Helen Chandler has grown accustomed to fireworks on her birthday.
Born July 1, 1910, in Hazelbrook, P.E.I., Chandler on Thursday will, for the 100th time, share her date of birth with that marking the birth of Canada as a nation in 1867.
She could always be assured of a festive environment when the day came for her to turn another year older - a day known first as Dominion Day and later renamed Canada Day in October 1982, but for the past century always recognized as Chandler's birthday.
"They used to fire the cannons out here at Fort Edward and we would hear them and I would, when I was small, say they were blowing the candles on my birthday,'' she said.
Chandler will celebrate her 100th birthday Thursday by going to St. Dunstan's Basilica in Charlottetown, where in the past she did a lot of reading as a member of the church.
"For several years I always went on my birthday and the priest after mass would sing with the congregation Happy Birthday for me and then after that he would lead them in O Canada,'' she said.
Naturally, she has witnessed many changes and lived through a host of happenings during the past century in Canada.
She can remember when automobiles weren't allowed to run in P.E.I. (She was eight when she got her first ride in a car and didn't start to drive until she was 49).
She recalls the advent of radio and television.
"Well, a lot of things went on,'' she said. "We always took a daily paper and I read it and I knew what was going on in the country.''
On politics, she says: "As far as government is concerned it's the same old bunch, same as the other.''
On fingering the most attractive place in Canada, Chandler, who has travelled as far west as Niagara Falls and been around the Maritimes a fair bit, says: "Most any part is pretty.''
Chandler considers herself an Islander first and a Canadian second, but is proud to be both.
She attributes her good fortune of having been able to live through so much of her country's history to healthy genes. She says she inherited her longevity. Her father, William A. Chandler, lived to 91. Her mother, Emeline (nee Long) Chandler, lived to 92.
Chandler also has lived a healthy life. She has always eaten plain food. She never smoked and seldom took a drink of alcohol, which simply wasn't in her home at all as she grew up in Hazelbrook.
Living on a 100-acre mixed farm also provided plenty of exercise for a girl who had one half-sister and two half-brothers (one of whom died in the Battle of Passchendaele during the First World War). All three siblings were much older than Chandler and were not on the farm when she was growing up so farm chores fell heavily on her shoulders.
She ploughed fields with horses, at times riding bareback on the large beasts. She milked cows, worked the garden, and planted and picked potatoes.
She never married.
"I hadn't time,'' she said with a hearty laugh.
"I wasn't thinking much about it.''
Chandler worked on the switchboard at the former Charlottetown Hospital before moving on to work in the "domestics'' department at the former Metropolitan Store in the capital city.
Sharp as a tack but hard of hearing, Chandler moved a couple years ago from her own apartment in Charlottetown into Charlotte Residence, which provides assisted living.
Still, she remains largely independent.
"The one thing I have lots of friends to help me,'' she said.
Happy birthday Canada/Miss Chandler
Helen Chandler
- Published on June 30th, 2010
- Published on July 8th, 2010
-
Jim Day
Charlottetown resident Helen Chandler set to turn 100 on Canada Day
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Comments
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- kennedy
- - November 30th, 2010 at 14:49:38
Happy Really Late Birthday !
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- Daniel
- - July 8th, 2010 at 17:52:18
Nice piece about Helen on her 100th Birthday; but no mention of her years teaching in my little white schoolhouse---in Bethel! I could never have made it through to High School and University if it had not been for her.
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- Paula
- - July 8th, 2010 at 17:01:33
Happy Birthday Helen!!!
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- janice
- - July 8th, 2010 at 16:36:15
Congratulation Helen. You are truly an inspiration to us all. it is wonderful that the Guardian has paid tribute to you on your special day!!!! we will raise a glass in your honour tomorrow in Prague Czech republic.
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- Christina
- - July 8th, 2010 at 16:01:00
Happy Birthday Helen! Enjoy your day! You are an inspiration.
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- Great, positive story
- - July 8th, 2010 at 15:35:10
Happy birthday Helen!
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- Bill
- - July 8th, 2010 at 15:09:02
Happy Birthday, Ms. Chandler!!!!!
It is nice to see that there is still people around to tell stories of days gone by.
It would be nice if she, or somebody of her era, could write a book of how life has evolved on Prine Edward Island, I am sure that she has a wealth of knowledge.
Congratulations to her!!!!! -
- Daniel
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:52:41
Nice piece about Helen on her 100th Birthday; but no mention of her years teaching in my little white schoolhouse---in Bethel! I could never have made it through to High School and University if it had not been for her.
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- Paula
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:52:31
Happy Birthday Helen!!!
-
- janice
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:52:26
Congratulation Helen. You are truly an inspiration to us all. it is wonderful that the Guardian has paid tribute to you on your special day!!!! we will raise a glass in your honour tomorrow in Prague Czech republic.
-
- Christina
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:52:19
Happy Birthday Helen! Enjoy your day! You are an inspiration.
-
- Great, positive story
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:52:13
Happy birthday Helen!
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- Bill
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:52:09
Happy Birthday, Ms. Chandler!!!!!
It is nice to see that there is still people around to tell stories of days gone by.
It would be nice if she, or somebody of her era, could write a book of how life has evolved on Prine Edward Island, I am sure that she has a wealth of knowledge.
Congratulations to her!!!!! -
- Daniel
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:50:57
Nice piece about Helen on her 100th Birthday; but no mention of her years teaching in my little white schoolhouse---in Bethel! I could never have made it through to High School and University if it had not been for her.
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- Paula
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:50:47
Happy Birthday Helen!!!
-
- janice
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:50:41
Congratulation Helen. You are truly an inspiration to us all. it is wonderful that the Guardian has paid tribute to you on your special day!!!! we will raise a glass in your honour tomorrow in Prague Czech republic.
-
- Christina
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:50:33
Happy Birthday Helen! Enjoy your day! You are an inspiration.
-
- Great, positive story
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:50:27
Happy birthday Helen!
-
- Bill
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:50:22
Happy Birthday, Ms. Chandler!!!!!
It is nice to see that there is still people around to tell stories of days gone by.
It would be nice if she, or somebody of her era, could write a book of how life has evolved on Prine Edward Island, I am sure that she has a wealth of knowledge.
Congratulations to her!!!!! -
- Daniel
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:47:29
Nice piece about Helen on her 100th Birthday; but no mention of her years teaching in my little white schoolhouse---in Bethel! I could never have made it through to High School and University if it had not been for her.
-
- Paula
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:47:16
Happy Birthday Helen!!!
-
- janice
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:47:11
Congratulation Helen. You are truly an inspiration to us all. it is wonderful that the Guardian has paid tribute to you on your special day!!!! we will raise a glass in your honour tomorrow in Prague Czech republic.
-
- Christina
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:47:03
Happy Birthday Helen! Enjoy your day! You are an inspiration.
-
- Great, positive story
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:46:58
Happy birthday Helen!
-
- Bill
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:46:53
Happy Birthday, Ms. Chandler!!!!!
It is nice to see that there is still people around to tell stories of days gone by.
It would be nice if she, or somebody of her era, could write a book of how life has evolved on Prine Edward Island, I am sure that she has a wealth of knowledge.
Congratulations to her!!!!! -
- Daniel
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:46:24
Nice piece about Helen on her 100th Birthday; but no mention of her years teaching in my little white schoolhouse---in Bethel! I could never have made it through to High School and University if it had not been for her.
-
- Paula
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:46:13
Happy Birthday Helen!!!
-
- janice
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:46:07
Congratulation Helen. You are truly an inspiration to us all. it is wonderful that the Guardian has paid tribute to you on your special day!!!! we will raise a glass in your honour tomorrow in Prague Czech republic.
-
- Christina
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:45:59
Happy Birthday Helen! Enjoy your day! You are an inspiration.
-
- Great, positive story
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:45:53
Happy birthday Helen!
-
- Bill
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:45:47
Happy Birthday, Ms. Chandler!!!!!
It is nice to see that there is still people around to tell stories of days gone by.
It would be nice if she, or somebody of her era, could write a book of how life has evolved on Prine Edward Island, I am sure that she has a wealth of knowledge.
Congratulations to her!!!!! -
- Daniel
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:45:02
Nice piece about Helen on her 100th Birthday; but no mention of her years teaching in my little white schoolhouse---in Bethel! I could never have made it through to High School and University if it had not been for her.
-
- Paula
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:44:52
Happy Birthday Helen!!!
-
- janice
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:44:46
Congratulation Helen. You are truly an inspiration to us all. it is wonderful that the Guardian has paid tribute to you on your special day!!!! we will raise a glass in your honour tomorrow in Prague Czech republic.
-
- Christina
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:44:38
Happy Birthday Helen! Enjoy your day! You are an inspiration.
-
- Great, positive story
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:44:33
Happy birthday Helen!
-
- Bill
- - July 8th, 2010 at 14:44:27
Happy Birthday, Ms. Chandler!!!!!
It is nice to see that there is still people around to tell stories of days gone by.
It would be nice if she, or somebody of her era, could write a book of how life has evolved on Prine Edward Island, I am sure that she has a wealth of knowledge.
Congratulations to her!!!!!
