Herman Smith-Johannsen was a pioneer in the sport of skiing in Quebec. He laid hundreds of miles of cross country ski trails in the Laurentian mountains north of Montreal and was involved in cross country skiing marathons even into his 107th year. He had some involvement in downhill skiing, encouraging his children to become involved at the Olympic level.

Herman was born in Norway on the 15th of June, 1875. He spent some time as a cadet in the Royal Norwegian Army Reserve before going on to the University of Berlin to study engineering in 1894. As a student he joined the fratetrnity, Berolina, adopting its motto "never rest and never rust" and acquiring the nickname "Jonas".

On a visit to Norway in 1987, he died of pneumonia on January 5th at the age of 111. His ashes were flown back to Canada so that he could be buried next to his wife, Alice according to his last request. The graves, in the cemetery at the church of St. Francis of the Birds in St. Sauveur, are marked by a granite boulder bearing their names and dates.