Ethel Watson was at the polls when Louis St. Laurent, John Diefenbaker and Lester Pearson were elected. She was there again when both Pierre Trudeau and Mulroney had their day as well.
At 100, Watson has seen a lot of elections come and go. She cast her first ballot in West Vancouver more than 70 years ago.
On Monday, she was at the West Vancouver Community Centre again to cast her ballot in the riding of West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country.
Watson, who used to own the Eagle Harbour Marina when she was young, and lives these days in Kiwanis Manor Assisted Living close to the seniors’ centre, said she isn’t a partisan voter. She’s voted for many different parties over the years.
“I gave each one a go,” she said.
This time around she followed the election campaign on the TV and radio.
Watson said the closure of the Kitsilano Coast Guard station – something she strongly disagrees with – and environmental issues were among her concerns as she went to cast her ballot – this time for the Green Party.
Watson said she’s hoping her vote will be part of “something that will make this whole world better.”
She added she didn’t mind some of the youthful energy brought by Liberal leader Justin Trudeau either.
“This is what they need to do – get a few young people out to give us their ideas,” she said, adding the concerns of the young are different than they were when she began voting.
