Tim Collins /B次元官网网址 staff

Dona Devine isnB次元官网网址檛 your typical 90-year-old, but, according to the indefatigable Devine, there is no such thing as a typical nonagenarian (someone over 90) or a typical person of any age.

B次元官网网址淎ge isnB次元官网网址檛 something that should stop you from doing what you want to do. ItB次元官网网址檚 a number and, honestly, I just sort of ignore it,B次元官网网址� said Devine.

B次元官网网址淎nyway, itB次元官网网址檚 not like IB次元官网网址檓 doing anything special.B次元官网网址�

Despite that self-deprecation, the fact that Devine leads an aquatic fitness class for a group of neighbourhood seniors does tend to set her apart. Three times a week she welcomes anywhere up to eight participants to the backyard pool at her North Saanich home. She has equipped the pool with a variety of pool noodles, balls, hoops, and other paraphernalia; all to make for an hour or so of fun and laughter.

When asked what she charges for the classes, her response was indicative of her straightforward approach to life.

B次元官网网址淐harge? Why the heck would I charge them anything? I do this because I enjoy it as much as they do.B次元官网网址�

But Devine wasnB次元官网网址檛 always an aquatic fitness instructor.

Born in Saskatchewan, she began a teaching career there, but after two years entered the international school system where, along with her husband, Jack she began to travel the world. Those travels took her B次元官网网址減retty much everywhereB次元官网网址� and eventually involved her children as well.

B次元官网网址淲e travelled all over. Jack was a geologist and we went where we had to go; later dragging our five children with us,B次元官网网址� recounted Devine.

B次元官网网址淭he best part of the classes with Dona is the laughter. She is so full of life and so funny itB次元官网网址檚 hard not to laugh,B次元官网网址� said Maggie Wood, one of the regulars in DevineB次元官网网址檚 classes.

B次元官网网址淪he pushes us pretty hard, but she does it in a way thatB次元官网网址檚 always fun. We do this water volleyball thing where we have to keep the ball in the air and I think she and I set a record of 54 passes. ThatB次元官网网址檚 pretty darned good, I think,B次元官网网址� said Wood.

DevineB次元官网网址檚 eldest son, Rick Devine, recalled his motherB次元官网网址檚 first foray into leading fitness classes.

B次元官网网址淲e were in Dubai and lived in an apartment complex full of ex-patriots. My mother got this group of people together and they called themselves the Aqua Ducks. They exercised, and then socialized. They even had t-shirts made that said Aqua Ducks,B次元官网网址� laughed Rick, adding that when his mother returned home to North Saanich, she just continued the tradition.

B次元官网网址淪he is a remarkable woman, for sure. SheB次元官网网址檚 raised five children, travelled the world and left her footprint wherever she went. As to being a strong woman; she certainly is B次元官网网址� so were my sisters. The funny thing is that I grew up thinking that all women were like that. Someone would comment on how mom was a strong woman and I didnB次元官网网址檛 really know what they meant.

B次元官网网址淎s far as I knew, all women were that strong. I think, maybe, I was right.B次元官网网址�