Longtime Westlock resident Wes Stewart celebrated his 100th birthday in style last week, surrounded by his family and friends.
The Smithfield Lodge resident turned 100 years old Aug. 30, but downplayed the special occasion as staff of the lodge, visitors and fellow residents sang their best Happy Birthday rendition to him over lunch.
“It’s just another birthday,” he said. “Another day, another dollar.”
Stewart also received greetings and congratulations on a long life well-lived from Town of Westlock Coun. David Truckey on behalf of mayor Ralph Leriger, council and the town as a whole.
Stewart was born in Unity, Saskatchewan in 1918. He remembers threshing in the fields as a child, before advancements in machinery made farming so much easier. He also recalls making his own wooden toys, like whistles to pass the time as a child.
“You had to make your own entertainment.”
As for schooling, there were about 100 kids in his school and all of them were taught by the same teacher, no matter their grade, he said.
Stewart left Saskatchewan as a young man and started his long career as an oilman.
First working in Lloydminster for his brother who owned a rig and then later moving on to Drayton Valley and Whitecourt. He also spend some time working in the factories of Welland, Ont., but returned to Alberta where he worked for the Mobil oil company for more than 25 years, until he settled down and retired in Westlock in the mid-70s.
“We worked hard and we played hard,” he said.
He also spent some time working in Perryvale, in what is now Athabasca County, where he met his wife Gladys.
Despite the years, Stewart remains sharp and still has a good memory.
“That’s one thing I’m glad about, I still have all my faculties and my mind. That’s one thing I’m really glad about,” the new centenarian added.
He said he has enjoyed his time at the lodge and especially likes it when singers and musicians come in to entertain the residents. He also enjoys spending time with his family and his nieces often pick him up to go shopping.
As for any advice for those hoping to reach the century mark, he’s not quite sure, he’s just lived his life, he said.
“I’ve had good neighbours and good friends.”
Stewart joins Canada’s fastest growing age demographic of those 100-years-old or older.
The 2016 census counted 8,230 centenarians living in Canada, a 41.3 per cent increase over 2011 census numbers. Those numbers are expected to increase drastically in the next few decades as advances in medicine and technology become reality.
