A life-long member and resident of Fort William First Nation, Ed graduated from a local high school within the city of Thunder Bay further enrolling at Confederation College. His education allowed him a 5-year career within the city when he decided to bring his skills and education back to his community with a career in Property Management with the Anemki Mountain Corporation. The corporation, a branch entity of Fort William First Nation, is one of the leading stepping stones for the Fort William First Nation in Economic Development.
Within this career, Ed was supervising over 150 thousand square feet of commercial space. The success of Fort William’s land claim settlements allowed for bigger and better opportunities in Economic Development and Ed seized this opportunity to broaden and strengthen his skills. With the position as Economic Development Manager it allowed him to represent Fort William First Nation in various industrial ventures such as the FWFN Solar Park and expansion to the Bowater Stud Mill plant located on property owned by FWFN, Community center and two hockey arenas.
In 2011 Ed received the Designated Professional Level Aboriginal Economic Development (PAED) Certification through the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO). In the past Ed's commitment to Economic Development was shown with his time on boards such as, Regional Program Management Advisory Committee (RPMAC), CEDC Advisory Committee, Economic Development Committee City Thunder Bay, Bamkushwada LP, University of Toronto Facility of Law advisory committee, President’s Advisory Council on Economic Development (Lakehead University), President Supercom industries, and Ontario First Nations Economic Development Association (OFNEDA).
Ed now sits on boards, such as, Ontario Director Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO), Friends of Chippewa Park, Miinikaanan Badakidoon Program, Board of Governors Confederation College, Board Director Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.
Now working with Englobe as their Manager of Indigenous Relations responsible for developing and strengthening relationships with indigenous community partners, implementing indigenous engagement strategies, and helping nurture inclusion throughout the organization.
Ed and his wife Nancy have two children and are proud grandparents to their first granddaughter. Ed and Nancy are proud to call Fort William First Nation their home.