The fall of 1971 saw the introduction of the Trudeau government’s Local Initiatives Program (LIP). Quick to realize this “make work” program’s potential, Brian Robinson approached his associate, Peter J. McConnell, convinced that they should come up with some sort of “socially responsible” project. Peter had just the idea.

The inspiration had come in the early 1960s when Peter had joined up with what he called “a very loose troupe of amateur song and dance acts” headed by Hilda Wheeler that twice a month “descended upon one of several designated facilities then know as ‘Old Folks’ or ‘Old Age Homes.’”

As Peter describes it: “It was awful; bumbling and disorganized... It was terrible... Polite applause from the captive audiences was about the best you could hope for. Most of these only suffered through the thing in return for the tea and cookies the institution had promised them when it was all over.”

Peter had often thought back to “the poor audiences upon which they had inflicted themselves.” He thought about how the seniors had been in situations that did not permit them to get out and see, what he termed, “decent entertainment”. He became convinced that the audience deserved better. He wanted to bring them shows that were specifically catered to the senior audience, with music they knew and remembered, actualized by professional performers. And he wanted to call it The Smile Theatre Company.

Their first office and rehearsal space was located at St. Paul's Church at 121 Avenue Road. With faith that they could, and would, continue after the three months the grant was initially for, Peter and Brian hired themselves on as Artistic Director and dramaturge, and Managing Director, respectively. They also hired six performers, a stage manager, a piano player, and two secretaries. Their first performance was called "The Smile Company Presents -- The Smile Company" and was held in their own space on February 14, 1972.

Promotional photo, 1974.

The LIP grants were repeatedly extended and when they finally ended, after more than two years, the funding from the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) and the Toronto Arts Council were sufficient to keep the company afloat.
Smile fostered a creative environment and created work for many artists. An annual playwriting competition made possible by OAC funds encouraged writers to create original plays in line with Smile's mandate of reaching seniors. Many prevalent Canadian artists became a part of the Smile family including George Murray who worked with Smile for almost ten years.

Both Peter and Brian said good-bye to Smile by late 1983. The twelve years they had spent nurturing Smile had yielded a thriving and unique theatre company. Their work is still evident almost 25 years later on the faces of thousands of smiling seniors across Canada. Thank you Peter and Brian for the legacy!

We extend our gratitude to Peter J. McConnell for providing the information and the photos for this article.