John Horgan, former NDP premier of B.C. has died at the age of 65.

Earlier in 2023, Horgan told media he was suffering a third bout of cancer after a followup medical appointment for his previous throat cancer, CBC reported.

Horgan, the 36th premier of B.C. 2017–2022, at the time took leave from his job as Canada's ambassador to Germany.

Horgan was a political staffer for NDP premiers Mike Harcourt, Glen Clark and Dan Miller. In 2005, he was elected MLA for the constituency of Malahat-Juan de Fuca.

Horgan is said to have overhauled the B.C. NDP after the party spent 16 years in opposition, according to an article published by The Canadian Encyclopedia (TCE) on Tuesday.

After the 2017 provincial election, he brokered a power-sharing agreement with the Green Party to overthrow the B.C. Liberals. After an election in October 2020, the NDP won 53 of 87 seats. Horgan transformed his minority government to a majority, wrote TCE.

He was no stranger to adversity.

"Horgan was 18 months old when his father, Pat, died of a brain aneurysm, leaving his stay-at-home mother, Alice, alone to support four children,” wrote TCE.

Horgan spent his early life in a family that sustained itself with the assistance of relatives, friends and the local church, receiving food donations on holidays like Christmas.

“People would step up to help me and that was a great help for my mom,” he once said. “She was always grateful and again she instilled in me, ‘People have helped us, you should help them.’ That's just how I've rolled ever since I remember.”

Horgan grew up in the Saanich B.C. He attended Reynolds Secondary School, where he failed multiple subjects in Grade 9, wrote TCE, noting he was on the wrong path and smoking cigarettes at 14.

“His high school basketball coach helped turn him around, mentoring him and getting him on the varsity basketball team at Trent University in Ontario,” TCE wrote. “Horgan met his wife there while earning a bachelor of arts degree.”

Horgan is survived by his wife, Ellie, and their two sons Nate and Evan.

"Our hearts are broken to announce the passing of our beloved husband, father and friend, John Horgan," a statement posted to X by Horgan's press secretary Sheena McConnell said.

"The wellbeing of British Columbia and everyone in it was everything to him."

Horgan died on Tuesday morning.

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