Edward Charles Whelan was born on August 6, 1919 at Amherstburg, Ontario to Charles Bernard and Frances Kelly Whelan. He received his secondary education at General Amherst High School and the Toronto Technical School.
Whelan apprenticed in the construction and automobile industries in Ontario and completed a business management course before moving to Regina, Saskatchewan in 1946. He was employed with the Co-operative Union of Saskatchewan until 1950, when he joined the Department of the Attorney General. Whelan was chairman of the Provincial Mediation Board from 1956 to 1960. He then became a realtor and operated his own agency. Whelan was director of the Sherwood Co-op Association Ltd., director and vice-president of the Sherwood Credit Union, secretary to the Regina Labour Council (1948) and member of the Regina Community Planning Commission (1960).
Whelan was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1960 and served as a Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) MLA for the Regina City (1960-1964) and Regina North (1964-1967) constituencies. He served as a New Democratic Party (NDP) MLA for Regina North West (1967-1979).
Whelan served in the Allan Blakeney Government as Minister of Mineral Resources (1975-1976); and Minister of Consumer Affairs (1976-1979). He was Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Mining Development Corporation (1975-1976); Saskatchewan Government Insurance Office (1975-1979); Saskatchewan Minerals (1975-1979); Office of the Rentalsman (1976-1979); Rent Appeal Commission (1976-1979); and Provincial Mediation Board (1977-1979).
Whelan resigned from Cabinet and vacated his seat in the Legislative Assembly on June 19, 1979. John Solomon (NDP) was elected MLA for Regina North West in a 1979 by-election. After leaving political life, Whelan and his wife published books on former Saskatchewan politicians Tommy Douglas and Jack Corman.
Ed Whelan died in Regina on December 11, 2007.
Whelan married Elizabeth Pemrose Henry on November 27, 1948. They had three children: Gaile, Sheila and Timothy.