It was a bright, sunny day on Wednesday, Oct. 3, when residents of the Waverly Seniors Village gathered on the main floor to celebrate the 105 years of Birches Bird’s life.
Born in Dallas, Texas, Bird made his way to Canada after living in Ecuador, and earned his living in construction and the hospitality industry as a pub owner.
“Birches is such an easy going resident,” described Zay Rahimbux, who’s the assistant general manager of Waverly. “He even makes me slow down, which is really nice.”
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Sitting at a private table at the head of the dining room, Bird was joined by Rahimbux, Chris Dohan, a residence volunteer, and Chilliwack’s mayor, Sharon Gaetz, while live piano music streamed in from the nearby living room.
“During his lifetime, I bet he’s seen everything,” said Dohan, who began listing things like the evolution of radio to TV, landing on the moon, or the speed at which we can now travel the globe.
A quiet and reserved man, Bird seemed to enjoy the event and smiled when staff wheeled out a cake large enough to almost feed an army. And with his friends by his side encouraging him on, 105-year-old Birches Bird blew out his birthday candles and made a wish for his 106th year.
@SarahGawdin
Sarah.Gawdin@theprogress.com
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