Monsignor Gregory Smith was born in Hamilton and grew up in Toronto before moving in 1976 with his family to British Columbia, where he is currently pastor of Christ the Redeemer Parish in West Vancouver. He has been a member of the Canadian board of Renewal Ministries since 2002 and its chair since 2011.

Before studying for the priesthood at the Pontifical Beda College in Rome, he worked in government and public affairs in both Ottawa and Victoria. He was ordained in 1986 for the Archdiocese of Vancouver, which he has served as chancellor, episcopal vicar and moderator of the curia. He received the doctorate in canon law from the Gregorian University in 2007.

Monsignor Smith is a member of the national board of Catholic Christian Outreach and is particularly committed to ministry to young adults. Earlier this year, Archbishop Michael Miller named him the director of Vancouver’s first program for permanent deacons.