FERGUS — On July 14, Caressant Care Fergus residents gathered to celebrate the 100th birthday of Rene Brunott.
Walking with his family into a room full of fellow residents, Rene was smiling while his family, friends and staff sang Happy Birthday.
Joining Rene at his celebration were his wife, Anita Brunott, two of his three sons, Jake and William, and Jake’s wife, Zeljka. William, his eldest, travelled from his home in Thailand to celebrate the milestone.
100 years of history
During the Second World War, Rene worked as a skilled welder in the Netherlands. His wife recalled that the Germans had wanted to recruit him to help build bombs, but the Dutch hid him.
To avoid having to go to Germany, Rene had purposely burned his thumb while welding, making himself incapable to do the job as it got infected.
When he turned 30, Rene moved to Canada and settled in Thornhill, where he worked as a maintenance mechanic. He began working in Algonquin Park.
Rene’s son Jake recalled his father being extremely hard working when he was growing up.
Eventually, he’d saved enough money to put a down payment on some land, where he built an 85-foot bungalow despite never having built a house before.
“My dad was thrifty,” Jake said.
Anita told the Advertiser Rene was also a competitive ice skater when he was young – and a Dutch champion.
Rene developed a portable skate sharpener and started his business.
She noted that ice skaters are often very superstitious. Once Rene sharpened a customer’s skates, they would continue to use only him.
Years later, Jake “forced” Rene into retirement after opening his own skate shop, which didn’t sit well with Rene.
“When it was my dad’s [alone], it was the ‘Edges of Champions Limited’ – and then it became Rene and Jake Brunott,” said Jake.
He added that in “the early years” his entire family was working together and in 1970 Rene wanted to get a cottage, so the entire family got involved to make that happen for him.
Rene’s 100 years was well celebrated at Caressant Care, and those who attended the party enjoyed a birthday cake made by Anita’s neighbour.
The party played songs by Johnny Cash, Rene’s favourite, and a singer and guitar player played Rene’s favourite Dutch songs.
