Full Biography

Ed Holder has lived in London for the last 28 years. His roots are in eastern Canada, with his father born in Holderville, New Brunswick and his mother born in Glace Bay, Cape Breton. The family moved to Upper Canada and in 1954 Ed was born in Toronto, Ontario. At the age of 10, Ed’s family moved to California where they lived for 5 years before returning to Toronto. While in California, Ed earned his high school letter specializing in languages, and participated on the track team and chess club at school. Back in Toronto, Ed became President of his high school, Malvern Collegiate, while also playing on the football team and organizing the school’s United Way efforts. He was selected as the Toronto Area High School Representative for the opening of the Metro Toronto Zoo.

In 1976, Ed graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a degree in Philosophy. At UWO, Ed re-instituted the defunct Faculty of Arts Students Council, and established the Faculty of Arts study hall and intramural sports. He was President of the Faculty of Arts Students Council throughout his time at Western. While there, he also co-founded the BKTP (Be Kind To People) committee, an initiative in which students were involved in several charitable activities, including weekly visits to seniors at a local hospital, regular visits to locally incarcerated inmates and visits to new immigrants to London, welcoming them to their new community. He also played guitar and led the singing for the congregation of the university parish church.

Moving back to Toronto after graduation, he worked several years for a major Canadian insurer as a group underwriter. He was active as Vice President of his Company’s staff association, and was a member of the Stouffville Lions Club, the Stouffville Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Toronto Board of Trade. He was also a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Ed returned to London in 1981 to continue his career in insurance. He founded Ontario West Insurance Brokers Ltd.. and Ontario West Insurance Agency Ltd. which merged with Stevenson & Hunt Insurance Brokers Limited in 1991. In 1995, Ed became a Partner with Stevenson & Hunt and President in 1999. With its head office in London, Ed has been involved with the acquisition of several insurance brokerages, establishing new office locations in Cambridge, Waterloo and Toronto. Stevenson & Hunt has enjoyed tremendous growth, with 4 divisions and 160 staff. Stevenson & Hunt has now grown to become one of Canada’s largest insurance brokerages.  During his tenure as President, Stevenson & Hunt has been acknowledged by a number of organizations for its philanthropy and spirit of volunteerism. In 2004, Stevenson & Hunt was selected as recipient of the United Way’s “Community Caring Award” in the Large Business Category. In the same year, the Company was a finalist for the London Chamber of Commerce “Outstanding Business Achievement Award — Large Company.” In 2005, Stevenson & Hunt was selected by the City of London and the London Economic Development Corporation as the ‘Featured Company of the Month’ in recognition “of industry leadership in providing innovative and unique value to the marketplace and making an outstanding contribution to the economic well being of London.”  In 2007, Ed stepped down as President of Stevenson & Hunt to pursue politics.

Ed has been a member of the Presidents Club for several major insurance companies and has been Stevenson & Hunt’s international representative for Assurex Global, an international network of the worlds largest independent insurance brokers. To this point, he has completed the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA) program, received his RIBO insurance license, 4 CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) courses, completed his GBA (Group Benefits Analyst) designation and completed his RPA (Retirement Plans Associate) designation.

When he first moved to London, Ed founded the Directors Club of London, which has developed into one of London’s premier business-networking groups. He recently retired as Chair of the Club.

In 1982, Ed joined his local community association in Old South London and following several years of service, became President. Although he no longer resides in Old South, part of his connection is carrying on his role over the last 20 years as emcee of the community fair, Gathering on the Green. It is an event dedicated to family and raising funds for local area school programs and charities. Ed was honoured in 2004 with an OSCOR, recognizing his ongoing support of the Old South Community Organization.

Ed describes himself as a “Political Activist.”   Certainly he’s been involved – with the “soft” politics of community activism and the “hard” politics of the Conservative Party – both provincially and federally.   Throughout the ‘80s, he worked ...

• on the Conservative Riding London West Board of Directors in a variety of functions including Membership Chair; and
• on campaigns for such prominent Londoners as Gord Walker, Tom Hockin, Vaughan Minor, and Bob Wood in a variety of leadership and volunteer roles.

In 1993, Ed stepped in to run as the Conservative candidate for London Middlesex.   Like most Conservatives that year, he lost.  Due to a family tragedy, he removed himself from active party participation to devote his time and energies to his family business and the community.

Ed joined the London Chamber of Commerce in 1982 serving on and chairing a number of committees. In 1990, he organized the most successful membership drive in the Chamber’s history. resulting in the addition of 168 new members. For that effort Ed was honoured as Volunteer of the Year by the Chamber. He was appointed to the Board of Directors in 1989, to the Executive in 1990, and in 1992 became President of the Board of Directors. He received a special President’s recognition award in 2001 for his continued involvement in the Chamber’s major fundraising initiative, the Comedy Auction. Ed currently sits on the Chamber’s Board of Governors.

In 1985. in recognition of his contributions to the community, Ed was selected by the West London Jaycees as an Outstanding Young Londoner.

In 1989 and 1990, Ed assumed responsibility as co-chair, General Business Division of the United Way. In 2005. Ed was appointed to sit on the Campaign Cabinet for the United Way as Chair of the Finance Division, with its goal to exceed $1 million. This division is responsible for about 1/6th of all funds raised in the campaign. In January 2006, both the Finance Division and the overall London campaign had exceeded their goals.

Ed is co-chair of the ‘Business Cares’ Food Drive. whose motto is “Taking Care of Business Means Taking Care of People”. Initially established in 1990. it has grown to where in December, 2008 ‘Business Cares’, with the strong support of participating employers and employees, raised a record 161,000 pounds of food. The London Food Bank counts many social service agencies and thousands of Londoners as its recipients who regularly depend on this important organization.

In 1992, Ed co-chaired ‘Canada Unity London,’ a group of local caring Londoners dedicated to the preservation of a whole Canada. The group organized a strong campaign to promote Canadian unity by encouraging college students to sell Canadian flags door-to-door and by being part of a larger effort to keep Quebec in Canada.

In 1992, to acknowledge his community service, Ed was honoured with the Governor General’s Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Confederation.

In 1996, following the tragic loss of their young son, Bruno, in a car accident Ed and his wife joined the Bereaved Families of London, a strong caring group committed to supporting each other in their grief. Ed has participated in the fundraising “Walk-a-thon to Remember” and was responsible for arranging for the installation of park benches at the site of the Angel Tree, planted in Victoria Park in London to remember the children.

Ed accepted a position on the Board of Directors of the London Convention Centre in late 1997. He finished his term in his role as Chair of the Board in 2002. During his 2 years as Chair, the London Convention Centre experienced two of the best financial years in its history. This was in large measure due to the superior staff at the Convention Centre and a legacy of previous Boards’ strong and committed leadership.

Ed is past Chair of the Board of Directors for St. John Ambulance, an organization totally dedicated to community service, including first aid training. Established in 1909, St. John Ambulance London is Canada’s oldest Brigade. From sending all Brigade units to assist in the major ice storm in eastern Ontario and Quebec, to sending the first Canadian paramedic team to Ground Zero in New York on September 11. 2001, St. John Ambulance London has demonstrated tremendous leadership through Ed’s tenure on the Board. St. John Ambulance is proud that its first aid training has grown dramatically over the last several years, with great leadership from senior staff. Ed has acted as chief fundraiser for St. John Ambulance — London over a number of years, helping to raise in excess of $500,000. Ed played a regional role with St. John as Chair of the Administrative Centre Management Team. In 2005, Ed accepted the role as Chair of a Task Force reviewing the viability of reinvigorating the Airshow as a community event and major fundraiser for St. John Ambulance as well as Jesse's Journey in 2007.

Ed served as co-chair of the Sunshine Dreams Golf Classic, London’s most successful charity fund-raising golf tournament. In 2005, the final tournament raised in excess of $292,000 for Sunshine Kids, disabled or life-threatened children who have their biggest dreams fulfilled. Every child should have a dream and so the County Heritage / Stevenson & Hunt Golf Classic Endowment has now left an everlasting legacy by having achieved in 2005, monies in excess of $1.3 million, to provide ongoing dreams in perpetuity for deserving kids.

In December, 2001 in response to the pending cancellation of London’s annual New Year’s Eve party, Ed took a leadership role as co-chair with a small group of Londoners raising $45,000 to allow Londoners to again enjoy bringing in the New Year at Victoria Park. This has grown to where on New Year’s Eve, 2005 with Ed again as co-chair more than 25,000 Londoners kicked off London’s special sesquicentennial birthday party ‘Celebrate London’ at Victoria Park with amazing Canadian entertainment, fireworks, hot chocolate and family-fun entertainment. All free!  He continues in this role on behalf of all Londoners.

In the Spring of 2003, Ed co-organized a fundraising initiative and successfully patriated the Canadian Memorial Cross (Silver Cross Medal) of Sir Frederick Banting, KBE, MC on behalf of Banting House National Historic Site, London. Banting House is a national museum dedicated to the work and research of Canada’s first Nobel Prize winner and last Canadian to be knighted, due to his discovery of insulin. The Canadian Memorial Cross was awarded to Banting’s widow after his death. His medal got out of the family’s possession and into public auction, and required the efforts of a committee of two to raise almost $90,000 in ten days to ensure the Banting medal would go to Banting House in London, the birth place of insulin.

Ed participated in 2003 as a Judge for London’s annual Rib-fest raising significant operating dollars on behalf of the Boys & Girls Club of London.

Ed is a member of the Rotary Club of London, which was established in London in 1915. He was an officer of Rotary as Sergeant-At-Arms until recently, and since 2003 was honoured by five-times being named a “Paul Harris Fellow” in appreciation for his support of the principles of Rotary International. In 2004, Ed was further honoured by his selection as recipient of the “Jack Burghardt Community Service Above Self’ award. In 2005, he co-emceed Rotary’s 100th anniversary Gala at the London Convention Centre, and has acted as emcee for a number of Rotary functions.

Ed is a member of the London Club, where he sat on the Executive as President. His term as President was preceded by his roles as Vice President and Secretary Treasurer. He co-chaired the Membership Development Committee, and in 2003, with the support of a member-wide effort, chaired the Club’s most successful membership drive in its history, resulting in 172 quality members being added to its roster.

Ed has been chief organizer over the last seven years for the YMCA of London charity golf tournament, ‘Y Fore Kids’, with proceeds committed to sponsoring youth activities. In 2009, with his team, they raised $150,000 for the Y kids’ programs. ‘Y Fore Kids’ also established an endowment for the express purpose of continually providing less fortunate children the ability to participate in Y-sponsored camps and programs.

Ed is also a member of the Canadian Club of London, the Better Business Bureau, the London Garrison Community Council (where he sat on the Membership Committee) -which promotes stronger relations between the military and the London community, the Officers’ Mess at Wolseley Barracks, the Old South Community Organization, the Portuguese Club of London and the Protea Club of London.

In 2004, Ed and his wife, Judite, were recognized for their community service by their selection as Honourary Patrons for ‘Music Reigns’. a major fundraiser for King’s College University and Orchestra London.

Also in 2004, Ed was elected to the Board of Governors of the University of Western Ontario. He has sat on the Campus & Community Affairs Committee as well as the Development and Fund Raising Committee In January 2006 he was appointed as Chair of the Bylaws Committee and Vice-Chair of the Property & Finance Committee. He was a member of Senate, and sat as a committee member of the Mcintosh Gallery Committee, as well as the Senior Operations Committee.

In 2004. Ed represented South-Western Ontario as a delegate to the Canadian Diabetes Association annual meeting in Quebec.

In 2005, Ed was asked to sit on the Grand Theatre Foundation Board of Directors, to provide ongoing support of the financial requirements of London’s local Grand Theatre. and was honourary emcee of the Grand Variety Show celebrating London’s 150th birthday.

In 2005, Ed sat on the Board Development Committee of Hope’s Garden, an organization committed to supporting those with eating disorders. He has been a member of Hope’s Garden Advisory Group.

Also, in 2005 Ed was named Honourary Patron of the London Professional Firefighters Association for his work in the community, at their Valentine’s Gala supporting autism research.

In 2005, Ed was invited to sit as a community member of the Editorial Board for the London Free Press, in which various notables are invited to make representations to the Board on various areas of interest, with input, questions and answers from the Board.

In 2005, Ed was honoured as Recipient of the Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Award in recognition of “exemplary communication and leadership while serving his Community. Province and Nation”.

Ed is dedicated to his wife, Judite, and daughter, Claudia. Judite and Claudia are both entrepreneurs and owners of two very successful businesses - Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut and Gammage Flowers. Claudia is married to a London firefighter, Cedo Ivanisevic and they have two beautiful daughters.

INTERESTS

Ed is a public speaker and considers this part of his community service. For many years he has spoken to groups including:

• HOBY (Hugh O’Brien Youth) organization - speaking about leadership training to young high school students
• seniors’ organizations throughout southwestern Ontario
• Chambers of Commerce
• Business groups, networking organizations. charitable groups and college graduation ceremonies — speaking about the power of combining business and networking with community service. Audiences have included:
  • The Colleagues Club
  • Toastmasters international District Conference
  • Project Managers Institute conference
  • University of Western Ontario Department of Communications
  • Fanshawe College graduating business class
  • International Association of Business Communicators
  • Fanshawe PR class
  • Westervelt College graduating class

Ed has acted as auctioneer for a number of charitable events including Partners In Research, the Rotary Club and the Can-Am Police Fire Games.

Ed's hobbies include music, guitar and vocals, Canadian history, chess, stamp and coin collecting and reading.

As an avid Canadian Confederation history buff. Ed has organized several Sir John A. Macdonald birthday celebrations in honour of Canada’s first Prime Minister.

EDUCATION

CAREER

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

HONOURS AND AWARDS

Ed has received several acknowledgements during his career:

HOUSE OF COMMONS
CANADA

© 2010