At a bright and shiny 100 years old today, Greg Gutfriend weighs 145 pounds, the same weight he's been since he was 21 years old.
The secret to his good health? He definitely thinks eating well is a big part of it, he said.
During his working years, Greg was a planer operator, whose job was to finish lumber in the mills.
He and his wife, Victoria, came to Prince George in 1961 for work.
"It was the best thing that ever happened to me," said Greg. "I got fired in Nelson and hired in Prince George and it was a really good move for me because I was working steady until retirement."
Greg and Victoria will be celebrating their 71st anniversary on April 16.
"A happy marriage is a 50/50 marriage," said Greg, who was dressed in a dapper tuxedo for his birthday celebration at Laurier Manor, where he and Victoria have resided since 2009.
"I figured I might as well dress up," he laughed. "I might not get another chance."
Family, friends and residents at the manor gathered to help Greg celebrate his birthday earlier this month, with a lovely meal, entertainment offered by fiddlers and many well wishes.
Greg has a list of things that he contributes to his longevity.
"There's a lot of things you have to do to live a long time," said Greg. "You don't drink, you don't smoke, you don't go to the beer parlor every weekend. Why should I give my money to the beer parlors? You can laugh just as hard on your way to the bank every week."
Greg recalls that he was making 25 cents an hour when he married Victoria almost 71 years ago.
"I worked 10 hours a day, six days a week, and if I could get extra money, I would work on Sundays, too," Greg said.
Both Victoria and Greg worked back in the day.
"I started working as a clerk in a clothing store and I ended up a chef," Victoria, 96, explained. "I did my courses here at the college and passed them with 97 per cent."
Victoria went on to cook for special occasions at the Moose and Knights of Columbus halls.
"I would cook for up to 500 people," Victoria explained. "I was never late with my meals and oh, I have some wonderful memories of the weddings and banquets that were held there."
Both Victoria and Greg take their vitamins and are careful about what they eat.
"We don't eat fast food," said Victoria. "No pop, no greasy hamburgers, no chips with a bottle of beer. Nothing like that."
Greg thinks having hobbies throughout his life helped keep him agile of mind and body, as well.
"I did wood working as a hobby and gardened, and there was always one thing or another to keep me busy," Greg said. "I was always happiest when I had something to think about and the question was always 'how could it work the best'?"
Greg recalls doubling production with a few adjustments he made to mill machinery. It was what he loved to do, he added.
Victoria says Greg follows the same simple rules into his second century of living that got him through the first.
"Early to bed, early to rise," she laughed. "Greg still gets up at 7 a.m. every morning. Everyone just needs to keep going. Don't ever give up."
