In a farmhouse nestled in the RM of Brokenshell, the walls tell a story spanning more than a century. Dozens of framed photographs climb the staircase, a visual testament to generations of family. This is the home of 107-year-old Edith Bernard, who recently celebrated her birthday surrounded by five generations of loved ones, reflecting on a life deeply rooted in southern Saskatchewan.
A Life Anchored in the Prairies
Born in 1919, Edith Bernard has witnessed the profound evolution of the Canadian prairies firsthand. Her home, located about 20 kilometres east of the hamlet of Trossachs and roughly 100 kilometres south of Regina, has been a constant. "I like the prairies. I still like the prairies," she affirms with simple conviction.
Her journey began as the eldest of six sisters. She fondly recalls the simple joys of her youth, like milking her mother's dairy cows. "Good milk and cream," she remembers. Life before widespread electricity and automobiles was different, but full. She married Virgil Bernard in 1941, and in 1957 the couple moved 12 miles south of her original family homestead to the farmyard where she still lives today with her son, Doug.
Family, Change, and Enduring Spirit
On the farm, Edith and Virgil raised six children—two boys and four girls. That family has blossomed into a legacy of five living generations, including 14 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren spread across several provinces. "It just seems ordinary," Bernard says of her sprawling clan. "That's just the way it is."
The changes she has observed are monumental. Marshlands near the farm have drained, gravel roads transformed into paved highways, and horses and buggies—which she always liked—were replaced by vehicles. Her family's first car was a Ford Model T. Embracing progress, Bernard got her driver's licence in the 1960s to help collect data for a local census, showcasing her independent and community-minded spirit.
Cherishing the Past, Living in the Present
The gallery of family photos in her home is more than decoration; it's the heart of her story. A central portrait honors her great-grandfather who first homesteaded the land. The collection is a point of immense pride. "Don't you think they look nice up there? I really do," she remarks.
As she begins the year 2026 at 107 years old, Edith Bernard's life stands as a living archive of Saskatchewan's history. From the manual labour of her youth to the digital age witnessed by her great-great-grandchildren, her perspective bridges eras. Her story is not just one of longevity, but of deep connection to family, land, and the enduring, if changing, beauty of prairie life.
