Premier John Horgan and his wife Ellie at a lacrosse game at the Q Centre in 2019. [Mary P Brooke]
Tuesday June 28, 2022 | LANGFORD, BC
by Mary P Brooke, Island Social Trends
Today Premier John Horgan — who is the MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca (which includes Sooke) — announced that he will step down from the role of Premier as soon as a new party leader is chosen at a leadership convention this fall.
Horgan has cited health reasons for calling his political career short. He had bladder cancer several years ago, from which he was fully cleared, but then had to deal with throat cancer that was diagnosed in October 2021. He underwent radiation treatment and recovered over the Christmas break and into January of this year. Returning to work in February, he then came down with a bout of COVID-19 in April.
Premier John Horgan announced his plan to step down, at a press conference June 28, 2022.
The full statement from Premier John Horgan today June 28, 2022 included: “I am looking forward to reconnecting with my neighbours as the MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca. Being Premier is not a job I ever expected to have, yet it’s been the honour of my life.”
John says he looks forward to “reconnecting with his Langford-Juan de Fuca neighbours”, in his time after stepping down from the role of Premier.
Horgan has stood steadfast about the importance of public education as “the great equalizer”. Anyone who has experienced the value of their own education as the saving grace for any life predicament will know the value. The school district in Horgan’s home riding is SD62 Sooke School District.
From Island Social Trends … thank you, John, for the opportunity to cover the news of your public service, and for appreciating the role of journalism and local media. ~ Mary P Brooke, Editor
Anointing one of the oak trees planted in memory of Brenda Parkinson (from left): T’Sou-ke Elder Shirley Alphonse, T’Sou-ke Chief Gordon Planes, and BC Premier John Horgan (MLA for the region) on August 6, 2019 at John Phillips Memorial Park in Sooke. [West Shore Voice News / Mary Brooke]
Premier John Horgan addressed the crowd at the tree-planting memorial for the late Brenda Parkinson, at John Phillips Memorial Park in Sooke on August 6, 2019 [West Shore Voice News / Mary Brooke]
Remembrance Day 2019 – Langford. Premier John Horgan with Langford Mayor Stew Young and Langford Legion reps.
Premier John Horgan playing basketball with students at Wishart Elementary School in Colwood (SD62), March 14, 2019 [West Shore Voice News – Mary Brooke]
Premier John Horgan attended the 2019 Remembrance Day ceremony in Langford [West Shore Voice News – Mary Brooke]
Premier John Horgan on the podium, as the Remembrance Day Parade made its way past dignitaries on November 11, 2019 in Langford [West Shore Voice News]
Premier John Horgan and his wife Ellie at Game 1 of the 2019 Mann Cup on September 6, 2019 at The Q Centre in Colwood [West Shore Voice News / M Brooke]
Attending the official opening of the Sooke Community Sport Box on June 26, 2022 (from left): Juan de Fuca Regional Director Mike Hicks and Premier John Horgan (MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca). [Mary P Brooke / Island Social Trends]
Premier John Horgan with lacrosse stick in hand, at the new Community Sport Box in Sooke, June 26, 2022. [Mary P Brooke / Island Social Trends]
Official ribbon cutting at the new community sport box at Raven’s Ridge Park in Sooke, June 26, 2022. Mayor Maja Tait; Premier John Horgan; SEAPARC Commission Chair Al Beddows; District Councillors Jeff Bateman, Dana Lajeunesse and Tony St-Pierre; CRD Chair Colin Plant; Juan de Fuca Regional Director Mike Hicks; and youth athletes, Mason from Juan de Fuca Whalers Lacrosse and Emma from Sooke Minor Hockey cut the ribbon to official open the sport box. [Mary P Brooke / Island Social Trends]
Premier John Horgan at the August 24, 2019 opening of the Sarah Beckett Memorial Playground [West Shore Voice News]
Premier John Horgan relaxing at his annual constituency BBQ at Sooke Flats in August 2018. [West Shore Voice News file photo / M Brooke]
Ceremonial ribbon-cutting to officially open the Knox Centre affordable housing building on Church Road in Sooke. Clowning it up in the back row with a ‘joyful noise’ were (from left): Premier John Horgan and Knox Presbyterian Reverend Gordon Kouwenberg. Front row (from left): T’Sou-ke Chief Gordon Planes, Knox Vision Society Chair Eleanor Shambrook, District of Sooke Mayor Maja Tait, and Knox Vision Society vice-chair MJ Whitemarsh. [West Shore Voice News photo by Mary P Brooke]
Premier John Horgan and Adrian Dix in April 2019 announcing expansion supports for the existing West Coast Family Medical Clinic in Sooke, including an annual $1 million to cover five more salaries (2 doctors, 1 NP, 2 RNs). West Shore Voice News photo ~ Mary P Brooke
Premier John Horgan and Mitzi Dean, MLA (Esquimalt-Metchosin) visited a Grade 5 classroom at Wishart Elementary in Colwood, March 14, 2019. [West Shore Voice News photo by Mary P Brooke]
M’akola Group CEO Kevin Albers with Premier John Horgan at Indigenous off-reserve affordable housing announcement in Langford, December 13, 2018 [Mary P Brooke / West Shore Voice News]
Premier John Horgan and Health Minister Adrian Dix on a tour of the Westshore Urgent Primary Care Centre in Langford, October 26, 2018 [West Shore Voice News photo – by Mary P Brooke]
John Horgan, MLA and BC NDP leader at the Sooke Fall Fair in September 2016 [West Shore Voice News]
Premier John Horgan takes a moment’s pause to pose with Island Social Trends Editor Mary P Brooke, at the Sooke Community Sport Box opening on June 26, 2022. [Darcy Smith]
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