I was very saddened to learn this evening that Stan Hagen had passed away suddenly from a heart attack late Tuesday.
Stan had successfully survived a fight with prostate cancer in 2004.
Stan was Agriculture and Lands Minister in the BC Liberal government and MLA for Comox. He was 69.
Stan had a long career in BC politics, first as a Social Credit MLA and cabinet minister from 1986 to 1991 under Premier Bill Vander Zalm and later as a BC Liberal from 2001 on.
Whatever political differences I had with Stan, I always admired his commitment to public service and pass on my condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
Premier Gordon Campbell released a statement on Stan's passing, as did NDP Leader Carole James - they are below:
For Immediate Release
2009OTP0009-000074
Jan. 20, 2009
Office of the Premier
PREMIER’S STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF STAN HAGEN
VICTORIA – Premier Gordon Campbell released the following statement today after learning of the sudden passing of Agriculture and Lands Minister and Comox Valley MLA Stan Hagen:
“The province has suffered a great loss with the passing of my friend and colleague, Stan Hagen. He was a man who gave of himself to public life from 1986 until today. He loved British Columbia and the people who live here. Our thoughts and prayers are with Judy and all his children as they mourn the passing of their father.
“Stan served as minister of 10 different ministries in governments from 1986 to 2009. No one in Canadian public life can match that. Whether as Minister of Advanced Education or Agriculture and Lands, Stan’s record was one of exemplary service. He worked with people in a way that encouraged them to do their best as he worked on their behalf.
“His passing reminds us all of the suddenness of life and of the time we take away from our families to serve. It reminds us of the importance of friendship and inner strength, two characteristics that defined the man.
“All British Columbians have suffered a loss today. Our gratitude goes to Stan’s family for sharing him with all of us. He embodied the spirit of ‘the Honourable Member of the Legislature’. He will be sorely missed.”
2009OTP0009-000074
Jan. 20, 2009
Office of the Premier
PREMIER’S STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF STAN HAGEN
VICTORIA – Premier Gordon Campbell released the following statement today after learning of the sudden passing of Agriculture and Lands Minister and Comox Valley MLA Stan Hagen:
“The province has suffered a great loss with the passing of my friend and colleague, Stan Hagen. He was a man who gave of himself to public life from 1986 until today. He loved British Columbia and the people who live here. Our thoughts and prayers are with Judy and all his children as they mourn the passing of their father.
“Stan served as minister of 10 different ministries in governments from 1986 to 2009. No one in Canadian public life can match that. Whether as Minister of Advanced Education or Agriculture and Lands, Stan’s record was one of exemplary service. He worked with people in a way that encouraged them to do their best as he worked on their behalf.
“His passing reminds us all of the suddenness of life and of the time we take away from our families to serve. It reminds us of the importance of friendship and inner strength, two characteristics that defined the man.
“All British Columbians have suffered a loss today. Our gratitude goes to Stan’s family for sharing him with all of us. He embodied the spirit of ‘the Honourable Member of the Legislature’. He will be sorely missed.”
Statement from Carole James
It is with great sadness that I learned tonight of the passing of the MLA for Comox Valley, Stan Hagen.
Over decades of service, Stan made an enormous contribution to public life and to the well being of his community. He will be greatly missed by all legislators and those he served in the Comox Valley. Since his election in 1986 Stan served as a minister of 10 different ministries, and his accomplishments leave a lasting legacy for all British Columbians.
On behalf the New Democratic Caucus and Party, I offer my deepest condolences to his family, friends and to everyone he touched in a life of service and commitment to our province.
Carole James
Leader of the BC NDP
It is with great sadness that I learned tonight of the passing of the MLA for Comox Valley, Stan Hagen.
Over decades of service, Stan made an enormous contribution to public life and to the well being of his community. He will be greatly missed by all legislators and those he served in the Comox Valley. Since his election in 1986 Stan served as a minister of 10 different ministries, and his accomplishments leave a lasting legacy for all British Columbians.
On behalf the New Democratic Caucus and Party, I offer my deepest condolences to his family, friends and to everyone he touched in a life of service and commitment to our province.
Carole James
Leader of the BC NDP
8 comments:
Stan Hagen was someone that I called my friend . I did not know him as a political leader nor as a community leader , although I knew these were the tools for him to help so many .
Stan was my friend , a gentleman ,
loving husband , adoring father .
I wish everyone could have seen what a wonderfull person Stan really was . I will truly miss you Stan .
Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Judy and all of his children .
The Jurreit family
As a former Ministerial Assistant to Stan, let me add my condolences...to his family, his friends and to his colleagues.
Stan was a fine man, who genuinely understood public service. He lived for the people of his beloved constituency and the surrounding area and was so very dedicated to them. I'm sorry that he met with such a devastating end.
May God rest his soul and provide peace and comfort to his family.
The people of Comox will miss Stan. He did what he thought was best for his riding. Not my favourite politician but he did what he thought was always best. What more can anyone ask of a person? Condolences to the family
I have known Stan Hagen and his family since the late 1960s. I knew him as an astute and very hard-working MLA. I also knew him as a personal friend. During a bleak period in my own life Stan reached out to me personally and his support was invaluable and has never been forgotten. This was Stan as a decent and caring human being, not Stan the politician.
Consequently I am shocked and saddened by his premature death. In 2004 when Stan had his prostate surgery I was the journalist he chose to break the story because he trusted in me and my integrity. This was high praise coming from a man with a great sense of personal integrity himself.
I will miss him a great deal and my condolences go out to Judy and the Hagen children.
Ian Lidster
Stan Hagen recently visited the farm where I work where there the trucks used to transport workers are not insured, where we get no overtime pay and have been ecluded from labor laws by his government.
I have a different view about Hagen passing away. In his private life he may have been a nice guy, but in the system that he administered he was a monster.
Sometimes its difficult to nail down an exact time when Gordon Campbell, or his Ministers, have meetings with Special Interest Groups, even if its for one hour.
The Cattlemen is one such SIG.
Will their meeting with the BC Liberal Government be recorded in the Lobbyist Registry because right now they have never, ever, made a presentation.......
I worked for Stan, both in Victoria and in his riding office, off and on during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was a natural mentor and friend to many who always struck me as the real deal - genuine, earnest and above all wanting to make a contribution. We last spoke just after Christmas and he was looking forward to the campaign this Spring. My memories of him are dominated by his many kindnesses, big and small. I can't begin to imagine the gulf that the passing of this good and decent man will leave in the life of his family.
Dear anoymous ,
Shame on you for using this forum
to disrespect a very nice man .
I had only met Mr.Hagen a couple of times and he was very kind .
My mother passed away and Mr.Hagen
went out of his way to give me a card and a special rose bush to be planted at our home in memory of my mother . Our family has moved this rose bush to our new home .This rose bush will now have even more meaning to our family .
Does this sound like a monster to you . If you are searching for monsters look in the mirror .Shame on you , shame shame shame !
You are a very disappointing coward
not to have published your name .
Stan Hagen always was kind and respectful to everyone .
It is my hope that maybe you will change your ways and have more respect for others .
If you have not had the chance to
be shown what kindness and respect are , talk to Stan's friends ,we will share our stories about this man . I know you will be changed .
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