Former MLA Sindi Hawkins loses battle with cancer

VICTORIA — Former Kelowna-Mission MLA Sindi Hawkins died Tuesday after a long battle with acute myeloid leukemia. She was 52.

Hawkins was the Liberal MLA for Okanagan-West and Kelowna-Mission from 1996 to 2009, and served as deputy speaker, Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations and as Minister of Health Planning.

She announced her retirement from politics in November of 2008.