East Preston celebrates Liza Brooks on her 105th birthday

Residents of East Preston, N.S., gathered this week to mark a special birthday.

Liza Brooks turned 105 on Wednesday. She was born on May 15, 1919.

"To be here today, to celebrate her birthday at 105, it's amazing," said Mary Thomas, a friend of Brooks.

Thomas grew up just down the street from Brooks on Brooks Drive.

She said one of the things she'll always remember about Brooks is her outspokenness.

"Mrs. Liza Brooks used to be kind of rough on us when we were a little younger," Thomas said.

Recounting her teenage years, and getting to know Brooks, Thomas said: "She was a funny person. She's comical but she always said what she meant and meant what she said."

Thomas was among many to show up to the surprise party at the East Preston Recreation Centre in the small community about 20 kilometres east of Halifax. Most had a story to tell.

Some went to school with Brooks or met her later in life. Some might have been lucky enough to enjoy a piece of her fresh-baked blueberry pie.

Brooks said she's always worked hard. She said staying busy is what keeps her going.

"When I go back home I'm going to do my work," she said.

"I'll rake and then I got to go in the backyard and put my clothesline up. I put up my own clothesline up. Nobody else gonna put it up for me."

Brooks said her life wasn't easy. "We had a hard time back in the day," she said.

She recalls cutting wood, piling it up and dragging it into the house, three pieces under each arm.

"Sometimes we had food and sometimes we didn't.... We got to fighting every day in school. Teacher had to send me home."

Regardless of those struggles, Brooks said she's glad to be where she is. She said the people in her community mean a lot to her and are always there for her.

"If there's a meeting that I got to go to I don't have to worry about getting there," she said.

Thomas said people can learn a lot from Brooks.

"Look around," Thomas said. "I think she's left a great legacy. And to all other younger people who are left behind, take from what she has taught, take it to your families, come together."

As for the trick to making it past 100, Brooks doesn't have too many secrets.

"Taking a walk, and coming back in the house and having a cup of tea," Brooks told CBC News at her party. "I go to bed at 12 a.m. and I don't get up until 10." 

Someone yelled from the crowd that maybe a little rum helps.

The room erupted with laughter, and Brooks couldn't help but smile. "Oh yeah," she said.

She is always grateful.

'I thank God I'm still alive and I'm still going,' she said. 

Brooks, 94-year-old Ruth Clayton and 92-year-old Audrey Colley were all recognized at the event. They received certificates from Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs Twila Grosse and Premier Tim Houston.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.