Four residents celebrate 100th birthdays
Four residents of the Village by the Station retirement community celebrated their 100th birthdays on Friday, Nov. 15.
With friends and family close by, Elma Oster, Dorothy Nicholson, David Llywarch and Ada Hutchinson shared stories and some advice about how other people can live to be 100 too.
One secret is friends and family. Another is staying active. All of them said it was the city they lived which played a big part.
Oster was born in Kinkade, Sask., and during the Second World War worked in a woollen mill, while her husband served in the Canadian Armed Forces.
At the time, she made just 19 cents an hour, working 12-hour shifts six days a week.
Llywarch used to come to town often before he moved to Salmon Arm and then to Penticton.
A navy veteran of the Second World War, Llywarch also worked as a conductor for CP Rail in their freight division, where he would stop in Penticton at the old station.
Hutchinson has many fond memories of Penticton, from the time she went to school here in her youth, to the time she hopped on a train to go and marry her husband.
“I just love it here. Penticton is a great place to live,” said Hutchinson.
“The people are all so nice. I remember when we used to skate on Guernsey Pond. My secret? Eating naturally, good family, and I loved all the ballgames and skating.”
All four celebrated at a party at Village by the Station, with music, visiting family, collages of old photos and cake.
Woman remembered as ‘kind and caring’
(This was part two in the series Justice for Lynn. Read the entire series online at Pentictonwesternnews.com.)
Eight years after she was brutally murdered, memories of Lynn Kalmring still shine brightly in the hearts of family she left behind.
Now some of those who were closest to her want people to know just a little of what she meant to them and others whose lives she touched.
The former Penticton nurse is remembered as a caring, compassionate person, someone quick to give love and healing to those in pain.
Her daughter Brandy Cummings, of Penticton, recalled growing up and at Christmas when her mom would open the doors of their simple family home to strangers in need of a hot meal or a little shelter.
“She just refused to believe that people should go without warmth or food and even though we didn’t have much she would give absolutely everything away, she was just a giver, always,” said Cummings, who is now 40.
“Seeing my own daughter (Ava) I see a lot of my mom in her. My mom and Ava would have got along so well, two peas in a pod.
“They’re both very magical people, they’ve both got that light, that positive drive, I really can see my mom in my daughter.”
South Okanagan–West Kootenay MP named critic for natural resources
Jagmeet Singh, federal leader of the NDP, announced on Nov. 28 in Ottawa is party’s new shadow cabinet, with South Okanagan-West Kootenay MP Richard Cannings to serve as critic for natural resources and deputy critic for transportation.
“It’s a privilege to continue serving in our caucus and I’m very pleased that Jagmeet has trusted me to take on these two important roles,” said Cannings.
“In terms of priorities, we want to make sure that people are set up for success in a low-carbon future.
“That means we need to ensure that workers aren’t left behind during necessary transitions and proper investments in re-training and job creation in clean energy sectors are being made.”
Cannings, first elected in 2015, saw the NDP leader make a campaign stop in Penticton during the federal election campaign.