B.C. councillor dies suddenly after more than two decades in city government

Flags across Langford, B.C., were lowered to honour the late councillor, Lillian Szpak. (Handout)

A longtime city councillor in Langford, B.C., died suddenly over the weekend, according to the municipality.

Coun. Lillian Szpak was first elected in 2002 and was re-elected in October 2022. She died Saturday, May 2, the city said in a news release.

“Lillian gave so much of herself to Langford,” said Scott Goodmanson, the city’s mayor, in a statement Monday.

“For more than two decades, she showed up for this community with conviction, compassion, and a deep respect for residents,” he added.

“She cared about people being heard, she cared about the future of Langford, and she understood that public service is both a privilege and a responsibility.”

The release from the city said officials have been in close contact with members of Szpak’s family, who shared a statement with the municipality.

“Lillian loved her family and her community deeply,” the statement said. “She lived every day to the fullest, and we will miss her forever. She burned bright till the very end. We love you, Lillian.”

Szpak had been a resident of Langford since 1993, when she moved to the community from Germany, according to her municipal bio.

During her time in government, Szpak also served on several boards, including the Westshore Chamber of Commerce and the Langford Enhancement Society.

“On behalf of council and the City of Langford, I extend our heartfelt condolences to Lillian’s family, friends, colleagues, and to everyone in our community who is mourning this loss,” Goodmanson said.

Flags across Langford were lowered to honour the late councillor. Szpak’s cause of death was not released by the family or the municipality, which referred to her death as a “sudden passing.”