At 111 years old, Linda Yale still walks briskly with her walker — quick enough to leave a Richmond News reporter in her dust.
Within moments of the Richmond News reporter pausing to admire Yale's festive quilt in front of her apartment at Gilmore Gardens, Yale was already disappearing down the corridor toward her birthday celebration.
Yale's daughter, Linda Vachon, said it may not be obvious to many because of her mom's speed, but the 111-year-old actually suffers from chronic pain after breaking her back in a skiing accident when she was 51 years old.
"And so she was given the choice of moving with pain or not moving, and obviously she chose to keep moving. No matter how much pain there is, she keeps going," she said.
"She is one tough, determined lady."
Yale, who turned 111 on Dec. 28, was born in Montreal along with her younger sister after her parents and older sister had emigrated from the U.K. She moved to B.C. with her husband and has been a Richmondite since 1969.
Before working as a bookkeeper, she competed against men as the only female fencer — and the only girl in the cross-country skiing team — in the province when she lived in Montreal in the '30s.
Since her move to Richmond, Yale was a regular in Minoru Seniors Centre's cribbage scene, until recently. She began playing when she was seven years old and managed to score the perfect hand of 29 points just before her 107th birthday in 2019.
The supercentenarian is also an avid quilter and a dedicated philanthropist. Her quiltwork, or what's left of it after they have been donated to people in need, is displayed all over her cozy apartment and on her favourite walker.
Her reason for donating her quilts was simple — "The people needed them those days," said Yale.
'God was good to me'
With family members based in other parts of the world, Yale also has a passion for travel.
She visited Europe 23 times in 10 years, with some of her fondest memories being from her trips to visit Vachon and her husband in Holland.
In an apartment by the canal, Yale loved the view of the islands and bridges over the canals. From the balcony, she became well-versed in the local bird population, including the swans that would either "marry off" or "get rid of" their cygnets just to return and build a new nest.
Back in Richmond, Yale likes to get her steps in around the Gilmore Gardens patio and do a little sunbathing on the chair that faces the sun.
Her love for birdwatching also continues and she has set up a bird feeder to welcome hummingbirds to her balcony.
When asked about her tips for living a long and healthy life, Yale chuckled and said, "I don't know! God was good to me."
"I get out of the bed every day and take what I have for the day. What else can I do?"
- With files from Alan Campbell.
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