Lethbridge's Glen Michelson celebrated his 100th birthday on Thursday. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge man celebrates 100th birthday

Mar 14, 2024 | 1:15 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Friends, family, and members of the Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) gathered to celebrate a man who is still full of life and laughter after a full century.

Glen Michelson turned 100 years old on Thursday, March 14, 2024. A birthday party was held for him at the Nord-Bridge Seniors Centre.

He recounted his 37 year career in law enforcement, first enlisting as a member of the RCMP in 1947.

After completing his training in Regina, Saskatchewan, Michelson worked in Charlottetown, P.E.I. and Cambridge Bay, NWT.

Michelson was made to purchase his discharge from the RCMP in 1950 in order to get married. At the time, the RCMP had a rule that officers could not be married.

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After returning to Lethbridge that year, he joined the Lethbridge City Police Force and remained there for the next 34 years.

His first seven years with Lethbridge’s police was spent in patrols as a uniformed constable before working in criminal investigations.

Michelson became the first member of the city’s Forensic Identification Unit in 1961 and was the first commander of the Special Weapons, Tactics and Sniper Team in 1974. He recalled being able to win several court cases due to the use of fingerprint identification, which was a new technique at the time.

He retired from policing on July 30, 1984.

Michelson said the secret to his long life and relatively good health is starting each morning with a bowl of porridge.

He said he was pleased to see so many of his family members come to Lethbridge from many different places to celebrate his birthday alongside him.

Michelson added that he plans to stick around for at least another few years and enjoy life as much as he can.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now

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