Sarnia Bay Marina has been officially renamed Andrew S. Brandt Marina.
A new sign was unveiled at a special dedication ceremony Thursday morning, honouring the former Sarnia mayor, cabinet minister, MPP and LCBO chair.
Brandt, who helped secure provincial funding during his time as MPP to build the marina in 1985, said he's honoured.
"I used to be a boater before I got into politics, and then I didn't have any time to be a boater, but my interest was still in the water and building a community facility that draws people in from far and wide," said Brandt.
He said if he didn't have community support at the time, the project wouldn't have happened.
Brandt said the late Jack Kennedy, who helped develop downtown Sarnia and the marina building is named after, was also instrumental in getting the facility built.
"He twisted my arm all the time when I was in politics because he knew that I had a love of water and he wanted a marina here badly. He knew that it was going to generate a lot of economic activity for the community as well," said Brandt.
Marina operator Dave Brown said they'll be rejuvenating the Jack Kennedy Centre this year.
"Repainting, and then we'll do the inside lobby, which really needs some life, and then we'll enter into the restaurant/reception area and then the pavilion itself -- change it up, give it some colour, some activity," said Brown.
He said about 30 per cent of a $125,000 fundraising campaign to do the work has been raised.
Sarnia Bay Marina will now be known as the Andrew S. Brandt Marina. Mayor Mike Bradley, Ray Curran and Dave Brown joined Brandt to unveil the new sign this morning. #SLont pic.twitter.com/Kh2yhR3aoL
— Melanie Irwin (@MIrwinCHOKNews) May 30, 2019
