Weeks before celebrating her 104th birthday, Peggy Orr continues to remain active and is a regular on the dance floor at the Royal Canadian Legion: Bowness Chapter’s weekly jam session for seniors on Thursday afternoons.
Orr had lived alone in her home until late in 2016 and remains very independent.
Each week, Ruth Ferguson brings Orr to the jam session and dances alongside the 103-year-old.
“We’ve been doing this for a couple of years now,” said Ferguson. “The music reminds me of my parents and (Orr) reminds me of my mom.”
“We both love the music and we just kind of started dancing.”
When Orr was asked why she makes her way to the jam session each week, the senior wryly declared “nothing better to do right then”.
The weekly event has proven popular amongst seniors who sing, play an instrument or dance as well as those who choose to sit back and visit with friends.
Legion branch manager Susan Burton says the staff looks forward to seeing Orr each week. “We see Peggy come in and it inspires us to be healthy and move forward and just enjoy life for what it is supposed to be.”
Brian Grewcutt, president of the Bowness Legion, is proud to offer seniors an opportunity to socialize.
“They just love it,” said Grewcutt. “It gives them a day out and they see someone like Peggy come along and she’s just an inspiration to everyone and gives everybody hope.”
For her commitment to staying active as she approaches her 104th birthday, Peggy Orr is this week’s Inspiring Albertan.
