Two friends maintain a 75 year bond in a retirement home

Claire Cruickshank and Betty McTaggart live across the hall from each other in a retirement residence in Uxbridge, Ontario.

The two women first met as 19 year old nursing students in New Westminster, British Columbia. They remained close friends for over seven decades, moving across the country together and working as nurses and flight attendants. The pair now spend nearly every day together at the Aspira Douglas Crossing retirement centre.

They participate in chair yoga, play card games like euchre and bridge, and share meals with other residents. Despite the challenges of aging, the women use their shared history and sense of humor to stay connected. They often sing a song by Kay Starr together, a tradition that dates back to their early years as roommates. The women believe their enduring friendship offers a contrast to the growing issue of loneliness among older adults and young people in Canada.

They attribute their bond to mutual trust and a willingness to say yes to new adventures. While they acknowledge that modern life offers many distractions, they suggest that lasting friendships are built on simple preferences and the desire to see a person again.