Johnston celebrates 80 years with great music and sharing her story
Edith Loan Johnston is a member of our community who has led an interesting life. She celebrated her 80th birthday on Feb. 10 and as a person in our community with an intellectual disability, she wanted to share her experience living in Selkirk.
She was born in 1944 and though she didn’t attend the same school as her brother and sister she says that there was a school program in the basement of the Legion which she attended.
Johnston enjoyed living in Selkirk as a child and her favourite thing to do was to meet people. Her mother was also actively involved in church and Johnston took part in girl guides as well.
Johnston has happy memories of her time living at home with her sister, brother and parents. She recalls fondly family trips to Victoria, BC where they would visit extended family.
Unfortunately, in her 40’s Johnston lost her mother and her father had previously passed. This meant that she was moved into community placements outside of Selkirk. She moved around to many different places at this time but steadfastly wanted to return to Selkirk to live in her hometown.
Her wish was able to become reality, when, in the 1990s, laws changed and the Vulnerable Persons Act, now the Adults Living with an Intellectual Disability Act, came into effect. This change saw adults living with an intellectual disability being considered to have full capacity, full recognition before the law, and full citizenship.
With help from Clarice Leader and Nerina Robson and In the Company of Friends, in October of 1993 supports were able to be put into place so that Johnston could come back to Selkirk and live life in her home with the help she needed.
Since then, she’s been supported by homecare workers who have helped her achieve her goals and live a life connected to our community.
Johnston, who was an avid bowler, participated in a bowling league through Special Olympics. She won a silver medal in 1994 for her efforts.
She also volunteered in our local soup kitchen for 17 years. She didn’t prepare the food but was the resident dishwasher once a week until 2018. Johnston said that she looked forward to volunteering and liked the people that she volunteered with. She also said it felt good to volunteer.
Johnston’s care team leader, Margaret Kukucka also says that Johnston is a great piano player. She will still play Doctor Zhivago and can light up a room with holiday carols.
Even when she was in the hospital after having broken a bone, Johnston saw the piano there and shared her love of music with those around.
That love of music was also apparent at her 80th birthday party where her favourite singer Patsy Cline, played by local tribute artist Laurie Sutherland, made an appearance and brought her flowers.
Johnston said, “It was a dream come true.”
She had carrot cake and was able to sing her favourite Patsy Cline song, I Fall to Pieces, with Sutherland as her friends and support people celebrated with her.
