This is me. A
person is defined by what is done; not what is said. In my case, my life is
an affirmation of my beliefs and values.
I apologize only for its length. London has been good to me. I’ve been able to establish and
maintain a successful business employing more Londoners than when I started.
And I’m able to give back. Many causes, charities, and services have been
the beneficiary of the leadership and efforts I’ve shared with so
many. Thank you London.
Ed Holder was elected Member of
Parliament for London West on October 14, 2008.
His background includes a successful career in
business as well as extensive community involvement.
Ed has lived in London for the past
29 years.
He founded Ontario West Insurance, which later merged
with Stevenson & Hunt Insurance Brokers Ltd., where Ed became a partner in
1995, and President in 1999.
As one of the largest Canadian insurance
brokerages in the country, Stevenson & Hunt was recognized in 2005 by the
City of London and the London Economic Development Corporation for
``industry leadership in providing innovative and unique value to the
marketplace and making an outstanding contribution to the economic well
being of London.``
Truly committed to his community, Ed has volunteered countless hours for dozens of local groups including the
Rotary Club of London, United Way of London & Middlesex, Business Cares Food
Drive, Sunshine Dreams for Kids, Y Fore Kids YMCA charity fundraising, St. John Ambulance, Theatre
London Foundation and New Year's Eve at Victoria Park. He
has also served as President of the Board of the London Chamber of Commerce,
Chair of the Board of the London
Convention Centre and served on the Board of Governors of the University of Western Ontario.
Ed received the Governor General’s
Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada
in recognition of significant contributions to compatriots, the community
and to Canada. He was appointed as an Officer of the Order of St.
John Ambulance. He also received the Jack Burghardt Community Service Above
Self award from the Rotary Club of London.
As
a newly elected Member of Parliament, Ed was honoured to be chosen to serve
on the Standing Joint Committee for the Library of Parliament (2008-2009)
and the Standing Committee on International Trade, an important committee
for London, and for Canada. He continues to be a member of the
International Trade Committee and in October 2009 he became a member of the
Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.
Ed is also a member of the Southwest Ontario Caucus,
the Conservative Auto Caucus, Conservative Community Relations Caucus,
Conservative Financial Services Caucus, and the Aerospace Caucus.
As well, he is involved with over 25 Parliamentary Associations and
Friendship groups including: the Canada – United States Inter-Parliamentary
Group, the Inter-parliamentary Forum for the Americas, the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Canada-Ukraine
Parliamentary Friendship Group, the Canada-Portugal Friendship group, the
Canada-Lebanon Friendship Group – to name a few.
Ed is committed to being a strong and
well-respected representative for Londoners in Ottawa.
Ed and his wife Judite have a daughter, Claudia, and
two beautiful granddaughters. Judite and Claudia are both entrepreneurs and
owners of two very successful businesses - Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut
and Gammage Flowers.
That’s not all. Refer to ED’S
FULL STORY for a complete
description. Ed will be the first person to explain that his accomplishments
are not his alone. His family is always supportive and encouraging and he
stands firmly with his colleagues, his friends, and the many people with
whom he has shared a common vision in living and creating a better
community.
