MW Bro Edward R. MacLaren, PGM
Grand Master
2016-2017

Ed, as he is familiarly known to his many friends, was born on September 24, 1947, to the late MW Bro Douglas Dewar MacLaren, PGM,(1953-1954) and his wife Irma Wood in Montague where he received his formal education. He was one of five children- Doris Jenkins, Anna Hill (deceased) Donald and Stewart. In 1973 he married Joan Yerby who passed away in 1996. From this union were two children- Douglas (Dawn) and Heather (Keith) Mullen. In 1997 he married Irene Renaud and they share the joy of four grandchildren- Emily and Molly MacLaren and Roisin and Eamonn Mullen.

Ed’s career spanned over 28 years with CIBC which included 14 moves over a twelve year period with the last post to Charlottetown in 1988 from which he retired in 2002. Ed and his wife Irene reside in Charlottetown. Ed has been a church organist since he was 14 and has played in many churches over the years and presently attends St. John’s Anglican Church, Milton.

Ed joined Saint Andrew’s Lodge No. 13 in Montague on April 7,1969, and the day after receiving his Master Mason Degree moved to Calgary for a year. However, he continued his Lodge affiliation in Calgary with a friend at his work place (Cominco) who took him to Lodge. On returning to PEI he served as Master of Saint Andrew’s Lodge in 1991 and several years as Secretary of the Lodge until 2008 at the urging of the late MW Bro Malcolm Patterson, PGM, I agreed to take a Grand Office, Addition Grand Steward. Then in 2009, he became Grand Secretary, position which he held until 2014 when he was elected Senior Grand Warden.

Other interests include music, travel and volunteering. Ed volunteered for 7 seven years on the local Board of Hospice Palliative Care Association for which he received the Life Membership Award in 2010, and then another 6 years on the National Board for which he was granted the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. He also received his 32nd Degree in Scottish Rite in the Valley of Fredericton. Ed also belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and has served as Worthy Patron of Montague No. 69 Chapter and Crystal No.1 for several years and is presently Worthy Patron of Crystal Chapter No. 1. Ed has also served as Grand Organist for the Grand Chapter on many occasions. Ed is also an Honourary Member of the Grand Chapters of Quebec and Florida. For several years, he is has been the President of the Descendants of the Brudenell Pioneers. At present he has been involved in the launch for” Bikes for Books “program along with MW Bro Allison Coles, PGM. This program is intended to encourage students to read and thereby improve literacy in the school

He was installed as Grand Master at the 141st Annual Grand Lodge of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Prince Edward Island, on June 11, 2016.