Introducing Our May Member Spotlight: Meet ed!
From the moment that Lemonade Collective opened its doors, Ed has been a pillar of our community. As one of our original members, personally welcomed by Melissa just weeks after we launched, he’s brought warmth, wit, and wisdom to the pool deck ever since. Ed has become a familiar and beloved presence.
As he prepares to celebrate his 90th birthday, we’re honoured to shine the spotlight on someone who continues to inspire us all — not just with his history, but with his continued commitment and community spirit.
Can you share with our Members a brief overview of your background and journey that has led you to where you are today?
Ed grew up in Northern Ontario, spending his early years in Timmins and Sudbury before heading "down south" to study Engineering at Queen’s University, where he graduated. Early in his career, he joined The Campbell Soup Company in Toronto, and alongside his wife, embarked on a corporate journey that took them across North America. At just 33 years old, Ed became a plant manager in Manitoba, and later held key roles in both New Jersey and South Carolina. Eventually, Ed returned to Toronto to manage The Campbell’s Canada operations.
After several successful years, he moved into senior leadership roles with Nabisco Brands — where, humorously, he notes he went from “soup to nuts” overseeing Planters products — and later Maple Leaf Mills. While building his career, Ed and his wife Gail raised their son and daughter and pursued an active lifestyle, with Ed being an avid jogger, golfer, and skier.
It was skiing at Craigleith that first introduced the family to South Georgian Bay and Thornbury, a place they quickly grew to love. Ed and Gail became members at Craigleith Ski Club, where they built friendships over 25 years. After Gail’s passing 12 years ago, Ed continued to visit Thornbury on weekends before deciding to move up full-time — around the same time that Lemonade Collective opened. He joined just a month after its opening, calling it "one of the best moves I ever made," appreciating the welcoming community, the pool for workouts, the camaraderie of fellow members, and the sauna — especially meaningful to him given his Finnish heritage.
What are some of the key moments or experiences in your life or career that have shaped who you are and what you're passionate about?
Several early experiences had a profound impact on Ed.
Working in an underground mine during his high school and university years taught him the value of hard work, resilience, and the importance of building strong relationships with the people around him. It also reinforced his motivation to pursue higher education — something his parents strongly encouraged, shaped in part by his father’s experience working in the mines.
Throughout his corporate career, frequent relocations and transitions demanded adaptability and openness to meeting new people and working in new environments. These experiences shaped Ed's flexible, community-focused approach to life and work.
What drives and motivates you in your work or personal pursuits, and how do you stay inspired and focused?
Ed lives by a simple but powerful principle: If you’re going to do something, do it well.
Commitment and a strong work ethic have always been at the heart of everything he takes on. Once he decides to pursue something, he follows through with full effort, staying motivated by pride in doing things to the best of his ability.
Could you highlight some of the projects or endeavors you're currently involved in that you're particularly excited about?
Today, Ed is especially passionate about choral singing. Although he had never sung formally before, he took a leap and joined the Shoreline Chorus in Owen Sound, singing bass. The chorus performs 18–20 songs per concert series each season across Grey and Bruce counties, including Thornbury. In addition to music, Ed cherishes regular gatherings with friends and neighbours — another way he stays connected and engaged with the community he loves.