‘She’s an inspiration’: Sask. town honours woman making a difference for a century

Family and friends gather in Lanigan on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, to celebrate longtime resident Blondie Siegel as she marks her 100th birthday. (Carla Shynkaruk/CTV News)

Family and friends gathered in the small town of Lanigan this week to celebrate a big milestone as longtime resident Blondie Siegel turned 100 years old.

“I think it’s wonderful that they appreciate me and they’ve awarded me with this tea party,” Siegel told CTV News.

Her given name is Mildred, but she’s gone by Blondie ever since she worked at the airport canteen in Prince Albert when she was 17.

It was wartime and she said service members would come to the canteen from all over the world. The rule was that they couldn’t give their real name to customers, so she was given the nickname, Blondie because she had long blond hair she said. It stuck all her life.

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She was married to Herb Siegel when she was 19. He was the “best dancer” in Lanigan, she said, and caught her eye. Their love of dancing waltzes, two-steps or fox trots was shared with the community as they taught locals how to dance – including high school students. Herb passed away in 2000. She still lives independently in their home in the town.

That party on Saturday brought together multiple generations, all there to honour not only Siegel’s longevity, but her lasting impact on the community she has called home for decades.

One of her 29 great-grandchildren, Matias Nixon MacDonald, who is 17, is inspired by Siegel.

“She’s done so much with her life, and she’s always put others first. Like, she’s an inspiration.”

Known as a steadfast and tireless volunteer, Siegel has spent much of her life giving back. From starting discussions in Lanigan to get a hospital built, to spearheading the project to build the Lutheran Church where she’s been a longtime member, to getting the local kindergarten started when her kids were young, never sitting idle is one of her secrets to a long life she said.

“I’ve always been busy, busy, busy. I was always a busy volunteer,” she said.

Her commitment did not go unnoticed. In 2002, Siegel was awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Volunteer Medal, which recognizes exceptional community service and sustained volunteer contributions.

Those close to her say her dedication to service became a defining part of who she is.

“She doesn’t do it because she’s told to do just it, but because she really, genuinely, genuinely cares about the people and genuinely cares about what goes on in her community,” granddaughter, Kendra Nixon, said. She’s one of 13 grandchildren.

Several generations filled the room to celebrate the milestone, including Siegel’s great-grandchildren, who say they feel lucky to grow up learning from her example.

Syndey Blachford boasts being the first great-grandchild, saying she has been fortunate to spend a lot of time with Siegel and soak in all her knowledge and positive energy.

“Always being able to see how strong she is has inspired me to continue to be that strong person. And she has all these great-granddaughters, granddaughters, and has continued to just show us all that you can do anything.”

Keeping in mind, when Siegel got married, most businesses didn’t hire married women, so she had to quit one of her early jobs as a telephone operator. She shifted her focus to becoming a wife and mother and a trailblazing community member.

This centenarian still crochets regularly and makes gifts for many friends and family. She also still has a garden and bakes often. She’s familiar with technology, too. She has a computer and a cellphone, which Nixon said is mostly used for phone calls, although she does read texts, but doesn’t send too many.

At 100 years old, Blondie Siegel’s celebration was more than a birthday — it was a tribute to a century marked by determination, service, and community spirit.