Stock photo of John Horgan, former Premier of B.C., courtesy of the B.C. Government

By Liam Verster

Tributes For the Late, Former Premier

Vernon mayor among those remembering former Premier John Horgan

Nov 12, 2024 | 5:19 PM

The Mayor of Vernon has expressed condolences to the family of the late John Horgan.

Horgan, the former Premier of British Columbia, passed away at the age of 65 Tuesday, Nov. 12, after his third battle with cancer.

Tributes to Horgan were rolled out from numerous people and agencies, including Vernon’s Mayor, Victor Cumming.

“On behalf of Vernon City Council and our community, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of former B.C. premier John Horgan,” Cumming said in a release.

“His dedication to public service and his enduring commitment to the people of British Columbia are qualities that will be remembered and respected.

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“Mr. Horgan was a leader who prioritized the well-being of all British Columbians and worked tirelessly to build a province that values compassion, inclusivity, and resilience. His leadership helped guide us through challenging times, and his legacy will undoubtedly inspire future generations.

“Our thoughts are with all those who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside him, and with the communities who benefited from his years of service.”

Statements were also issued by current Premier, David Eby, and B.C. Green Party Leader, Sonia Furstenau.

In a release, Eby said Horgan loved this province and “sought to address injustice wherever he saw it – using his time in office to help build a better, stronger British Columbia for everyone.”

Eby went of to say that Horgan’s “many accomplishments as premier will be felt for years and generations to come. His achievements are too numerous to mention, but he was a consequential premier at a critical time in our history.”

In Fursteneau’s statement, she said Horgran was “dedicated to serving our province” and pointed to the work done during his years as Premier to introduce the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, $10 a day childcare, the Clean B.C. Climate Plan, and other initiatives and policies.

John Rustad, Leader of the Conservative Party of B.C., made a post on X (formerly Twitter), in which he said Horgan was “not just a colleague in the public service but a man of genuine warmth and integrity,” adding “his approachable nature and willingness to engage in open dialogue were qualities I admired greatly. He had a way of making everyone feel heard, regardless of their stance of background.”

All the party leaders expressed their condolences to Horgan’s family, friends and colleagues.