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Turning 101, Penticton veteran looks back on life

Henry Kriwokon was one of the soldiers in the famous 91ƵWait for me, Daddy91Ƶ photo
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Wait for me, Daddy. The photo was captured on Nov. 1, 1940 as members of the B.C. Regiment (Duke of Connaught91Ƶs Own Rifles) were preparing to board the S.S. Princess Joan at the New Westminster CPR docks. (Claude P. Detloff)

It may not have been an easy year, but Henry Kriwokon turns 101 on Jan. 26.

The World War II veteran, still in his own home in Penticton, is one of two living veterans from the famous 91ƵWait for me, Daddy!91Ƶ photo.

For him, it91Ƶs hard to describe what being 101, or 100 is like, compared to any other year close to that.

91Ƶ101? I don91Ƶt know, I91Ƶve got to get there first,91Ƶ said Kriwokon. 91ƵPeople ask that, I don91Ƶt know how to answer that, I don91Ƶt feel any different.91Ƶ

With the pandemic, Kriwokon has been careful to make sure that he stayed safe, refusing visitors and keeping up with his family over the phone.

Born in Saskatchewan in 1920, Kriwokon spent 40 years in Hope after serving in the Second World War (WWII). He then moved to the United States for a year after his wife passed away before he finally moved to Penticton in 1999.

When he shipped out as part of the war effort, he stepped into Canadian history as one of the many soldiers captured by photographer Claude P. Detloff.

Wait for me, Daddy. The photo was captured on Nov. 1, 1940 as members of the B.C. Regiment (Duke of Connaught91Ƶs Own Rifles) were preparing to board the S.S. Princess Joan at the New Westminster CPR docks. (Claude P. Detloff)


The crossing itself wasn91Ƶt a pleasant one, with the seas wracked by storms, but that may have helped Kriwokon make it to England.

91ƵI wasn91Ƶt seasick. But with the seas like that, the (enemy) subs couldn91Ƶt operate, and the Atlantic was full of them during the war.91Ƶ

Kriwokon is now one of only two remaining soldiers whose photo was taken by Detloff.

91ƵThere were 1,000 in that picture, there91Ƶs only two of us left. The other lives in Summerland.91Ƶ

It was the climate that kept him in the Okanagan. It was the closest thing in temperature and climate to Arizona, and it had had health care.

91ƵI lived for 40 years in Hope 91Ƶ down there it91Ƶs quite a lot of snow, and always it91Ƶs heavy, heavy rain and wind.91Ƶ

Last year, he celebrated hitting the century mark with a party at the Polish Bistro in Penticton. This year, the plan is to have a take-out order from the bistro for his birthday.

He doesn91Ƶt have much to say about how to reach 101, but he does have some lessons that he feels he91Ƶs learned over his life.

91ƵStay away from booze, except maybe the odd beer, stay away from drugs. And keep active, that91Ƶs about it.91Ƶ

Even with 101 still ahead, he91Ƶs looking forward to more birthdays yet to come.

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.

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Brennan Phillips

About the Author: Brennan Phillips

Brennan was raised in the Okanagan and is thankful every day that he gets to live and work in one of the most beautiful places in Canada.
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