101-year-old Sask. Metis veteran remembered for humble, joyful nature

A 101-year-old Saskatchewan veteran — one of Canada’s oldest veterans — died Tuesday.

Louis Roy served in the Second World War.

His granddaughter, Glenda Burnouf, doesn’t remember him sharing much about his time overseas, but says he lived a full life in Saskatchewan.

Roy had 10 children and so many grandchildren that Burnouf said she “can’t even keep count.”

Burnouf remembered being close with her grandfather when she was growing up and tried to see him as she and her family members continued to grow up and move away. With family all spread out, even gathering for big events like weddings and Christmas could be hard to do.

“Then you throw COVID into the mix and it was hard to try to get together as a family with him,” Burnouf said.

Though Roy never told her what to do, Burnouf said he left behind a legacy for how to live.

She said she never remembered hearing her grandfather raise his voice.

“He was very humble,” she said. “He lived such a simple life, he wasn’t extravagant about anything.”

Roy was always neat and tidy, with an immaculate yard. It’s a skill Burnouf said she’s still trying to learn.

“He kept everything in such neat order,” she said.

And her grandfather was active and moving about until his last days.

“I think that was the key to his longevity is just that he was so active (and) always doing something,” Burnouf said, adding Roy loved to trap, hunt and canoe.

“I remember at Christmastime, he’d always be playing his vinyl (album). We’d always go to his house for Christmas — this was when we were younger — and I always remember him drinking his favourite, which was a hot toddy.”

Ironically, Roy died on National Hot Toddy Day.

The Canadian Forces in the United States Twitter account reported Roy walked more than 100 miles to enlist in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1942. He was 22.

He walked over 100 miles to sign up to fight for a Canada that treated him as less than equal. One of many brave Métis who served.

England, Africa, Italy, and back to Saskatchewan to walk home.

Louis Roy died today. He was 101.

Please remember him. pic.twitter.com/2KRSfnLxKH

— Canadian Forces in 🇺🇸 (@CAFinUS) January 11, 2022

He served as a member of the Saskatoon Light Infantry in the United Kingdom, Africa, Sicily and Italy.

After his time in the military, Roy became a carpenter.

When Burnouf’s grandfather passed, he was living in long-term care at St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Île-à-la-Crosse. However, he lived independently until he was 100 in a house he’d built when he was 85.

“He was by himself. It was just him, so he decided he was going to build himself a home,” Burnouf said.

The house — which featured a single bedroom and bathroom with a living room and a small kitchen area — was built on the riverbank, and that’s where Roy’s family celebrated his 100th birthday. Burnouf remembered Roy sitting back and enjoying the festivities.

“We were all there (and) he just sat there (and) took it all in. He really enjoyed, I think, having people around him and then just being able to look out at the river,” she recalled.

“I think he really enjoyed it. We took a lot of videos and pictures and he was up to his same funny antics. He was trying to make people laugh … We had a great time at his birthday party.”

When Roy was 93, Burnouf went to visit him on a cold winter day. In -30 C temperatures, he’d shovelled his entire driveway alone.

“I remember thinking, ‘OK, I need to take a picture of this,’” Burnouf said with a laugh, “because what other 93-year-old (is) out here living by themselves, shovelling their driveway?”

The Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) said Roy was one of the oldest remaining veterans in Canada.

MMF president David Chartrand said he met Roy personally and was, “honoured” to, “learn from him and hear his experiences.”

“Louis was one of many brave Métis Citizens enlisted to serve in Canada’s armed forces against the evils of the world, all while facing discrimination at home,” Chartrand said in a statement Tuesday.

Roy was the first veteran honoured with a recognition payment as part of a legacy program on July 16, 2019. It took more than two decades for Metis veterans to receive that recognition and apology from the Canadian government.

“He was willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice and serve his country alongside his brothers and sisters in arms,” Chartrand said, adding Roy and other veterans are, “truly are our heroes today, tomorrow and forever.”