‘He represents the epitome of community service:’ Al Horning remembered

Former Kelowna city councillor, Member of Parliament, and Member of the B.C. Legislature Al Horning has died at the age of 83.

“Kelowna is a better place because of Al Horning’s countless contributions,” Mayor Tom Dyas wrote on social media, expressing his condolences to the family. “He represents the epitome of community service.”

The City of Kelowna applauded Horning for his achievements, saying how his years of public service at the government and 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.”

Horning was recently honoured at City Hall with news a street would be named after him.

The video is from that evening can be seen here.

Al Horning honoured by Kelowna council in February 2023 (City of Kelowna photo)

Al Horning Way will connect the south end of the road at the airport to Rutland.

“I’m delighted. What can I say, I didn’t expect it,” he told Kelowna10 at the time, joking the honour is usually reserved for hockey players.

Horning was born in Saskatchewan in 1939 and first visited Kelowna with his family in 1944.

The Rutland resident since that year was first elected to Kelowna city council in 1980, serving four, two-year terms.

In 1988, he was elected an MP Okanagan Centre under the Progressive Conservative banner. He was defeated by Werner Schmidt of the Reform Party in 1993.

In 2005, he was elected to represent Kelowna – Lake Country in Victoria as a Liberal. He did not seek re-election in 2009.

One of Horning’s high-profile actions was fighting for federal approval and funds to extend the runway at Kelowna International Airport from 5,300 feet to 7,300 feet. That allowed it to become the significant gateway it is today.

When not serving the community, Horning was a champion snowmobile racer and founding member of the Kelowna Snowmobile Association.

(Story by Kelowna10 Staff)