Wilbert (Bill) Wright marked another milestone year as Alberta’s oldest living man and one of the oldest in Canada.
Silvera Aspen Commons, an independent housing complex for senior adults located in Bridgeland, hosted a surprise birthday party for Wright on Wednesday, complete with coffee, carrot cake, and kind words from community members.
When asked how he felt about the day, Wright, who was born on Sept. 23, 1919, said that “I didn’t think I’d ever make it.”
“It’s just a number,” he said.
“I can’t figure out why they’re so long, but I didn’t do anything different than any other person does.”
Wright moved to Silvera almost 14 years ago, which Sandi Montford, the centre’s senior manager of supportive living and campus operations, remembers. She first met him while working as the Aspen location’s community manager.
“Bill has always been a beacon,” said Montford.
“He is the true epitome of just such a kind, humble human being.”
Wright always has jokes on deck, she said, and has consistently made time to participate in the centre’s Remembrance Day ceremonies since moving there in 2012.
Aside from the party, the Royal Canadian Legion Calgary No. 1 Branch recognized his birthday by confirming that he is officially the city’s oldest living World War II veteran.
Longevity through Bill’s lens
According to a blog Silvera wrote and published last year, Wright, from a farming family in Aylsham, Sask., joined the military in 1940 at 21 — just six months after Germany invaded Poland.
He served Canada over his five-year air force career, stationed at Service Flying Training Schools across the country, including Brandon and Dauphin, Man. The schools were part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and were considered integral to the allies.
Wright later worked in procurement and became a sergeant at a warehouse, where he sourced food and other items for the canteens. Each spring, he got two weeks off to help his family with seeding and harvesting.
Farm life persisted as a theme in his love life, as he recalled meeting his wife, Myrna, whom he married in 1942, at local barn dances. Wright was discharged from the air force in February 1945 and returned to his family’s homestead for the next 12 years.
Wright worked as a grain buyer in Saskatchewan for some time before moving to Calgary to work as an apartment manager. After experiencing a heart attack, he retired at age 72. Three years later, Myrna passed away.
As a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather, Wright said that the secret to living a long life is surrounding yourself with family.
“A little girl asked me that when I was 100 years old, one of the cleaning ladies, and I told her that the secret was to have seven kids, and she didn’t think that was good,” he said, laughing.
