Centenarian brings birthday party to London, Ont., pool for aquafit class

Barbara Edwards of London, Ont., made a triumphant return to a community pool on Thursday to celebrate her 100th birthday.

"It's a wonderful place," said Edwards, who this week came ready for a 9:30 am City of London aquafit class, wearing her bathing suit under her clothes. "I've had good times here."

Edwards had been attending classes at the pool three times a week for some 28 yearsyears. She began the water workoutsin her 70s, but then the pandemic suddenly haltedthem and other indoor activities.

Edwards moved in with her son, out of the home where she lived alone until she was 97, and life changed significantly. Last September, she moved into a long-term care facility.

But on Thursday, Edwards returned to the London Community South Pool, much to the delight of staff and aquafit participants, who burst into a jolly round of Happy Birthdaywhen Edwards walked, with the help of a walker, onto the pool deck.

"Today's the first time she's been here in a long time," said Beth Lapierre, 76. "It's good to see her. She looks the same as she did three years ago."

A beaming Lorena Gheller, 65, added: "She [Edwards] used to come in and float by us and say good morning. That's how I got to know Barb with her beautiful 'good mornings.'"

Not surprisingly, Edwards is an inspiration to many of the people gathered at the pool.

"Are you kidding me? Look at her. She's amazing," Gheller said.

Penny Stevens flew in from Calgary to celebrate her mother's birthday. She sat on a bench smiling, watching her centenarian mother in the pool with participants 30 and 40 years herjunior.

"It makes me remember how much she loved being here all the time," said Stevens. "Unfortunately COVIDtook that, so it's just nice to see her energy back and really happy."

"I'm not the strongest swimmer but I just enjoy the water," Edwards said, adding that she'd broken her right arm some time ago, and it never quite healed right. "I float, you know. And I paddle a bit, but I'm not a strong swimmer."

Her son, Andrew Ward, also admireshis mom.

"She's always been very active and she's always been very kind, very genuinely interested in other people. Little things excite her."

Cody Besterd, deck supervisor and an aquafit instructor who regularly taught Edwards, said he's in awe of her.

"I hope I'm like that in my 90s, able to come three times a week," said Besterd.

"She was able to keep herself up and go hard even into her 90s," he said.

"The amount of light this woman exudes is infectious, and it's undeniable that she is going to be a positive part of your life and a positive part of your day."