A 101-year-old man from Dufresne was honoured this past week at the Manitoba Legislature. Kai Winther was recognized for extensive community involvement throughout his years. Throughout his 101-year long lifetime, Winther made it his duty to participate on community boards, councils, associations and commissions. To name a few, he was a Delegate to the Brokenhead Conference for 35 years, a member at large on the Ostenfeld-Lydiatt Parish Council for 30 years, Director of the Anola Over 50 Club for 35+ years and the list goes on.

Dawson Trail MLA Bob Lagasse, who organized the tribute, vividly recalls meeting Winther for the first time.

"We were at a fall supper and I started to talk with Kai and found that he was 101. I thought, my goodness, this is remarkable for someone to be 101 and still be driving and walking without much assistance of a cane or anything. So, we decided to ask him about his past and he has served on so many boards and contributed to the community in so many different ways, I figured there was no better opportunity than to honour someone like Kai at the Legislature."

Lagasse says he likes to do formal tributes to deserving citizens so that he can build them up as 'Dawson Trail Heroes'. And he reiterates, Kai Winther is a very special person.

"It's just remarkable that someone of his age has done so much and is still contributing to society. That just tells you right there that no matter how old you are, you can make a difference."

Winther was born in Denmark in 1917. His parents and 3 siblings soon made the decision to immigrate to Manitoba. They settled in the small Danish community of Ostenfeld where they ran a successful dairy and hog farm. In 1945 Kai married Janie, from Dufresne. They purchased her family’s century farm where they raised their 5 children. To this day, the farm is run by Kai’s children and grandchildren. Winther is a proud grandfather of 7, great grandfather of 9 and great great grandfather of 4.