The Shakespeare Club, Peterborough's oldest ladies' club, was founded by Dr. Jessie Birnie in approximately 1912. The club did not meet during World War I but has met continuously since 1918. For the most part the club studied and produced plays written by Shakespeare. Studies by the club have included queens of history, great rivers, famous women of history, political studies, world religions, famous authors, poets, playwrights, composers, artists as well as countries and ancient civilizations of the world including studies of these civilizations' arts and literature. Meetings were usually held in members homes with a paper being read about some aspect of what was currently being studied. Food befitting the topic of the occasion was usually supplied for after the meeting. Open meetings were popular as members were able to bring their husbands. The structure of the Club has changed over the years as parliamentary procedure gave way after, World War II, to peculiar Shakespearean rules. Membership elections were eliminated and other methods of selecting the executive were arranged over the years. The Club, with the advent of the Stratford festival, studied pieces being performed for particular seasons and started taking trips to Stratford, Ontario, Niagara-on-the-Lake and the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
S.C. Shaw was an artist who painted in the Peterborough region in the early 1940's.
Jean Shearman (1925-2005) and Elizabeth Shearman Hall (1920-2015) were the great-great-granddaughters of Frances Browne Stewart (1794-1872) and Thomas Alexander Stewart (1786-1847), who immigrated from Ireland to Douro Township in 1822. They were sisters of Rev. John Shearman. Their grandmother, Anna Maria Stewart Williams, was the granddaughter of Thomas Alexander Stewart and Frances Browne Stewart, and the daughter of William Stewart. Jean Shearman was born 28 August 1925 and lived in Toronto, Ontario; she died in 2005. Elizabeth Shearman Hall was born 7 March 1920; she died in 2015. The sisters dedicated much of their lives to transcribing the Frances Stewart letters and creating a biographic reference guide to them and all associated families.
Jean Shearman was born in Montreal. She was a great great granddaughter of Thomas Alexander Stewart and Frances Browne Stewart, and great granddaughter of their son, William Stewart and his wife, Louisa McNabb. She spent much of her life transcribing the Frances Stewart letters and researching the genealogy of the Stewart family and families with whom the Stewarts had some relationship. Ms. Shearman wrote A Sense of Continuity: The Stewarts of Douro along with her sister, Elizabeth Shearman Hall. She died in Toronto in 2005.
Emmett F. Sheehy was a Barrister-at-law in Peterborough, Ontario during the 1930's.
Sarsfield Sheehy was a student of the Peterborough Collegiate Institute in 1909.
Henry Sherin and Elizabeth Moulds were married May 1, 1814 in Ireland and emigrated to Canada, in 1822, settling near Cobourg, Upper Canada. Their son, John C. Sherin, born in 1827, moved from the Cobourg region to Lakefield in 1854. He opened the first general store in the area in 1855, J.C. Sherin and Son. In 1861, John C. was made Justice of the Peace for Douro Township. He was married to Elizabeth Fee, and later to Mrs. Schofield. In 1881, John C. sold the family store to the firm of the Madill Brothers, but bought it back in 1885 and moved into the dry goods trade. John C. died May 24, 1901. J. Henry Sherin, son of John C. Sherin and Elizabeth Fee, was born in 1867 and educated at Pickering College. J. Henry (Harry) continued to operate the family store for 35 years after his father's death. He was also Lakefield's C.P.R. agent for 48 years. J. Henry Sherin was married to Mary Mabelle Rathbone in October, 1902. Together they had four sons, Playter, George, John, and Harry. J. Henry died in December 1952, at the age of 85. His son Harry attended the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph, Ontario, and when he returned to Lakefield in 1946, he opened the Sherindale Hatchery, which he operated until 1964. In 1963 he married Mrs. Gretchen Kraus of Lakewood, Ohio and they had one son, Timothy Sherin. Harry's brother Playter Sherin also had a son, Dr. John P. Sherin, who resided in Lakefield after attending the University of Toronto Medical School. His medical office was located on the site of his great grandfather's first store.
Nancy Sherouse (1929-1999) was the daughter of Harry and Vivien Ratcliffe of Toronto. Sherouse joined Trent University in 1969 as assistant to Traill College's first principal. Two years later, she became principal and held that position until 1982 when she became full time director of staff relations (later renamed human resources). After her retirement in 1992, Sherouse served as Chair on the Board of Governors at Five Counties Children's Centre in Peterborough. She received an eminent service award from Trent University in 1992.
Professor Allan L. Sherwin was Professor Emeritus of Neurology at McGill University and Attending Neurologist Emeritus at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital. He was born in Montreal in 1932 and trained at McGill University. He received a Bachelor of Science in Honours Biochemistry (1953), Doctor of Medicine (1957), and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience (1965). He completed training as a Clinical Neurologist and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 1963. He then practiced Neurology at the Montreal Neurological Institute where he directed research into the causes and treatment of epilepsy.
Professor Sherwin published two books and 140 scientific papers. For many years he was a neurologist at the Lachine General Hospital and often served as a neurological consultant to the nearby Mohawks of Kahnawake First Nation. In 2012 he published Bridging Two Peoples: Chief Peter E. Jones, 1843-1909, the biography of one of the first Aboriginals to obtain a medical doctors degree from a Canadian medical school (Queen’s University at Kingston in 1866).
Professor Sherwin died in 2016.
L.V. Shier, son of Dr. Daniel Webster Shier and Helise Alberta Workman, was a lieutenant with the 20th Battalion Canadians, British Expeditionary Forces, during the World War I. . He was discharged from the army September 12, 1918 and later became a doctor. Shier married Blanche Relyea (d.1972).
Shining Waters Presbyterial UCW (United Church Women) is a Peterborough, Ontario, organization. Prior to 2013, it was known as Peterborough UCW Presbyterial. Shining Waters Presbyterial UCW is part of a larger organization, United Church Women, formally established in 1962 through the amalgamation of two United Church women’s groups, the Woman’s Association and the Woman’s Missionary Society. As stated in Voices of United Church Women, 1962-2002, the UCW’s purpose is “to unite the women of the congregation for the total mission of the church and to provide a medium through which we may express our loyalty and devotion to Jesus Christ in Christian witness, study, fellowship and service.” (p.v)
John Graves Simcoe was the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada (now Ontario) from 1791 to 1796. He was born at Cotterstock, England on February 25, 1752. He was an army officer and he was in charge of the Queen's Rangers in the American Revolution. While he was Lieutenant-Governor he established York and a roads system. He urged the formation of British institutions such as a university with preparatory schools. He left Upper Canada in 1796 in ill health. He died at Exeter, England on October 26, 1806. (Taken from: "The Canadian Encyclopedia." Edmonton: Hurtig Publishers, 1985.)
Alan J. Slavin is a professor of physics at Trent University, and an adjunct professor at Queen's University. He received a M.Sc. from the University of Toronto and a Ph.D. from Cambridge University, and is the recipient of the following academic awards: Trent University's Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching (1992), 3M Teaching Fellowship, and Ontario Lieutenant-Governor's Award for Teaching (1993), and Canadian Association of Physicists Medal for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (1996). Slavin was a member of Kawartha Ploughshares.
The Smith Branch Agricultural Society held its first Annual agricultural show on October 6, 1855 which is considered the first fair in Bridgenorth.
Smith Township, Peterborough County, Ontario, is bordered on its east, north and west sides by Chemong, Buckhorn, Deer and Clear Lakes, and the Otonobee River. At its south end is North Monaghan Township. It was originally part of Newcastle District, which was created in 1802. The survey of Smith Township was completed in 1818 by Samuel Wilmot and Richard Birdsall. In the same year, a number of colonists, who had set sail from Cumberland, England, found their way to the region with the intention of forming a settlement. The colonists came to the newly founded Smith Township by the way of Rice Lake and the Otonabee River, as there was no road, only unbroken forest. These hearty pioneers slowly settled the region, overcoming many obstacles and hardships along the way. In 1827, a large saw and grist mill was built by the government on the banks of the Otonabee River. This new mill superceded two smaller mills which had been previously established within the township. In 1832, 100 pounds was granted by the Upper Canada Legislature to improve the communication road, which was the principle road that passed through the township. Both of these improvements, along with steamship transportation on Chemong Lake, connecting Smith Township with Victoria county, in the 1840's, greatly increased the number of settlers into the region. The locations of villages in Smith Township were influenced almost entirely by the lumber trade. Bridgenorth, Young's Point and Lakefield were all saw mill settlements, and although Selwyn didn't have a mill, it was located on the road north to the timber limits and was an important commercial centre for the men in the lumber trade. The 1840 census indicates that the total population of Smith Township was 1,286 and that there were 204 households. By the 1861 census, the population had grown to 3,426.
The Agricultural Society was established January 6, 1855 in Smith Township, Peterborough County, Canada West, by a group of farmers from the township. One of the aims of the society was to buy in bulk, seeds and other essentials and make these items available to members whose fees were paid. Later, in the 1860's, Harvey, North Douro, and North Monaghan Townships were invited to join the society. At this point it became known as the Smith, Harvey, North Douro and North Monaghan Branch Agricultural Society. In the 1870's the name changed to the Smith, Ennismore and Lakefield Agricultural Society. The Society held yearly agricultural fairs and ploughing matches.
Arthur James Marshall Smith was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1902. He was educated at McGill University and received his B.A. in 1925 and his M.A. in 1926. In 1931 he received his Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. At McGill University Smith edited the "McGill Daily Literary Supplement" from 1924 to 1925. When is was discontinued, Smith, along with F.R. Scott, founded and edited the "The McGill Fortnightly Review" in 1925. This was the first journal to publish modernist poetry and critical opinion in Canada. Throughout his lifetime, Smith's works were published in anthologies, and he became recognized nationally as a poet, critic and anthologist. He taught English at several American colleges before accepting a position, teaching English, at Michigan State University from 1936 until his retirement in 1972. Michigan University, upon his retirement, created the A.J.M. Smith Award, given annually for a noteworthy volume by a Canadian poet. Among Smith's most distinguished awards were the Governor General's Award in 1943, for "News of the phoenix and other poems", and the Lorne Pierce Medal in 1966. (Taken from: "Poets Between the Wars." Toronto: McClelland and Stewart Limited, 1969.) In 1978 A.J.M. Smith received an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Trent University. Trent University received a number of books and papers from Smith and a room on the first floor of the Bata Library was dedicated to him. A.J.M. Smith died in 1980.
Professor Dawn L. Smith was born in London, England, in 1932 and studied French and Spanish at Oxford University from 1952 to 1955. She emigrated to Canada in 1961. She received her D.Phil in Spanish Literature from Oxford University in 1975 and taught Spanish at Trent until her retirement in 1996. She currently holds the position of Professor Emeritus of Hispanic Studies. She is the author of numerous articles on the Spanish Comedia and has edited a critical edition of Tirso de Molina's La mujer que manda en casa.
S.G. Denis Smith was born in 1932 in Edmonton. In 1953 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Honours, from McGill University. At McGill he received the J.W. McConnell Scholarship and an I.O.D.E. post-graduate scholarship for Oxford University in England. From 1953 to 1956 Denis attended Oxford University and obtained his Master's Degree and a Bachelor of Literature. While in Oxford he received an Exhibition Scholarship and a grant from the Bryce Fund to travel and study in Poland. In 1956 he returned to Canada and by 1962 had written a number of papers and reviews on political material. Denis Smith has held a number of university positions throughout his career. He was with the Department of Political Economy at the University of Toronto, 1956 to 1957; Department of Political Science, York University, 1960 to 1961 and was the first Registrar of that University. He held the Vice-President's position at Trent University from 1964 to 1967. He was Master of Champlain College from 1969 to 1971 and a professor in the Department of Political Studies to 1983 when he left to teach and become Dean of Social Sciences at the University of Western Ontario. At Trent he was Chairman of the Politics Department from 1967 to 1968. He was editor of the Journal of Canadian Studies from 1966 to 1975; editor of the Canadian Forum from 1975 to 1979 and President of the Canadian Periodical Publishers Association from 1975 to 1977. He has written several books including: Bleeding Hearts, Bleeding Country, 1971; Gentle Patriot, 1973; Diplomacy of Fear, 1988; Rogue Tory, 1995; Prisoners of Cabrara, 2001; Ignatieff's World: A Liberal Leader for the 21st Century?" 2006; Ignatieff's World Updated: Iggy goes to Ottawa" 2009; and General Miranda’s Wars: Turmoil and Revolt in Spanish America, 1750-1816, 2013.
Professor Dawn L. Smith was born in London, England, in 1932 and studied French and Spanish at Oxford University from 1952 to 1955. She emigrated to Canada in 1961. She received her D.Phil in Spanish Literature from Oxford University in 1975 and taught Spanish at Trent until her retirement in 1996. She currently holds the position of Professor Emeritus of Hispanic Studies. She is the author of numerous articles on the Spanish Comedia and has edited a critical edition of Tirso de Molina's La mujer que manda en casa.
Professor S.G. Denis Smith was born in 1932 in Edmonton. In 1953 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Honours, from McGill University. At McGill he received the J.W. McConnell Scholarship and an I.O.D.E. post-graduate scholarship for Oxford University in England. From 1953 to 1956 Denis attended Oxford University and obtained his Master's Degree and a Bachelor of Literature. While in Oxford he received an Exhibition Scholarship and a grant from the Bryce Fund to travel and study in Poland.
In 1956 he returned to Canada and by 1962 had written a number of papers and reviews on political material. Denis Smith has held a number of university positions throughout his career. He was with the Department of Political Economy at the University of Toronto, 1956 to 1957; Department of Political Science, York University, 1960 to 1961 and was the first Registrar of that University.
He held the Vice-President's position at Trent University from 1964 to 1967. He was Master of Champlain College from 1969 to 1971 and a professor in the Department of Political Studies to 1983 when he left to teach and become Dean of Social Sciences at the University of Western Ontario. At Trent he was Chairman of the Politics Department from 1967 to 1968.
He was editor of the Journal of Canadian Studies from 1966 to 1975; editor of the Canadian Forum from 1975 to 1979 and President of the Canadian Periodical Publishers Association from 1975 to 1977. He has written several books including: Bleeding Hearts, Bleeding Country, 1971; Gentle Patriot, 1973; Diplomacy of Fear, 1988; Rogue Tory, 1995; Prisoners of Cabrera, 2001; Ignatieff's World: A Liberal Leader for the 21st Century?, 2006; Ignatieff's World Updated: Iggy goes to Ottawa, 2009; General Miranda’s Wars: Turmoil and Revolt in Spanish America, 1750-1816, 2013; and, A Dissenting Voice: Essays, Addresses, Polemics, Diversions, 1959 - 2015, 2017.
Professor Donald B. Smith is Professor Emeritus of History at University of Calgary. He was born in 1946 and is married to Nancy Townshend. He received a Ph.D. at University of Toronto in 1975 and has written several books related to the history of nineteenth century Canada and to Aboriginals in Canada, including Mississauga Portraits: Ojibwe Voices from Nineteenth Century Canada (2013); Honore Jaxon Prairie Visionary Regina (2007); Calgary's Grand Story: The Making of a Prairie Metropolis from the Viewpoint of Two Heritage Buildings (2005); Long Lance: The Glorious Imposter (1999); From the Land of Shadows: The Making of Grey Owl (1990); Sacred Feathers: the Reverend Peter Jones (Kahkewaquonaby) and the Mississauga Indians (1987), and others. In 2014, Professor Smith won the Floyd S. Chalmers Award for his book, Mississauga Portraits.
Seth Soper Smith was a lawyer who practiced in Port Hope, Ontario in the early 1900's.
Sidney Smith was born October 16, 1823 at Port Hope, Upper Canada, to John David Smith and Augusta Louisa Smith. John David Smith sat in the House of Assembly of Upper Canada of Durham from 1828 to 1830. Sidney Smith was the grandson of Elias Smith. Elias was a successful merchant and trader, who left New York to settle in Upper Canada and who founded Port Hope in 1792. Sidney Smith studied law in the office of his brother, John Shuter Smith, and was admitted to the bar in 1844. Smith married Mary Ann Bennett of Cobourg, Upper Canada, on January 21, 1845. He continued to practice law throughout his life, first in Cobourg and later acted as solicitor for the Commercial Bank of the Midland District, the Bank of Montreal, the Midland Railway of Canada, the town of Cobourg, and then in Peterborough. In 1853 he was elected a municipal councilor for both Cobourg and the township of Hamilton, and was the warden for Northumberland and Durham. In 1854, Smith was elected as a Reformer to the Legislative Assembly for Northumberland West and was re-elected in 1857. From February 2, 1858 until the government's defeat on the Militia Bill in May 1862, Smith was the postmaster general in the cabinet of John A. Macdonald and George-Etienne Cartier and was also a member of the Board of Railway Commissioners. Also in 1858, Smith introduced the Upper Canada Jurors' Act and carried it through the assembly. Smith's most notable accomplishment while in office occurred in 1859 when he concluded arrangements with the United States, Britain, France, Belgium, and Prussia for mail services to Canada and the United States. By 1860, he gained abolition of Sunday labour in the Post Offices of Canada West. Smith was defeated in the general election of 1861 by James Cockburn but he was elected to the Legislative Council for Trent in the same year and was able to retain his portfolio of postmaster general. In 1863, he resigned his seat in the Upper House, sought election to the assembly of the constituency of Victoria, was defeated and resigned from politics permanently. He returned to full-time law practice in Peterborough and also served in the militia as captain of the Peterborough Infantry Company No. 2. In 1866 he was appointed inspector of registry offices for Canada West, and continued in that position for the province of Ontario after Confederation. Sidney Smith died September 27, 1889 in Cobourg, Ontario.