Albert Smoke
Albert Smoke was born in 1894, a Mississauga Anishinaabe from Alderville First Nations. He was raised at Curve Lake. Smoke began his road racing career in 1910 in Peterborough, competing in the Peterborough Examiner Road Race and over the next few years worked his way up the ranks in the sport. Although small in stature (4’10”) he was considered one of the best long distance runners of his time. Had the 1916 Olympic Games not been cancelled due to WWI, Albert Smoke would no doubt have made the Canadian Olympic Marathon Team. He had many accomplishments including the ten mile Ontario Championship; the Around the Bay Road Race in Hamilton; and placed second in the Toronto Exhibition Race in 1920. He was the Canadian Marathon Champion from 1920 to 1922 and represented Canada at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium. A training collision with a cyclist affected his preparation and he dropped out of the Marathon suffering from blistered feet. A significant accomplishment in his career was placing third at the Boston Marathon in 1922. After his running career ended he settled in Lindsay, Ontario and worked as a trapper and fishing guide until his death in 1944 at the age of 53.
Year Inducted:
1988
Status:
Deceased
Albert Smoke was born in 1894, a Mississauga Anishinaabe from Alderville First Nations. He was raised at Curve Lake. Smoke began his road racing career in 1910 in Peterborough, competing in the Peterborough Examiner Road Race and over the next few years worked his way up the ranks in the sport. Although small in stature (4’10”) he was considered one of the best long distance runners of his time. Had the 1916 Olympic Games not been cancelled due to WWI, Albert Smoke would no doubt have made the Canadian Olympic Marathon Team. He had many accomplishments including the ten mile Ontario Championship; the Around the Bay Road Race in Hamilton; and placed second in the Toronto Exhibition Race in 1920. He was the Canadian Marathon Champion from 1920 to 1922 and represented Canada at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium. A training collision with a cyclist affected his preparation and he dropped out of the Marathon suffering from blistered feet. A significant accomplishment in his career was placing third at the Boston Marathon in 1922. After his running career ended he settled in Lindsay, Ontario and worked as a trapper and fishing guide until his death in 1944 at the age of 53.