Giles, Edgar Herbert, Truro, July 21, 1932 – May 29, 2020. It is with heavy hearts and a great sense of loss that we announce the passing of our father, grandfather and great-grandfather on May 29, 2020 at Cedarstone Enhanced Care Centre Truro, Nova Scotia.  He has left us to join Kitty (Catherine Mary), his lifetime sweetheart of 67 years, who left us January 13, 2020.

Born in Etobicoke (Toronto) in 1932, Dad was the youngest of 4 children of Arthur and Ella Giles. They were a very close and devout family.

In high school Ed became very active in sports, particularly football and track and field.  It was this interest in track and field which led to Ed’s first contact with the YMCA and his life time career. He was asked to join a track and field club operated by the Toronto Y, this turned into leading a YMCA club for 10-12 year old boys. At the YMCA, Ed found an organization with values and a mission which matched his own personal values.  This charity offered values based programs and focused on improving the lives of all people while bettering the communities in which they operated. Soon Ed had a part-time job at the YMCA during his last year of high school and 1^st year at University of Toronto Physical Education program. In 1953, Ed became the Aquatic Director of the Brantford YMCA-YWCA and began what was to turn out to be a 42-year career within the YMCA.  Over the years, Ed worked in 6 different YMCAs across southern Ontario and Montreal, with each move to a new city Ed’s career took on greater leadership roles until he became CEO of the Owen Sound, Sarnia and Barrie/Orillia YMCAs.  He truly loved the work, encouraging young people to try something new and realize they could make a difference by making their local communities better places for all.  Ed’s relationship with many of these young people lasted long after Ed had moved on to his next YMCA and new community. As CEO, Ed’s job was to ensure the YMCAs’ sustainability and growth and he knew that he had accomplished that in each YMCA that he worked.  All who met him throughout his career will remember Ed for his gifts of time, knowledge and kind and quiet leadership and of course no one will ever forget his warm and welcoming smiles.

When not at the YMCA Ed loved his family life, spending summers camping with his always growing family, enjoying the great outdoors, gardening, working on his hobby farm or bird watching.  He was always quick to volunteer with any of his kids’ extracurricular sports. As the demands of raising their five children lessened Ed and Kitty became Square and Round Dance callers, calling, twirling and sharing their love, knowledge and friendship to all they met in southern Ontario and Nova Scotia.  During their golden years of retirement Ed and Kitty moved to Nova Scotia to spend their time closer to extended family.  Here Ed immediately became a member with Immanuel Baptist Church, sharing his knowledge and management experience with the church leadership.

Ed is survived by daughters Janet, Sherwood Park AB, Linda Geddes (Graham), Truro NS, sons Ken (Debi) Stillwater Lake, NS, John (Kathy), London ON, and Robert (Susan), Valley NS;  grandchildren Rebecca (Geoff), Jeff (Lyndsay), Pamela, Sandra (Shane), Branigan (Chris), Keegan, Kaleigh, Jordan, Daniel, Marlena, Zachary; step-grandchildren Darren, Jessica, Jake, Lindsay and Justin, great-grandchildren Jessica, Julia, Olivia, Robbie, Aaron, Isabelle, Sieanna and Lux; sisters-in law Hazel Giles, Marilyn Eige, Glennis Giles ON, step-brother-in law Harry Schueneman, ON; and lastly numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

Ed was predeceased by his wife Kitty, parents Arthur and Ella Giles, siblings Bernice Small, George and Ern ON. Brothers-in-law George Small, Jimmy Eige, Bud Eige, sister-in-law Jean, Dora Batton ON.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date at Mattatall-Varner Funeral Home, 55 Young Street, Truro. Donations in memory may be made to a charity of your choosing or one of the Ed’s favourite charities – YMCA, Immanuel Baptist Church (Truro) or Alzheimer Society. Private messages of condolence may be sent to the family by viewing Edgar’s obituary online and selecting "Send a Condolence" at www.mattatallvarnerfh.com