J. C. Sproule Memorial Plaque - Winner 1999
Edward E. (Ned) GilbertCalgary, Alberta
“In recognition of his pioneering role in the early development of the modern oil sands industry and his subsequent dedication to education and management training in the oil industry.”
Known to everyone as Ned, Mr. Gilbert was born in Madison, Wisconsin. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin in geology, he came to Canada initially in 1944 with the Sun Oil Company (now Suncor) as a field geologist in Nova Scotia. He remained with Sun Oil until 1972, and since that time has consulted a number of Calgary companies.
An active member of APEGGA and CSPG, a CSPG document reports that soon after arriving in Alberta he became interested in the McMurray Oil Sands. He proposed that Sun Oil acquire acreage and undertake a core hole program in 1948. Later in 1951, he again recommended acquisition of lands where Suncor is now mining. Ultimately his dreams came true and Sun Oil developed and made profitable the first oil sand project in Canada. With his broad exposure to most aspects of the exploration business he has been able to foresee opportunities where many, with more specific knowledge, could not see them.
Mr. Gilbert knew J. C. Sproule from his early days and, with the beginnings of petroleum activity in the Arctic islands and Northwest Territories, he wanted to position Sun Oil in the area.ÊAs he could not initially interest the company in the Arctic, he visited, informally with Cam Sproule. Cam gave Ned a map showing the Global Marine lands (actually the ice-covered waters between the islands). Subsequently Mr. Gilbert negotiated the acquisition of those lands for the company. He has been active in many Calgary organizations and continues to be so. One of his more interesting roles in recent years commenced in 1986 when he became the initial Industry Director and the first instructor of the new program in Petroleum Land Management in the Faculty of Management at the University of Calgary. He left the program in 1994. Ned Gilbert is also a prospector and, along with others, holds interests in claims staked in British Columbia, currently being explored for diamonds.