It’s a milestone only a few are lucky enough to achieve but 23 seniors at an Ottawa long-term care home are taking part in “Century Club” celebrations. Perley Health is hosting its annual event honouring 12 veterans and 11 civilian residents who are over the age of 100. At 103 years of age, Second World War veteran Roland Lalonde was part of the very special group being honoured on Wednesday afternoon. Lalonde was born in Ottawa in 1923, when the Chateau Laurier had just celebrated its tenth anniversary and there were street cars in the capital. “Early 20s, there were more horses than cars, I tell you that,” he says. Growing up in Lowertown, Lalonde says he lived near the ByWard Market when it “used to be a Market.” Sitting beside him at the event was Lucille Lane, also known as Lu, who is 104 years old. She served in the Navy as a Coder in Halifax. Lane’s secret to making it past 100? “Never give up. And that’s my motto. Never give up.” Hank Lagasse is turning 100 this year and gives credit to his loved ones and his work. “I guess I have big family support, friends, and I always had work ahead. I went through a lot of different jobs in my life lifetime, and I enjoyed every bit of it,” Lagasse said. Celebrations included music, certificates, cake, as well as friendship and family, “I think it’s so important to celebrate to people as they age. But we’re not celebrating that 100 years. We really celebrating their life and how much they give to our community, to our country, for some of our veterans,” says Delphine Haslé, CEO of the Perley Health Foundation. And what’s Lalonde’s secret to living a long life? “There’s no secret,” he says, “Moderation.”
