When it comes to birthdays Elsie Peaty takes the cake

When it comes to blowing out candles on birthday cakes, Elsie Peaty is something of an expert. She should be, after having blown out the candles on 108 cakes so far. The Bennett Centre resident celebrated her 108th birthday as fellow residents joined with her Wednesday to sing Happy Birthday and enjoy cake and tea. Barbara Filipcic, Bennett Program Manager said Peaty enjoys her tea and cookies. "She might have a little trouble hearing, but she does quite well otherwise," said Filipcic, "She loves her tea and snacks." Peaty has been at the Bennett Centre since 1995, said Filipcic, and has been a great resident all that time. Immigrating to Canada from England in the 1930s, Peaty worked as a nanny for a CN Rail executive, caring for his children. Over the years she traveled across Canada with the family, sometimes living in a CN private rail car with the family. She remained employed with the family for 35 years. Last Christmas, Filipcic said that one of the children Petty cared for, (now a senior citizen as herself) visited Peaty at the Bennett Centre and brought along some cookies that she had made-- using the same recipe that Peaty had taught her as a child. "The two of them enjoyed quite a time," said Filipcic, "They ate their cookies and drank tea, while reminiscing." As part of her birthday celebration, she enjoyed a bouquet of flowers and some birthday cake, as well as her favourite, a cup of tea.

Elsie was...

· 5 when brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright piloted the first flight in 1903 · 17 at the outbreak of the First World War in 1915 · 19 when Canadian women received the right to vote in 1917 · 31 at the time of the 1929 stock market crash · 41 at the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 · 69 when Canada celebrated its 100th birthday · 71 when Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon, July 20, 1969 · 84 when Canada's Constitution was patriated in 1982 · 91 when the Berlin Wall fell in November 1989