Cleric.
Born at Winnipeg on 24 February 1916, one of three children of Rev. John Adam Smith (1879-1944) and Jean Isobel Ferguson (1881-1977), he attended Strathclair School and Colgate (Saskatchewan) School then completed high school at Lyleton School. He received BA (1937) and Divinity (1940) degrees from United College.
As a student minister for the United Church of Canada, he served at Kelloe, Tyndall, Garson, and Hazelridge. After his ordination, he worked in gold mines (and served as a minister) at Pickle Crow and Central Patricia, Ontario. He subsequently served at Cartwright United Church / Holmfield United Church / Neelin United Church / Chesterville United Church (1942-1948), Treherne United Church / Olive United Church / Matchettville United Church (1948-1955), St. Paul’s United Church (1955-1970), St. Norbert United Church / Trinity United Church (1971-1982), and Headingley United Church / St. Charles United Church (1982-1995). He was given an honorary doctorate by the University of Winnipeg (1970) and was made an honorary life member of the Manitoba Curling Association (1979).
On 15 August 1945, he married Enid Mae Boxshall (1920-2014) at Cartwright and they had five daughters.
He died at the Health Sciences Centre on 11 November 2000.
Birth registration [Adam Grant Smith], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Death registration [John Adam Smith], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
“Rerv. John Adam Smith, Stony Mountain, dies,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 October 1944, page 4.
“U of W selects four for honorary degrees,” Winnipeg Tribune, 1 May 1970.
Obituary [Jean Isobel Smith], Winnipeg Free Press, 5 November 1977, page 108.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 13 November 2000.
Obituary [Enid Mae Smith], Winnipeg Free Press, 5 April 2014.
We thank Vicki Wallace for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 16 August 2025
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