Smiles for Smylie

By Trish Allison

He’s not a saint, he’s not a hero, he’s not even looking to be acknowledged, but his community and the people he’s touched feel differently.

John Smylie and his wife Angela are being presented with the Outstanding Philanthropic Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in South-Eastern Ontario.

“I was very surprised, I didn’t know I was nominated, I didn’t even know they were looking at me for that award,” said Smylie.

The Trenton couple own Smylie’s Independent Grocer in town and have been making a difference in their community since 2005.

“We sort of have a policy, that we as a store will be involved in those events that help those that help the community,” he said.

That includes his store’s involvement with the Salvation Army’s hamper program, among other things.

His store and his staff assemble an astounding 500 baskets that are given out the Sunday night before Christmas.

“John Smylie is unconditional with his support, I don’t think he has an agenda, I think he just genuinely cares about people, and he’s unconditional with the support he gives the community,” said Cindy Nickerson.

Nickerson is one of the many who have been blessed by Smylie’s passion for helping others.

In 2009, her family received an $18, 000 grant from the President’s Choice Children’s Charity to provide her now seven-year old autistic twin boys with applied behaviour analysis therapy.

“Having that definitely prepared my boys for school, and I think without that it would have been a difficult transition getting my boys into full-time school,” she said.

“I think we would have had a different experience starting full time school, not having had the therapy.”

Nickerson firmly believes that no one deserves this more than the Smylies, and it’s more than just a biased opinion.

This past summer John Smylie and the Trenton Rotary Club (which Smylie is a past director of) donated $12, 000 to the Prince Charles Playground Project which was aimed at building the first accessible playground in the city.

Smylie’s involvement didn’t stop there. Nickerson said Smylie arrived at the park with his son and a big truck and fed every volunteer working to build the park. She said there were roughly 200 volunteers.

“We were so touched by what he does in this community that we actually did an entire playground panel with his name on it,” said Nickerson.

The panel reads ‘Thank you to Angela and John Smiley for your ongoing supports in the community’.

“He doesn’t want to be recognized, but you can’t help but recognize someone like that,” she said.

On top of the many things he does in the community, Smylie also sits on various committees throughout the city.

He is the vice president of the Trenton Memorial Foundation board, Deputy Ward for St. George’s Anglican Church, past president of the Chamber of Commerce in addition to his work with the Trenton Rotary Club.

Angela Smiley is involved with St. George’s church and works at the grocery store the Smylie’s own.

“I’m probably more the face of the involvement, where she is more of the support behind me,” said Smiley.

Smiley said the couple plan to continue with their work in the community.

“I find it very rewarding and a lot of fun,” he said.

Nickerson describes Smiley as “very concerned, very helpful, very genuine, a very genuine man.”

“Doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, he’s not looking for what he gets from it, he’s definitely in the spirit of what he can give back,” she said.

“No one else deserves it more than John Smylie.”