LANGFORD — Ellie Horgan choked back tears as Royal Roads University named its new campus after her late husband, John Horgan, honouring the former B.C. premier in the Vancouver Island community of Langford where he lived.
"I'm overwhelmed," she said Friday outside the John Horgan Campus building that is nearing completion, adding, "I can't wait until the sign goes up."
Horgan, who was also Canada's ambassador to Germany, died of cancer in November at age 65.
"As late as last September, when we were in Berlin and John was in hospital, I said, 'you know there's a movement, and it's growing, to name a campus after you,'" Ellie Horgan recalled. "He went, 'that's just silly, they should name it after somebody who deserves it.'"
But she said she was "thrilled beyond belief" that the honour went to her late husband, who prided himself as "John from Langford."
Premier David Eby was among more than 200 guests at the announcement, including past and present B.C. ministers.
He said Horgan focused on improving access to different kinds of post-secondary training when he was premier.
"So it is entirely appropriate and fitting that this campus is named for such a remarkable champion of education," Eby said.
"I really wish, as we all do, that John was with us here today. But of course, if he were here, he would not have let us name this campus after him. He (was) an incredibly modest guy and this is the least of what John deserves for his contributions to British Columbia."
The campus is set to open in September.
Philip Steenkamp, president and vice-chancellor of Royal Roads, said he met Horgan in 2019 to discuss expanding post-secondary options in Langford, one of the fastest growing communities in Canada.
"He said to me in his usual blunt way, 'you need to get out of your castle and out from behind those walls, and pop out into the community,'" Steenkamp said, a reference to historic Hatley Castle where the university's main campus is based in neighbouring Colwood.
"Here we are — so John, we took that admonition seriously."
Other post-secondary institutions will also have a presence in the new campus building, including the University of Victoria, Camosun College and the Justice Institute of British Columbia.
Ellie Horgan said her husband would have been even happier, "if there was astronomy and space exploration and electives for rock polishing," a reference to some of his passions.
Royal Roads also announced the creation of the John Horgan Entrance Award, to give financial assistance to new undergraduates at the Langford campus.
Steenkamp said he had made a personal donation of $25,000 to the award.
Ellie Horgan said her late husband's love for Langford, education and young people "all come together in this campus."
"He would be proud to see students, faculty and staff become part of Langford’s vibrant community, and deeply honoured to have his name associated with such a meaningful place of learning.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2025.
Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press
