On March 6, Saskatchewan-born Lena Johnston celebrated her 109th birthday, becoming one of the region香蕉视频直播檚 longest-lived residents.

Actually, the celebrating began over the weekend with a dinner out with family, friends, acquaintances and birthday cake. It will continue into this week, with a few more outings and recognition in the B.C. legislature from Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo.

Asked if she made a 109th birthday wish, Johnston replied, 香蕉视频直播淭hat everybody will be happy, happy and enjoy it. Because life is too short to be angry. You better be happy and accept what the future brings to you.香蕉视频直播�

Lena Johnston, now a resident of Salmon Arm香蕉视频直播檚 Arbor Lodge, remembers well the day she stepped from a boxcar to begin a new life in the Shuswap.

On Aug. 6, 1937, Johnston, her late husband Johnny and son Roy arrived at the train station in Notch Hill, packed with their belongings, including various animals, packed inside a railway car.

香蕉视频直播淭hat was an adventure香蕉视频直播� We had furniture, we had a little bit of machinery, we had four horses, a cow and a calf, and this crate with the chickens that I had two turkeys香蕉视频直播�,香蕉视频直播� said Johnston. 香蕉视频直播淲hen we got to B.C. we only ended up with one, and we had him for Christmas, our first Christmas in B.C.香蕉视频直播�

From a farming family of 14, Johnston, as the oldest child, learned the value of hard work, as her family farmed in Saskatchewan and Alberta. While her younger sister Ella helped in the house, Johnston was her father香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渞ight-hand man香蕉视频直播� on the farm, riding horses, milking cows and taking care of pigs. She also worked the threshing crew, in charge of feeding the fire that generated steam to run the machinery.

Johnston says life on the farm was a lot of hard work, which may have contributed to her health and longevity.

香蕉视频直播淢y mother had a brother who lived to 102, so maybe that rubbed off on me. Who knows? That香蕉视频直播檚 a mystery,香蕉视频直播� said Johnston.

Along with the days of farm labour, Johnston also fondly remembers her days of leisure and travels across Canada, through the U.S. and to South America.

香蕉视频直播淒id you ever come down a spiral staircase? I香蕉视频直播檝e come down two of them. One of them down east and one of them in the States somewhere,香蕉视频直播� said Johnston. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been across Canada to Nova Scotia and seen the reversing hill. And that beautiful Annapolis Valley, that香蕉视频直播檚 a few of my travels. I香蕉视频直播檝e been through the Panama Canal and that took all day, and if you香蕉视频直播檝e ever seen the sun come up out of the water, that香蕉视频直播檚 an amazing sight to see.香蕉视频直播�

These days Johnston enjoys doing puzzles 香蕉视频直播� with help from her fellow Arbor Lodge residents, watching the news and visiting with family, including her grandson. The annual birthday celebrations are also a joy.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e had parties, I don香蕉视频直播檛 know if there香蕉视频直播檚 another party coming or not. That香蕉视频直播檚 a surprise,香蕉视频直播� said Johnston.

-With files from Tracy Hughes.