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Volume 21-Issue 1088

Credible up-to-date News that you want to know.

July 22, 2025

106-Year-Old Clandonald Pioneer Reflects On A Life Rooted In Resilience And The Land

Left photo, Sarah Martin at the age of 106 years old in the Vermilion Lodge. Photo Lorna Hamilton Right Photo Sarah on a combine at the age of 104 with nephew Murray Martin at the farm in 2023. Photo submitted

Lorna Hamilton

that she went in the back door and when she cult decision to leave her beloved farm and person’s health. died, she came out the front door.” move into a local assisted living facility. “I’m Now 106, Sarah remains spry and At 106 years old, Sarah Martin’s sharp The family would grow considerably after not sure, I never thought I would make it this mentally sharp. Although she’s adjusting to memory and spirited presence are noth- settling in Canada, her parents went on to far,” she said with a chuckle when asked the her new surroundings, it’s clear her heart ing short of remarkable. Born on April 12, have nine more children, raising fifteen chil- secret to her longevity. “But I guess it was is still on the land that has shaped nearly a 1919, in County Fermanagh, Ireland, Sarah dren in total. Sarah attended Morton School good eating.” She takes no medications, only century of her life. Her legacy is one of quiet was just seven years old when she and and later the Sisters of St. Joseph’s School, vitamins, and continues to enjoy a balanced strength, deep family roots, and a deep love her family immigrated to Canada in 1926, completing her education through Grade 12. diet. She also noted that she can’t give any for the farm and community that she helped settling in the Wellsdale area; now known Sarah’s only time away from the home- advice on longevity as it depends on each build and sustain. as Clandonald. stead was spent working in food services “My mother was pregnant on the ship,” at a hospital in Edson. Eventually, she Sarah recalls. She and her parents, along returned home to help care for her parents with six siblings, crossed the Atlantic on the and younger siblings, remaining on the farm SS Metagama, a transatlantic ocean liner even after her parents passed. With the help co-owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway. of family members, she continued farming The journey from Ireland took approximately and maintaining the homestead. three weeks; two spent at sea, one by train to In 2007, Sarah travelled back to Ireland Montreal, and the final leg to Alberta. with her sister Ellen. During the trip, she met Upon their arrival, the family received a her cousin’s son, Father Declan Shannon, Stave Lock home, a quarter-section of land, and visited the childhood home she left at two cows, and two horses. “Ten acres were age seven. There, she met Pat and Mary ready for sowing, and on the second day, my Woods, who were living in the house at the father went out to seed the wheat,” Sarah time, and had the rare and emotional opporremembers. When asked why the family tunity to sleep in the very room where she immigrated to Canada she said, “We left was born. before the Great Depression got worse than Sarah remained active and independent it already was.” well into her 90s. At age 96, she was still One of her most vivid memories from their living and working on the farm. Though she arrival involves her mother. “There was no chose not to renew her driver’s license at 96, step on the Stave Lock home and I remem- she continued riding the combine and help- The front of the Stave Lock house that Sarah and her family moved into upon immigrating to Canada. Sarah continued to live in the home until her move to the Vermilion Lodge just two ber my mother crawling in the door. She lived ing with harvests until the age of 105. there her whole life and the saying was said In April of this year, Sarah made the diffi- weeks ago. Photo Lorna Hamilton Reporter

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