Milestones

Trail Tire Auto Centre celebrated its 55th anniversary in Vernon last Saturday, June 3, with a BBQ in support of the North Okanagan Youth and Family Services Society. (Brendan Shykora/ Morning Star)

Vernon tire shop celebrates 55th anniversary with dunk tank, barbecue

All proceeds from Trail Tire’s anniversary event went to the North Okanagan Youth and Family Services Society

 

Vernon’s Elsie Wilson, who operated the FM. Ladies Wear Shop with her late husband, Jack, on 30th Avenue from 1968-1996, celebrates her 100th birthday Thursday, May 18. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Vernon ‘wallflower’ blossoms through to 100

Elsie Wilson, long-time, well-known Vernon businesswoman, becomes centenarian Thursday, May 18

 

Vernon’s Ethel Dover (second from right) celebrates her 103rd birthday on April 8 with fellow residents at the Orchard Valley Retirement Residence. (Contributed)

103 candles for vibrant Vernon senior

Ethel Dover, Orchard Valley Retirement Residence librarian, marks grand birthday

 

The Vernon Elks Hall will be the site of its own 70th anniversary (and 103rd birthday) celebrations. The family friendly event is open to everyone for a barbecue and live music Saturday, April 1, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. (File photo)

Vernon Elks Hall sweet on 70

The popular downtown facility holds family friendly anniversary and birthday party on April 1

The Vernon Elks Hall will be the site of its own 70th anniversary (and 103rd birthday) celebrations. The family friendly event is open to everyone for a barbecue and live music Saturday, April 1, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. (File photo)
Happy birthday to Vernon resident Edna Ratzliff, who turns 106 Sunday, March 19. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Vernon resident reflects on 106 years

Edna Ratzliff is a retired missionary, mother of four, born March 19, 1917 in Saskatchewan

Happy birthday to Vernon resident Edna Ratzliff, who turns 106 Sunday, March 19. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Between them, sisters Bernadette Desy (left), from Everett, Wash., and Vernon’s Simone Huhtala have eached live more than a century. Desy turned 101 on Feb. 11 and her baby sister celebrated becoming a centenarian on Feb. 24 at Vernon’s Schubert Centre.(Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Vernon woman celebrates 100th birthday with older sister

Simone Huhtala had about 100 people at her party, including sister Bernadette from the U.S., age 101

Between them, sisters Bernadette Desy (left), from Everett, Wash., and Vernon’s Simone Huhtala have eached live more than a century. Desy turned 101 on Feb. 11 and her baby sister celebrated becoming a centenarian on Feb. 24 at Vernon’s Schubert Centre.(Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Esther Hoffman celebrated her 100th birthday with a room full of family and friends at Heaton Place in Armstrong Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

No meds, no problem: Armstrong woman celebrates 100th birthday

Esther Hoffman celebrated the milestone with family and friends at Heaton Place Thursday, Jan. 12

Esther Hoffman celebrated her 100th birthday with a room full of family and friends at Heaton Place in Armstrong Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Okanagan Okie, the (stuffed) groundhog, will be back at Vernon’s Allan Brooks Nature Centre to mark Groundhog Day celebrations Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. (Morning Star -file photo)

Okanagan Okie hopes to stuff winter in Vernon

Groundhog Day at the Allan Brooks Nature Centre features the region’s stuffed weather predictor

Okanagan Okie, the (stuffed) groundhog, will be back at Vernon’s Allan Brooks Nature Centre to mark Groundhog Day celebrations Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. (Morning Star -file photo)
Vernon’s Matt White rolled the first 400 game of his lengthy bowling career Tuesday, Dec. 6, at Lincoln Lanes, then followed that with his first 900 triple (combined three-game score) Dec. 8. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Vernon bowler rolls career-first 400 game

Matt White scores five points with final ball for 400 score

Vernon’s Matt White rolled the first 400 game of his lengthy bowling career Tuesday, Dec. 6, at Lincoln Lanes, then followed that with his first 900 triple (combined three-game score) Dec. 8. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Beloved Armstrong Grade 1 teacher and Vernon trash collector Helen Sidney with one of her many gifts from admirers at her (soon-to-be) 100th birthday celebration Thursday, Dec. 15, at Vernon’s Schubert Centre. Sidney officially becomes a centenarian Dec. 24. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Famous Okanagan trash collector piles up birthday wishes

Retired teacher Helen Sidney, who picks up garbage on her daily walks on a Vernon road, turns 100

Beloved Armstrong Grade 1 teacher and Vernon trash collector Helen Sidney with one of her many gifts from admirers at her (soon-to-be) 100th birthday celebration Thursday, Dec. 15, at Vernon’s Schubert Centre. Sidney officially becomes a centenarian Dec. 24. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Beloved Armstrong Grade 1 teacher and Vernon trash collector Helen Sidney with one of her many gifts from admirers at her (soon-to-be) 100th birthday celebration Thursday, Dec. 15, at Vernon’s Schubert Centre. Sidney officially becomes a centenarian Dec. 24. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

PHOTOS: Famous Vernon trash collector piles up birthday wishes

Longtime teacher Helen Sidney, who picks up garbage daily on Bella Vista Road, turns 100 Dec. 24

Beloved Armstrong Grade 1 teacher and Vernon trash collector Helen Sidney with one of her many gifts from admirers at her (soon-to-be) 100th birthday celebration Thursday, Dec. 15, at Vernon’s Schubert Centre. Sidney officially becomes a centenarian Dec. 24. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Coldstream’s Nelson (Whattie) Whatmore celebrates his 100th birthday quietly at his home Sunday, Nov. 20. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Coldstream man celebrates 100

Nelson (Whattie) Whatmore enjoys visits and special dinner for milestone birthday

Coldstream’s Nelson (Whattie) Whatmore celebrates his 100th birthday quietly at his home Sunday, Nov. 20. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Kory Shillam celebrated her 105th birthday at Vernon’s Creekside Landing Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

‘Legacy of love’: Vernon woman celebrates 105th birthday

Kory Shillam celebrated the milestone at Creekside Landing Thursday, Oct. 20

Kory Shillam celebrated her 105th birthday at Vernon’s Creekside Landing Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
It was so hot on Sunday in the Vernon area that you could enjoy sitting on the shore of Okanagan Lake, soaking up the rays. Vernon established a new maximum high record of 25.3 degrees Sunday, Oct. 2, breaking the old mark of 24.4 established in 1904. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

Vernon breaks 100-plus year temperature mark

Reaching high of 25.3 degrees Sunday eclipsed old mark of 24.4 set in 1904

It was so hot on Sunday in the Vernon area that you could enjoy sitting on the shore of Okanagan Lake, soaking up the rays. Vernon established a new maximum high record of 25.3 degrees Sunday, Oct. 2, breaking the old mark of 24.4 established in 1904. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
The Vernon BMX Club will celebrate 40 years in operation with a special fun day of racing and a movie Sunday, Aug. 28. (Morning Star - file photo)

Vernon BMX Club top track for 40th anniversary

Special celebration, including movie under the stars planned

The Vernon BMX Club will celebrate 40 years in operation with a special fun day of racing and a movie Sunday, Aug. 28. (Morning Star - file photo)
Abbeyfield Armstrong resident Betty McGillivray celebrated her 100th birthday in style Aug. 7. (Contributed)

PHOTOS: Armstrong centenarian cracks jokes on milestone birthday

Betty McGillivray, who reached the century mark Aug. 7, called the first 100 years ‘the worst’

Abbeyfield Armstrong resident Betty McGillivray celebrated her 100th birthday in style Aug. 7. (Contributed)
Vernon’s Bernard Ramsay (left) is joined by tandem pilot Bruce Goode of Okanagan Skydivie as the prepare to board a plane for Ramsay’s first-ever skydive, marking the occasion of his 85th birthday. (Roger Knox - Black Press)

WATCH: Vernon senior soars from new height

Legally blind Bernard Ramsay, formerly of Quesnel, goes skydiving for first time a day after 85th birthday

Vernon’s Bernard Ramsay (left) is joined by tandem pilot Bruce Goode of Okanagan Skydivie as the prepare to board a plane for Ramsay’s first-ever skydive, marking the occasion of his 85th birthday. (Roger Knox - Black Press)
The Monday Night Vernon Toastmasters will celebrate the club’s 25th anniversary with a special Burger Bar night Monday, June 6 at the 1516 Pub and Grill on Okanagan Landing Road (formerly The Outboard). (Contributed)

Vernon Toastmasters club reaches milestone

Monday Night Vernon Toastmasters Club to celebrate 25 years Monday, June 6, with special evening

The Monday Night Vernon Toastmasters will celebrate the club’s 25th anniversary with a special Burger Bar night Monday, June 6 at the 1516 Pub and Grill on Okanagan Landing Road (formerly The Outboard). (Contributed)
The Armstrong Consolidated School on its opening day (Sept. 6, 1921). Now known as the Armstrong Elementary School, the community can say happy 100th birthday to “the brick school” with a special celebration at the school Saturday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Greater Vernon Museum and Archives photo #20825)

Happy 100th, Armstrong ‘Brick School’

Community-wide celebration for Armstrong Elementary set for Saturday, May 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

  • May 1, 2022
The Armstrong Consolidated School on its opening day (Sept. 6, 1921). Now known as the Armstrong Elementary School, the community can say happy 100th birthday to “the brick school” with a special celebration at the school Saturday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Greater Vernon Museum and Archives photo #20825)
Vernon’s Lil Smith (seated) was treated to music by the Kalamalka Highlanders Pipe Band to help celebrate her 104th birthday Feb. 6. Five of Smith’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren played with the band. (Contributed)

Scottish cake helps Vernon woman reach 104 birthdays

Lil Smith, who turned 104 on Feb. 6, says oatcakes and scones are keys to her longevity

Vernon’s Lil Smith (seated) was treated to music by the Kalamalka Highlanders Pipe Band to help celebrate her 104th birthday Feb. 6. Five of Smith’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren played with the band. (Contributed)