Mentor, friend, one-of-a-kind and quite simply B次元官网网址楯ohn from LangfordB次元官网网址�, 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 home town 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, HorganB次元官网网址檚 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. NDPB次元官网网址檚 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 B次元官网网址渂ittersweet.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚t felt like the best way to honour him, but also hold him close to my heart,B次元官网网址� said Parmar. B次元官网网址淚 wish he could have been there.

B次元官网网址淗e is the most remarkable individual I've ever met my entire life, one of a kind.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淟ittle did I know how much that interaction at a young age for me would have on my future,B次元官网网址� he said.

About HorganB次元官网网址檚 legacy in Langford, Parmar reels off an impressively long list, but the MLA says itB次元官网网址檚 the B次元官网网址渓ittle thingsB次元官网网址� he will miss most about his friend.

B次元官网网址淪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,B次元官网网址� said Parmar. B次元官网网址淎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.

B次元官网网址淗e said, B次元官网网址業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,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he remembers.

Working together for Langford

B次元官网网址淗e's just a good Langford guy,B次元官网网址� says Young when asked to describe Horgan. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址楯ohn from LangfordB次元官网网址�, that really says it all.B次元官网网址�

During his 29 years as LangfordB次元官网网址檚 mayor, Young remembers multiple conversations with Horgan about the future of the city.

B次元官网网址淥ver 20 years ago, Langford was known as a B次元官网网址榙og patchB次元官网网址�," he says. B次元官网网址淭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, B次元官网网址榃e got to make Langford stand alone, its own city.'B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淟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 HorganB次元官网网址檚 work.

B次元官网网址淲hether you agreed with him or not, he always put what he thought was his best foot forward,B次元官网网址� said Young. B次元官网网址淵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.

B次元官网网址淗e very reluctantly had to give up his seats,B次元官网网址� said Welch.

But prior to the move, Welch says Horgan was a regular fixture at the Q Centre, even turning up to ShamrocksB次元官网网址� away games on the Lower Mainland.

B次元官网网址淗e was just a regular fan, he was John,B次元官网网址� said Welch. B次元官网网址淭here were no airs and graces. All the way through his career, he remained a loyal and true fan, and he was always John.B次元官网网址�

Welch describes Horgan as B次元官网网址渄own to earthB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渧ery humbleB次元官网网址�, who would always make time for anybody that approached him at a Shamrocks game.

B次元官网网址淗e would make everybody feel like they were his friend and they were important,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淗e had an amazing way of connecting with people.B次元官网网址�

And HorganB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淓verything from the Great Wall of China to even the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea,B次元官网网址� said Welch. B次元官网网址淗e was always saying, B次元官网网址楽ee, I support you wherever I go.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� 

HorganB次元官网网址檚 support meant everything to the club, says Welch, support they will truly miss.

B次元官网网址淔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.B次元官网网址�