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As young as you feel

The 71st annual Rotary Club Pioneer reception was held at the Penticton Seniors. Drop-In Centre.
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Pioneer recipients Ann Ravnsborg and Bob Murray celebrate after being chosesn as the special honourees at the 71st annual Rotary Club Pioneer reception at the Penticton Seniors’ Drop-In Centre Sunday. Mark Brett/Western News

Both in their early 90’s, Ann Ravnsborg and Bob Murray were too young, at least in their eyes, to be recognized as the honourees at the 71st annual Rotary Club Pioneers celebration.

“I’m sure there are older people than me here,” said Murray with a laugh after he and Ravnsborg received their bouquet of flowers at Sunday’s event at the Penticton Senior’s Drop-In Centre. “I look around and I see a bunch of old men, but I feel great and this is really nice.”

His co-recipient agreed: ““I think it’s great, this is my third time here in a row. I’d heard about this but I didn’t think I was old enough to come here. I don’t deserve to be called a pioneer, Penticton was here before I came.”

Both honourees are great grandparents and currently live alone after their spouses passed away. Murray is in the same house where he and wife Vera lived for nearly 50 years.

He lived in Penticton for 14 years and eventually joined the navy before coming back and working in the health field.

Ravnsborg lived in Alberta with her husband and their children and worked at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce before the family moved to Penticton where she became a full time mom.

When asked why she came to the Peach City she replied: “Because of that white stuff that comes about that deep.”

Master of ceremonies Ken Davis hosted the afternoon event that included the cutting a special anniversary cake by MP Dick Cannings, a light lunch and refreshments.

“The reason it was done 71 years ago and the reason it continues today is because you people in this room are the people who built Penticton,” said Davis. “You’re the ones who built the houses and built the businesses and built the community as it is today and we’re celebrating your achievements.”