Thirty minutes of exercise a day, protein at every meal, a circle of friends: it is possible to stay healthy until age 100. The Journal offers you simple and realistic tips for fending off illness and the secrets of centenarians about their longevity.
The number of centenarians has almost quadrupled in Quebec since the year 2000 and several of them are crossing the 100-year mark in great shape and still independent, noted The Journal thanks to several testimonies.
“I never thought I would get there! candidly admitted Jean Brassard, 105 years old, during an interview with Le Journal last November. I love life and it returns it to me.”
The number of centenarians continues to grow in Quebec, as elsewhere in the world. In 2024, 2,620 Quebecers will have crossed this impressive threshold, according to the Institute of Statistics of Quebec (ISQ). The vast majority were women (2177). In 2071, the number of centenarians could rise to 18,500, predicts the ISQ.
According to our information, the oldest living member of Quebec is 112 years old and lives in Montreal. However, no public body in Quebec has been able to confirm the age of the dean of Quebec.
Source: Quebec Statistics Institute
One of the oldest women in Quebec is still enjoying life at the venerable age of 107, although the loss of mobility is weighing on her morale.
“More than anything, I would like to be able to walk again,” confides Margaretha Blain, looking sadly at her legs which can no longer support her. “It’s very hard, it’s not me. I am independent!”
“But, I want to live more than anything!” proclaims the resident of a CHSLD in Rigaud, who was dressed in an elegant black dress to meet The Journal.
She wears glasses only for reading and her memory is impressive. She still makes jokes and has fun posing for the photographer.
Born on November 27, 1917 in the Netherlands, this immigrant had an eventful journey. At 27, Mme Blain arrived by boat in Longueuil after marrying a Quebecer at the end of the Second World War.
Three weeks after arriving, she started working as a waitress. She spoke neither French nor English.
-“I could say: yes sir, no ma’am, thank you,” says the English-speaking lady. I had to earn my living.”
She left her husband
An artist at heart, the woman has always painted. Ten years after her arrival, she left her husband and found herself alone with a son to support. As she could not earn a living with her brush, she worked in the screen printing industry.
“I have always doneovertime. At 65, they asked me to continue working, I said yes,” recalls the lady, proud of her independence.
She finally retired at age 72.
Mrs. Margaretha Blain, aged 107.
Photo Joël Lemay, Agence QMI
“I had a difficult life. But I succeeded,” adds the resident of a CHSLD for only six months.
«I’m sorry for them»
“Here, at the table next to me, people don’t move too much. I feel sorry for them,” confides the lady who is much more alert than most of her neighbors.
As for his great age, Mme Blain admits that she never thought she would live this old.
“God wants me to be here for a reason! For my son, my grandchildren, the people I love,” she believes.
