Calgary retirement home asks for help to celebrate resident’s centennial birthday

He’s a jokester known for his sense of humour and vitality—and did you know that Carl Booth once danced with Princess Elizabeth?

Booth is a 99-year-old resident at Evanston Summit Retirement Residence and he will be turning a spry 100 in March, prompting those at the facility to ask the public to send birthday cards to help celebrate this centennial milestone.

Victoria Slany works at the facility and says during the pandemic, they did the same thing for another resident when he turned 100. He received 651 cards so they wanted to do something similar for Booth, who is a beloved resident.

“Carl is one of our very funny residents who has been with us for about two years now. Let me tell you, he's quite the jokester and he is loaded with personality. He’s a really great guy, quite incredible,” Slany says.

A veteran, Booth joined the Army in 1943, taking his basic training in Edmonton and his advanced training in Calgary before serving at Aldershot in England, just outside of London.

Dancing with a queen

That’s where he not only met the future queen of England, but he also had the confidence to ask her to dance.

“He claims that one night there was a dance at the base and Princess Elizabeth was in attendance. He was pestered by his buddies to go ask the Princess for a dance,” Slany says.

“Carl who is not shy about that sort of thing, went up to her and asked her to dance. She accepted and that's how Carl got to dance with the future monarch.”

Booth was also stationed in North Africa and Italy and is currently a member of the Army Navy & Airforce Club in Edmonton. He's also a massive Edmonton Oilers fan.

The greetings have already started flowing in for Booth, and Slany is touched by all of the sweet words and attention the man is starting to receive. He’s even received a birthday card from as far as Amsterdam already.

“It’s so incredibly heartwarming and really cool to see all of the people that want to make it happen,” Slany says.

A community united

The goal is to receive at least 100 cards, which will be hung around the residence. On his actual March 7 birthday, there will be a full day of celebrations and surprises.

“It’s so incredibly special to be able to see the reactions and to be able to share that moment with them. To be able to create a memory for them, it’s so special.”

Slany says this special celebration wouldn’t be possible without the help of gracious citizens from all over the world.

“I just want to say thank you so much for helping to make Carl’s 100th birthday so memorable,” Slany adds.

Birthday cards can be dropped off or mailed by Feb. 15 to Evanston Summit:

Attn: Victoria Slany

150 Evanspark Manor N.W.

Calgary, Ab

T3P 0N4