Stan Hagen, a long-serving, popular and widely experienced British Columbia politician was remembered Wednesday as a man who was a "joy to work with."

The member for Comox Valley was first elected in 1986 and served as minister of 10 different ministries, a record that Premier Gordon Campbell said no one in Canadian public life can match.

He died suddenly Tuesday of an apparent heart attack.

Hagen, who was 68, also represented the Vancouver Island riding after re-elections as a Liberal in 2001 and 2005.

Claude Richmond met him when Hagen was first elected in the government of Social Credit party premier Bill Vander Zalm.

"Stan was basically just a very nice man," said Richmond. "He was a joy to work with and I don't think there was a mean bone in his body."

Richmond, who has also served in several cabinet portfolios and is a former Speaker, said the proof of Hagen's good nature was evident in that he was "well liked by both sides of the house."

On Wednesday, Campbell signed a book of condolences set up in the legislature.

Hagen's seat in the front bench in the legislative chamber was draped with a B.C. flag and a single red rose.

The premier left a message for Hagen's family in the condolence book.

"This is a condolence book that will be available for people," said Campbell. "I just did a brief note to the family and I want them to know that we're thinking about him and we appreciate all that Stan's done."

He is survived by his wife Judy and five children.

Campbell said that Hagen's loss will be felt in the First Nations community, a sentiment echoed by Chief Judith Sayers of the Hupacasath First Nation, from Port Alberni.

Sayers recalled Wednesday the tense times felt by many First Nations in B.C. during the provincial referendum on treaties the Liberal government initiated early in its first mandate.

She remembered a summit meeting of chiefs who met after the referendum.

"He was the only minister that came up to me and was friendly and chatting with me," she recalled. "He was the first one that opened the door to this government."

"We know he went the extra mile for us to try to get us what we needed, and sometimes it was 'no.' That's life."

She acknowledged that they didn't always get along, but what she admired about Hagen was that "we could do it in a respectful manner because we knew he was a champion of First Nations people in his own way."

A measure of the respect he commanded from First Nations in B.C. was evident in prepared statements from the Hupacasath as well as the Sto:lo First Nation in the Fraser Valley.

The Hupacasath recalled Hagen being honoured once by the Campbell River Indian band, who gave him a ceremonial button blanket.

He wore the blanket to another ceremony with the Comox First Nation, which gave him the name 'Red Cod' because of his rosy cheeks.

The Sto:lo lauded his work when he was minister of children and family development.

"We got to know Stan Hagen best when he was the minister," Grand Chief Clarence Pennier said in a prepared statement.

"He was a gentleman and he always took our issues seriously."

Hagen was appointed agriculture and lands minister on June 23, 2008.

Some of the other departments he headed were Tourism, Sport and the Arts, Children and Family Development, Minister of Human Resources and Minister of Sustainable Resource Management.

Arrangements for a funeral service hadn't been announced Wednesday.

With files from The Canadian Press