Andy Haydon, the Nepean politician who would leave not only his mark but also his name on Ottawa City Hall, has died at the age of 91.

According a brief obituary posted onlineAndrew Scott Haydon died on Monday, “leaving a void in the lives of so many people.” The obituary did not reveal the cause of his death.

Born in Toronto in 1933, Haydon moved to Ottawa with his family at age six. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Queen’s University and then worked in Cornwall, Ontario, before moving to what was then Nepean Township in 1961.

That’s where Haydon entered politics, first elected in 1966 to the borough council as a councilor and then, three years later, as reeve. When Nepean was incorporated as a city on November 24, 1978, Haydon served as its first mayor for six days before becoming regional president of Ottawa-Carleton, a position he held for 13 years until 1991.

A lot happened in Ottawa during Haydon’s time leading the regional council, including the opening of the Transitway and the expansion of the Robert O. Pickford Environmental Centre, one of the largest water treatment plants in Canada.

Return to politics

After retiring and running a bed and breakfast with his wife, Haydon unexpectedly returned to politics in 2006 when he announced he was running to represent the suburban district of Gloucester-South Nepean in Ottawa’s new city council. It was not successful.

Larry O’Brien, who was elected mayor that year, brought Haydon back to Ottawa City Hall as a special advisor. Haydon used his position to warn against converting Transitway to light rail, calling instead for an expanded BRT (bus rapid transit) system to meet the city’s growing transportation needs.

In the run-up to the upcoming 2010 municipal election, Haydon publicly criticized O’Brien’s fiscal record as “a tragic case of irresponsible and extravagant spending unmatched in Ottawa’s history.” Then, on the last day of registration, he surprised everyone again by announcing that he was running for mayor.

Haydon finished fourth with almost 19,000 votes. O’Brien finished second with nearly 65,000 votes, losing to Jim Watson.

Haydon’s ‘impact was enormous’

In a brief tribute delivered in the city council chambers Wednesday, current Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe remembered Haydon as someone “deeply passionate about our community” and whose “impact was enormous.”

“He was a dedicated public servant and a visionary leader. Even after his retirement, he remained deeply engaged in local affairs. It is very fitting that both a beautiful park and our city council chambers are named in his honor,” Sutcliffe said, referring to the sprawling riverside Andrew Haydon Park in the city’s west end, and the Andrew Haydon Hall at Ottawa City Hall.

Carleton University also offers a scholarship in Haydon’s name. to students in its engineering program.

Haydon had four children with his wife Mary Leishman and, after her death, married Sherry Franklin, the widow of Ben Franklin, who took over as mayor of Nepean after Haydon’s brief tenure.

According to the online obituary, the visitation will be held on Sunday, November 3, from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm at Hulse, Playfair & McGarry at 315 McLeod St. The funeral will be held the following day at 1:00 pm at the same location, followed by a reception.