Longtime Regina & District Chamber of Commerce CEO John Hopkins passed away earlier this week.

Hopkins’s passing comes after a battle with stage four prostate cancer that he was diagnosed with in 2018.

Lori Ireland, board chair of the Regina and District Chamber of Commerce, said that all of Regina has a heavy heart.

“Everybody knew he was ill, but it’s just surreal to have it actually happen. Everybody remembers John as just such a passionate and dedicated voice for Regina,” she said. “His efforts for the Chamber, for small business, for people all over the place won’t be forgotten.”

Support and memories of Hopkins have been pouring in, and Ireland said it’s wonderful to see.

“We all knew how much he meant to so many people; I feel like his family is going to be just especially honoured to really understand the man that John was and the impact that he had on so many people in Regina, in Saskatchewan, in Canada, so just a wonderful human being, a wonderful leader.”

Ireland said that Hopkins will always remain the face of both the Chamber and businesses in the Queen City. Something that didn’t stop even when he was in his final days.

“I visited him in the hospital, and even when he was on his last few days, all he could think about was the Chamber,” she said. “He loved his job, he offered to help in any way he could, he just absolutely loved Regina and this community.”

Ireland added that the Chamber would make sure that Hopkins legacy lived on.

Hopkins had announced he was taking a medical leave of absence in January.