Al Horning, mainstay of local politics, dies at 83
Al Horning, once a fixture on the Kelowna political scene, has passed away at age 83.
Horning is probably best known for serving as a Kelowna city councillor from 1980 to 1988, at which point he moved to federal politics when he was elected as a Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament for the Kelowna riding of Okanagan Centre. He served as MP for six years but lost his reelection bid in 1993 and again in 1997.
Horning returned for a short time to his municipal roots in 2002 when he was re-elected to Kelowna city council, but just a few years later Horning made the jump to provincial politics in 2005 when he was elected as Member of the Legislative Assembly for Kelowna-Lake Country as a provincial Liberal. He chose not to run for re-election in 2009. Horning also served as trustee for the Black Mountain Irrigation District.
Horning was born in 1939 in Saskatchewan, moving to Kelowna with his family in 1944. Known as the “Champion of Rutland,” where he grew up and attended primary school, Horning has been called the driving force behind the expansion of Kelowna International Airport leading to its current status as Canada’s tenth busiest airport.
Outside politics, Horning earned a living in real estate, business and fruitfarming. He was pre-deceased by his wife Donna in 2019 and is survived by his three children Robert, Bradley and Sandra.
Just last month, in what was his last public appearance, the City of Kelowna announced it would name a future road for Horning.
In view of his passing, the city issued this media statement:
“Kelowna City Council and staff join with so many people in our community who knew Al Horning in expressing sincere condolences to his family and many friends. It goes without saying that our community is a better place because of Al Horning. His many years of public service in three levels of government and at the grassroots level produced benefits for generations of Kelowna residents and businesses. He motivated improvements in Kelowna, helping us grow from humble agricultural beginnings to an increasingly sophisticated economy and diverse society,” the release said.
“Al Horning was someone who got things done – whether it was fighting for what we needed to get bigger planes into Kelowna, or getting federal contracts for Kelowna companies like Western Star, or getting ball diamonds built, he always brought dogged determination to his work. He represents the epitome of community service.”
While a date has not yet been announced, flags will be at half-mast on the day of his service, the statement said.