Bob Edwards (satirist)

Robert Chambers (Bob) Edwards, (September 17, 1860 [1] :6 – November 14, 1922), was a Canadian newsman, humorist, editorialist, entrepreneur, and provincial politician. He is best known as the writer and publisher of the Calgary Eye Opener weekly newspaper,[1] :3 first published March 4, 1902.[2]

Early life and work (1860–92)

Bob Edwards was born in Edinburgh. Little is known about any siblings, beyond the fact that he had an older brother, Jack. Edwards' mother, Mary Chambers, survived his birth by only a few weeks. His father, Alexander Mackenzie Edwards FRSE, an Edinburgh surgeon andmedical author, died in 1868 while on a world cruise. He was raised by unmarried aunts, and attended school in St. Andrews and Edinburgh before spending time at Glasgow University. His mother's father, Dr. Robert Chambers, was a founder of the Scottish publishing house W. & R. Chambers; this may have influenced his later choice of career. [1] :6-7

In 1881 and 1882, Bob Edwards put out a tourist periodical, The Channel, aimed at visitors to the French Riviera. He returned to Scotland and worked for a time with the Glasgow city clerk, Sir James David Marwick. Bob and Jack Edwards eventually decided to emigrate to the North America in 1892. [1] :8

Political career

Edwards was elected in the 1921 Alberta general election as an Independent candidate. He was one of five MLAs elected in a plurality vote in that election. He died in 1922, vacating his seat. Edwards is buried in Calgary's Union Cemetery.[3]

Bob Edwards Junior High School in Calgary, Alberta is named in his honour.

The Bob Edwards Award has been presented annually since 1977 to a provocative Canadian who is not afraid to speak his or her mind. Notable recipients have included Rick Mercer, Margaret Atwood and Preston Manning. Originally supporting Alberta Theatre Projects as a fundraising luncheon, in 2012 the event moved to the Calgary Public Library Foundation as their signature gala.

The long-running Calgary Eyeopener morning show on CBC Radio One in Calgary is named after Edwards' famous newspaper.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 MacEwan, Grant (2004). Eye Opener Bob: The Story of Bob Edwards. Annotated by James Martin. Brindle & Glass. ISBN 0-9732481-6-5.
  2. ↑ Shiels, Bob (1974). Calgary : a not too solemn look at Calgary's first 100 years. Calgary: The Calgary Herald. p. 78.
  3. ↑ IKlaszus, Jeremy (January 10, 2008). "We visit Bob Edwards’s grave…". Fast Forward Weekly. Retrieved 2008-09-04.


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