Former British Columbia premier John Horgan died at the age of 65 in Victoria, B.C., while at the Royal Jubilee Hospital on Tuesday, following his third diagnosis of cancer.
Horgan served as B.C.’s 36th premier, holding office from 2017 to 2022 at which point he decided to step down after being diagnosed with cancer for a second time.
“Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity, British Columbia, it has truly been the thrill of my life,” said Horgan at the time of his resignation. “I’ve done my best to not let you down.”
“There have been days when things have gone well and there have been days that things didn’t go well. That’s the nature of the human condition and I am honoured to have had the opportunity.”
He would later be selected to serve as Canada’s official ambassador to Germany last December, a position he maintained until June of this year when he was diagnosed with cancer again.
Born in Victoria, Horgan began his political career as the MLA for Malahat–Juan de Fuca in 2005, serving four consecutive terms.
He became leader of the BC NDP in 2014 and would go on to become premier after forming a minority government with the Green Party through a coalition agreement.
As premier, Horgan governed through the COVID-19 pandemic and the province’s severe flooding in 2021.
On his final day in provincial politics last March, Horgan said that his career highlight was the opportunity to work with other politicians to improve the lives of British Columbians.
“What I’d like to hope is that when people look back at my time, they will say I was fair-minded,” he said at the time. “Live long and prosper.”
His family was informed that Horgan’s cancer had spread throughout his body last week and they were present at the time of his passing.
“The well-being of British Columbia and everyone in it was everything to him,” reads a statement from Horgan’s family.
“He was surrounded by friends, family and live in his final days.”
He is survived by his wife, Ellie, and two sons.