106 Years of Strength

At 106, Irma Bulling is Elim Village’s longest-living resident, and she carries more than a century of stories with remarkable clarity and grace. Born on April 18, 1919, to a German family in a small Polish village, Irma’s early life was marked by upheaval and resilience: welcoming her first child in 1938, navigating the outbreak of war a year later, losing the grandmother who raised her, and enduring the heartbreak of a husband declared missing in action.

Today, Irma lives in The Harrison West at Elim Village Fleetwood, where her warmth, humour, and depth of experience make her a cherished presence. In this Q&A, she reflects on the moments that shaped her, the lessons she’s held onto, and the perspective that comes from a life lived across continents, eras, and extraordinary change.

What do you remember about your childhood?

I remember quite a bit. I grew up in my grandma’s house. My mum was sick and I stayed at my grandmother’s until she wanted to take me back home. My grandmother was used to me and didn’t let me go, so I stayed with her.

I was the oldest of eight children and my brothers and sisters all stayed at my parents’ house. I went home every week just about and played with them. They were in the next village.

We had a garden on the side of the house and I looked after all that. We had all the nice vegetables like parsley. It was a lot of work, but it tasted good. My favourite thing to cook was chicken noodle soup. I cooked the chicken and made extra noodles, then everybody could take as much as they liked. We canned lots of things but we could eat dessert. Those were good times. That was 100 years go.

When did you get married?

In 1935. I was 16 and he lived in the same village. He was a farmer’s boy, but he had to go to the army. It was important when the boys were 21, they had to go for two years to the army. He was through that already when we got married; he was maybe nine years or so older than me. We became friends, and then we talked about getting married. We asked my grandma and she needed someone because she had a little farm still. Her son was looking after the farm, but she needed somebody in the house. So I got married in her house and we stayed there. In 1938 my daughter Hilda was born and in 1939 the war broke out. My grandma passed away in 1941 when Hilda was three years old. In 1942 my husband joined the army and shortly after he was sent to Stalingrad. He was declared missing in action that year.

What was it like when the war started?

World War II broke out on the 1st of September 1939. My daughter was then a little bit over a year old. She started to walk when the bombs were falling. When the war started coming closer to us and they were shooting, she fell on the floor, and she didn’t cry. She looked around when we laughed, and she laughed too.

The Germans came to Poland and went through to Russia. Then when the Germans lost, they came back. That was the hard part because we were Germans and the Germans lost. We were friends with the Polish people surrounding us, and the Jews too. We had no bad feelings between us, but then the war made the world so bad.

Were you displaced by the war?

Yes, we had to pack everything one evening. I was still in grandma’s house, but my daughter, she was at my mom’s place. My mom took my daughter and we all had to go. Germany took us and we did the trip alone on horse and buggy. It took weeks. Then on the way, we lost each other through the bombs and shooting. 

The sleeping at night, that’s what got my arthritis so bad. We had to sleep in barns on cement. There was not much straw and our coats were not enough. When we got up, we were stiff. We were young and that goes away, but now I cannot walk at all or lift myself.

When we came to Germany, I got settled and got a job working in the fields. Then I went to the Red Cross. After two weeks, I found my daughter and my mom.

How long did you stay in Germany?

It was maybe eight years I lived in Germany. The war was finished in 1945 and in 1952 I came to Canada. I could not go before because I had no money. A sponsor family took me and my daughter. That was in Saskatchewan, in Bredenbury, not far from Yorkton. I only had $20 a month, but I had food. They gave me a bedroom and me and my daughter slept together. I did the housekeeping. Then the government paid me child help. I put all the money together and I could pay off my trip. I went to Vancouver. I had a cousin there. I found a job at West Coast Wool Mill. That was a factory on Cordova Street. I had to learn a lot. I had to make the thread and I had to be very fast. I worked on one row in the factory for 15 years.

Did you marry again?

I got married again way, way later. I got married in the fall and my daughter got married the next year in April. I was working on the machines and he was dying the wool. He was always full of paint. He immigrated to Canada before me and had saved $2,000 already. I was still paying for my trip. We got married and we both started working, and we worked hard and I had everything that I wished for.
We bought an old house and he paid a $2,000 down payment. We paid it off in three years.

My husband said “I’m going to fix it up.” I said, “You’re not fixing up. We’re going to buy a new one,” and that was such a splendid idea. We found a lot and my husband found a builder, and they built us a nice new house that is standing today in Vancouver.

Do you feel like coming to Canada was the right decision?

Yes. I can say that. My daughter took me for a walk outside, and then she looked at me. She said, “Mom, I thank you that you took me to Canada.” Finally, she believed that too.

Did you travel?

Oh yes. I was over 30 times in Hawaii because the heat helped with my arthritis. I went always for a month or six weeks. That’s why I went every year. It was not only pleasure.

I went to Germany a couple of times with my daughter. My daughter, her husband, and their kids all travelled to Italy. We got a look at every corner of Italy. That was worth it because Italy is a historic country. I was on many Islands, the Caiman Islands, Thailand, and many islands you don’t hear about.

How has the world changed since you were young?

The world has changed completely. That’s all I can say. The world is better in many ways. I had a petroleum lamp to clean every evening to put the light on. And we had no phone. When my grandma died, my husband got his clothes on and ran to the neighbours. No phone, no nothing. They have too much now, I guess.

Just to make coffee – we had no electricity – so I had to go to the well. I took the pail, and pulled the pail up. Took the water to the kitchen. Then I had to have wood to make a fire.
Then I would put the water on and then make coffee. Today, you push a button.

And the churches used to be full. Our village, everybody went to church and everybody tried to hold their marriages together. That is not now anymore. It is a different world altogether.

Do you have a secret for living 106 years?

I have no secrets—just live like me. I was not a spoiled kid, and I grew up very plain, but I never had much hunger because we were always close to a farm. God has been very good.