Three thousand people stood and clapped along with Nate Horgan as he bid farewell to his father John Horgan during a ceremony in Greater Victoria, which celebrated B.C.鈥檚 36th premier as a transformative politician who lived an authentic life dedicated to service and family.
鈥淚 miss you so much, I miss you so much, I miss you so much, now you are in God鈥檚 Hands,鈥� Nate Horgan sang as he fought through tears while strumming his guitar.
The climactic moment came about halfway through Sunday鈥檚 (Dec. 15) ceremony that united British Columbians from all walks of life with Lt. Gov. Janet Austin, Canada鈥檚 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, B.C. Premier David Eby and officials of all political stripes from across B.C., Canada and abroad in Horgan鈥檚 favourite sporting arena, the Q Centre in the Greater Victoria suburb of Colwood.
It hosts the Victoria Shamrocks lacrosse team and the team paid tribute to its biggest fan as a group of players wearing their jerseys and gently tapping their sticks on the floor greeted Horgan鈥檚 family as they entered the arena.
鈥淗e was a fine man who loved this province and everyone in it,鈥� Austin said during her remarks, adding that Horgan never displayed any ego despite his accomplishments. Horgan never wanted to be right, just get to the right decision, she said. 鈥淛ohn gave us his all.鈥�
Trudeau, who appointed Horgan to serve as Canada鈥檚 ambassador to Germany following Horgan鈥檚 retirement from provincial politics, recalled their time hammering out improvements to the Canadian health-care system during a meeting in Victoria that included 鈥渢oo many pizzas and too few beers.鈥�
Trudeau said Horgan was 鈥渜uick-witted, brilliant but unflinching鈥� in his values and his contribution to the new health-care deal between Ottawa and the provinces is a legacy to all Canadians.
鈥淛ohn lived an accomplished life,鈥� Trudeau said.
Eby said during his remarks that Horgan drew strength for his political accomplishments through his hobbies and through his family. 鈥淭he legacy he left behind will be felt for many, many generations to come. I want to thank you for sharing John with us,鈥� Eby said, addressing Horgan鈥檚 family.
Several speakers spoke about Horgan鈥檚 love of sports,
Evelyn Coulombe, Canada鈥檚 deputy ambassador to Germany , said Horgan made it a point to learn something about the embassy鈥檚 staff, so he could tease them about their favourite hockey team after they lost to Vancouver Canucks.
Others noted Horgan鈥檚 love for Star Trek. 鈥淗e was so nerdy,鈥� Evan, Horgan鈥檚 younger son, said, drawing laughs. Evan even told a joke to underscore Horgan鈥檚 humour that helped him earn the nickname Premier Dad.
鈥淲hy do melons get so frustrated at wedding?鈥� Nate Horgan asked. 鈥淏ecause they can鈥檛 cantaloupe.鈥�
But the younger of Horgan鈥檚 son also described a man who would spend hours playing with him after coming home from a long day of work.
鈥淚 love my dad very much and the world feels emptier without him,鈥� Evan said.
Carole James, Horgan鈥檚 predecessor as New Democratic leader and longtime friend, meanwhile, joked about Horgan鈥檚 fondness to speak of his Irish roots and playfully blame his quirks on them.
鈥淗e was always true to who he was,鈥� James said. 鈥淩est well dear friend. Thank you for making our province a better place.鈥�
Rev. Dr. Keith Howard, a long-time friend of the Horgan family, said Horgan had a sense of playfulness, laughter and joy.
"But underneath that, John carried a deep sense of hope," Howard said. "That seems to be in short supply now; not the cotton-candy version of hope, but hope that carries the slivers of the cross, as we would say in the Christian tradition."
Howard said Horgan personified the hope necessary to make changes in the face of personal, technological and environmental challenges.
"What else but hope allows us in the words of (Star Trek: The Next Generation) Captain Jean-Luc Picard, captain of the Starship Enterprise, to live now, to make now the most precious time, for now will never come again,'" Howard said.
Sunday's ceremony inside the Q Centre unfolded against the backdrop of a notable RCMP presence given the presence of several notable politicians, including Washington State Governor Jay Inslee.
