Norman Johnson woke up 100 years young this morning in the Renaissance Retirement Residence.
The home celebrated his birthday with a gathering of the staff and dozens of other residents, even two of Norman’s old friends who left the home returned for his big day.
Norman shared that the party was a total surprise.
“It’s overwhelming to tell the truth. I did not expect this,” he says.
In his younger years, he served as a pilot the Royal Air Force in WWII in the U.K. after training in Canada.
When he returned to Canada after the World War, Norman worked as a printer and started out at the Leader Post.
During his life he’s had two daughters and a son, eight grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, and he has a great-great-grandchild on the way.
When Norman woke up this morning as a 100-year-old man, he says he felt the same.
“Just like any other morning. To tell the truth, I think 100 doesn;t make any difference to me. The day before and after will just be the same,” he says.
He adds that if there is a secret to living to 100, he hasn’t figured it out yet.
“I honestly couldn’t tell you. I’ve never done anything special. I smoked and drank very little, that may have helped, I don’t know.”