Memorable Manitobans: J. Lawrence Smith (1889-1967)

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J. Lawrence Smith
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Farmer, municipal politician, flood-damage assessor.

Born at Dundee, Scotland on 21 January 1889, he came to Canada at the age of 22, and settled in the Sidney district of Manitoba, where he farmed until 1928. He subsequently farmed in the Macdonald district and northeast of Portage la Prairie.

He served as Reeve of the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie (1949-1961) and President (1959-1960) and Secretary (1960-1967) of the Union of Manitoba Municipalities. Smith was appointed a flood damage assessor for the province in 1950, and served on the Red River Valley Board (1966-1967). He was a President and Director of the Portage Industrial Exhibition and Director of the Portage Mutual Insurance Company. In 1965, he received the Golden Boy Award for his public service.

He died at Portage la Prairie on 7 March 1967 and was buried in the Portage Hillside Cemetery.

Sources:

“Golden Boys honor 12 Manitobans,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 November 1965.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 9 March 1967.

Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by John M. “Jack” Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.

Page revised: 27 January 2023

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

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