Mark Smith

They were the best of times and they were the worst of times...actually, my high school years I found relatively enjoyable aside from all that work, what was that all about? I was sort of an average student, but enjoyed playing football at lunch with Wayne Murphy and the gang, working behind the scenes on stage with Brian Buckingham, time put in on the Student Council (damn you Jay MacKeown)…falling asleep in History 12 (how did ol’ Mr. whathisname not notice??) I remember the great Banner escapade in the Stanley Park causeway as a grad prank (with Mark Fremmerlid laying spread eagled in the long grass after we were almost caught…the patrol guy standing virtually right over him and he’s whispering, “help me, help me…” in his walkie talkie) I remember Lisa Kofod painting the Pink Panther outside the main entrance of the school. Then there was going for Chinese with Ian Millar, Craig and Bruce, Mark Fremmerlid and Jeff Swartz… After graduating, Craig and I drove his Datsun 2000 down to California and I learned to drive standard on the way. It was the Summer Elvis died and every time the anniversary of his death comes up on August 16th I remember the trip. I sound like an old fogey to my kids, “why I remember when Elvis died, I had driven down to California….”

Somehow, while university seemed inevitable after high school, it wasn’t automatic. I worked at MasterCard right after graduation and a year and a half later quit to drive a ski boat up at Malibu for the summer. I came back and worked in construction for a bit. I had done some work with youth groups and then more specifically with youth and their families in a group home called Ottawa House at 15th and Ottawa. Did that for a couple of years, got engaged and then married in 1982 at the age of 23. The year after, I started UBC and by 1988 had completed my Master’s degree in Social Work specializing in Family Systems Therapy. So, I started my career as a therapist and now its 20 years later. I’ve worked with Family Services of Greater Vancouver for 17 of it and have had a private practice for most of those 20 years. Recently I’ve Co-Chaired the Collaborative Divorce Vancouver group doing some work also as a Divorce Coach and I have been on the Board of Living Systems (formerly North Shore Counselling Centre) since 1998 and President of the Board since 2002. I’ve also had a growing passion for photography over those many years.

I’ve got 3 great kids, two sons aged 17 and 13 and a daughter who is 10. My older son, Jeremy, is a stellar defenseman in soccer, has just started grade 12 and plans to study Medieval History at UVic. He’s a gaming enthusiast as well… can anyone say, “Halo 3?” Nicholas, my younger son, enjoys fencing, rugby and electric guitar and has just started the high school experience in a grade 8 Explorations Program. My daughter, Allegra, plays soccer and shines in music theatre. They are all creative, bright kids who laugh a lot and generally have pretty good heads on their shoulders.

Me? I’ve been on my own for 6 years, but am proud to have a very amicable relationship with their Mom. I spend lots of time with my kids and, when I’m not, I’m working and so life goes. I’ve lived in Richmond since 1998 near Steveston. My folks still live in West Van so I get over there once in a while and my kids have had their own relationship with the area.

Having only just been located regarding the upcoming reunion in a week and a half I’ve been working hard not to take it personally. I mean there are only 13 “Mark Smith’s” in the phone book and no, I haven’t been working as a White House correspondent or playing hockey for the San Jose Sharks….and just because I’m listed in the book as “KM” doesn’t excuse anything! I did however just google myself (“Mark Smith therapist”) and I came up listed number one on google and listed as a sex therapist to boot! Imagine that, first among 250,000 hits…