Mentor, friend, one-of-a-kind and quite simply 香蕉视频直播楯ohn from Langford香蕉视频直播�, are some of the many words used to describe former B.C. premier John Horgan, who died on Tuesday (Nov. 12) in Victoria after his third bout with cancer.
Since news of his death broke, tributes have poured in from across Canada, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and B.C. Premier David Eby just some of the many people who have taken the time to stop and reflect on Horgan's contribution to politics.
But back in his hometown, the Victoria suburb of Langford, locals are hoping a more permanent tribute can be made for the man who they credit with helping to build their city. A simple idea from former Langford mayor Stew Young has snowballed into an online campaign to name the new university, currently under construction, the 'John Horgan University of Langford'.
"Without his support we wouldn't have that university here," said Young. "It's going to be such a huge benefit to our community. I think that it would be an excellent legacy for a man that did so much for our community."
As well as the university honour, other ideas for how to celebrate and remember the local hero have begun to emerge across the community.
MLA for Langford-Highlands Ravi Parmar has plans to open up his office in Langford as a space for residents to come and share their memories of the former premier and sign a book of condolence. While the Victoria Shamrocks, Horgan香蕉视频直播檚 favourite lacrosse team, have said they will at some point in the future consider how they might honour his memory.
From childhood inspiration to mentor
When the B.C. NDP香蕉视频直播檚 47 MLAs were officially sworn in at a ceremony at the B.C. legislature on Nov. 13, Parmar could think of no better tribute to his friend and mentor than wearing a Victoria Shamrocks jersey, for a moment he describes as 香蕉视频直播渂ittersweet.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚t felt like the best way to honour him, but also hold him close to my heart,香蕉视频直播� said Parmar. 香蕉视频直播淚 wish he could have been there.
香蕉视频直播淗e is the most remarkable individual I've ever met my entire life, one of a kind.香蕉视频直播�
Elected as MLA for the Langford-Juan de Fuca riding in June 2023, replacing Horgan who had stepped away from the role earlier that year, Parmar cites Horgan as one of the biggest influences in his political career, dating all the way back to his childhood.
In Grade 5, working on a project about elections, a young Parmar met Horgan for the first time.
香蕉视频直播淟ittle did I know how much that interaction at a young age for me would have on my future,香蕉视频直播� he said.
About Horgan香蕉视频直播檚 legacy in Langford, Parmar reels off an impressively long list, but the MLA says it香蕉视频直播檚 the 香蕉视频直播渓ittle things香蕉视频直播� he will miss most about his friend.
香蕉视频直播淪eeing his smiling face at the Shamrocks game, hearing the stories about his short trips to the grocery store that turn into a two-hour experience because of all the people he met along the way,香蕉视频直播� said Parmar. 香蕉视频直播淎ll those connections that he built with people, those are going to be the things that I miss most."
Parmar says he hopes to carry on Horgan's legacy as someone who focused every single day on delivering for the community, inspired by words shared by Horgan with the MLA days before his death.
香蕉视频直播淗e said, 香蕉视频直播業t's not about me, Parmar, it's about the people of B.C., it's about the people in your community, never forget them, take care of them, because if you take care of them, they will take care of you,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 he remembers.
Working together for Langford
香蕉视频直播淗e's just a good Langford guy,香蕉视频直播� says Young when asked to describe Horgan. 香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播楯ohn from Langford香蕉视频直播�, that really says it all.香蕉视频直播�
During his 29 years as Langford香蕉视频直播檚 mayor, Young remembers multiple conversations with Horgan about the future of the city.
香蕉视频直播淥ver 20 years ago, Langford was known as a 香蕉视频直播榙og patch香蕉视频直播�," he says. 香蕉视频直播淭here were no jobs out here, people were raising their families out here and leaving. John and I talked about that all the time, and said, 香蕉视频直播榃e got to make Langford stand alone, its own city.'香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淟angford came a long way because of his support. Working with him was great, we were able to get a lot of stuff done for the city."
Describing him as an all-round good and honourable person, Young says the community was always at the heart of Horgan香蕉视频直播檚 work.
香蕉视频直播淲hether you agreed with him or not, he always put what he thought was his best foot forward,香蕉视频直播� said Young. 香蕉视频直播淵ou could see the passion he had for Langford, the passion for the province. He was just really a servant to the people, and those will be hard shoes to fill."
The 'little lacrosse team' with the biggest of fans
According to Chris Welch, general manager of the Victoria Shamrocks, besides politics and working for the community, there was nothing Horgan loved more than cheering on his favourite lacrosse team.
Horgan and his wife Ellie were both season ticket holders for the club, right up until they moved to Berlin, when he was appointed as ambassador to Germany in November 2023.
香蕉视频直播淗e very reluctantly had to give up his seats,香蕉视频直播� said Welch.
But prior to the move, Welch says Horgan was a regular fixture at the Q Centre, even turning up to Shamrocks香蕉视频直播� away games on the Lower Mainland.
香蕉视频直播淗e was just a regular fan, he was John,香蕉视频直播� said Welch. 香蕉视频直播淭here were no airs and graces. All the way through his career, he remained a loyal and true fan, and he was always John.香蕉视频直播�
Welch describes Horgan as 香蕉视频直播渄own to earth香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播渧ery humble香蕉视频直播�, who would always make time for anybody that approached him at a Shamrocks game.
香蕉视频直播淗e would make everybody feel like they were his friend and they were important,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淗e had an amazing way of connecting with people.香蕉视频直播�
And Horgan香蕉视频直播檚 passion for the club knew no borders, says Welch, explaining the avid lacrosse fan would often send photos to the team of him wearing his Shamrocks cap in some of the most iconic of locations.
香蕉视频直播淓verything from the Great Wall of China to the even the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea,香蕉视频直播� said Welch. 香蕉视频直播淗e was always saying, 香蕉视频直播楽ee, I support you wherever I go.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
Horgan香蕉视频直播檚 support meant everything to the club, says Welch, support they will truly miss.
香蕉视频直播淔or a little lacrosse team like us, to have a high-profile public figure like that, who was so passionate about our team, it was a real gift to us, and one that we really, really treasured.香蕉视频直播�
