Edward Alexander Maginnes was born in Ottawa, Ontario to Alexander and Jeannie Maginnes. He attended Lisgar Collegiate in Ottawa and then went on to attend MacDonald College in Montreal where he received his B.Sc. in 1956. After this, he worked at the Experimental Farm in Ottawa and helped establish the family tree nursery, A.D. Maginnes and Son. From 1957-1964, Ed attended Cornell University where he received his M.Sc. and PhD, following which he accepted the position of Professor of Horticulture Science at the University of Saskatchewan. He remained there teaching and conducting research for 36 years, retiring in 2000. Areas that were of particular interest to him included Waste Heat Greenhouse Management, turf grass growth and maintenance as well as hydroponics growing methods. Ed was an honorary member of the Saskatchewan Turf Grass Association and the North American Lily Society. He was married to Beverly Maginnes in 1964, and the couple had three children (Elizabeth, Susan, and Sean). In his retirement, Edward was instrumental in the development and construction of an Abbeyfield House in Saskatoon. Edward passed away in 2010.