75 years later, Alberta couple celebrates rare milestone
A year after the end of the Second World War, Lavina Enns was a 20-year-old cook at a large farm near Linden, Alberta when she met the new hired hand.
Lavina liked what she saw.
"Love at first sight," she said. "When he came in the yard with the tractor, I hadn't met him yet but I knew then, that's my man."
Two months later, Lavina married Albert Enns.
That was 75 years ago.
Nine children, 30 grandchildren, 35 great-grand children and three great-great grandchildren later, they're celebrating three-quarters of a century of marriage - a union of very modest beginnings back in 1946.
Nine children, 30 grandchildren, 35 great-grand children and three great-great grandchildren later, they're celebrating three-quarters of a century of marriage - a union of very modest beginnings back in 1946.
"After we were married we had 35 cents," said Lavina "That was what we had.
"We had to work for our living, (and) we had no car and no house," she added. "Nowadays you would never have a couple get married like that - they've got to have everything."
The couple spent most of their lives in and around Linden. Albert was an electrician while Lavina ran their household.
They now live in a retirement home, just a few kilometres from where they were married.
They live in separate wings since Albert requires more medical attention than Lavina. That became challenging during the pandemic, as long-term care homes across the country limited movement in their facilities to keep COVID-19 from spreading through the vulnerable population.
"We couldn't visit them and they couldn't really visit each other, " said Gilbert Enns , one of the couples' sons." We saw them going downhill during that time, the interaction wasn't there and it really affected them. Once they were getting back together, they perked up again."
Lavina said when people ask her the secret to a 75-year-marriage, there are a few things to keep in mind.
"Put God in the picture and keep Him in the picture," she said. "Another one is communication, that's very important to us..and if there is a silent treatment, it should only last until sundown. Then forgive and forget...and, end the day with a kiss."
That's a lot of kisses after 75 years and the couple says there will be a lot more in the future.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
"It's a bit of a complicated pattern; we've got a lot going on," said Jennifer Smith of the Meteorological Service of Canada in an interview with CTVNews.ca on Wednesday. "[As is] typical with weather, all of these things are related."
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.