Jennifer Smith

Jennifer Smith is a writer, blogger, small business owner, and long time Milton resident.

Jennifer was born and raised in Toronto.  She embarked on her first entrepreneurial venture at the age of 18 while attending the Ontario College of Art, opening a small art gallery across the street from the AGO.

Since then, Jennifer has been involved in numerous other business ventures including the Ontario Renaissance Festival, the Artisans Gallery Co-op, and her husband's store, formerly on Mill Street.  She also worked in the printing industry as a manager and a typesetter for many years, but gave it up to spend more time at home where she focused on raising her son and developing her woodworking and online sales business.

Smith made the move to Milton in 1994 along with her husband Adam and son Iain who just graduated from MDHS this year. They already felt a connection to Milton through Jennifer's uncle Bill Tom who taught at Milton District High School for many years.  Once here, the family fell in love with the town and have lived in the same modest house on Commercial Street ever since.

From the beginning Jennifer Smith has been strongly involved in the local community through various cultural, environmental, and political activities.  She has been a member of the Milton Choristers for as long as she has lived in Milton and currently serves on their board of directors. She also sings professionally with the folk group 'Nero's Fiddle'.  She is a former member of the Milton Historical Society and the Ontario Genealogical Society, and a current member of the United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada, Hamilton Branch.

Jennifer Smith is perhaps best known as a writer.  In addition to her popular movie review columns for the Milton Champion, she writes multiple blogs on topics ranging from federal and local politics, environmentalism and urban planning, and even one on foreign affairs.  She has compiled and published a five-volume, 1,300 page genealogy of the Truax family, and has served as editor and publisher for several genealogical newsletters.

Jennifer's frequent letters to the editor of the Milton Champion have often inspired response and action on local issues.  One letter protesting the decision to remove the 40 kph school zone on Commercial Street inspired a neighbourhood girl to start a petition.  That, along with Jennifer's subsequent presentation to Town Council, convinced the town to reverse their decision and keep Commercial Street safe.

Jennifer's years as an entrepreneur have taught her to think and work independently, to get the most from a limited budget, to value relationships with local business owners, and to make the very best use of technology and the internet. She looks forward to putting those skills to work for the people of Ward 2 as their Town Councillor.