Friends, family, food and belly dancers were all a part of a 100th birthday celebration for 100 Mile House resident Albert Hansen on March 25.
The celebration took place at Carefree Manor where Hansen resides.
Organist Tom Bailey pumped out a steady stream of lively tunes for about 60 guests, some of whom took to the dance floor for a bit of two-stepping.
Hansen happily sipped on a glass of wine as he surveyed the action and then enjoyed a piece of a giant birthday cake, which was served in his honour.
He was born on March 25, 1911 in Winnipeg, Man. where he spent his first 30 years.
One of 10 children, Hansen loved to go to the theatre with his grandmother to watch movies by his favourite actor, Charlie Chaplin.
He met and married Anna when he was in his early twenties. They had one child, but the marriage didn't last.
A job with Canadian Pacific Railway enabled him to earn an apprenticeship in carpentry and he brought that talent with him to British Columbia in 1948 at the age of 37. Hansen found work with a construction company and worked his way up the ladder to become a superintendent.
While employed with that company, he worked on several high-profile projects, including the Seymour Dam, Oak Street Bridge, Second Narrows Bridge, a pulp and paper company in Prince George, the cannery at Namu, Alcan aluminum plant in Kitimat and condominium complexes at Whistler.
In 1949, he married Theresa and they had three children together. Upon retiring in his seventies, he and Theresa moved to the South Cariboo, but the energetic man couldn't sit still and he partnered in a business which sold cabinets and construction supplies.
Hansen also had a hand in designing and building Creekside Seniors’ Activity Centre.
He and Theresa enjoyed travelling before her passing in 1986, and after her death, he lived alone at Buffalo Creek until his involvement in a car accident encouraged him to give up driving.
An avid reader, Hansen often has a newspaper or book in his hand and he's an ace at playing cards. While he has never smoked cigarettes, he does enjoy a glass of red wine and betting quarters on his card games.
Carefree Manor manager Mel Torgerson says Hansen is a good friend to everyone at the facility.
"They all like Albert. He's mild-mannered and easy-going. He's a bit hard of hearing, but he certainly has a great sense of humour."
