Margaret (Maggie) Wilson

Happy 100th birthday, Margaret Gordon!

Family and friends, more than 100-strong, gathered last weekend to celebrate the centenary.

A celebration held at St. Helen's Anglican Church on March 20 drew relatives from as far away as Ohio, New York, Washington and southern California.

A smaller party was held the next day at Kinsmen Lodge, where Gordon lives.

Gordon, known affectionately as Mannie to her 14 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren, was born on March 21, 1905 in Preston, England.

As a teen, she fell in love with with a widower who often stopped by their home for supper. At age 19, Margaret Wilson married the much-older Martin Gordon at the Red Deer Baptist Church. They had four children - Glenn, Elvie, Gwenfil and Lois.

Gordon's hobbies in the 1950s and '60s were contests. She put her sharp wit and cooking skills to good use and her winnings piled up to everything from a brand new car and a year's supply of Canada Dry to placing in the Pillsbury Bakeoff. In 1957, she won a jingle contest for Safeway.

As well, she beat out 80,000 other contestants to win a washer and dryer from Nestle Company.

Keenly interested in world events, Gordon has been an avid reader all her life. In recent years though, her failing eye sight has forced her to slow down some, but spirited and determined as ever, she now enjoys books on tape.

Top trades students at Johnston Heights secondary school were honoured at a ceremony on March 15.

The Ministry of Advanced Education presented each winning student with a $1,000 scholarship.

"The trades provide stable, well-paying jobs that will allow today's students to create comfortable lifestyles for themselves and their future families," said Surrey-Tynehead MLA Dave Hayer, who was among guests attending the awards ceremony.