Former Burnaby MLA John Nuraney remembered as a ‘gentleman’ and community leader. Nuraney was a respected leader in the Ismaili community, an entrepreneur and a philanthropist. He was elected in the riding of Burnaby-Willingdon in 2001 and 2005.

BURNABY – Former South Asian MLA John Nuraney, who is being remembered as a “gentleman” with a legacy of compassion, passed away on Monday.

Nuraney, who held the riding of Burnaby-Willingdon for the B.C. Liberals from 2001 to 2009, died early Monday at age 79.

“When I think of John Nuraney, one word comes to mind: gentleman,” said B.C. Premier Christy Clark in a statement, reported CBC News.

The premier’s statement remembers Nuraney as a respected leader in the Ismaili community, an entrepreneur and a philanthropist.

Nuraney was born in Kenya, and immigrated to Canada from Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) in 1974, after his business and assets were seized by the Zairian government.

“British Columbia was lucky he chose us,” said Clark, who called Nuraney a “mentor and friend.”

“John arrived here with nothing, but you can’t keep a man of his talent down.”

His “legacy of compassion” will continue through his wife, Gulshan, three children and grandchildren, the premier wrote.