Calgary Sun: Cedars Villa resident's 100th birthday celebration a special affair!
Calgarian Gladys de Vries watched from the foyer window of her seniors residence as her family, police officers, firefighters and the city’s mayor wished her a happy 100th birthday on Tuesday, as emergency vehicle sirens blared and lights flashed.
Her family arranged the surprise drive-by birthday celebration at the Cedar Villas Healthcare facility in the southwest. Although she couldn’t join the celebration outside, de Vries could be heard laughing with glee while emergency crews and Coun. Evan Woolley sang, a bagpiper played an upbeat tune and Mayor Naheed Nenshi spoke words of encouragement.
“We wanted to come, even in these weird and difficult times, to say happy birthday to you, Gladys,” Nenshi said over the sound of the three fire trucks’ engines.
“Now, Gladys, you’ve had 100 birthdays, but have you ever had this many firefighters come to your birthday? They aren’t just here because of the candles,” he said jokingly.
Gladys listened and laughed through a phone call with her daughter-in-law, Geraldine de Vries, who was carrying the phone on speaker so everyone could hear her. Nenshi went to the window to wave and wish her a happy birthday.
“I love to go to 100-year-old’s birthday parties,” the mayor said. “I’ve never quite done one like this before — in a fire truck and wearing a mask — but Gladys looked absolutely delighted.”