Ed Lumley, former Cornwall mayor and former federal cabinet minister, is being remembered for a life of service after dying at his home in South Lancaster on Wednesday.
He was 85.
Lumley served as mayor of Cornwall, Ont., from 1972 until 1974, when he was elected Liberal MP for Stormont-Dundas. He served as an MP until 1984, holding several portfolios in the cabinets of Pierre Trudeau and John Turner.
After being defeated in the 1984 federal election by Progressive Conservative candidate Norman Warner, Lumley returned to the private sector, where he served as the vice-chairman of BMO Nesbitt Burns and the director of Magna International. He also served on the boards of Bell Canada Enterprises, Canadian National Railway and Air Canada.
In 2014, Lumley was awarded the Order of Canada for service to community and country, notably as the federal minister of industry, where he initiated the Canada-U.S. Free Trade discussions.
The University of Windsor paid tribute to Lumley, citing his “extraordinary leadership and legacy.”
From 2006 until 2019, Lumley served as chancellor of the university, after which he was named its chancellor emeritus.
Lumley played a “pivotal role” in raising over $100 million to support the university, it said in a statement, most notably through the creation of the Ed Lumley Centre for Engineering Innovation.
Since 2015, a scholarship in his name has provided 58 students with up to $32,000 each.
“From his roots in Windsor to a distinguished career in public service, corporate leadership, and philanthropy, Dr. Lumley’s contributions are lasting and far-reaching,” the university said.
“We honour his extraordinary life, legacy, and the profound impact he had on generations of students, alumni, and the entire UWindsor community.”
Lumley was a “great community leader,” according to Eric Duncan, the Conservative candidate for Stormont–Dundas–Glengarry.
“Ed knew how to get things done — there are many projects in Cornwall that have his fingerprints on it, from his service as mayor, a member of parliament and cabinet minister,” Duncan said in a statement posted online.
Lumley’s name is attached to the arena at the Cornwall Civic Complex, which has hosted World Junior exhibition hockey games and World Junior Curling Championship games.
Duncan also remembered Lumley as a husband and family man.
“He was a wonderful man and a great public servant who dedicated many years to making Cornwall and SD&G a better place,” he said.
