Submitted by Ken Hirter
My role with The Breezes means that I get to visit many interesting landmarks of The North End and I get to meet and interview the people who make a difference. Many become friends. One of those special people was Ed Stewart.
Ed was born and raised on Wood Street in the North End. At a young age, his family suffered a tragedy when his brother Bill was killed on the Athabaskan and moved away. His life’s journey kept him active with the 607 Athabaskan Associations.
Over the years, Ed’s journeys took him across the world and he visited and resided in many cities. He settled in Oakville with his wife, built a home and lived there until his passing in August of this year.
During his travels, he still kept in touch with his childhood friends in the North End and remembered his roots. He knew when they celebrated their birthdays, when they were mentioned in the paper, what they had done and when they had passed. A true “old school” person, Ed would call or write to keep in touch.
One of Ed’s passions was The North Ender of The Year Award which he started and which will carry on through the leadership of The Breezes Board of Directors.
Ed was a gifted graphic designer and won the honour of designing the logo that we use to this day for The Breezes. His passions included being involved in the Sea Cadets and the 23rd Field Ambulance. Ed was a collector of memorabilia and shared many of his photos and stories with the North End through The Breezes.
As Wendy Collins relates “He had a great sense of humor; he was very generous with his talents (graphic arts) and his wealth of experience. An all-around kind and wonderful person. I feel blessed to have known him. In my life’s journey, he was a stand out.”
Ed’s kindness, knowledge and love of the North End will be missed but never forgotten.
