Locals celebrating leap year birthdays this weekend

She was the fourth baby born at the Assiniboia, Saskatchewan Hospital on leap year since 1963. No records were available before that.

“Well I never really had huge birthdays or anything when it wasn’t a leap year. But I usually try to go all out for my leap year because I wait every 4 years for one.”

Since it comes around every 4 years, birthdays are special says 8 year old Quinn Wirachowsky.

“In the morning I’m going to go for pictures and then after that we’re going to go to the bowling alley and go bowling.”

Depending on where you grew up, if you were born on February 29th, you’ll likely be the talk of the town.

Murray Nunweiler says he made the news when he was born, and believes he was the only leap year baby born in Medicine Hat in 1964.

“Well you get a lot of attention for sure whether you actually have a birthday or you miss it that year. But it’s fun, it was fun as a kid and it’s still fun now. People remember it and it’s pretty unique there’s not that many of us around.”

And there’s more perks to having a leap year birthday, says Rhonda Jones who also shares a birthday on the 29th.

“I enjoy my leap year birthday now because I am in my 50’s and I can actually say I’m a lot younger than what I look.”

“I tell them in leap years I’ll be 2 and in real years I’ll be 8,” says Wirachowsky.

But if it’s not a leap year, don’t worry, you still make arrangements to celebrate.

Nunweiler says, “No there was nothing different we all got together and played road hockey as kids that’s what we did. Road hockey and ate hot dogs.”

They say usually birthdays were celebrated on February 28th.

Those who share a leap year birthday say it’s pretty exciting when you can celebrate on your actual birthday.

And it’s memorable, because not very many people are born on that day.

According to Wirachowsky, she feels special and unique to have her birthday on a leap year.

by Chantal Wagner

Locals celebrating leap year birthdays this weekend

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