Toronto man celebrates a centesimal birthday by doing what he says retains him younger: dancing

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It is a Wednesday afternoon, however inside an unassuming Etobicoke dance corridor, it looks like Saturday evening. Whereas the dance flooring is full — bodily distanced, with dancers carrying masks — all eyes are on Harry Mitchell. 

It is his a centesimal birthday and that is how he wished to have a good time: surrounded by household and buddies, gliding on the dance flooring. 

“I am ruled to some extent by the situation of my knees, which have arthritis,” says Mitchell, shrugging with a smile.

“I hope I can dance so long as I can.”

Mitchell celebrating his a centesimal birthday at his favorite dance corridor in Etobicoke earlier this week. (Grant Linton / CBC Toronto)

Dancing by way of the a long time

Mitchell grew up in Dundee, Scotland, with 5 brothers and one sister. He shares a mischievous grin, recalling assembly his first dates underneath a clock on the native pharmacy, earlier than heading to the neighbourhood dance parlour.

After serving within the Royal Air Drive throughout Second World Warfare together with 4 of his brothers, Mitchell determined to take an opportunity and begin a brand new life in Toronto. At 24, he was able to construct a life, and discover love.

Mitchell, seen right here on the proper, served within the Royal Air Drive through the Second World Warfare. (The Mitchell Household)

He met his spouse Marjorie, on a blind date on the Boulevard Membership on Lake Shore Boulevard West.

They danced the entire evening. 

“Throughout the trip residence, I assumed the woman behind me had a pleasant, deep husky voice,” he remembered.

“So the subsequent day after the dance, I went as much as her home and knocked on the door and mentioned, ‘Thanks for being my associate for the night,’ so one factor led to a different and one other to …,” he paused, laughing. “And that was it.”

The evening Harry Mitchell met his spouse Marjorie on the Boulevard Membership on Lake Shore Boulevard. (The Mitchell Household)

They married in January 1956, and shortly their daughter Jean and son Andy arrived. Rising up, their household residence in Scarborough was stuffed with music, and loads of dancing.

“I keep in mind you had been out no less than two or three nights every week dancing or practising within the basement,” son Andy remembers, sitting subsequent to his father.

Harry and Marjorie danced collectively by way of the a long time.

However shortly after their twenty fifth wedding ceremony anniversary, Marjorie received sick with most cancers. Harry says the analysis got here a lot too late. She died at 63 and Harry discovered himself with no associate in life and on the dance flooring.

It was Andy who gave his father a mild nudge to attempt dancing once more.

A few of Harry’s fondest recollections along with his spouse Marjorie are from their dancing days. (The Mitchell Household)

Life altering accident

Mitchell confronted maybe one in every of his hardest challenges when he was 97.

He was out for a stroll in Cambridge, Ont., the place he was dwelling on his personal, when he was hit by a automotive.

He suffered a mind damage, a damaged jaw and neck. Throughout his restoration, he needed to put on a neck brace as a result of his medical doctors feared any potential motion might depart him paralyzed.

Whereas the ordeal was terrifying for the household, daughter-in-law Stephanie Crawford says Harry’s resilience was inspiring.

Sitting subsequent to him through the interview with CBC Information, her eyes misting with tears, she tells him one factor that basically stays in her thoughts from early in his restoration when he nonetheless could not transfer.

“You all of the sudden form of had this fireplace in you and also you mentioned, ‘I am unable to keep on this mattress for much longer as a result of I’ve received to get power again on my legs so I can dance once more,'” she mentioned. 

“That is the Harry I do know.”

Harry, alongside his son Andy Mitchell and daughter-in-law Stephanie Crawford. (The Mitchell Household)

Nonetheless dancing

Inside a number of months, he was again on the dance flooring, a lot to the reduction of his longtime dance associate, Trudy Ulsrud.

“He is simply such a gentleman,” she says, her face flush from waltzing with Harry.

“He leads me onto the ground fantastically. He stands up straight. Everyone within the corridor stands up straighter and dances higher when Harry’s on the ground.”

“Others see him dancing, they assume, ‘Wow, I need to be there after I’m 100.'”

Harry and Trudy Ulsrud have been dancing collectively for the final 5 years. (Grant Linton / CBC Toronto)

When requested if he has any knowledge to share on staying younger at coronary heart, he says this:

“There is no actual secret you possibly can’t uncover for your self, when you’re content material to take every day because it comes.”

He plans to maintain on dancing so long as he can, and setting new challenges for himself.

His objective for the approaching yr is to trip his son Andy’s bicycle.

“It is a huge deal for me as a result of I have never been on a motorbike for years, however I am decided that I am going to do it and I’ll.” 

Harry dances along with his grandaughter Erin at her wedding ceremony. (The Mitchell Household)

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