Leslieville Recreation Area to be named after longtime teacher

Following a county-wide naming contest which drew 307 votes, the winning name for the now former Leslieville Recreation Area is Ryan Smith Recreation Area.

The park is named after longtime resident Ryan Smith, a former elementary school teacher at Leslieville School who later taught at Charlotte Small in Condor.

A father, teacher and coach who’s described as a positive role model, Smith received 45 nominations (69 per cent of the total) to have the park named after him before it was whittled down to a final five.

He has been on the David Thompson Recreation Board for many years, including chairing the committee. He organized upgrades to the outdoor rink in Leslieville with his grade six class and annually takes care of maintenance of the arena.

Throughout his teaching career, he emphasized growth, teamwork and community to the students that he taught, and individuals in the community have been influenced through his dedication.

He has been active in promoting physical literacy, leading by example by living an active lifestyle himself. Smith has volunteered countless hours coaching and acting as a referee.

Earlier in 2025, Smith retired from from a 28-year teaching career.

As a Clearwater County council package confirms, county official had discussions with Smith himself, who indicated he was very humbled, but affirmed that he would be honoured to have the park named after him. Administration offered to have an amenity within the park named after him if that would be his preference, and he preferred the park as a whole being named the Ryan Smith Recreation Area.

The Ryan Smith Recreation Area, located near David Thompson High School, is just one county project underway in the hamlet, which also includes the uptown Leslieville Community Feature.

Of the 307 votes received for choosing the top names, 152 (49.51 per cent) were cast for the Ryan Smith name. Clearwater County council unanimously approved the name change at its Aug. 26, 2025 meeting.

The top ten finalists were: