River Valley Chamber of Commerse

Ed Kelly

Henry Louis Mencken (1880 - 1956) was an American journalist and critic through the 1920s who said “You can’t do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth”.

Ed Kelly has that depth of character and it has exhibited itself through his business, his commitment, his traditions, his relationships and his beliefs.

From his start in general insurance in 1978, Ed has been a proponent of progress and advancement evident in his climb to sales manager in transit through his early years between Saint John and Moncton to his present day iconic business residence

on River Valley Drive (a beautiful historical building which has as much depth of character as Ed does). That journey has also included two terms in Grand Bay-Westfield as Mayor and one term as Councillor between 1980 and 1989.
Ed Kelly Insurance Agency Ltd. includes himself, Angela Kelly (his daughter), and Shirley Olsen, office manager. His long-time associates, Marilyn Holt and Earl Johnson, have since retired. This close-knit team works to represent their clients home, auto, life, health and travel insurance needs spreading its umbrella all over New Brunswick and into specialty markets that have a broader appeal.

A large part of the man and the company behind the policy is trust which is evident from his original single file folder to the shelves of coverage today. “I still represent my very first client”, marvels Ed.

The agency has witnessed an increasing number of small businesses and as trends do evolve, Kelly Insurance has adapted to their customers’ needs providing cost efficient bundling packages and economical payment plan options.

“Years ago there were a lot more fire claims. Nowadays we see more destruction from water, more weather-related incidents. The insurance industry has been instrumental in assisting in educating preventative measures as far as fire damage goes; woodstoves, wiring, codes” observes Ed, “but weather patterns have definitely changed over the years”.

Ed Kelly is a charter member with the River Valley Chamber of Commerce, having been with the business network since its inception.

But its Ed’s devotion as a key leader with the Kiwanis Club that really brings out his depth of character. He also is a charter member with the Kiwanis Club of Western Kings since 1983 and was District Governor in 2005 for Eastern Canada and the Caribbean. For clarification, Kiwanis International is a global volunteer organization involving 17 countries – a 10-million member volunteer organization – with members of every age who are dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time [the Canada/Caribbean relationship was established at the onset from the trade links of fish/lumber exports and molasses/rum imports]. New Brunswick has also adopted the care for seniors.

During Ed’s tenure with the Kiwanis Club and Chairman for the Kiwanis Lodge, the Club was beneficial in the development of the Lodge which now has 30 seniors apartments. In ’95, the Kiwanis championed the Oak Point Kiwanis Provincial Park securing a $200,000 (federal/provincial/municipal split) project upgrade. Four years ago and with an additional $400,000 (cooperative federal funding) this family facility enhanced its surroundings with the construction of a water park and trading post interpretive centre. This hugely successful venture was due to Ed’s vision with the collective community efforts of Don Drew, Diane Bormke, Peter Lacey, Dallas Urquhart, Elmer Mersereau, Keith Melvin and Ron Daigle.

To look beyond the surface of this striking man shown to the left - maybe a little younger and maybe a little less wiser – is to see the same penetrating depth of vision that has always empowered Ed Kelly. And always will.

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