Calgary·Video

100-year-old Calgarian shares her secret to old age

Calgary's Emily Sharpe shares her one secret to old age at her 100th birthday party.

Centenarian celebrated her birthday with neighbours

The secret of turning 100 years old

9 years ago
Duration 0:58
Calgary's Emily Sharpe became a centenarian on Thursday. CBC's Mike Symington joined the festivities.

Her name is Emily Sharpe and at 100, she's still sharp as a whip.

The Calgarian spent more than a decade in the United States, working in education.

She became a centenarian on Thursday, celebrating with neighbours in her Sunnyside apartment complex. They threw her a party because she has no family in town.

When we asked the birthday girl what the secret to longevity is, she replied — "damn luck." 

"I smoked from the time I was 14 until I was 84.... Some other poor bloke smokes just a few years and he can't breathe," said Sharpe, who is also a breast cancer survivor.