The Liquor Control Board of Ontario has named 43-year-old Aaron Campbell, who is both a former prime ministerial aide and a Toronto International Film Festival organizer, as its youngest-ever president and CEO.
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who → name → president
“He’s young.
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He → ’ → ?
He’s creative.
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He → ’ → ?
He’s innovative.
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He → ’ → ?
And I think very widely respected through his whole organization, and certainly within the domestic industry,” said Norm Beal, chair of Ontario Craft Wineries and CEO of Peninsula Ridge Estates.
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Beal → think → Estates
Campbell has led the LCBO on an interim basis since February.
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Campbell → lead → February
In his interim role, Campbell publicly championed Ontario wineries and brewers.
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Campbell → champion → wineries
The “We’re All In On Ontario” campaign, launched in September and running through mid-October, promoted the LCBO’s catalogue of more than 4,600 Ontario-made beverages, which Campbell said in a promotional video “took centre stage in store and online.”
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Campbell → ’re → store
The LCBO reported that Ontario-product sales grew by more than half a billion dollars, or 20%, in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026.
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sales → report → year
In its June 30 statement, the retailer also reported sales growth of 44 per cent for Ontario VQA wines and 25 per cent for Ontario-made beer.
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retailer → report → beer
Beal said he learned about the qualities Campbell brings to the job came in a personal phone call.
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Campbell → say → call
In August, when it looked like a trade deal would bring American alcohol back to LCBO shelves, Campbell called to ask how the retailer could help Ontario producers mitigate the impact.
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producers → look → impact
“Aaron called me up and said, ‘Look, we know that this is going to have effect on your business, so I want you to really give it a thought as to what you think we can do to help you,’” Beal recalled.
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Beal → call → you
“I thought it was very perceptive and quite generous of Aaron to say: ‘What else can we do to kind of soften the blow?’”
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we → think → blow
Campbell’s LCBO career began in 2017.
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career → begin → 2017
Before taking the interim leadership role, he was chief of staff and vice-president of corporate affairs, strategy and sustainability, with responsibilities spanning organizational priorities, long-term planning, stakeholder relations, public policy, government affairs and social impact.
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he → take → priorities
He previously held senior federal positions, in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office, and the office of the minister of Canadian heritage.
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He → hold → heritage
Campbell’s résumé also includes six years working at the Toronto International Film Festival.
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résumé → include → Festival
A 2013 HuffPost article introduced TIFF’s then-director of programme and event services as “Mr. Protocol himself” – which the article attributed to his wide-ranging work including “processing film submissions to producing all the official TIFF parties.”
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article → introduce → parties
Campbell’s arts involvement also included a directorship with DanceWorks Toronto, whose board he was serving on in 2019.
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he → include → 2019
“It is a privilege to lead the LCBO and the dedicated people who bring our public mandate to life every day,” Campbell said in a statement regarding the new appointment.
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Campbell → lead → appointment
“Having worked alongside teams across the organization, I have seen first-hand the knowledge, care, and commitment they bring to serving our customers, partners, and communities.
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they → work → customers
I look forward to building on that strength as we continue to evolve and deliver for the people of Ontario.”
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we → look → Ontario
A Markham, Ont., native, Campbell chairs the board of Ontario Creates – an agency of the Government of Ontario under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport – and sits on the Goodman School of Business Advisory Committee at Brock University.
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Campbell → chair → University
His previous board appointments include Cota Health (2018-2024) and TVO Media Education Group (2023-2025).
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appointments → include → Health
In 2002 he received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in recognition of his community service.
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he → receive → service
LCBO board chair Carmine Nigro noted in a statement Campbell’s “steady, thoughtful leadership, needed at an important time for the LCBO” praising his “deep understanding of the organization, extensive public-service experience, and strong relationships across the industry.”
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Nigro → note → industry
The Aporia
