New data released by the Statistics Canada show that the number of Canadians aged 100 and over has risen from just 1,065 in 1971 to 9,545 in the 2021 census. Most centenarians – 7,715 – are women. The increase can not be explained by the simple increase in population. In 1971, just 4.9 people out of every 100,000 Canadians were 100 years old or older. in 2021, it was 25.8 per 100,000. Laura Tamblyn Watts is the founder and CEO of CanAge, a national advocacy organization for the elderly. He said Canadians are living much longer now thanks to improved drug treatments and vaccines, combined with a more active lifestyle. “We are more out in the world, we walk more, we do more physical exercise and we have more flexibility in our work schedule,” he said. “It’s a big change from being really stuck in offices and factories like we used to be years ago. Movement matters.” Watts said loneliness also shortens lives and people today have more ways to stay in touch than previous generations. But the biggest factor, he said, is the decline in tobacco use. “We are really starting to see a decrease in that now as generations who do not smoke that much,” he said.
Mildred Leadbeater, a former resident of Cape Breton, NS, is 101 years old. She said she is looking forward to celebrating her 102nd birthday next June – an occasion that usually means a Scottish gift. He said he drinks only a small drink on the weekends, never uses ice and never adds enough water to “choke” it. The doctor from the clinic came to Cape Breton and said, “If you drink Scotch, you will live a long life and you will not have common diseases,” she said from her daughter’s house in Pembroke, OD. , where he lives now. “And I do not have common diseases and I have lived a long time. He told the truth.” Mildred Leadbeater holds a photo of herself during World War II while serving as a television operator in Ottawa. (submitted)
Born in 1920, Leadbeater was the seventh child of Scottish immigrant parents in Glace Bay, NS. She was a twin but her sister and mother died in childbirth. she herself was ill as a newborn. Her father, she said, found herself the father of six children alone and insufficient to deal with a child who was not expected to live long. A neighbor offered to adopt Leadbeater and grew up next to her biological siblings, overcoming everything and becoming the same mother of seven. Leadbeater said she believes her longevity was made possible by playing the piano and maintaining a positive attitude. “I come from a Scottish family and I played a lot of Scottish music with the violinists … so I guess he helped me on the road,” he said. Mildred Leadbeater says she has been playing the piano all her life. (submitted)
“The lord gave me a good mood and I still have it I do not know, I laugh at many things, I do not pay much attention. “I look at the happy side of life and I had a happy life. That’s why I’m still here. It’s just my makeup. I was always relaxed. If something happens, I just say, ‘Well, it happened, it’s over. from anything.” Jane Rylett is the scientific director of the Aging Institute at the Canadian Institute for Health Research. He said that while Leadbeater is on the right track, genetics also play a role. “I think attitude is worth a lot in this area. I really believe it is a combination of good genes, attitude and a good healthy lifestyle,” he said. “It does not mean that you can not drink a glass of Scotch from time to time.” Douglas Keirstead celebrates his 103rd birthday in January 2022 at Veterans’ Health Center in Moncton, NB (submitted)
A positive attitude seemed to make a difference for Douglas Keirstead, who closed 103 this year. Born in Coles Island, NB, Keirstead has been married twice. After his second wife died, he lived alone until he was 100 years old. He now lives at the Veterans Health Center in Monkton, NB, where he has nothing but kind words to say about the people he spends his days with. “It could not be better. As far as I am concerned, it is perfect,” he said of the residence. “They are such pleasant people. I do not know how they could ever gather so many who are so good.” Keirstead also said he was lucky to have a “wonderful aging family” and retains happy memories of loved ones. “It’s so close to me that it ‘s unreal,” he said. His life was not always easy. Concerned about his time serving in World War II, he said it took him a long time to return to political life afterwards. He suffered a heart attack in 1985 and spent 12 days in the intensive care unit, but recovered from it. Douglas Kirsted Wears War Medals at Veterans Health Center in Moncton, NB (Submitted)
Like Leadbeater with her piano, Keirstead – a father of two and a stepfather of two – is busy knitting colorful blankets by hand. He is working in his 50s now. “And they are almost all in my family,” he said. “I work in one, I have fabrics for two more and it will be for my two grandchildren.” Keirstead said he did not know how he got over 100 – he never thought about it until it happened – but having a loving family and a positive outlook always helped. “I am very happy with everything,” he said. “I had a wonderful family growing up.” Leadbeater said she was looking forward to her 102nd birthday this summer and was looking forward to living to celebrate one more after that. Asked what younger people could do to follow in her footsteps, she offers some simple tips. “What they have to do is that in their private lives they should be happy and not unhappy, but happy and do what they think is right,” he said. “And do not worry about it.”