On March 6, Saskatchewan-born Lena Johnston celebrated her 109th birthday, becoming one of the region91裸聊视频檚 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, 91裸聊视频淭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.91裸聊视频�

Lena Johnston, now a resident of Salmon Arm91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淭hat was an adventure91裸聊视频� 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 turkeys91裸聊视频�,91裸聊视频� said Johnston. 91裸聊视频淲hen we got to B.C. we only ended up with one, and we had him for Christmas, our first Christmas in B.C.91裸聊视频�

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 father91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渞ight-hand man91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淢y mother had a brother who lived to 102, so maybe that rubbed off on me. Who knows? That91裸聊视频檚 a mystery,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淒id you ever come down a spiral staircase? I91裸聊视频檝e come down two of them. One of them down east and one of them in the States somewhere,91裸聊视频� said Johnston. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e been across Canada to Nova Scotia and seen the reversing hill. And that beautiful Annapolis Valley, that91裸聊视频檚 a few of my travels. I91裸聊视频檝e been through the Panama Canal and that took all day, and if you91裸聊视频檝e ever seen the sun come up out of the water, that91裸聊视频檚 an amazing sight to see.91裸聊视频�

These days Johnston enjoys doing puzzles 91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e had parties, I don91裸聊视频檛 know if there91裸聊视频檚 another party coming or not. That91裸聊视频檚 a surprise,91裸聊视频� said Johnston.

-With files from Tracy Hughes.