Once a fierce critic of the dam, Horgan made the call to finish the megaproject.
Now, the completed megaproject will bear his name.
The province announced Thursday that the dam — the third on the Peace River near Fort St. John — is being named the John Horgan Dam and Generating Station.
B.C. Energy Minister Adrian Dix says it's a tribute to Horgan's contributions to the province and his "difficult decision" to finish building the dam after becoming premier in 2017.
"He had lots of views on Site C over the years," Dix said. "What made John a great premier was he considered all sides, engaged the debate fully. He really thought about it and then he made a decision in the public interest."
"But his one north star that directed him in his time as premier was to put British Columbians and put the province first in every single decision."
Sherry Dominic, chief of Blueberry River First Nations, said in a statement released by the province that dreamers "hold a place of the highest respect" in their culture, and play an important role as cultural leaders.
The lake's name honours the cultural legacy of their people and ensures it will be recognized for generations to come, Dominic said.
The province will take part in a ceremony with First Nations for the naming of the reservoir at a future date.
The official naming marks the final milestone of Site C, which has drawn over a half century of debate, protest and court fights since it was first proposed in the 1970s, shelved in the 1980s, and revived in 2010.
As opposition energy critic and later NDP leader, Horgan called the dam a "$9-billion gamble" when Premier Christy Clark approved it in 2014.
Many hoped Horgan would cancel the dam after he formed government in 2017, and a B.C. Utilities Commission review revealed significant cost overruns and geotechnical construction challenges.
But Horgan said B.C.'s long-term need for Site C's power outweighed the added billions it would have cost to put a stop to it at that point.
-with files from Matt Preprost · CBC News
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