Canada’s oldest living person is 111 years old. Marie Rosa celebrated her birthday on Thursday, surrounded by family and friends at The Village of Humber Heights retirement home in Etobicoke, Ont. “It’s exciting and it’s stressful and it’s fun and it’s tiring and it’s loving and it’s everything,” said Rosa’s daughter, Catherine Sinisalo, in an interview with CTV News. “Never thought my mom would live to be 111.” Sinisalo said Rosa’s dad died when he was 105, while her sister passed at 103. Rosa was born Sept. 17, 1915, and lived through the First World War and the Second World War, during which she served as both a seamstress and forewoman. Sinisalo believes that her mother has been able to live a healthy life in part of her love for vegetables. As for what her mom’s best advice for a long life is: “Love everybody.” “You love them. They love you back. And it doesn’t matter who you are, how old you are, what colour you are, what your place in the world is. Like them, they’ll like you back,” she said. “She loves to be loved. So, it’s always nice to get a hug and a kiss from her when you can.” The party was not as grand as when Rosa turned 110 and Sinisalo admitted that Thursday’s celebration was not planned. “This one’s a fly-off, you know. Just whatever happens, happens. We didn’t do any super planning or invite dignitaries, but we said anybody who wanted to come, could come,” she said. “This is overwhelming. I didn’t even expect this many people to show up. How wonderful that they took the time out of the middle of the day too,” Sinisalo added. The party featured her favourite lemon cake. Sinisalo claimed that her mother used to make “the greatest” lemon meringue pie when she was growing up. “It was always such a thrill when I would come home and there’d be another lemon meringue pie,” she said. The family is planning to celebrate again this weekend with the rest of Rosa’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren. ‘A ball of life’ Nathan Castaneda described Rosa as “a ball of life.” He is the neighbourhood co-ordinator at the retirement home. Castaneda said she’s known Rosa for eight years now. “I remember the first birthday I celebrated here at Humber Heights. She told me I was her boyfriend for life. So, we have many photos of us together in her room still, and I still get my kiss on the cheek every time I see her,” Castaneda said. He recounted asking Rosa once what’s her secret in life. “I remember one time during COVID, we sat outside together. We had our masks on, but we were having a conversation. And I said, ‘Marie, how do you get to 100?’, and I think it was 105 at the time. I said, ‘Marie, what’s your secret?’ And she said, ‘Live a happy life, love everyone, and give everyone hugs.’ That was her advice.” Castaneda said. He hopes that Rosa gets to 120. With files from CTV News’ Carol Charles and Omar Sachedina
