Linstead, Edward James (85), passed away peacefully on Nov 14th, 2022, at Rosemary Heights Senior’s Home, in Surrey, BC, after struggling with stroke, kidney cancer and a fractured hip. Sharing his final moments with his wife Freda, he is also survived by his children, David Linstead and son-in-law Steve Lam (Salt Spring Is, BC), Lorraine Linstead (Newcastle, Australia), Sean Linstead and daughter-in-law Emi Furutani (Winnipeg, Manitoba).
Ed was born on July 6th, 1937, in Calgary, Alberta to parents Mary (May) Collins and James Henry Linstead. When his father was transferred to New York City, young “Eddie” went along with his mother and younger brother Larry and the family lived in Teaneck, New Jersey for a time. His visits to his father’s office in the “Big Apple” made a powerful impression on him, sparking two life-long passions: business and travel.
After earning a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta (1964), Ed worked for ATCO Gas on land survey projects mapping out Northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories. He eventually landed a position at the corporate headquarters of A&W Canada in Winnipeg as the assistant to the President.
Averse to the long, cold and snowy Manitoba winters, Ed proposed that the company relocate their headquarters to the balmy west coast. The President agreed and Ed organized the move of A&W’s head office to North Vancouver. His young family followed him in 1971 and they eventually settled in Port Moody, BC.
Ed’s desire to be involved in the community led him to coach mini-tyke lacrosse in Port Moody. A natural leader, Ed was eventually elected president of the BC Lacrosse Association. Ed felt that his greatest contribution was conceiving, organizing and chairing an international lacrosse event known as “The Nations in 1980”.
Teams came to Vancouver to compete in both field and box lacrosse tournaments, including representatives from the USA, Australia, and the Iroquois First Nations of Canada. In recognition of this achievement, the federal government awarded him with the “Lester B. Pearson Award” for his outstanding contribution to the development of young people and sport in Canada. Ed proudly displayed this fine-looking plaque on his office wall.
Somehow Ed also managed to wrangle up a bunch of teenage girls to play field lacrosse. Along with other lacrosse supporters like Canadian Hall of Famer Sohen Gill and his daughter Carey Quinn (née Gill), Ed was a founder of the Cowichan Valley Lacrosse Association, now the Cowichan Thunder. This thriving lacrosse club still to this day provides children as young as four the opportunity to participate in Canada’s Official Summer Sport.
Ed enjoyed assisting others to succeed in their business ventures. To that end, he taught business courses at night school, helped to develop a popular soft drink called “New York Seltzer” and for over a decade was the business development manager for the Cowichan Tribe in Duncan, BC.
Travel was by far Ed’s greatest passion. Together with Freda, his wife, they explored Canada, the United States, and the rest of the planet, including Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America, by car, train, air and sea. A great storyteller, Ed loved to regale listeners with stories of his many travels and was known for his unique sense of humour.
A Memorial Service for Ed will be held on Wednesday, November 30th, 2022, at the Columbia-Bowell Funeral Chapel, 219 6th St, New Westminster, BC. Doors open at 4:00 pm; Service at 5:00 pm; Close at 6:30 pm.