In a province with so many historic and architecturally significant properties, having people with the knowledge and the skill set to maintain those properties is essential. Jenna Smith is one of those people.
Within the past year, she moved to the Island, purchased an historic home, and began to put down roots. Smith is currently developing a business model to allow her to restore residential and commercial buildings as a full-time career. As a first step towards that goal, she is taking the Heritage Retrofit Program at Holland College, to gain the knowledge for a career in historic restoration.
Josh Silver, her instructor, describes Smith as a natural leader in the Heritage Retrofit Program and mentor for other students. After Hurricane Fiona devastated the Island, Smith volunteered to fix fences and remove debris for people and businesses who catered to first responders and children.
She has dedicated her time at Holland College to improving the community’s historic treasures, including collaboratively repairing two of St. Dunstan’s Basilica’s front doors. As well, she is repairing the storm windows at the Kirk of St. James in Charlottetown and installing interior trim for Province House National Historic Site. Along with other Holland College students, she also built medal presentation trays for the 2023 Canadian Winter Games. Additionally, Smith is employed by Family Violence Prevention Services and spends her weekends and evenings working with vulnerable clients who are survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse.
She's already contributing greatly to the restoration of P.E.I.’s beautiful, historic architecture. And she’s only 22.
For all she has accomplished thus far, she has been named Youth Volunteer of the Year.