Ed Smith was born in Lloydminster on June 25, 1922 to Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Smith. Ed's parents had immigrated from Ireland in January of the same year to take up a life of farming at Lone Rock. Ed attended Rugby School (rural S. D. No. 1988) completing Grades 1 to 8. He then worked on farms in the area for a number of years. This experience was an education in itself.
After leaving an agrarian life, Ed embarked on a remarkable military career. In January, 1942, Ed signed up for the armed forces at the army depot in Saskatoon. He subsequently took three months of basic training at Guelph, Ont. and, in June of 1942, Ed was sent overseas to the Farnborough Army Camp (Ed turned 19 while he was at this camp).
The next phase of his military preparedness was at Billinghurst, Sussex where he trained as a wireless operator with the Royal Canadian Signal Corps. Ed was then posted to the 2nd Canadian Division Rear Headquarters which landed near Caen, France in July, 1944. The 2nd Canadian Division replaced the 3rd Canadian Division that had landed with American and British forces on D-Day a month earlier. The 2nd Canadian Division pressed through Belgium and Dieppe (where 15,000 soldiers had been slaughtered in August, 1942) then through the Netherlands and on to Germany.
At the end of the war, Ed had served in the armed forces for three and a half years. He sailed on the Queen Elizabeth to New York and made his way back to Canada in December of 1945. Ed was fortunate to be able to purchase a VLA home in North Battleford. Ed and his wife still live in this home.
After his discharge from the army, Ed began a career in the automotive business. In 1946, he took a course in accounting sponsored by Veterans Affairs. He then found employment with the Mercury-Lincoln dealership in Biggar for two years. Ed left the Biggar dealership to accept employment as parts manager with Moffat Motors in North Battleford, a position he held for two years. In 1950, Ed moved into sales for six years (until 1956) with Boyd Brothers Chevrolet. Finally, Ed worked for the Graham Pontiac Buick-GM dealership in North Battleford.
From 1975 to 1987, Ed held the position of deputy sheriff and registrar at the court house in Battleford. Doubtlessly, he would have continued were it not for a mandatory retirement clause.
Ed's record of community service is truly remarkable. He was a member of the Jaycees from 1949 to 1961. Ed joined the North Battleford Lions in 1961 and is still a member. He was the Lions' representative for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind at their Saskatoon office from 1970 to 1990. Both he and his wife, Marion, were members of the Saskatchewan Association of Mentally Retarded (now called Saskatchewan Community Living) from 1965 to 1990. Ed also sat on local committee (sponsored by the province) whose goal was to integrate the mentally handicapped into society through sport. North Battleford subsequently hosted its meet (part of a province-wide initiative) in Battleford. It was co-chaired by Ed and Leo Weigers with assistance from the Knights of Columbus, who had been involved with Special Olympics in the 1970s. In 1985, North Battleford hosted a second Special Olympics meet. Lt.-Gov. Irwin McIntosh was the guest speaker and served as the committee's treasurer for that year. In 2004, Ed co-chaired the North Battleford Lions' 50th anniversary celebrations. Exemplifying the spirit of the "Knights of the Blind" (a quote by Helen Keller 90 years previous) Ed volunteered to pick up blind bowlers for 30 years - driving them to the bowling alley, assisting them with bowling, and driving them home.
Given Ed's extraordinary accomplishments in service to his community, it is hardly surprising that he should have received an equally impressive array of awards and recognition. In 1992, Senator Herb Sparrow presented Ed with a Governor-General Commemorative Medal representing the 125th anniversary of Canada as a nation. The official document was signed by Gov.-Gen. Ray Hnatyshn. In 2000, Ed was awarded the Melvin Jones plaque - the highest award a Lion can receive. In 2010, he received a 50-year pin to mark a half century as a member of the North Battleford Lions. In the same year, Ed was awarded a 50-year pin to mark 100 per cent attendance with the Lions for 50 years.
In 2005, Ed and his younger brother, Lt.-Gen. James Smith (retired) attended the Netherlands Liberation Anniversary celebrating the 60th anniversary of Holland's liberation. They were hosted by the Beersen family for seven days at Nieuslausen situated in the heart of the Netherlands. During this time, the mayor of Dalfsen awarded Ed a 1945-2005 medal from the Netherlands government. Ed and his party then embarked on a tour of locations in the Netherlands and Germany of Second World War military significance. At a service at the war monument in Nieuwlausen on May 4 (a national holiday in the Netherlands) Ed and his brother were asked to lay wreaths for all Canadian veterans. It was sobering to realize that 102,000 human being had died here.
Ed and Marion Nelson (of Gallivan) were married in 1951. They were blessed with three daughters, Glenda, a nurse, Janice, a teacher, and Marlene who has resided for 30 years at Menno Homes, Garden Place in Waldheim, a home for mentally challenged adults.
Ed has few equals in community service and volunteerism. For over a half century, Ed has given unstintingly of himself to the residents of North Battleford. As we celebrate our fair city's centennial, we take pause to recognize and give a heartfelt thank you to an extraordinary citizen - Robert Edward Smith.
