Former B.C. lieutenant-governor David Lam died Monday following a battle with prostate cancer.
He was 87.
Lam was born in Hong Kong, became a Canadian citizen in 1972 and was appointed lieutenant-governor in 1988, a post he held until 1995.
Premier Gordon Campbell issued a statement saying the province is mourning the loss of a great British Columbian and a great Canadian.
Campbell said Lam served with pride and distinction and his vision of Canada included a place where immigrants would find refuge and opportunity.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canadians benefited greatly from Lam's generosity as a well-know philanthropist and Canada's first Asian-Canadian lieutenant-governor.
"David Lam will be remembered for his vision of Canada in which immigrants could maintain their cultural identity while integrating into Canadian society," Harper said in a statement.
"We join his three daughters, seven grandchildren and other relatives and close friends in mourning the loss of this remarkable Canadian," Harper said.
A memorial service for Lam will be held Saturday in Richmond.
