Ed Dumas’ teaching skills and love of music have made him a familiar face to thousands of young music students and adult musicians around British Columbia. Previously based in Maple Ridge, Ed has been a secondary school music teacher and band conductor for more than 40 years.
During his time teaching in the public school system in Maple Ridge, Ed was also the Conductor of the Maple Ridge Concert Band (MRCB), an adult community-based music program for more than 25 years. During his time with the MRCB, Ed grew the program from one adult band to three different levels of adult bands, including the MRCB Performance Band, the MRCB Intermediate Band, and the MRCB Adult Beginning Concert Band. In addition, Ed has experience conducting the Abbotsford Concert Band, the Whalley Legion Band, and the Golden Ears Jazz Band.
Ed has also served on the executives of the BC Band Association as well as the BC Music Educators’ Association. During his time with the BC Music Educators’ Association, he helped organize the annual BCMEA Convention, as well as managing the advertising space in the BCMEA journal. Ed was also the owner and organizer of the Haney Summer Music Camp, a summer band program for students of all ages based in Maple Ridge. Ed has also served as President of the Greater Vancouver Youth Music Academy, where he helped transition this group into a Not-For-Profit Association dedicated to helping hundreds of growing music students.
Ed has been voted “Maple Ridge’s Favorite Music Teacher” five times since 2015 and the recipient of an Inclusive Education Award from the Canadian Association for Community Living for his work with special needs students in music classes.
Ed is now retired and enjoying life in Parksville, BC, with his wife Laurie. In addition to conducting the Oceanside Adult Beginner Concert Band, he plays trumpet in the Oceanside Music’s Concert and Big Bands and performs in the pit orchestra of numerous musicals in Courtenay.