For Th heco € rd... Irwin Smith has lived and worked in Scugog Township for his entire life and is a IRWIN familiar face in both farming and commercial segments of the community. He is a 57 year-old proud father of two daughters and three grandchildren. Sixteen years ago Irwin launched Ocala Orchards Farm Winery Ltd., on the family farm, just south of Port SMITH Perry. Here he became the township's first winemaker and orchard grower. Many local residents will also remember Irwin when he operated Irwin Smith Music Ltd., selling and renting musical instruments and supplies for 17 years in Port Perry. 1. What career would you 2. What was youre favourite toy growing up? have pursued if you had not Interesting question, as | have made it a habit of chosen your present one. having a different toy during each stage of my life. Some people would say that Asa little boy on the farm, | remember having a John I'm lucky as | have had two Deere pedal tractor. Hitched it to things, dragged worthwhile careers dur- ing the last 37 years. Twice now, I’ve man- aged to take a hobby and turn it into a business part of my life. Would love to be a professional singer. things, and a neighbour boy had one too, so we raced them. Have you ever seen what happens when two boys on pedal tractors play “chicken”... and neither of them turns? 3. Something you use every day, or can’t live without? My piano. It gets played every day. When I’m happy, | play the piano; when I’m sad, | play the piano; when I'm angry, | go out and hoe. 4. Your favourite home-cooked meal? Every one who knows me will tell you that my favourite home cooked meal is spaghetti and meat sauce. I've been known to worl for spaghetti. 5. Things that you like most about living in Port Perry and Scugog Township? Our community is like a breath of fresh air. We have everything we need: entertainment, recreation, retail stores of every kind, sports facilities... and the list goes on. Of great importance is the people. | just love walking down the main street and saying “hello” to anyone | meet. When one of my daughters was little and we'd walk down the street she'd ask me if | knew everyone. “No”, I'd answer. Also, we're one hour away from everything else that we might want... down- town Toronto, airport, cottage country. 6. What person would you like to meet? If | answered,"Pamela Anderson,” my wife would scream! If | answered,“the Prime Min- ister of Canada,” some would say | was nuts! But | would love to have met an &. old timer and guide, gone now, by the name of Ralph Bice, who wrote simple books on the opening of northern Ontario, the fur trade, logging, Algonquin Park, the shipping trade on Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, and the first railways to bring in tour- ists and business. 7. Your favourite singer, your favourite song and your favourite movie of all time? Barry Manilow and his songs have shaped my musical 16 FOCUS - AUGUST 2011