Edward Badovinac, CET, KLJ, OMLJ, KdrH, graduated from Ryerson in 1962 in electrical/electronics. He began his career working with early warning and large computer systems from 1962 to 1964, helping convert portions of systems from tubes to solid state. In 1964, he taught electronics at DeVry Tech., a private technology college, and in 1965 worked with supervisory computer control systems for large electricity-generating plants, including those at Niagara Falls. He returned to DeVry Tech. in 1969 and joined George Brown College that same year as a professor in the Telecommunications Department, retiring in 1999. During his academic career, he wrote five manuscripts that required updating twice a year to remain current.
Throughout his career, Edward maintained a strong commitment to education, public service, international relations and cultural institutions. He became a life member of the Royal Ontario Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario in 1980, joined the Mesopotamian Society at the University of Toronto in 1981, and became involved with the Canadian Club Toronto in 1984. In 1985, he attended President Ronald Reagan’s live address to the Canadian and Empire Clubs and became a founding member of the Royal Terrace Circle at the Royal Ontario Museum during its opening, attended by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. He also served as a board member of Phi Delta Kappa, a worldwide educational organization. His interests extended to archaeology, and he served as a director of the Archaeological Institute of America in Toronto from 1989, participating in archaeological digs in Jordan in 1989 and 1991 and travelling to Egypt and the Holy Land.
Edward’s contributions to public and institutional life include extensive involvement with the Empire Club and the Atlantic Council of Canada, now the NATO Association of Canada. In 1991, he travelled to NATO Headquarters in Brussels, where he met the NATO Secretary General and permanent representatives of NATO member countries, and visited European air bases. He became a director of the Empire Club in 1991, served on its reception committee and worked as Editor-in-Chief, publishing 14 yearbooks documenting speeches and events, with photographs and approximately 40 speeches per year. From 1991 to 2010, he participated in Empire Club head-table receptions, meeting international leaders, business figures, Canadian prime ministers, dignitaries and several NATO Secretaries General. He also served on the board of the Atlantic Council of Canada and initiated head-table certificates for the Empire Club between 1994 and 2010. His community involvement included serving as a director of Toronto’s Good Neighbours’ Club, a homeless drop-in centre, from 1993 to 2005, and as its chairman for four years beginning in 1997.
Edward’s commitment to education continued during his 1997 sabbatical, when he arranged advanced entry for technology students into the third year of Engineering at Ryerson University, resulting in a Ryerson professor being cross-appointed. He became a member of the International Churchill Society in 1998 and, in 1996, he and his wife, Jocelyn, joined the board of the Churchill Society for Parliamentary Democracy of Toronto. He also became involved with the Royal Commonwealth Society, the Monarchist League of Canada and St. George’s Society in 1990. His service and affiliations have been recognized through several honours, including his knighthood by the Knights Hospitallers in 1987 and appointment as Knight Commander of the Toronto Commandery in 1989, as well as his knighthood by the Knights of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem in 1991 and subsequent recognition as a Knight in 1993.
Edward and Jocelyn have made significant contributions to commemorating the Atlantic Charter and strengthening public awareness of its historical importance. In 2009, they were informed by Barry Davenport of the August 9–12, 1941, meeting between Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt at Ship Harbour, Newfoundland, which led to the Atlantic Charter, announced on August 14, 1941. In 2014, a booklet on the Atlantic Charter was produced, with Jocelyn as author and Professor Peter Russell as editor. Edward suggested a play about the event in 2012, which was performed in Ship Harbour in 2016. To mark the 75th anniversary on August 14, 2016, Edward and Jocelyn initiated and produced commemorative stamps and postcards for distribution. They also donated a plaque to the City of Toronto and presented Lieutenant Governor John Crosbie with an exact duplicate in a framed copy. In 2017, they donated a large outdoor plaque measuring 30 by 24 inches, inscribed by Peter Russell, which was installed at Churchill Square. The installation was accompanied by a ceremony and dinner at the RCMI, with Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell, the Consuls General of Great Britain and the United States, and guest speaker Hugh Segal among those attending.
Edward’s honours include the Golden Jubilee recognition presented by Lieutenant Governor James K. Bartleman at Queen’s Park in 2002, the Diamond Jubilee medal received with Jocelyn from Governor General David Johnston at Roy Thomson Hall in 2012, the Monarchist League of Canada’s Exceptional Service medal presented by Elizabeth Dowdeswell in 2015, and a 25-year Royal Commonwealth Society service medal from the City of Mississauga in 2015. In 2015, he was appointed by David Onley to the Lieutenant Governor’s committee, headed by Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell and involving other dignitaries. In 2017, he was appointed to the corporation by the Provost of Trinity College, University of Toronto, with the Honourable Bill Graham serving as Chancellor.
In 2019, Edward and Jocelyn initiated and sponsored commemorative plaques marking the 70th anniversary of NATO’s founding in 1949. The first plaque was presented to HMCS St. John’s in Toronto Harbour, followed by a presentation to the Canadian Permanent Representative to NATO at the RCMI. They arranged for 29 plaques to be produced for the Ontario Consuls General’s office in Toronto, Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Chairman Hugh Segal and NATO Association of Canada board members, with a presentation at Queen’s Park planned for after the COVID-19 pandemic had subsided. They also initiated, sponsored and donated 32 plaques for presentation: 30 for permanent NATO representatives, one for NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, and one for Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Edward and Jocelyn have shared a longstanding commitment to travel, cultural engagement and public service. Following their marriage in 1972, they spent nine weeks travelling by camper van from London throughout continental Europe. During their teaching careers, they also spent approximately 20 summers travelling across North America, including the United States, Yukon and Alaska. Together, their work has supported educational institutions, community organizations, historical commemoration and Canada’s engagement with NATO and its international partners.
