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The Youngest Mayor in Canada Shares Important Message for Today’s Youth


Clayton Smith, 19, returned to his parents’ house after being sworn in as mayor of a central Alberta hamlet in October 1995. “I guess you can refer to me as ‘your worship’ now,” Mr. Smith joked with his father.

“Not while you’re living in my basement,” his father quipped back. But in all seriousness, his parents were proud—his mother eagerly wrote to her family in the Philippines to inform them of having a mayor in the family.

Mr. Smith was the youngest mayor ever elected in Canada, a record he still holds almost 30 years later.

So what qualities did this kid living in his parents’ basement possess that landed him the role of mayor for New Norway, Alberta?

Early Influences, Meeting People

Mr. Smith’s advice for young people today is to “Get involved in the community, do some volunteer work, meet people, and network with them,” as he shared in an interview with The Epoch Times.

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That’s how he got his start. His first summer job, at 16, was with the city. In a larger town, his experience might have been limited to trimming hedges or cutting grass on city property. But in New Norway, he got to peek into many aspects of the city’s operations.

He assisted the town foreman with water testing, maintenance, and various tasks around the community. He acquainted himself with the village administrator, who oversaw the hamlet’s operations. He interacted with shop owners and other townspeople in New Norway.

An off-hand comment by the town foreman planted the seed of getting into politics.

The foreman and Mr. Smith would occasionally discuss local politics and village events. When a council vacancy opened up, the foreman suggested, “Why don’t you run?” He then remarked, “I guess you’re not old enough yet. You’re not 18.”

When Mr. Smith turned 18, he decided to run for council. At the time, he was doing a “stinky” job—helping build an addition to a pig barn just outside of town—and was keen for a change.

After graduating from high school and uncertain about his next steps, he saw council as a good move. He filled out a nomination form, securing five signatures—three from former mayors—which strongly endorsed him.

On a lunch break from the pig farm job, he submitted his nomination papers.

With no other submissions by the noon deadline that day, he was on the village council uncontested. The administrator congratulated him.

‘You Got It, Young Man’

Over a year later, a general election for council took place. He campaigned on maintaining a balanced budget, continuing smooth village operations, and acquiring a new fire truck.

“I garnered the most votes in the council election,” he recalled.

Securing 60 percent of the town’s vote, his fellow councillors elected him as mayor. Mr. Smith accepted. “You got it, young man,” commented one of his fellow councillors.

His age was not a focal point. “Most people assumed I was 30,” Mr. Smith mentioned with a chuckle, as he appeared older than 19.

A campaign flyer from when Clayton Smith was up for re-election in 1995. (Courtesy of Clayton Smith)
A campaign flyer from when Clayton Smith was up for re-election in 1995. (Courtesy of Clayton Smith)

He served for the next three years, with one of his notable achievements being fulfilling his campaign promise of acquiring a fire truck for the hamlet.

He also facilitated a deal with a developer who had purchased a significant portion of the town’s land. When the developer did not act on it, the town repurchased the land and incentivized people to buy and develop it within a year.

By the end of his term, all the lots were sold, and the once-empty land was now populated with houses.

Looking Ahead

While interested in pursuing politics further—such as provincial or federal office—Mr. Smith acknowledged the need for more life experience beforehand.

“I couldn’t be the mayor in my parents’ basement forever,” he remarked. “I hadn’t paid a mortgage, I hadn’t paid my own bills.”

His parents’ house was where his interest in politics first sparked.

During the early 1980s, Mr. Smith was captivated by the news he watched with his father—nuclear arms race, economic turmoil. His father, a blue-collar worker, had to resort to employment insurance for the first time, highlighting to young Mr. Smith the impact of broader political and economic conditions on individual Canadians.

“He wasn’t a politician, but he paid attention to the news,” Mr. Smith noted about his now-retired father’s awareness.

Living in his parents’ basement did have advantages, according to Mr. Smith. With no family of his own or adult responsibilities, he could devote himself to his town work.

A Lasting Impact

Over the years, his tenure as mayor significantly bolstered his resume.

“It was a significant part of my life; having it on my resume opened up job opportunities for me,” he shared.

Clayton Smith, former mayor of New Norway, Alberta, is now a civil engineer. (Phoebe Marinakis)
Clayton Smith, former mayor of New Norway, Alberta, is now a civil engineer. (Phoebe Marinakis)

Though still involved in politics, Mr. Smith now works as a civil engineer. He has volunteered with various constituency associations, including in Edmonton, where he currently resides.

“The role of mayor and serving on council helped me choose a career path,” he stated. “Reviewing engineering plans and drawings during that time led me to a career in civil engineering and surveying.”

In his current position, he believes he can continue to aid communities by establishing solid infrastructure. He remains dedicated to civic duties.

He encourages young individuals to volunteer and suggests that parents support and motivate their children to do the same.

“When you volunteer, you meet people who care about the community and are actively involved. You can encounter various individuals who might be interested in assisting a young person in running for office or continuing to contribute to the community in different ways,” Mr. Smith concluded. “You never know where that path might lead.”



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