Danielle Smith

Birth Name: Marlaina Danielle Smith

Place of Birth: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Date of Birth: April 1, 1971

Ethnicity: English, as well as Cornish, Irish, one eighth Rusyn/Ukrainian

Danielle Smith is a Canadian politician, lobbyist, columnist, and media personality. She has been Premier of Alberta, since October 11, 2022, and Leader of the United Conservative Party, since October 6, 2022. She was previously Leader of the Wildrose Party, from October 17, 2009 to December 17, 2014, and Leader of the Opposition in Alberta, from April 24, 2012 to December 17, 2014.

Danielle is the daughter of Sharon and Doug Smith, an oilfield consultant, who was a board member for the Wildrose Party. She is married to television producer David Moretta.

Danielle has stated that she has some degree of Cherokee Native American/Indigenous ancestry, or “mixed-race” roots, usually referring to her maternal great-great-grandmother Mary Frances Crow. No non-European ancestors appear on family trees of Danielle Smith.

Danielle’s paternal grandfather was Stanley James Smith (the son of Philipus/Filip Kolodnicki, later Philip Smith, and of Alice Carpenter). Stanley was born in Brandon, Manitoba. Philipus was a Ruthenian and/or Ukrainian emigrant, from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the son of J./Jackim Kolodnicki. Philipus arrived in Canada through Halifax, Nova Scotia, on May 23, 1913. Danielle’s great-grandmother Alice was born in Pointe-Saint-Charles, Québec, to English parents, Joseph Loach Carpenter and Alice Louisa Fellows, who were from West Bromwich, Staffordshire.

Danielle’s paternal grandmother was Joyce Patricia Bullard (the daughter of Lawrence Bullard and Emily Stanford). Joyce was born in Bankhead, Alberta, to English parents. Lawrence was born in Theydon Bois, Essex, the son of Benjamin Bullard and Louisa Jane Keen. Emily was born in Plaistow, London, the daughter of Edward George Stanford and Elizabeth Mayhew.

Danielle’s maternal grandfather was Cleeman Merritt Hawkins (the son of Everett Cleeman Hawkins and Adda/Addie Mary/Mae Merritt). Cleeman was born in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, to American parents. Everett was born in Apishapa, Las Animas, Colorado, the son of James Elisha Hawkins and Rosie/Rosa Beatrice Ferne Garrison. Mary was born in Marion County, Kansas, the daughter of James Robert Ancel Merritt and Mary/Marie Frances/Francis Crow.

Danielle’s maternal grandmother was Shirley Anne Parken (the daughter of Samuel Whear Parken and Mary Ethyl Buckley). Shirley was born in Trochu, Kneehill, Alberta. Samuel was born in Tavistock, Devon, England, with Cornish heritage, the son of Joseph Parkin and Annie Whear. Mary was born in Havelock, Kings, New Brunswick, of Irish ancestry, the daughter of Timothy D. Buckley, whose parents were from Kerry and Cork, respectively; and of Mary Agnes O’Connor.

Sources: https://www.thestar.com
https://www.aptnnews.ca
https://www.cbc.ca