After nearly seven years of rethinking and restructuring the University’s non-academic operations and services, Brian Hutchings, Vice-President, Administration, will be leaving Brock this summer to become a senior executive in the municipal government sector.

Hutchings will become the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Brantford, effective August 6. His final day at Brock will be July 26.

A familiar figure on campus and in the surrounding community, Hutchings joined Brock in October 2012, coming from the Regional Municipality of Niagara where he served as Commissioner of Corporate Services as well as Regional Treasurer.

Within a year of arriving at the University, he was instrumental in helping guide the institution through a three-year path to address multi-million-dollar operating deficits and achieve balanced budgets over the past several years.

At the same time, he has been a major player in implementing more than $100-million worth of major infrastructure projects for Brock, including the Goodman School of Business building, the Rankin Family Pavilion, the DEEP energy efficiency project, and the Marilyn I Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts in downtown St. Catharines, which was a landmark juncture in collaboration between the University and its host communities.

A strong believer that athletics should enrich the experience for all students, Hutchings launched the era of high-energy varsity hockey and basketball games in the Meridian Centre, and helped negotiate the building Brock’s new artificial turf sports field. An ardent booster of Badgers athletics on campus and across the country, he routinely acted as public address announcer during varsity basketball games, and has been a senior representative for Brock in the 2021 Canada Summer Games.

Brock President Gervan Fearon said the University owes a debt of gratitude to Hutchings.

“Brian’s contributions can be seen in his supporting the establishment of the strong financial foundation, building infrastructure and administrative operations that are now present at Brock,” said Fearon. “However, I believe his greatest legacy is the spirit and heart he showed every day. That will be an inspiration to us all to uphold in his honour as we serve the students, the University community and its partners. He will be deeply missed at Brock.”

Hutchings said he will be leaving with mixed emotions, and will miss being part of a workplace culture that is shaped by interactions with staff colleagues as well as thousands of students.

“I want to thank all the members of my team, who have never ceased to be supportive and committed,” he said.

“I always sought to enrich the student experience through better services, athletics, and enhance student safety through top-notch security. I have been fortunate to work with great colleagues, inspirational board members, and an outstanding team of direct reports, and have forged what I know will be permanent relationships.

“But life is about new tests and challenges. Brantford is an exciting community entering an age of growth and expansion, last year Maclean’s called it the best city in Canada in which to buy real estate, so my experience at Brock and in municipal government will assist me in my engagement and support of the goals of Brantford, its mayor and municipal council and its citizens.”

Gary Comerford, Chair of Brock’s Board of Trustees, said Hutchings has played a major role at Brock and he leaves a positive legacy in his wake.

“The contributions that Brian has made to the financial stability and the administrative structure of the University will be forever appreciated,” said Comerford.