Proud Metis Nation of Ontario (MNO) citizen and Sault Ste. Marie resident Evelyn Richards celebrated her 100th birthday on January 6, 2023.
“She’s been an inspiration to me in most of the things that I’ve done,” said Evelyn’s son Dr. Wayne Richards in an interview with SooToday.com. Her son Wayne is one of Evelyn’s four children and she has nine grandchildren.
Raised in the Gore Street area of Sault Ste, Marie, Evelyn had an impressive work ethic from an early age. She began working at just 15, cleaning houses and washing windows for her neighbours. In later years, Evelyn worked in retail at Woolco and Kmart. But, her true passion was music.
Evelyn’s love of music was shared by her husband Raymond, a welder and hoisting engineer, whom she married in 1942.
Together the pair performed throughout northern Ontario. They were even were inducted into the Great Northern Opry Hall of Fame. Today, she continues to sing and play guitar, and always keeps the radio on in her house.
More recently, Evelyn’s love for performance prompted her joined The Sault Rising Stars, a group of seniors who perform skits for other seniors on timely topics like avoiding scammers and elder abuse.
A proud Métis, Evelyn and her family also share a deep appreciation of the outdoors. They regularly frequent their family cottage at Horseshoe Bay, which was built by Raymond back in the 1950s. Raymond passed in 2016, but Evelyn and her family continues to make new and lasting memories at the family cottage throughout the seasons.
When reflecting on her life and relationships, Evelyn’s advice takes inspiration from her great love for music and is almost lyrical, truly believing: “Life is a song, love is the music.”
The MNO wishes a very happy 100th birthday to Evelyn!