The city of Pembroke and the Ottawa Valley are mourning the sudden loss of community leader Jamie Bramburger.
On Tuesday evening, Algonquin College announced that Bramburger, who was the Interim Dean at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus, had passed suddenly on March 11.
“I was devastated and heartbroken. This is not news you expect,” said Claude Brulé, president and CEO of Algonquin College, in an interview with CTV News.
“He meant the world to me. He was so impressive in his work with the community. He was such a fine speaker. He was the voice of the campus and in the community. He loved the students, student life. He always made sure the students were able to be successful.”
Classes at the Pembroke Campus were cancelled for March 12, resuming March 13. The college says counselling and support services will be available for students and employees. Municipal flags will also be lowered to half mast.
Outside of the college, Bramburger was dedicated to his community of Pembroke and had a passion for local hockey.
He was a passionate broadcaster on community television and served as the play-by-play voice for the Pembroke Lumber Kings.
“He was a cornerstone. He wore the red and white in his sleeve. He did everything,” said Pembroke Lumber Kings owner Alex Armstrong.
“He was around for a long, long time. And not just for myself, but other owners in the past and they probably said the same thing about him. He was a wonderful man.”
Bramburger was also a published author, writing a book about the storied Lumber Kings franchise and another about one of Canada’s worst ever train wrecks in Almonte.
Armstrong says a moment of silence will take place at Wednesday night’s Lumber Kings game in Pembroke.
“People like that can’t be replaced. Obviously, he was a truly special individual that cared about his community and obviously really cared about our hockey club.”
In the Pembroke community, Bramburger also helped redevelop the city’s waterfront in 2000 and helped co-found the Jason Blaine Charity Concert and Golf Tournament, which has raised over $1 million for local organizations.
“Utterly shocked when I found out yesterday that he had passed away and I think I speak for all of the community that we’re just in a state of mourning. I just can’t believe it,” said Pembroke Mayor Ron Gervais.
“He sat on numerous different committees at the city of Pembroke, such as economic development. In terms of the college, he was instrumental in getting the waterfront campus where it is now from Pembroke Street East. No matter what was needed by our community, Jamie was there.”
Most notably, Bramburger was proud to be known as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, son, and friend.
He was 60 years old.
