News broadcasts the state memorial service for John Horgan, the 36th premier of British Columbia, from the Q Centre in Colwood on Vancouver Island.
Horgan’s provincial state memorial service is being led by Rev. Dr. Keith Howard, Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin, Premier David Eby and Prime Minister Justin Trudau. Other dignitaries are also attending.
Members of the public were required to get tickets to attend the provincial memorial service.
Horgan was remembered for his love of sports and Star Trek, and his wry sense of humour.
Austin said Horgan’s “litany of groan-worthy dad jokes” endeared him to much of B.C. during his premiership.
“I loved his kindness and the good intention he brought to his work and to his interactions with everyone,” she told the service. “Despite his many contributions and accomplishments, he remained remarkably without ego.”
His passing was mourned across the political spectrum, and the province announced the public would be able to sign a book of condolences starting Nov. 14 until the day after his memorial service.
Horgan was first elected to the B.C. Legislature in 2005 and became leader of the NDP in 2014, representing Langford throughout.
Among the thousands of people who came to the Q Centre — home of Horgan’s beloved Victoria Shamrocks lacrosse team — were a series of current and former NDP politicians, including current Langford-Juan de Fuca MLA Ravi Parmar.
Parmar said he first met Horgan at school two decades ago, and credited him with inspiring him to run for politics.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for John,” he told CBC News.
“And again, it’s going to be the simple things that I’m going to remember. His connection to people, zero ego … his humour.”
‘People’s premier’
Horgan 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 two terms in power and passing a 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. NDP and Horgan’s longtime friend, told CBC’s On The Island.
“He was, of course, a 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.