Spotlight on CSSE Members
Ed Corson
The list of Ed Corson’s accomplishments and accolades is almost endless, many of them stemming from his 44 years as a CSSE Calgary Chapter member—since 1979, just five years after the organization was established. Among his many other achievements, he was Chair of the chapter from 1982 to 1984, and from 1995 to 2000, and Past Chairman for a total of six years; a member of the Alberta Volunteer Task Force to design a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) study program for prospective candidates (1986 to 1989); and one of the driving forces behind the formation of the Health & Safety Conference Society of Alberta.
Ed was also the first person to be elected President of the Society’s Board of Directors, a position he held for five years. He also established the first Council for Occupational Safety and Health (COSH) Week committee, and was an executive member of the National Safety Council for more than 20 years.
During his tenure with the Calgary Chapter, Ed was instrumental in introducing a number of “firsts” and significant changes to the chapter, including the establishment of its first CRSP study committee; the first Chapter Luncheon and Trade Fair; the initial setting of annual goals and objectives; the implementation of several workshops and seminars, which grew in number over the years; and the establishment of regular monthly member and Board meetings. During Ed’s two terms, membership in the chapter grew significantly; today, it is one of the largest chapters in the CSSE.
Despite his clear passion for health and safety, Ed’s first job—and one he held for 24 years—was with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), where he began working at age 21, in 1954. “My father was in the RCMP and was transferred here and there. When I was 21 I also joined, and I served there for the next 24 years and was posted at 32 different locations. At some point, though, it was too hard on my family for me to keep moving around, and so I took a job as head of security and public safety with the Calgary Zoo.”
When Ed began working at the zoo, he knew almost nothing about health and safety, but he soon caught the safety bug. “I started researching everything I could over the next number of years. Eventually, I wound up with almost a degree in occupational safety. And I attended various different institutions, including the University of Michigan and Harvard. So very quickly—within a year—I became addicted to it, and since then have spent hours and hours happily pursuing the field.”
He stayed with the zoo for just a year, moving to another job with the city as a coordinator, loss control and public safety, for the Calgary Parks and Recreation Department, where he stayed for 23 years, retiring to pension in 2002.
Ed is justifiably proud of his long tenure with the CSSE’s Calgary Chapter, and he sees a bright future for the safety profession in Canada. “I think over the years the CSSE and other people involved in occupational safety have done an awful lot to improve the field; they really have. The only thing is I think they’ve got to continually be on the lookout on additional ways to improve and to make sure that whatever changes they make actually are improving the field.”
After retiring, Ed pursued a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Safety, Health & Environmental Management. Today, Ed has finally slowed down a bit and is taking more time to enjoy other passions, such as looking after his flower garden and spending time with his beloved dog.