Cause for Applause
‘In 2002, I had the good fortune to interview an extraordinary Canadian named Dave Smith, who died September 4, 2020. This article is to commemorate his life and his exceptional contributions to Canadians.’
Some angels don’t have wings. Some angels walk, meet royalty, meet celebrities and heads of state, own real estate and drive a Mercedes. Dave Smith was one of those angels.
As of 2002, 68-year-old
Smith had contributed to the fundraising and support of 41 non-profit organizations. He owned 26 pieces of real estate in Eastern Canada, he was the founder of the Dave Smith
Youth Treatment Centre and he contributed to and spearheaded an unlimited number of charity campaigns, auctions and fundraising events.
Many people might argue that it was easy for him to be charitable after he acquired so much wealth. But with Smith, sharing and giving always came first.
In 1960, Smith’s brother and sister, Nathan and Freda Smith, opened Nate’s Delicatessen and catering service on Rideau Street in Ottawa. Ten years later, the Smiths opened a steakhouse called The Place Next Door located beside Nate’s Delicatessen.
One day, while packing up after a catering job for a local wedding, Dave Smith noticed that there was a lot of food left over. So, with the permission of the wedding party, he gathered up the remaining food and drove to the Ottawa Mission to donate it to people in need.
Little did he know, that on this particular day he would experience one of the most pivotal moments of his life.
“When I walked in, I saw people sitting there, not even belonging to themselves, let alone somebody else. That was a real eye-opener,” said Smith.
Deal of a Lifetime
After that emotional moment, Smith stepped outside and made the deal of his life. Looking upwards he said, “Oh, boy God, we’re going to make a deal here today. I’ll get the message, whatever you want me to do, I won’t question it and I’ll have it done for you, and that’s my end of the bargain, wherever it will be, and your end of the bargain will be to keep me out of there.” It wasn’t long before the catering business started to excel and his catering reputation was catapulted into celebrity status.
Big names like Ginger Rogers, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Reagan, Princess Diana, Pierre Trudeau and dozens of others thought of Smith when it came to food, laughter and good service. Smith’s work was not done, however—there was still much to give to fulfill his end of the bargain.
In the early 1990s, a parent confided in Smith about their son’s drug problem, so Smith decided to talk to high school students, principals and teachers. “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” said Smith. “Teenagers were talking about losing so many of their friends and relatives to drug addiction and alcohol abuse.”
So in 1993, he founded the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre in Ottawa. To this day, the centre offers live-in treatment, support, guidance, counselling and education to Ontario’s youth aged 13 to 21 who are struggling with substance use and mental health issues—free of charge.
During his lifetime, Smith also contributed to fundraising programs around the world. He often worked from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily and it didn’t end there. When the day was done, he would think about other opportunities to help people.
“I get up in the middle of the night out of nowhere and I’ve got an idea,” said Smith. “It just hits me and kaboom. I’ve got the scratch pad right there beside the bed.”
The Need to Give
When asked to explain his almost desperate need to give and how he does it, Smith knows the answer.
“You can come into this world with blinders on and get through it,” said Smith. “Or you can try to turn even one person’s life around. Leave a mark where it’s important, leave a legacy, leave something.”
Smith’s calendar seemed physically impossible. Yet, when there was a chance to give, he could not and would not walk away.
Garry Janz, Smith’s friend and a retired program manager of Mid-canada Television, said, “You can call Dave up and it doesn’t matter if you’re raising money for little kids or a football team, Dave will say, ‘Tell me where and when and I’ll be there.’ All I know is he’ll never turn anybody down.”
The late Max Keeping, CJOH newsman, who had known Dave Smith for 30 years, was amazed by the amount of work that
Smith took on. “He’s the most inexhaustible person I know,” said Keeping. “He just never runs down or runs out of energy.”
Smith did get tired, but he felt it was a good tired. “You get totally wiped out but it’s a different kind of exhaustion,” said Smith. “It’s tiredness with an accomplishment. You’re dragging your butt but, wow, what an incredible day!”
With his many pieces of real estate, a luxurious Mercedes
Benz and a miniature greyhound dog who wore a genuine mink coat,there is no doubt Smith enjoyed the fruits of his labour. He paid in full for his luxuries and gave back equally in return, even when it didn’t bring him fame or profit. He kept his end of the bargain that he had made at the Mission years before.
Strength of Conviction
Throughout Smith’s life there were tests however: tests of his humility and character. Once, when he was getting out of his parked Mercedes in the Nate’s Deli parking lot, a man approached him and said, “You know, it’s because I eat here that you are able to drive that Mercedes.”
“You’re absolutely right,” Smith replied. “So whenever you want to use it, you just come and get the keys off of me.”
The next day, the man came back to Nate’s Delicatessen and asked Smith, “Remember me? It’s my day to use the Mercedes.”
“You’re absolutely right,” said Smith as he handed the man his keys. “It’s full of gas,” said Smith. “No need to refill it. Just go out and enjoy it all day if you want, two days if you want, whatever.”
The man thanked Smith and left the restaurant. A few moments later he returned, threw his arms around Smith and gave him back the keys. “I really got to know you,” he said and then left.
“There have been tests,” said Smith, but he wasn’t afraid of them. He knew that giving was what sustained him. He knew that giving was the reason why he enjoyed so many luxuries.
“Look in the mirror,” said Smith. “You gotta like what you see and when you like what you see in the mirror, it’s amazing what you can accomplish.” ■