Sindi Hawkins Loses Battle with Leukemia

By 250 News

Victoria, B.C.- Former Kelowna-Mission MLA Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins, has lost her battle with acute myeloid leukemia.

She passed away in Calgary today, surounded by family.

Just a few hours before her passing, Premier Gordon Campbell announced the   Southern Interior Cancer Centre would be renamed, the Sindi Hawkins Cancer Centre "Naming the Southern Interior Cancer Centre after her will be a lasting legacy of her kindness, her passion for helping others and her generosity of spirit."

Hawkins served as the MLA for Okanagan-West and Kelowna-Mission from 1996 to 2009. During her tenure she served as Deputy Speaker, Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations and as Minister of Health Planning.

In a statement from his office, Premier Gordon Campbell  remarked "Sindi was only 52 years old and taken from us far too  early. She had much more to give and we had more to learn from her.

"Anyone who ever met Sindi was struck by her remarkable spirit for everything she put her efforts toward. She was an incredibly kind and considerate human being who dedicated her life to helping others. She was able to connect with people from all walks of life, something she showcased in her careers as a nurse, lawyer, elected official and cancer advocate. 

"Today is a sombre day for British Columbia; we have lost an inspirational person, an advocate, a role model and a great community leader." 


After first being elected in 1996 she started the annual Sindi Hawkins and Friends Charity Golf Classic for Cancer Care, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the local cancer clinic.

Since her own leukemia diagnosis in 2004, Hawkins was a tireless supporter of the cancer cause. As co-chair of the BC Cancer Foundation's Tour of Courage in 2007 and with a new endowment fund, she helped raise nearly $3 million for the BC Cancer Foundation.

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