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A celebration of 103 years

Jul 23, 2017 | 9:53 AM

One of Prince Albert’s oldest residents marked another 365 days around the sun.

Margaret “Peggy” Sinclair celebrated her 103 birthday on July 20, surrounded by family from as far away as Kelowna, British Columbia and her friends at the Herb Bassett Home.

“They’re very good here, to me. They treat everybody pretty nice,” she said of the Home. “I couldn’t really wish for anything else.”

Sinclair was around 17-years-old when she first moved to Prince Albert. She calls the Gateway to the North her home. She said she’s always loved how easy it is to find entertainment within the city.

Though never married, Sinclair said she has a family that is made up of numerous “wonderful” nieces and nephews.

Travelling was a big part of her life. She would take road trips with her friend Ivanana Johnston and would frequently visit the United States and Scotland.

“It was just once you start, it sort of plays on you, you know?” Sinclair said. “I couldn’t do it now, but in my hay-day, I sure enjoyed it.”

During World War II, she and some friends moved east to Port Arthur and worked for one year before the war wrapped up.

“At this war plant, we were riveting planes, Helldiver planes they called them,” Sinclair said. “We thought we’d like to go for a holiday, we’d been there one year. That’s when I started working at Eaton’s.”

She stayed at Eaton’s for 35 years. She also worked at the old Burns Meat Packing plant, that once sat where Superstore now is. During her school-aged years, she worked on the family farm that is located 11 miles from Birch Hills with her brothers and sisters. She also worked at Gordon’s Dairy Farm.

“I got five dollars a month [there]. I worked at different places, and I never got a thing. In those years, we never expected it,” Sinclair said. “When I look back, things are so different now. I wouldn’t want to live like that, but when you don’t know anything else [it’s all you can do.]”

Peggy said she’s been blessed with good health and said if she makes it to 104, she hopes it continues.

“I don’t know [what the secret is to good health]… I guess it’s just something that comes along,” Sinclair said with a laugh. “I get great meals and well looked after, and with my relatives, I think seeing them [helps] and I think I do pretty well.”

 

 

bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas