12 September 2025
Jack Rorke, a Silvera resident for more than 35 years, celebrated his centennial birthday this summer with long-time friends, residents, employees and his family.
Born in Dodsland, Saskatchewan in 1925, Jack moved to Penticton, British Columbia as a young child. His first job was delivering groceries for his parents’ store, earning $10 a week, of which he gave $9 to his mom for room and board. He worked a variety of jobs in his youth, including delivering telegrams by bicycle in Vancouver, even in the snow.
Jack spent several years working for RCA Victor in Calgary, living with his sister’s growing family and helping with expenses and occasional babysitting. When his sister wanted an electric stove, Jack ensured she promptly received one.
Alison Wiigs, Jack’s niece, says although Jack never married, five nieces and five nephews are lucky to call him uncle.
“He still keeps track of them and their birthdays, and while their kids and grandkids are numerous and spread out all over, he always takes an interest in them too,” says Alison.
He has enjoyed many and varied pastimes: crafts such as rug hooking and paint-by-number, carpentry, bus tours, genealogy, astrology, Scottish country dancing, choral singing, jigsaw puzzles and playing accordion for the Bowness Seniors’ Choir until he was 95.
When he was 65, Jack moved into Silvera’s seniors’ apartments at Shouldice Townhomes, then to supportive living at Shouldice Commons at age 98. Unfortunately, after breaking his arm earlier this year, Jack required a higher level of care and had to move out of Shouldice this spring.
However, the team at Shouldice, headed up by Jacqueline Nelson, the Life, Learning and Leisure Facilitator, planned a party for Jack’s 100th birthday on July 31. “He really enjoyed seeing Shouldice, the staff, and residents again,” says Alison. “The party was wonderful.”
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| Jack in 1953 | Jack at his birthday celebration July 31, 2025 |
About 18 family members attended, including a great-great-niece. Family and friends from British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and even Australia joined in, with some participating through video call. The band tied their music and instruments to experiences from Jack’s life, and he enjoyed hearing the trombone, which he also played in his younger days.
Jack received congratulatory letters from the king, the governor general, the premier, his MLA, and the prime minister. Even now, a few weeks into being at another home, Jack says he wishes he were back at Shouldice.
Happy 100th birthday, Jack! Here’s to many more years of health and memory making.