Lily Taimi Reivonen attributes 100 years of healthy living to eating fresh vegetables and growing up on a farm.
“I’m glad I did live in the country in the beginning,” said Reivonen, who will celebrate her 100th birthday this September.
“I think every child – it would be good for them to start out in the country,” she said.
Reivonen was one of 17 people honoured at a milestone birthday celebration at Dawson Court – Home for the Aged – Tuesday afternoon. People celebrating their 80th, 85th, 90th, 95th and 100th birthdays this year were paid tribute to with some cake and music.
“I’m really surprised there was such a big party. I couldn’t imagine anything like this,” Reivonen said.
Also celebrating a 100th birthday this year is Eduard Kask.
Kask lived on his own in his house until he was 99 before moving to Dawson Court. He emigrated from Estonia to Canada when he was 34.
And at 100 years old, Kask is feeling great. He said he’s on no medications and has no troubles.
Dawson Court’s life enrichment supervisor Caroline Cameron-Fikis said they decided to celebrate all the milestone birthdays with one big party with local dignitaries like Mayor Keith Hobbs to make it feel more special.
“It was a blast. I think everybody had fun today,” she said.
Cameron-Fikis said it’s impressive so many residents hit the high milestones like Reivonen and Kask.
“This generation, they’ve had a different lifestyle maybe than my generation,” she said. “Our generations maybe won’t see the 100 years.”
