A caucus member of the British Columbia Liberal Party, he served in several cabinet posts under Premier Gordon Campbell.
Born in London, Ontario,[2] Thorpe grew up in the southwestern part of that province before meeting his wife Yasmin in Trinidad.
[3][4] A Certified Management Accountant, Thorpe was employed in the brewing industry for 22 years, including at Labatt.
[3][5] The family lived in various places in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Israel before settling in Penticton, British Columbia, where Thorpe became a partner in a winery.
[3][5] While the Liberals were the official opposition, Thorpe served as critic for small business, tourism and culture.