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It is with great sadness that we must share the news that Edgar Arthur Cowan (Ed) passed
away peacefully at the age of 86, on February 9th, 2024, in Toronto, Ontario, the city he called
home his entire life.
Ed was afflicted with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a degenerative disease which
seriously eroded his motor skills, eyesight and speech, but did not diminish his enthusiasm for
life, for people and for the world around him, despite it slowly growing further out of reach. Ed
had a zest for life and a sense of hope that allowed him to fight a courageous battle against this
disease. He participated in research studies with Toronto Western Hospital’s team of great
physicians and never gave up his will to live, hoping for a cure not only for himself, but for future
generations. A creative visionary, his passion and hope and belief that things could be better
was how he approached almost everything in life. He had a net that was cast far and wide and
touched many. He was once described by his friend, the late Paul Break, as the man who could
squeeze air and get water.
Ed left this world surrounded by family and in the compassionate care of the doctors, nurses
and PSWs at Kensington Gardens, where he had been residing for the past three years.
Ed has gone to join his beloved wife of 57 years, Nuala (née Cassidy), who passed away six
months ago on July 31, 2023, and his cherished son Noah who passed away one year ago on
January 25, 2023. Edgar was the son of the late Maurice and Anne (née Finsten) Cowan. He is
predeceased by his brother Walter. He will be greatly missed by his two stepsons,
Tim FitzGerald (Sandi) and Brian FitzGerald (Diane), and his grandchildren Zoe (Julian),
Julie (Jason), Meagan, Brendan and Garrett.
Ed led a remarkable life. He graduated in Business Administration from Ryerson (Now TMU) in
1960. Fifty-nine years later, in 2019, TMU recognized him with the Ted Rogers School of
Management Lifetime Achievement Award.
After graduating, Ed spent a few years at the Toronto Telegram and became actively involved in
the folk music scene in the early 60s. He established and co-owned The Fifth Peg with business
partner Jack Wall, on Church Street in 1961. “The Peg” became an important establishment in
the folk scene, recognized as one of Toronto’s most sophisticated and ambitious of the city’s
after-hours coffee houses. Ed worked with various artists at the beginning of their careers,
including Peter, Paul & Mary and Ian & Sylvia Tyson, with whom he developed a long-time
friendship.
In August 1961, Ed was the first music producer of the Mariposa Music Festival. That first
festival saw thousands of attendees with an impressive line-up of artists, and it is still thriving 63
years later. Gordon Lightfoot, one of the earliest folk artists of Mariposa, performed at the 2005
Festival, and before his performance, the original founders were inducted into the Mariposa Hall
of Fame, and Ed was presented with an award in appreciation for his imagination and initiative
in creating a festival that has succeeded for so many years.
From the folk music scene, Ed transitioned into the PR field, working with Maclaren and then
starting his own company where he spent his career working on a myriad of projects in the area
where business, politics and the arts come together. His longtime friend, David Harrison
described Ed this way:
Ed was a believer. He believed in the power of the arts, politics and communications.
And he lived his life committed to improving our lives by influencing these worlds in
creative ways. As a founding producer of the Mariposa Folk Festival; helping launch
CITY TV; creating C Channel; publishing Saturday Night; starting and operating Carlton
Cowan, a major PR company; and adviser to many Liberal politicians in Ottawa.
Indeed, in 1993, he even went to Kiev as part of a Canadian delegation, running
sessions on the fundamentals of democracy and elections. He was a player in the world
of Canadian culture.
Ed was also deeply devoted to his family and would lend a hand whenever he was
asked or whenever he felt someone could benefit from his help. He frequently attended
his grandchildren’s school events, even appearing as the stern headmaster in a school
film project that won an award at the York Film Festival in 2013. He was always
tremendously proud of all of his grandchildren…their biggest cheerleader.
He used to tell tales of life as a camp counselor in his early teens and we saw this talent
resurface once his grandchildren were old enough to take direction and he would
marshal them and their friends to the park for hours of old-time camp games – three
legged races, sack races, egg and spoon races etc. No screens and no electronics
whatsoever. It was always a very good time and counselor Ed was in full control. This
was Grampa Zed at his finest.
Ed always had a few irons in the fire, from major projects like the startup of C-Channel,
one of the first pay TV stations in Canada, to small publishing projects with his friend
Howard Astor at Mosaic Press. In the late 80s, Ed and Nuala owned and ran The Old
Bank House, a beautiful bed and breakfast in Niagara-On-the-Lake, and in the early
2000s, they purchased a small cottage in the southwest of Ireland where they spent a
lot of happy time working on the garden, connecting with friends, going for long beach
walks and enjoying the cozy pubs.
Former Mayor of Toronto and friend, David Crombie, who spent time with Ed and Nuala
in Ireland, describes Ed this way, “Ed loved being alive and was a constant shot of vigor
wherever he went and for whomever he was with. I always enjoyed his company.”
By 2018, Ed was beginning to feel the early effects of PSP, and although it was not yet
diagnosed, it was affecting his ability to put out the physical effort required to maintain
the Irish property. They reluctantly sold it and stayed close to home at The Manulife
apartment building in downtown Toronto until Ed finally was admitted to Kensington
Gardens in the fall of 2020.
Ed loved a good celebration, and there were many of those over the years. The society
pages of the 1970s and 80s tell stories of the great events that he and Nuala hosted at
their Walmer Rd. home in Toronto. The folks in Caherdaniel in Ireland still talk about
Ed’s lamb-on-a-spit Easter barbeque feasts, and he always brought his energy and
party spirit to the family get-togethers in Barrie.
Ed embraced life and in his creative ways, left a legacy that will continue to bring joy to
many. He was one of a kind.
A celebration of life of both Edgar and Nuala will take place in early spring. In lieu of
flowers, donations can be made to the Kensington Health Foundation.
Donate at: www.kensingtonhealth.org/memory
or by phone at 416-964-3636
or by mail to:
Kensington Health Foundation
2350-340 College St.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 3A9

2024

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Death notice for the town of: Toronto, Province: Ontario

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We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Edgar Ed Cowan 2024  and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.