C. Edmund "Ed" Murray

If Ed was writing his own obituary, he might have popped it on the side of a bus, turned it into an Irish Ballad or pitched it to the evening news. Then again, he was never one to promote himself, only others.

As a primary school student Ed was never in his seat, but found looking out the window or roaming the halls. He would take this curiosity and endless energy and channel it throughout his life.

Ed was a true behind the scenes guy, but also a constant worker of the room. Some called him “Fast Eddie”—not because he was a hustler, but because of his ability to carry on many conversations at once, switching quickly from one topic to another.

As a younger man, Ed was a tenor in the St. Patrick’s Boy’s Quartet, and an altar boy and choir member at Saint Mary’s Basilica. He carried his love of music with him even in his final days, singing carols with his family and Hospice residents.

He studied theology at Holy Heart Seminary, but questioned his calling to the priesthood. His questioning was answered when he found his true vocation as a husband and family man after he met the love of his life, Maggie, on a fine Victoria Day weekend, at the Jubilee Boat Club.

Ed was a proud alumnus of Saint Mary’s University, where he received his BA in history in 1957. From 1957-58, he was the first Canadian student to study in Boston University’s newly established School of Public Relations. He paid for his education through scholarships and working on the dining car of the CNR.

He got a taste for the public relations profession as an undergraduate at SMU, publicizing amateur theatre productions. His part-time job at CBC as a studio guide gave him entrée to the emerging world of media relations, where he ended up spending a decade handling CBC “PR” in the Maritimes. A highlight was working on the Singalong Jubilee show. An anecdote he loved to share was of the time he noticed Anne Murray kick off her shoes during a taping break, seizing the opportunity, he instructed the studio’s photographer to zoom in as she strummed her guitar, barefoot—this became a signature look for her in her early musical career.

After the CBC, Ed began working for the Federal Government, and spent the majority of his career as the first public relations manager at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography (BIO) in Dartmouth. It was, “Canada’s best kept secret and like a monastery, only scientific!”, he would say. One of his proudest accomplishments was developing the communications strategy that put BIO and its ground-breaking work on the map, nationally and internationally. He took down the staid BIO’s “silence barrier” through inviting large numbers of ordinary visitors and VIPs for tours. While there he overheard plans to scrap the docked 1913 CSS Acadia, the lone surviving ship from the Halifax Explosion, and he leapt into action, rallying support and lobbying to preserve its important place in history through a National Historic Site designation. At the Oceanographic Institute he was truly… ahead of the wave, (yup, that pun’s for you Ed)!

After BIO, Ed continued his public service career, working in Employment and Immigration (later Human Resources Development Canada). It was there he faced the problem of making ‘stay in school’ a catchy idea. Thinking where high schoolers spent time every day, he plastered city buses with the message, reaching his target audience with flair.

His work with the feds was recognized by a Government of Canada Merit Award for exceptional and distinguished contribution to the effectiveness and efficiency of the Public Service.

Ed was a past president and founding member of the Atlantic Public Relations Society (predecessor to CPRS-NS) formed in 1957. Through this, he would help establish the first English Canadian degree program in public relations at Mount Saint Vincent University.

Ed was a dedicated lifetime member of the Canadian Public Relations Society. He was a national president from 1978-89, and Nova Scotia Chapter president in 1967-68. He received a CPRS Lamp of Service in 1986 for contribution to the field of public relations and became an honorary Fellow in 2003.

Long-time CPRS colleague Mary Barker summed up Ed’s contribution, “Always positive in his attitude, he was a man with a wonderful sense of humour who greatly valued the connections, the educational advancements, and the social aspects of his professional association.”

Ed also provided mentorship to many PR students over his lifetime and volunteered for many community organizations including United Appeal, Canadian Peace and Development, 1984 Papal Visit, Discovery Centre, Neptune, Eastern Front, and Jest in Time Theatres and most recently at the Daily Bread Outreach.

His Jesuit professors made a lasting impact. Ed was an ethical man, personally and professionally. He was gifted at storytelling, which helped immensely throughout his career, and a lover of all jokes—even the bad ones.

One of Ed’s famous stories was meeting his idol Duke Ellington in Boston at Storyville Jazz Club. Ed mentioned to Duke he had just heard his “Shakespeare Suite” back home on the CBC. The Duke and he chatted and as the musicians returned after intermission Mr. Ellington invited him to sit at the piano for the second half of the concert.

His legacy of joy, gentleness, kindness, loyalty, generosity and good humour will be forever remembered by his wife of 60 years Margaret “Maggie” (Boyd) of Antigonish, his three children, Angela Murray, Christian Murray (Mary-Colin Chisholm) Halifax, and Larissa Avery (Richard), London UK. He was immensely proud of his children and grandchildren. He was especially happy that his daughter Angela followed him in his profession, and was a continuous advocate for the performing careers of his son Christian and youngest daughter Larissa.

Ed was a fun-loving, silly grandfather (Granka) to his cherished grandchildren—Emlyn, Sophia, Lillith, Maia, Isabella and Hal—and uncle to numerous nieces and nephews. His many friends and former colleagues will miss him greatly, including members of the Gourmet Club, a social supper club he and Maggie were a part of for 40+ years, and the “ROMEOS” (Retired Old Men Eating Out)—a group of fellow SMU grads who met regularly to share stories and reminisce about their university days.

He was pre-deceased by parents Charles Edmund Senior “Ned” and Blanche (Driscoll), and sisters Doreen Hoskin (Bill) and Shirley Kirk (Danny).

Ed never wanted to inconvenience anyone, so he died shortly after Canada won Gold at the World Junior Hockey Championship—at a reasonable hour. We know he’s still working the room, pitching a story, cracking a joke, and making connections.

Cremation has taken place. As per Ed’s wishes a funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, January 19 at 10:30 a.m. at Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, 5221 Spring Garden Road, Halifax. Reception to follow. Visitation will be held on January 18, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Cruikshank’s Funeral Home, 2666 Windsor Street, Halifax.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the CPRS Foundation in Ed’s memory at http://www.CPRSfoundation.ca/ and/or Halifax Hospice would be greatly appreciated. The family wishes to send a special thank-you to those who cared for him in his final months: QEII 7.2 staff, Closing the Gap caregivers, and the Palliative Care team, in particular Mitch Devoe. The family will be forever grateful to the kind and loving staff at Hospice Halifax who gave him special care in his final weeks.

Funeral Mass can be joined through livestream: https://livestream.com/halifaxyarmouth/edmurray