Community bids farewell to entrepreneur and philanthropist Doug Smith

Announcement

News

Community bids farewell to entrepreneur and philanthropist Doug Smith

Around 700 people gathered in Gore Bay to celebrate the life of Doug Smith, founder of Manitoulin Transport, prolific philanthropist, and Order of Canada recipient, who died leaving a lasting legacy.

Michael Erskine

Sep 16, 2026 - 8 min read

In a tribute to his Gore Bay Orchestra-founding father Doug Smith, Jeff Smith, right, plays guitar and sings alongside Jeff Wiseman, centre. Both Jeff Smith’s dad Doug and Jeff Wiseman’s dad Bob Wiseman (who also passed away recently) were two of the founders and lifelong members of the Gore Bay Orchestra/Manitoulin Swing Band that saw these two dads, as boys, play in it. —photos by Michael Erskine

Community bids farewell to entrepreneur and philanthropist Doug Smith — In a tribute to his Gore Bay Orchestra-founding father Doug Smith, Jeff Smith, right, plays guitar and sings alongside Jeff Wiseman, centre. Both Jeff Smith’s dad Doug and Jeff Wiseman’s dad Bob Wiseman (who also passed away recently) were two of the founders and lifelong members of the Gore Bay Orchestra/Manitoulin Swing Band that saw these two dads, as boys, play in it. —photos by Michael Erskine

Over 700 attend Celebration of Life in Gore Bay

GORE BAY—Captains of industry from across the North gathered with former and current Manitoulin Transport employees, family and friends and benefactors of his generous support of the Island, to honour the late Doug Smith, founder of Manitoulin Transport and unarguably the Island’s most prolific philanthropist during a celebration of life held on Saturday, September 12 at Bayside Restaurant in Gore Bay.

An anticipated 700 people attended the event held on the shores of Gore Bay, packing the restaurant dining halls and an event tent set up outside.

“People have come from far and wide, a lot of people that worked for us at one time, and still work for us for many years,” said Manitoulin Transport vice-chair and Mr. Smith’s son Jeff Smith. “It is so good to see family—what do they say weddings and funerals, right?”