Time to grow up? B.C. 60-year-old celebrates 15th birthday

A Feb. 29 birthday is about as rare as a perfect 29 hand in cribbage. He’s never had one of those perfect hands, but does get a real birthday on Thursday during leap year. (Photo by Don Bodger)A Feb. 29 birthday is about as rare as a perfect 29 hand in cribbage. He’s never had one of those perfect hands, but does get a real birthday on Thursday during leap year. (Photo by Don Bodger)
The number 29 is acknowledged in age for those who want to stay young and in crib for a perfect hand. But Brock Noseworthy has to wait for 29 to pop up on the calendar in February every four years to mark his actual birthday. (Photo by Don Bodger)The number 29 is acknowledged in age for those who want to stay young and in crib for a perfect hand. But Brock Noseworthy has to wait for 29 to pop up on the calendar in February every four years to mark his actual birthday. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Brock Noseworthy will always retain his youth.

The Chemainus resident was born during a leap year in 1964 on Feb. 29 so he’s technically only had 15 actual birthdays, but is going on 60. This year being another leap year, it gives Noseworthy the rare chance to mark the occasion on his actual birthday Thursday.

“I’m going to be turning 15 and the most experienced 15-year-old you’ve ever seen,” he chuckled. “Now that I’m 15 I think I should start to mature a little.”

Noseworthy said he never felt ripped off by not having his true birthday every year.

“All my life people said, ‘do you celebrate it on the 28th or March 1st?’” he acknowledged.

The answer is either one and “sometimes nothing,” Noseworthy added. “Whenever it did land on a leap year, I’d make up for it.”

More than anything else, “it’s always a conversation piece,” he indicated.

Born in Montreal, Noseworthy has lived in a variety of places before coming to Chemainus 12 years ago.

Being at hugely different points of the age spectrum, he doesn’t have any big plans for this year’s birthday.

“I’m not fully retired, I’m getting there,” Noseworthy noted.

Not many 15-year-olds can ever say that.

READ ALSO: Leap Day: holding the calendar together since the days of Julius Caesar

READ ALSO: Celebrating your 1st anniversary 4 years later: Leap Day couples share

CelebrationCommunity