Patricia Anne Chalmers was born on January 29, 1943 in Cabri, Saskatchewan. She is the daughter of Arthur W. Chalmers and Martha Shiels. Smith received her elementary and secondary education in Swift Current and completed university extension and real estate courses. She married Edward Harvey Smith in 1960 and had three children: Shelley, Sherry and Tony.
Smith's work as a school trustee began in 1972, when she became involved with the Swift Current Board of Education. She became vice-president of the Saskatchewan School Trustees Association in 1979 and became the first female president in 1980. Smith served on the Board of Directors for the Canadian School Trustees' Association. She also managed a small business, Sam's General Trucking Ltd., with her husband in Swift Current.
Smith was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1982 and served as a Progressive Conservative MLA for the Swift Current constituency until 1991. On May 8, 1982 Smith and Joan Duncan became the first two female Cabinet ministers appointed to Executive Council in Saskatchewan. Smith served in the Grant Devine Government as Minister of Social Services (1982-1983); Minister of Education (1983-1986); Minister of Energy and Mines (1986-1989); Minister of Urban Affairs (1989-1990); Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Recreation (1990). Smith was also the first female Deputy Premier (1989-1990).
Patricia Smith was Minister Responsible for the following: Status of Women (1983-1986, 1989-1990); Teacher's Superannuation Commission (1983-1986); Provincial Library (1983-1986); Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Corporation (1986-1987); Saskatchewan Minerals Corporation (1986-1989);Liquor Board (1989-1990); Liquor Licensing Commission (1989-1990); Saskatchewan Municipal Board (1989-1990); Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (1989-1990); Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (1989-1990); Future Corporation (1989-1990); Saskatchewan Property Management Corporation (1989-1990); Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts (1990); Saskatchewan Arts Board (1990); Western Development Museum (1990); Saskatchewan Archives Board (1990).
Smith resigned from Cabinet on November 27, 1990 for health reasons and retired from political life on February 20, 1991. John Penner (NDP) became the MLA for the Swift Current constituency in October 1991.
Smith currently (2006) resides in Swift Current.
