Not many people can say they have lived under the same roof with as many prisoners as Lottie Cameron.
The centenarian celebrated her milestone 100th birthday April 11 with family, who shared many fond memories, including the unusual setup of the Cameron home in Rosevalley, Sask.
As Lottie’s husband, Alec, was an RCMP officer in the remote community – with the closest town being Yorkton – the couple were provided with their home.
The one condition: the basement would be a jail.
“If they had a woman prisoner, Miss Lottie would be the matron and had to deal with her,” said Karen Legge, recreation co-ordinator at Crescent Gardens retirement community, where Lottie now resides.
Legge noted Lottie’s involvement with the jail also extended to food, as all prisoners received a home-cooked meal from her.
In that same home, Lottie’s two children, Joy and Ronald, grew up, along with the “deputy” – their German shepherd police dog.
The Neepawa, MB. native met her Mountie in 1933, while living in Regina, after he spotted her in the church choir.
Following a five-year engagement, the two were married in 1938, before their move to Rosevalley.
Following Alec’s death, Lottie moved to White Rock to be closer to her son and daughter-in-law.
She celebrated the day with well-wishes from her extensive family, including her six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.