Former B.C. premier John Horgan dies aged 65, after third bout with cancer

By Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press on November 12, 2024.

The Honourable Janet Austin, Lt-Gov. of British Columbia, not seen, swears in Premier John Horgan during a virtual swearing in ceremony in Victoria, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

VICTORIA – Ambassador to Germany and former British Columbia premier John Horgan has died at the age of 65, after his third bout with cancer.

Horgan served as B.C.’s New Democrat premier for five years before stepping down in 2022, then was appointed ambassador last year.

But in June, Horgan announced he was on leave after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and a government source has confirmed his death.

Horgan, who served five terms as a member of the provincial legislature, resigned his suburban Victoria seat in March 2023, citing health reasons after he received more than 30 radiation treatments to battle throat cancer.

Horgan’s retirement from political life didn’t last long as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named him Canada’s ambassador to Germany in November 2023.

Political scientist Hamish Telford, who teaches at the University of the Fraser Valley says Horgan accomplished a rarity in politics: he left office more popular than when he was first elected.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Nov. 12, 2025.