Helen Sidney celebrates her 100th birthday with Santa in December 2022. (St. James School/Facebook)

By Pete McIntyre

Good Citizen

Community leader still going strong at 100

Jan 11, 2023 | 1:00 PM

Helen Sidney says she is a busy person even at age 100.

The Vernon resident turned 100 on Christmas Eve, and celebrated her milestone with a special event on Dec. 15 at the Schubert Centre.

“There was over 200 people there and it was absolutely phenomenal,” Sidney told Vernon Matters.

Sidney is the focus of a social media campaign to get her nominated for Vernon’s Good Citizen of the Year award which is hosted by Junior Chamber International Vernon.

The deadline for nominations is Jan. 13.

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Sidney, who is a former teacher and well known for her philanthropy, having donated $100,000 to Armstrong Elementary in 2021 for its new library, and also for her daily walks on Bella Vista Road to pick up garbage along the road.

“I go down as far as a I can, as far as I can manage, maybe to 41st [Street] and Bella Vista,” Sidney explained. “Usually I turn to the left at 41st, and go down 32nd Avenue until I come to Charlie’s Grocery and Knox Presbyterian Church. That’s as far as I go normally.”

Sidney donates the refunds from bottles and cans she finds on her route to local schools such as St. James Catholic School.

The centenarian, who lives on Bella Vista Road with her son said she is in good heath.

“I don’t drive anymore. I gave up my car at 90 to my daughter. She needed a car, so I’ve been walking.”

Sidney saids she is humbled by the accolades and attention she receives for her community efforts.

“I like doing what I do, and I walk, so I might as well clean up the [road], because being a teacher, you had to teach the children not to litter, and when I moved to Vernon, I just carried on,” she said.

Sidney’s name is included at four different places for the City of Vernon’s Adopt A Road program.

The spry senior said she used to dance eight times a week prior to the pandemic.

“But when the virus [COVID-19] came, that’s when I walked eight kilometres every day, but now since my birthday and the snow and ice, I don’t do the eight kilometres, but I do whatever I can.”

Sidney moved to Vernon in 1988 after retiring from teaching for 41 years at the Armstrong brick school.

“I was already a widow. My husband died at 59 and I taught until I was 65 in Armstrong. And at that time, you had to to retire [at 65]. You couldn’t keep going like you can today, so I moved here and I’m still here,” she said.

Sidney said she will be visiting her doctor this month to get a Prolia shot to deal with an arthritic back, something she gets twice a year, and also takes Tylenol three times a day.

“I take no medications at all. Just vitamins,” she remarked. I also thank God every day for keeping me safe. And I pray all the time, so that’s a big factor in my life.”