A resident of Maple Ridge has passed the centenarian mark, turning 104 years old.
Eddie Murphy, a native of Ireland who now lives at Greystone Manor Retirement Residence in Maple Ridge, celebrated his birthday on the leap day, Feb. 29, with a performance of Irish dancers from the Sionnaine Irish Dance Academy and Irish songs sung by the Silvertones Seniors Choir.
Murphy grew up on the Emerald Isle, and was always creating works of art with his hands.
At first he learned the art of boat building from a neighbour and worked on and off at the boat yard. He specialized in making sail boats that ranged in size from 12 to 14 feet long.
However, the last boat he built was 24 feet long and took him three years to complete.
Murphy also worked in the stained glass industry for five years – mostly creating church windows.
When he came to Canada he taught himself how to build jade trees cut out of stone, using machinery and tools he did not have access to in Ireland.
Murphy said his secret to living a long and healthy life is “clean living.”
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The choir dressed up to mark the occasion in all their finest greet attire and sang multiple songs including That’s An Irish Lullaby by Bing Crosby.
Dancers Bryony Applewood, four, Penelope Aubrion, six, Pippa Applewood, 11, Emma Canning, 10, and Valentina Aubrion, 10, gave Murphy handmade birthday cards they each created for him.
About 40 residents of the building celebrated with Murphy as he blew out the candles on his birthday cake.
According to the World Economic Forum, more than half a million people are aged 100 or older across the globe.
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Statistics Canada report noted that more and more Canadians are reaching the milestone – with 3,795 centenarians in the country in 2001, 5,825 in 2011, 10,604 in 2021, 11,158 in 2022, and 11,705 in 2023.
In 2023, 2,172 of the centenarians were men compared to 9,533 women. In B.C. in 2023, 1,647 lived to be 100 or older.
The oldest living person currently living in Canada, as of March 4, is Helen Doan, who resides in Toronto at the spry age of 112.