Royal Roads University Langford location to be named John Horgan campus

Many simply knew him as John from Langford. 

And now, Royal Roads University's new Langford campus will bear his name.

His family and political colleagues say the newly named John Horgan campus will mark the legacy of one of B.C.'s most popular premiers.

"The biggest fear is when you lose a loved one, that they'll be forgotten. And this means he won't. So that's good," said Ellie Horgan, John Horgan's wife of 40 years, choking back tears. 

John Horgan died Nov 12 of last year after a battle with cancer. He was 65. 

Remembering John Horgan

5 months ago

Duration 2:55:17

CBC News broadcasts the state memorial service for John Horgan, the 36th premier of British Columbia, from the Q Centre in Colwood on Vancouver Island.

A five-term MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca, Horgan ushered the NDP back into power in 2017 through a power-sharing agreement with the B.C. Greens. Horgan then secured the party's largest ever majority in 2020.  

Despite those successes, Ellie says her husband was too humble to think a building would bear his name. 

She recalls telling Horgan, while the couple was in Berlin as part of Horgan's role as Canada's ambassador to Germany: "You know there's a movement and it's growing to name the campus after you." 

Ellie says Horgan, in hospital as his cancer worsened, waved his hand dismissively, and said, "Psssh, that's just silly."

Former B.C. premier John Horgan remembered at memorial

5 months ago

Duration 2:09

Former B.C. premier John Horgan was remembered by family, friends, political rivals and the prime minister at a memorial service on Sunday. Horgan died in November at age 65 after a third bout with cancer.

Horgan was a long-time proponent of a university in Canada's fastest-growing city, a suburb of Victoria. He stood in front of a bulldozer at the same location in 2022 when the Langford campus was announced. 

"If you spent 10 minutes with John Horgan, you would know the value and importance he placed on education," said Premier David Eby, standing in front of the campus building, which will open this fall.

Horgan often told the story of how his basketball coach at Reynolds High School in Saanich turned his life around when the Grade 9 student seemed headed down the wrong path. 

"How, despite profound challenges early in life, he was able to overcome them," Eby said. 

Royal Roads president Philip Steencamp says that's why the university will also establish an entrance scholarship in Horgan's name. 

"Even when he occupied the premier's seat, he was always John from Langford," Steencamp said. "And this university will carry on that legacy.

John Horgan's personal legacy looms as large as his political one

6 months ago

Duration 2:48

Tributes continue to pour in for former B.C. premier John Horgan, who died on Tuesday at the age of 65. As Katie DeRosa reports, those closest to him are remembering 'John from Langford' and his legacy.

Students will study business, social sciences and criminal justice at the new campus that opens this fall. Ellie has ideas on other courses Horgan would have approved of, given his love for Star Trek and Star Wars. 

"Because he was such a science fiction geek, [he'd like] if there were astronomy, space exploration and electives for rock polishing."

Steencamp also announced a $5,000 entrance scholarship in Horgan's name. He set a goal to raise $1 million for the bursary by Aug. 7, Horgan's birthday. 

Also in the crowd, two-month-old Holly, the Horgan family's first grandchild.

That led close friend Carole James, a former B.C. NDP leader, to quip: "Who knows, maybe his own granddaughter will end up going to the John Horgan campus."