LAC LA BICHE – On May 11, Lac La Biche area resident and retired farmer Andy Guinand enjoyed a celebration that was a century in the making.
Andy was joined by family, friends, and well-wishers for his 100th birthday party, which took place at the Evangelical Free Church in Lac La Biche. During the event, the centurion walked around chatting with those who had stopped by to wish him a happy birthday.
So, how does it feel to reach the milestone of 100 years?
“It doesn’t feel much different . . . the number makes you feel old, but otherwise, you don’t feel much difference,” Andy told Lakeland This Week, with a smile and a laugh.
According to Andy’s son, Cliff Guinand, Andy was born in 1925, two years after his parents, Edmond and Lina Guinand, settled in the Normandeau area of what is now Lac La Biche County. Also celebrating at the birthday were Andy’s other children Lucille, Travis, and Ted.
According to Cliff, Edmond and Lina and their family moved into Lac la Biche in 1945, noting that the old farmhouse where they lived still sits across from the old JA Williams (JAWS) High School parking lot. As for Andy, he would find himself on a farmstead south of Hylo, with his friends, Dave, Paul, and Ernest Cadieux.
Cliff explained that as they were close to the McDonald family, who are rodeo pioneers in the Lac La Biche area. Andy met and married Caroline McDonald in 1954. In a tribute to the years Andy spent farming in the area, there was a very colourful birthday cake at the celebration with icing resembling green fields, as well as a red barn.
“They then moved close to Hylo, but held both properties and thus, they ran a large cattle operation there until 1978,” explained Cliff.
After this, the couple moved just south of Lac La Biche and semi-retired. However, in 1981, they bought a farm in Christy Creek, which is still in the family today.
Caroline passed away in 2021. After a year of holding down the farm on his own, Andy moved into Lac La Biche to live at the Golden Sands senior living community.
Cliff was happy to see his father celebrate his 100th birthday.
“It’s a blessing . . . It’s truly amazing . . . and in what they say, you know, the only people who want to turn 100 are the people that are 99,” Cliff said, going on to say that his father had been preparing for this milestone. “And now, we’ll see where that goes.”
When asked what the secret is to having lived a good, long life, Andy points to living through his Christian faith.
“You got to follow the Bible,” he stated.
As far his accomplishments over the past 100 years, in addition to raising a family and working on the farm, Andy said going on a trip to Israel was something he enjoyed very much.
