Growing up in the Horgan household, Christmas wasnB次元官网网址檛 the happiest time of year.

It was the holiday season when little John Horgan, then 18 months old, lost his dad to a brain aneurysm. Though it didnB次元官网网址檛 really affect baby Horgan, it affected his mom and three elder siblings.

B次元官网网址淐hristmas was a tough time because it reminded us of when he got sick, it was a sad time,B次元官网网址� said Horgan, entering his first holiday season as B.C.B次元官网网址檚 premier, a role he assumed on June 29. B次元官网网址淥ur Christmas turkey was given to us by the church, we had neighbours helping with food, [and really] Christmas was not something in the early years that was special to me.B次元官网网址�

It was a far cry from 2017, where the Christmas spirit is so strong in the Horgan family, heB次元官网网址檚 enacted a house rule, no Christmas decorations until Dec. 15.

B次元官网网址淲e have the Dec. 15 rule at our house largely for [my son Evan]. HeB次元官网网址檚 the guy on the roof putting the lights up as of Dec. 1, so we had to curb his enthusiasm,B次元官网网址� Horgan said. B次元官网网址淏ut I think back to how sad Christmas was in my formative years, and how it became better with Evan, who was born on Dec. 31 because his birthday followed.B次元官网网址�

However, there were some good memories, Horgan said, such as the first present of the year, a parcel sent in the mail from his aunt in Ontario.

And time changed things, eventually for the better.

By Grade 9 Horgan was failing multiple classes at Reynolds secondary and was showing up at downtown pool halls instead of class, he said. He had height and showed athletic promise, and thatB次元官网网址檚 when he had his fateful moment with Reynolds basketball coach John Lusk. It was Lusk who pulled Horgan aside and helped put him back on track.

B次元官网网址淗e helped me realize I had more potential, and since then Reynolds has a special place in my memories,B次元官网网址� Horgan said.

By Grade 12 he was the president of student council and captain of the basketball team. Being president of student council was about getting more student dances, and wasnB次元官网网址檛 the true start to his political career, he said, although he clearly knew how to turn on the charm.

B次元官网网址淚 got in because I got appealed to everyone,B次元官网网址� Horgan recalled. B次元官网网址淚 liked Star Trek and could hang out with the nerds. I was in sports, I was involved in drama, I was making sets for school plays, and I could hang out with [the smokers].B次元官网网址�

During those Reynolds years Christmas got better at home, Horgan said.

B次元官网网址淢y [siblings] and I used to go up to the BC Hydro right of way in Cobble HillB次元官网网址� WeB次元官网网址檇 cut a handful of old trees from under the transmission lines, enough for all our different houses.

B次元官网网址淭hen weB次元官网网址檇 all descend on our home on Genevieve Road [a small Saanich street between Rogers and Lily streets in north Quadra], with all my [siblingsB次元官网网址橾 kids,B次元官网网址� Horgan recalled. B次元官网网址淚t was a fun time, weB次元官网网址檇 all go caroling to neighbours, door to door raising money for charity. We had depended on others in the community to help us out and were mindful of that, giving back.B次元官网网址�