![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Image-32-1024x576.jpg\")
Harold Arthur, one of Joseph Mery Arthur\u2019s sons, is seen in his father\u2019s backyard in Mascouche on July 10, 2026. (Genevieve Sylvestre, CityNews)<\/p>\nJoseph Mery Arthur reached a milestone few ever will on Tuesday when he turned 110 years old, officially making him Canada\u2019s oldest reported man.<\/p>\n
Born in Saint-Marc, Haiti in 1916, Joseph moved to Montreal 55 years ago, with his 10 children following him a few years later. Today, he has 25 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, including eight-year-old Olivia-Rose Simmons.<\/p>\n
Simmons believes that her great-grandfather\u2019s secret to a long life is keeping his mind sharp, in more ways than one. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe drinks cognac, he reads books, he does crosswords. That\u2019s what you have to do in life\u201d<\/p>\n
Josheph\u2019s own life philosophy is slightly different.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe secret? The secret is to be wise in life. Do everything in moderation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still able to walk on his own, Arthur\u2019s family is in awe of what he can still accomplish at his age.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I still read,\u201d Joseph said. \u201cIt\u2019s not very easy with my eyesight anymore, but I have to find a way to pass the time\u201d<\/p>\n
Joseph\u2019s son, Harold Arthur, says that it is his father\u2019s love and knowledge of sports and game strategy, especially for his favorites, baseball and tennis, that is most impressive for his age. Because Joseph remained active in his community and lived his life with a moral compass always pointing north, the big 110 didn\u2019t come as too big of a shock to Harold. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are not surprised because he\u2019s always been an amazing person. We talk about wisdom and to not live in excess and that\u2019s the kind of life that he lived.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harold Arthur, one of Joseph Mery Arthur\u2019s sons, is seen in his father\u2019s backyard in Mascouche on July 10, 2026. (Genevieve Sylvestre, CityNews)<\/p>\n
Joseph\u00a0worked\u00a0as\u00a0a\u00a0public\u00a0servant\u00a0in\u00a0Haiti\u00a0and,\u00a0after\u00a0arriving\u00a0in\u00a0Canada,\u00a0worked\u00a0at\u00a0a\u00a0bakery\u00a0and\u00a0later\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0Queen\u00a0Elizabeth\u00a0Hotel\u00a0before\u00a0retiring.\u00a0Over\u00a0the\u00a0years,\u00a0he\u00a0became\u00a0deeply\u00a0involved\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Haitian\u00a0community\u00a0through\u00a0various\u00a0organizations,\u00a0leaving\u00a0behind\u00a0a\u00a0legacy\u00a0of\u00a0work\u00a0and\u00a0sacrifice\u00a0that\u00a0his\u00a0family\u00a0does not\u00a0take\u00a0for\u00a0granted.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a hard worker,\u201d said Harold. \u201cHe didn\u2019t count hours of sacrifices just to make sure that his family was well taken care of.\u201d<\/p>\n
While\u00a0he\u00a0lives\u00a0his\u00a0life\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0wisdom\u00a0he\u00a0obtained\u00a0from\u00a0his\u00a0father,\u00a0Harold\u00a0jokes\u00a0that\u00a0he\u00a0hopes\u00a0he\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0inherit\u00a0his\u00a0father\u2019s\u00a0genes\u00a0for\u00a0old\u00a0age.<\/p>\n
Joseph\u00a0himself\u00a0recalls\u00a0having\u00a0prayed\u00a0not\u00a0to\u00a0make\u00a0it\u00a0quite\u00a0so\u00a0far,\u00a0but\u00a0today,\u00a0he\u00a0feels\u00a0grateful\u00a0to\u00a0have\u00a0met\u00a0so\u00a0many\u00a0of\u00a0him\u00a0great-grandchildren.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my life, at one point, I asked God to let me stop at 75 years old.\u201d <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Image-33-1024x576.jpg\")
A picture of Joseph Mery Arthur in his twenties alongside a picture of his late-wife is seen on July 10, 2026. (Genevieve Sylvestre, CityNews)<\/p>\n
Joseph\u2019s\u00a0family\u00a0will\u00a0celebrate\u00a0his\u00a0birthday\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0private\u00a0barbecue\u00a0celebration\u00a0over\u00a0the\u00a0weekend,\u00a0and\u00a0at\u00a0least\u00a0one\u00a0attendee\u00a0hopes\u00a0to\u00a0one\u00a0day\u00a0make\u00a0it\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0own\u00a0110th\u00a0birthday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to live until 128, or maybe 90, I don\u2019t know,\u201d said Simmons. \u201cI don\u2019t know how long I\u2019m going to live up to, but I know I\u2019m gonna be a great person, just like my great-grandfather.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Image-26-1024x768.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\tFrom left, Joseph Mery Arthur and Olivia-Rose Simmons. sit in the backyard of his home in Mascouche on July 10, 2026. (Lola Kalder, CityNews) <\/p>\n
\t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n
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