Born, raised, and educated as a banker in Switzerland, André emigrated to Canada at the age of 21. André found his “niche” when he was hired in 1970 as secretary-manager for the Hamlet of Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories. For the next 35 years his career was dedicated to local government administration in small communities in the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, and British Columbia’s Kootenays. As an adjunct to his career, André participated in a CIDA-funded program working with rural district councils in Zimbabwe from 1990 to 2000. He has been guest lecturer for over ten years at Capilano College’s Public Administration Program. His book “Citizens’ Hall: Making Local Democracy Work” was published by Toronto publisher Between The Lines in 2001. André was a regular contributor to Kootenay Cooperative Radio’s program “By The People.” and published a semi-monthly column under the theme of "Audi Alteram Partem" (hear the other side) on political topics of local interest in the Nelson Daily News. André and his Northern Canadian wife Sue have two children. On his retirement Sue and André retired to Terrace, B.C. so as to spend more time with their grandson Matthew.