In Memoriam: Gerard Edwards, FCMC

With heavy hearts we wish to announce the recent passing of Gerard Edwards, a long time CMC community member, leader, and colleague, on November 14th, 2020.
 
As many of you know, Gerry was a quiet but active leader within the CMC community for years. Many of you will have attended one of his classes, worked with him on one of several councils and committees, had the opportunity to work directly with him, or even the pleasure of sharing a glass of wine and warm conversation with him.
 
Management consulting was important to Gerry and his passion for the profession went well beyond vocation. For Gerry, management consulting combined his experience and expertise to empower and support the success of small and medium sized leaders and organizations. Through his many years with the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, including his role as Chair, he was able to work to fortify and grow the economic and social contribution of so many organizations, right in his own backyard.
 
Throughout his consulting career he worked enthusiastically with a wide range of clients right up until days before his death. And even when the ravages of ALS changed his physical capabilities, his mind remained strong and his steely determination to live positively was inspiring to all. Throughout his illness he still took enormous pleasure in seeing his family and friends, as COVID permitted, and as he reflected on his journey with ALS, he even found the energy and courage to write a book on his experience, as always, to help others.
 
Last month, we as a community had the opportunity to honour Gerry with a CMC Lifetime Achievement Award, and though his condition at that time limited his ability to participate online, nothing could have prevented Gerry’s presence, warmness, and great big smile from being an absolute highlight of the evening.
 
On behalf of CMC-Canada, we would like to extend our most heartfelt condolences to Gerry’s family, and especially to Carla Gail Tibbo, his partner in life and business, who is also an esteemed member of our CMC community.