Paul F. Smith – 2021 Seniors of Distinction Awards Recipient

Friday, October 01, 2021

The Provincial Government recognizes today as National Seniors Day. To help celebrate the many contributions of seniors in communities throughout the province, the Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, was joined by Lucy Stoyles, MHA for Mount Pearl North, to present the 2021 Seniors of Distinction Awards.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Seniors of Distinction Awards celebrate the contributions, achievements and diversity of older persons and seniors in the province.

These awards are an opportunity to recognize seniors from all walks of life – those who are experts in their field, who share their culture and talents, who volunteer as coaches, organizers and fundraisers, and who care for people in need of understanding and companionship.

This year’s recipients of the 2021 Seniors of Distinction Awards are:

  • Rose Andrews of Carbonear
  • Patrick W. Moore of Corner Brook
  • Clyde Russell of Stephenville
  • Dorothy Mary Senior of Paradise
  • Paul F. Smith of Conception Bay South

Paul F. Smith (Conception Bay South)

Paul F. Smith was born in St. John’s in 1949. Throughout his life, Paul has been involved in the community. He has served as a Beaver and Cub Scout leader, as a member of the Knights of Columbus, and as a volunteer at St. Edward’s Parish in Kelligrews. Paul has also been a member of the former Roman Catholic and Avalon East School Boards along with other school and community-related boards. He is also a long-serving volunteer with the Heart and Stroke Foundation, where he developed and maintained the foundation’s longest running volunteer-led event, Bowl for Heart, and is a member of the Partridge Forever Society.

Paul is best known; however, for his work as builder, coach and executive in softball. Paul’s work with minor softball started in 1987 when he began coaching his sons in the Kelligrews Minor Softball League. In 1993, he founded the Conception Bay South (CBS) Minor Softball League for boys and girls who had graduated from Kelligrews Minor Softball giving them the opportunity to continue the sport. In the decades that followed, Paul’s involvement with the sport grew and he received many awards and recognitions. Paul was named Town of CBS Citizen of the Year in 1997. In 1998, he was awarded St. John’s Minor Softball’s Ray Hazeltine Memorial Award for the individual who has demonstrated selfless commitment to the game of softball.

In 2017, Paul received Softball Canada’s Rose Hodgson Volunteer of the Year Award and was inducted into the CBS Sports Hall of Fame.

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Softball NL Would Like To Take This Opportunity To Congratulate Paul F. Smith Of Conception Bay South On Being Named A 2021 Seniors Of Distinction Awards Recipient. Paul Served 8-Years On The Softball NL Board of Directors: 2-Years As Finance Director (2009-2010), 2-Years As Vice-President (2011-2012) And 4-Years As President (2013-2014-2015-2016).

Congratulatuions Paul!