Lambton College hosts official ground breaking ceremony for new world class education facilities. Foundation Chair Andy Brandt. June 22, 2016 (BlackburnNews.com photo by Melanie Irwin)Lambton College hosts official ground breaking ceremony for new world class education facilities. Foundation Chair Andy Brandt. June 22, 2016 (BlackburnNews.com photo by Melanie Irwin)
Sarnia

Tireless College Fundraiser Andy Brandt Stepping Down

The Lambton College Foundation's board chair for 24 years is stepping down later this month.

Andy Brandt has been the sole chair since the foundation's inception in 1994.

Under Brandt's direction, the College completed two very successful capital fundraising campaigns, raising over $9-million in the early 2000s.

College President Judith Morris says he'll be missed. The college hopes to name a replacement in the coming months.

"As he was leaving today, he told me he was going to come back and help with some asks for major parts of the project, and other things. And, of course, he's welcome to come to our board meetings and when we open the new buildings [on September 20] he'll be front and centre."

Brandt oversaw the launch of the Envision Tomorrow Capital and Equipment Renewal Campaign in support of Lambton College's $48-million campus expansion projects to construct the Athletics & Fitness Complex and the NOVA Chemicals Health & Research Centre.

The 80-year-old served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Progressive Conservative from 1981 to 1990, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of William G. Davis and Frank Miller.

He later served as interim leader of the PC party from 1987 to 1990 before being appointed as Chairman and CEO of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, a role which he held for 15 years.

Locally, Brandt served as mayor of Sarnia in 1975, and is credited with advocating for construction of Hwy. 402 and his work rejuvenating the city's downtown.

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