(2 Jan. 1897-28 Oct. 1986), bishop. (William J. Smith) Born at his parents’ home in the 4th Concession of Kenyon Township, GC, near Greenfield. Parents: Duncan Smith (1858-1946) and his wife Catherine Grant (1862-1952). He attended local schools including Alexandria High School, graduated with a B.A. from the University of Ottawa, then worked in a bank for several years before entering seminary. On 16 June 1927 he was ordained priest by Bishop Couturier in St. Finnan’s Cathedral, Alexandria. He served as secretary to Bishop Couturier, studied at Rome from 1932 to 1935, obtaining the degree Doctor of Canon Laws, returned to the diocese of Alexandria, was chancellor of the diocese, and from 1940 to 1944 was rector of St. Finnan’s. In 1943 he was raised to the rank of domestic prelate, which gave him the title of Monsignor. In 1944, he was made parish priest of St. Columban’s, Cornwall, in succession to Fr J.M. Foley. At this time, Mgr Smith faced the major task of restoring St. Columban’s church and rectory, badly damaged by the Cornwall-Massena earthquake of Sept. 1944. In fact, he was not in Cornwall long enough to complete this task, for on 19 May 1945 he was named bishop of Pembroke.

     His consecration as bishop of Pembroke was in St. Finnan’s Cathedral, Alexandria, on 25 July 1945. As bishop of Pembroke, the many building projects in which he was involved included renovating the cathedral and building a St. Joseph’s mother house, a Grey Nuns’ mother house, two elementary schools, a Roman Catholic high school for girls, and a school of nursing. As bishop also, he attended the Second Vatican Council, 1962-1965. Bishop Smith was well known as a speaker and preacher. He was active in the work of the Knights of Columbus. In 1971, he retired as bishop of Pembroke. He died at Pembroke General Hospital. The funeral mass was at St. Columbkille’s Cathedral, Pembroke. Burial was at Pembroke.

     Bishop Smith maintained his contacts with GC during his absence in Pembroke. “On his frequent visits home he would lead the crowd in the singing of the many verses, both in English and Gaelic, of that favourite Glengarry song ‘My Bonnie Native Glen’.” (Villeneuve 66) Mgr Donald B. McDougald remembered, “He loved Scottish music and the song My Bonnie Native Glen… was often rendered by Bishop Smith, so much so that in my mind the song spoke of Glengarry in Canada as much as the Glens of Scotland.” In a school concert at the parish hall, Greenfield, in 1941, at which Fr John McPhail played the violin, “Rev. Dr. Smith also added to the programme by rendering a solo ‘In My Bonnie Native Glen’.” (Glengarry News 26 Dec. 1941) He was a Glengarrian immensely admired by Protestants as well as Roman Catholics. While rector, he revived the Alexandria tradition of a St. Andrew’s Day celebration by arranging a parish dinner with guest speaker. His sister Mrs Kathleen A. Emberg, who survived him by a few years to die 22 March 1990, aged 87, was noted for her knowledge of Glengarry history and genealogy. She was married to Donald Emberg, son of Mattice Emberg. (her obituary, GN 11 April 1990) Another sister, Mrs D. E. MacDonald of Detroit, had a son who was killed in the air force (U.S.) in the South Pacific in WWII. (her obituary Standard Freeholder 7 July 1949)

Glengarry News 29 Oct. 1986 (with portrait) * William C. O’Dwyer, Highways of Destiny: a History of the Diocese of Pembroke Ottawa Valley, Canada (1964), with two full-page portraits * Joseph C. Legree, Lift up Your Hearts: a History of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pembroke (1988), with biog. sketch, portrait * André Chapeau, Louis-Philippe Normand, & Lucienne Plante, Évêques Catholiques du Canada/Canadian R.C. Bishops 1658-1979 (1980) 54 * Villeneuve 65-66, 172, 183, 242 * Fraser (1959) 247-248, 258 * parents’ gravestone, Greenfield * Mgr Donald B. McDougald, “Reflections on the Fourth of Kenyon,” Glengarry Life No. 34 (1995) * Angus H. McDonell, “Important Anniversary for Glengarrians” (on history of St. Andrew’s Day celebrations), GN 21 Nov. 1984 * leaves for Rome to study, returns from Rome, GN 7 & 14 Oct. 1932 19 July & 2 Aug. 1935 * text of his sermon at St. Raphael’s Church on the meaning of the priesthood, printed GN 10 July 1936 (see life of Fr Allan B. McRae) * becomes domestic prelate, GN 23 July & 14 Aug. 1943 * as rector, announces that there will be no winter burials at St. Finnan’s cemetery (vault to be used instead), GN 26 Dec. 1941 * honoured by parishioners on leaving St. Finnan’s, GN 29 Sept. 1944 * named bishop of Pembroke, consecrated, Standard Freeholder 26 May 1945 & GN 1 June 1945 SFH 26 July 1945 & GN 27 July 1945 * his father, Duncan Smith, dies aged 88, SFH 5 Oct. 1946 * resignation as bishop accepted by Pope, GN 18 Feb. 1971 * text of his address given at St. Raphael’s, largely on Bishop Macdonell the pioneer bishop of Upper Canada, GN 4 July 1974 * “Bishop Smith Feted on 50th Anniversary,” GN 20 July 1977 (honoured by Knights of Columbus at Pembroke on the 50th anniversary of his ordination) (incl. striking portrait)