On March 6, Saskatchewan-born Lena Johnston celebrated her 109th birthday, becoming one of the region害羞草研究所檚 longest-lived residents.

Actually, the celebrating began over the weekend with a dinner out with family, friends, acquaintances and birthday cake. It will continue into this week, with a few more outings and recognition in the B.C. legislature from Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo.

Asked if she made a 109th birthday wish, Johnston replied, 害羞草研究所淭hat everybody will be happy, happy and enjoy it. Because life is too short to be angry. You better be happy and accept what the future brings to you.害羞草研究所�

Lena Johnston, now a resident of Salmon Arm害羞草研究所檚 Arbor Lodge, remembers well the day she stepped from a boxcar to begin a new life in the Shuswap.

On Aug. 6, 1937, Johnston, her late husband Johnny and son Roy arrived at the train station in Notch Hill, packed with their belongings, including various animals, packed inside a railway car.

害羞草研究所淭hat was an adventure害羞草研究所� We had furniture, we had a little bit of machinery, we had four horses, a cow and a calf, and this crate with the chickens that I had two turkeys害羞草研究所�,害羞草研究所� said Johnston. 害羞草研究所淲hen we got to B.C. we only ended up with one, and we had him for Christmas, our first Christmas in B.C.害羞草研究所�

From a farming family of 14, Johnston, as the oldest child, learned the value of hard work, as her family farmed in Saskatchewan and Alberta. While her younger sister Ella helped in the house, Johnston was her father害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渞ight-hand man害羞草研究所� on the farm, riding horses, milking cows and taking care of pigs. She also worked the threshing crew, in charge of feeding the fire that generated steam to run the machinery.

Johnston says life on the farm was a lot of hard work, which may have contributed to her health and longevity.

害羞草研究所淢y mother had a brother who lived to 102, so maybe that rubbed off on me. Who knows? That害羞草研究所檚 a mystery,害羞草研究所� said Johnston.

Along with the days of farm labour, Johnston also fondly remembers her days of leisure and travels across Canada, through the U.S. and to South America.

害羞草研究所淒id you ever come down a spiral staircase? I害羞草研究所檝e come down two of them. One of them down east and one of them in the States somewhere,害羞草研究所� said Johnston. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been across Canada to Nova Scotia and seen the reversing hill. And that beautiful Annapolis Valley, that害羞草研究所檚 a few of my travels. I害羞草研究所檝e been through the Panama Canal and that took all day, and if you害羞草研究所檝e ever seen the sun come up out of the water, that害羞草研究所檚 an amazing sight to see.害羞草研究所�

These days Johnston enjoys doing puzzles 害羞草研究所� with help from her fellow Arbor Lodge residents, watching the news and visiting with family, including her grandson. The annual birthday celebrations are also a joy.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e had parties, I don害羞草研究所檛 know if there害羞草研究所檚 another party coming or not. That害羞草研究所檚 a surprise,害羞草研究所� said Johnston.

-With files from Tracy Hughes.