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Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft
1950–2026
CSCL·People·People of the Society·Olivia Smith
The Society’s Records

Olivia Smith

← People of the Society · on record 1956–1987

Everything the Society’s own records say of Olivia Smith — the offices held, the standings conferred, and the awards won — gathered on one page. Where the records are silent, so is this one.

In memoriam · reported Autumn 1987

A Fellow of the Society, remembered in the same Autumn 1987 issue (p. 5) as Irene Lane and Clara Cavanagh, in a tribute by Jeanie Little. Olivia Smith had trained in elocution and music, and worked across leather, metal and clay; her trays, boxes, belts and coasters were admired for their finish, which she credited to "spit and polish." She met regularly with former colleagues from her days at the C.P.R., and continued attending Society meetings even after she could no longer work at her craft.

From Summer/Fall 1987, page 5.

Also recorded as O. Smith

Standing

Toronto Branch Member 1979

Branch

Toronto · listed as a member in 1979

Certification

  • Associate of the CSCL 1956
  • Fellow of the CSCL 1958
    The election notice prints the town as “Toronto, Ont.”.

An Associate of the Society from 1956 and a Fellow from 1958, and one of its most active officers over three decades — Treasurer in the late 1950s and later Chairman of its Exhibitions Committee. Her work took Canadian Handicrafts Guild competition prizes from 1956 and Salon and Craftsman awards at the Society’s own shows through the 1960s. Three pieces were chosen for “Ontario Crafts – Leather Today”, the Society’s Centennial travelling exhibition: a belt with a sterling buckle, candle sticks with copper cups and coasters. The Canadian Guild of Crafts (Ontario) selected the articles; the exhibition opened at the Guild Shop on 2 October 1967 and was to travel across Canada during 1968. She showed four pieces at Leather '74, the Society's exhibition at the Toronto Public Libraries' Learning Resources Centre, 666 Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto, 3-28 June 1974; five pieces in the Society's exhibition at the Craft Gallery and Resource Centre of the Ontario Crafts Council, 346 Dundas Street West, Toronto, 2-28 March 1976; and four pieces at Leather '78, the Society's exhibition at the Etobicoke Civic Centre, 550 Burnhamthorpe Road, November 1978. She served on the Executive Council in 1980, and was made a Life Member of the Society in 1981, presented at the 31st Annual Meeting along with Clara Cavanagh, Viola Harris and Nora Huyck.

From Spring 1956; Autumn 1980, page 10; Leather ’74 — exhibition catalogue, Toronto Public Libraries, page 6; Exhibition catalogue 1976 — Craft Gallery of the Ontario Crafts Council, Toronto, page 6; Leather ’78 — exhibition catalogue, Etobicoke Civic Centre, page 6; 32nd Annual Meeting 1982 — programme, Holiday Inn West, Toronto, page 5; and Fall 1967, page 9.

Served the Society as

  • Treasurer 1956–1958
  • Publicity 1959
  • C.N.E. Demonstrator 1962
  • 10th Assembly Committee - Demonstrations 1964
  • Executive Council 1964–1975
  • 11th Assembly Demonstrator 1965
  • Chairman Exhibitions Committee 1969
  • Exhibition Chairman (C.N.E.) 1969
  • Library Committee 1975–1977
  • Council 1976–1978
  • World Crafts Council Delegate 1976
  • Financial Auditor 1979
  • Executive Council Member 1980
  • Director 1981–1987

Honours

  • Life Membership 1981
    Presented at the 1981 Annual Meeting, Beacon Motor Inn, Jordan Station (Vineland), Ontario, one of four Life Memberships given "to the following long-time members of the C.S.C.U. in recognition of their years of service to the Society."

Awards

  • C.N.E. Arts and Crafts, Women's Division 1975
  • C.N.E. Class 223, Non-tooled leather article — 2nd 1961
  • C.N.E. Competitions 1962 - Leathercraft 1962
  • C.N.E. Non-tooled leather article — 2nd 1969
  • Canadian Handicraft Guild Competition 1966
  • Canadian Handicrafts Guild (Ontario) selection for the Dartmouth College exhibition 1967
  • Canadian Handicrafts Guild Competition First Prize 1958–1963
  • Canadian Handicrafts Guild Competition Second Prize 1956
  • Canadian National Exhibition Leathercraft Prize (Women's Division) 1971–1974
  • Canadian National Exhibition Second Prize 1963–1976
  • Canadian National Exhibition Women's Division 1972–1977
  • Canadian National Exhibition Women's Division 1st Place 1973
  • Canadian National Exhibition Women's Division 2nd Place 1973
  • Craftsman Ribbon 1967–1980
  • International Assembly Craftsmanship Ribbon 1964
  • International Assembly Salon Ribbon 1964
  • Leather '76 Craftsman Award 1976
  • Leather '78 Honourable Mention 1978
  • Salon Award 1967
  • Western Fair 1st Prize 1973
  • Western Fair Third Prize 1974

Demonstrations given

Where this comes from

This name in the index of people →