Local legend Ivan McLelland may be a better goalie than golfer, but that didn害羞草研究所檛 stop him from getting out to the golf course to enjoy some time with his friends to celebrate his 90th birthday Monday (March 15).
McLelland is best known for back-stopping the Penticton Vees senior men害羞草研究所檚 team to a World Hockey Championship in 1955, bringing Canada its 16th world championship title. He害羞草研究所檚 since remained a very active and esteemed member of the community in Penticton.
As he celebrated his 90th birthday Monday at Skaha Meadows Golf Course with a group of friends, McLelland took the opportunity to look back on his time in Penticton.
害羞草研究所淨uite frankly, after all these years I害羞草研究所檓 pretty darn grateful for the role I害羞草研究所檝e played here in Penticton,害羞草研究所� McLelland said.
McLellan is grateful for his time between the posts, but he said there has been so much more to his life in Penticton than just hockey. McLelland married his wife Faye who is from Penticton. She passed away from dementia in 2009, prompting McLelland to get involved with fundraising for the Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 Society of B.C.
After finishing his hockey career, McLelland started working with youth hockey before becoming involved with local charities. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 never work for me,害羞草研究所� McLelland said. 害羞草研究所淸Charity work] has always been something I害羞草研究所檝e enjoyed doing.害羞草研究所�
These days McLelland isn害羞草研究所檛 able to do much charity work due to COVID-19 but still keeps himself busy with golf, long walks, snowshoeing and spending time with friends.
McLelland has lived almost his entire life in Penticton since moving here in 1951 from South Porcupine, Ont. to play for the Vees.
害羞草研究所淚 married a Penticton lady [where we had a] wonderful time here in Penticton,害羞草研究所� McLelland said.
Penticton has changed a lot during his time here, so much so that it would be hard to identify all the changes, he said. But he believes the city has changed for the best.
害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 positive, I don害羞草研究所檛 look at it as any negativity at all. I think the growth is natural and the city is, in my view, as pretty of a place as you害羞草研究所檇 ever want to be.害羞草研究所�
Monday at Skaha Meadows was a special day for McLelland as he took the day to look back on a life well-lived. Despite it being his birthday, he said his friends still weren害羞草研究所檛 nice enough to let him win the nine-hole round of golf.
害羞草研究所淭hey never let me win, they pick on me!害羞草研究所� McLelland said through a laugh. 害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e all younger than me, of course, they害羞草研究所檙e heartless when it comes to the game of golf. They have no sympathy for an older man at all.害羞草研究所�
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