The Saskatchewan Party is mourning the sudden death of Roger Parent.
Just hours after publicly revealing his widespread cancer diagnosis, the Saskatoon MLA passed away Tuesday night in Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon with his family members by his side.
It was announced Wednesday morning.
He was 63.
On Tuesday, Parent’s wife Sheila released a statement in which she wrote “the diagnosis was unexpected – Mr. Parent sought medical attention after feeling unwell, and tests revealed the cancer is widespread.”
Flags at the Saskatchewan Legislature have been lowered to half-staff in honour of Parent.
His chair will also be draped today – the final day of fall session.
“Our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to Roger’s family,” Premier Brad Wall said.
“This is a huge shock to all of us. Roger was here in the Assembly carrying out his duties throughout most of the fall sessions and only learned of his cancer in the past couple of weeks. This is a sad day and sudden loss for all of us who knew Roger.”
Parent was first elected in Saskatoon Meewasin in 2011. He served in a variety of roles including on the Standing Committee for Human Services, the Standing Committee for Private Bills and the Special Committee on Traffic Safety.
Prior to politics, he was involved with the Saskatoon Homelessness Initiative Partnership, SREDA Aboriginal Economic Development Committee, Saskatchewan Committee on Aboriginal Procurement and Saskatchewan’s Métis Nation.