Mr. Speaker, a lifelong Conservative and friend, Vic Brandl was born in 1933 in Jeffrey, Alberta, and passed away peacefully at the age of 91 in Vernon, B.C.
Vic quit school during the Depression to work on the neighbour's farm until he went to work in Edmonton in 1950. By the age of 19, Vic had worked at a gas station, on a drilling rig and on a barge moving freight from Yellowknife, to name just a few places. He started V.E. Brandl oil field construction in 1961 when he bought his first D7 dozer, and he grew the company to 100 pieces of heavy-duty equipment.
Vic served on our local Reform Party, Canadian Alliance and Conservative Party boards, finishing as our director emeritus. Over the years, Vic became a good friend, often stopping by for a coffee to talk politics and current events.
Vic was a husband to his beloved Edith; dad to Kevin, Barry and Ron; father-in-law to Marnie and Larisa; grandpa to Noah, Nikita and Eva; and brother to Roger, Bob and Jim.
I thank Vic for everything he did for our riding, community and country. He will be missed.