Meet Caledon’s 2025 Senior of the Year: Ed Taccone

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Ed Taccone remembers sitting in his kitchen after church, surrounded by half a dozen families while his mother made big plates of pasta.

Taccone's family immigrated to New Brunswick in the early 1950s from Italy, and his parents immediately became involved in the church, often inviting other families over for meals.

Taccone shared that these families were extremely grateful, as they often didn't have a lot of money.

“Being younger back then, I didn't realize at the time what they were doing. But later on in life, of course, I did. And I wanted to follow suit, so I volunteered,” said Taccone.

Taccone shared that volunteering has always been in his heart, and before becoming President of the Agricultural Society, he volunteered in numerous other areas, including hockey teams, car clubs, and more, before he found himself and his family moving to Caledon almost 40 years ago.

Taccone wanted to see how they could help the community after moving, and having friends in the Caledon Agricultural Society, he attended a couple of meetings.

“After that, I thought to myself, these people are wonderful. To get their time and not expecting any favors in return, I thought this is for me. So, I joined in 1989, and from there, it just escalated,” said Taccone.

Taccone currently sits as President of the Society and says he has no plans of stepping down until the new community centre is finished.

“The community really needs something in North West Caledon. We don't have a community building, per se, and for me, it's important that we're able to. We're not asking for any money. This is the Agricultural Society that wants to put the building up, but at the same time, something that the town can use too,” said Taccone.

He hopes that the centre will also act as a way of putting Caledon on the map.

“People moving here need a place to stay. We kind of have to open our arms a little bit,” said Taccone. 

He reflected on how his parents immigrated to Canada, and the country gave his family a home.

“Canada gave my parents and my family, my uncles, aunts, cousins, an opportunity to be part of a beautiful country,” he said. “Canada is home. I was five years old when we came here. It's always great to come home.”

Part of home for him is being involved and volunteering.

Not only is he a part of the Agricultural Society, but also the Headwaters British Car Club, where, for the past ten years, he has transformed part of his backyard into a Super 8 track to enhance the club's cohesion.

“Just being with people is wonderful. You know, at the end of the day, regardless of what you hear, people need people,” said Taccone.

“All the years I've been a volunteer, I've never thought of being recognized. I just did,” he said.

Taccone shared that for the rest of his life, he feels that nothing will compare to the honour of Senior of the Year.

No time for rest for the Senior of the Year, shortly after his award, he jumped right back into the busy world of volunteering, with the annual Strawberry Festival and Canada Day festivities ensuring residents of all ages can come together in celebration and community spirit, much like his own.