About 50 vehicles, including some vintage military ones, drove past the home of Gordon Norrish on Spadina Avenue to wish him a happy 100th birthday on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Jenna Hauck/ The Progress)
Sonya Paterson fixes the curls in her father Gordon Norrish’s hair prior to the start of a 100th birthday parade for him on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Jenna Hauck/ The Progress)
About 50 vehicles, including some vintage military ones, drove past the home of Gordon Norrish on Spadina Avenue to wish him a happy 100th birthday on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Jenna Hauck/ The Progress)
About 50 vehicles drove past the home of Gordon Norrish on Spadina Avenue to wish him a happy 100th birthday on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Jenna Hauck/ The Progress)
There was even a colour party at the celebration for Gordon Norrish’s 100th birthday on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Jenna Hauck/ The Progress)
About 50 vehicles drove past the home of Gordon Norrish on Spadina Avenue to wish him a happy 100th birthday on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Jenna Hauck/ The Progress)
About 50 vehicles drove past the home of Gordon Norrish on Spadina Avenue to wish him a happy 100th birthday on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Jenna Hauck/ The Progress)
Gordon Norrish stands on his balcony waiting for a parade to go past his home celebrating his 100th birthday on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Jenna Hauck/ The Progress)
Messages of congratulations from the Queen, the Prime Minister and others are read to Gordon Norrish during his 100th birthday celebration on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Jenna Hauck/ The Progress)
Pictures of Gordon Norrish stand on a table outside his home on Spadina Avenue during his 100th birthday celebration on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Jenna Hauck/ The Progress)
About 50 vehicles drove past the home of Gordon Norrish on Spadina Avenue to wish him a happy 100th birthday on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Jenna Hauck/ The Progress)Gordon Norrish is used to seeing parades with military personnel and the Royal Canadian Legion Colour Party present, but the parade he saw on May 16 was extra special.
A drive-by parade of 40 to 50 vehicles cruised past his home on Spadina Avenue on Saturday to celebrate the Chilliwack veteran’s 100th birthday.
Family, friends and fellow legion members were all there to wish him a happy birthday as he stood on the balcony of his first-floor apartment waving and thanking folks as they went by.
Messages of congratulations from the Queen, the Prime Minister and others were read from the lawn below before everyone sang Happy Birthday to him.
Norrish is the oldest, by age, member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 280 in Vedder. The Second World War veteran was a flight engineer in the RCAF for 25 years. He followed that career with another at the City of Penticton before his retirement. Through his service, he has travelled the world many times.
Norrish’s family was planning on having a dinner party at the legion to celebrate his centennial birthday, but plans changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
RELATED: Family sings Happy Birthday outside Chilliwack care home to 100-year-old woman
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