Ken Smith passes away

Cycling Canada statement from CEO and Secretary General Greg Mathieu.

“Mr. Ken Smith was an early leader in the growth and development of cycling in Canada and a major contributor to the Commonwealth Games movement as well.  He was a well respected sport manager and a friend and mentor to many who worked side by side at the Canadian Sport & Fitness Administration Centre in Ottawa. We sincerely thank Mr. Smith for his life-long commitment to cycling and its development.”

Found on www.ottawabicycleclub.ca

Ken Smith, honorary member of the club passed away in his sleep on  Tuesday April 30th at Longfields Manor in Barrhaven, where he had been a  resident or the past three years. As the first Executive Director for  Cycling at Sport Canada, Ken started the Canadian Cyclist, which became a  national publication after Ken moved on to become Director for  Non-resident Sports, which he pursued until his retirement. 

Ken accompanied the national team to the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh  in 1970 and in retirement volunteered with the Commonwealth Games  Committee and was involved with the development of the Commonwealth  Games cycling track in Victoria and subsequent events. 

Ken was a veteran of the second world war, having joined the RAF in 1940  where he served at North Weald during the Battle of Britain and  subsequently at Coltishall in Norfolk. Posted to Algiers in 1943, he  served at allied HQ North Africa before moving on to Cairo en route to  his final posting in Calcutta, India. In the latter posting, Ken served  with the military police during a very tense period of civil unrest  prior to the end of colonial rule.

Ken reached the local spotlight in Ottawa in the early 70s as a result  of his 20 km commute to work at 333 River Road, riding a fixed wheel,  long before ‘fixies’ ever hit the market. Ken’s last big ride was at the  age of 80, when he rode the Summer’s End Century. Much to his chagrin,  at the age of 90, he had to spend his last three years were spent in a  wheelchair. Ken leaves behind his daughter Cheryl who is returning from  St Louis along with Ken’s grandson an granddaughter.

Ken Smith’s funeral service and reception will be taking place at the Manotick Legion at 2pm on Monday, May 13th. 

Photo courtesy of http://bicyclespecialties.blogspot.ca