Tributes pour in for Wade Smith, beloved mentor and educator

The sounds of basketballs echoed through the Citadel High School gym in Halifax on Saturday afternoon as students, staff and friends dropped by to remember Wade Smith.

The school's principal, a beloved educator and mentor, died Friday night at age 50 just months after being diagnosed with stomach cancer.

• Wade Smith, admired Halifax educator and coach, dies

Before hitting the court, the Canada Games U-17 basketball team stood together in silence and then laid flowers outside the school in honour of Smith, who was their head coach.

"Wade is still coaching from above," said his friend and fellow coach, Shawn Mantley, who led the team's practice.

The players were counting on their coaches, who include Smith's brother, to show leadership, Mantley said. 

"We're hurting right now, but we also know we have a job to do that Wade would expect us to do," he said.

"He would say 'Keep it rolling,' which means keep on plugging through. Even though we faced some hardships, we still have to do what is expected of us."

The school will remain open Sunday for people in the community who wish to drop off flowers or notes in Smith's memory.

People he mentored will carry on

News of Smith's death spread quickly Friday night, but the loss has yet to sink in, Mantley said. 

"It's huge. People are numb right now. They're not going to really feel it until the day of the funeral."

Mantley has fond memories of playing varsity basketball against Smith and said he considered him a mentor on a personal and professional level.

Ten years ago he changed career paths and started teaching, following in Smith's footsteps.

"He was somebody I aspired to be. I looked up to him," said Mantley. "He was all about goodness, in anybody. He never had a bad word to say about anybody. He believed if you served people, that was your purpose in life. That's what he did."

"His legacy is going to continue on through all the people he inspired and touched."

Encouraged students to stay in school

Organizations and former colleagues issued tributes to Smith Saturday, with many recognizing his contributions to the community.

In addition to the players he encouraged and supported, as an educator Smith had an "absolutely wonderful impact" on students' success, said Melinda Daye, a lifelong friend and colleague.

Daye recommended Smith be hired as Citadel's principal when she was chair of the Halifax Regional School Board. They needed someone to bring students from across the city together, she said.

"He was the one. He had the leadership," Daye said. "His strong influence in the community, his love of the kids, his knowledge of what Afrocentric education really means. He had a way with people, all people."

She believes Smith even helped increase attendance during his time at the school.

'They wanted to make him happy'

"All students listened to Mr. Smith. They wanted to please him. They wanted to make him happy," she said. "He led by example and they knew that."

His influence was evident each year at graduation as student after student posed for a photo with their principal.

"They were high school graduates ready for university, community college or whatever. It was wonderful," Daye said.

Before Smith's death, Daye visited him in hospital.

"It was absolutely packed with people from all over Nova Scotia, coming to the hospital to be with one another to show their love," she said. 

"We loved Wade Smith. He had an absolutely tremendous impact on our life. He's gone, but his legacy, what he's left in the hearts and minds of his family, of those two sons, these students, this community, this city, this province, Canada and the United States will never forget Wade Smith. Gone, but not forgotten."