Nearly a dozen Surrey seniors are debuting a slightly saucy side of themselves this fall 91裸聊视频� stepping out of their comfort zones and onto the pages of a 2024 pin-up calendar.
A project that came to life through connections made by participants in the Surrey Shares storytelling program 91裸聊视频� developed with a goal of connecting and guiding Surrey residents aged 55 and older in identifying and achieving some personal goals 91裸聊视频� the calendar features images of the seniors in and around vintage cars, adorned in everything 91裸聊视频�50s, from clothing, to hair and makeup.
The theme was inspired by pin-up photos shared by program co-ordinator and life coach Jessika Houston, during a meeting of the group91裸聊视频檚 social-activities committee. Houston, noting she has 91裸聊视频渁lways loved the 91裸聊视频�50s,91裸聊视频� has done pin-up modelling for the past five years.
91裸聊视频淚 was showing a few of them some pictures one day, and a few of them just said, 91裸聊视频榃hy don91裸聊视频檛 we do a pin-up shoot? We want to do that,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Houston said.
Using outfits from Houston91裸聊视频檚 own collection, the seniors got dolled up and posed with vehicles ranging from a pickup truck to a VW bug.
Pin-up, Houston noted, is all about confidence and exuding acceptance of yourself. For the seniors, the transformation was a sight to behold, clearly reaching far deeper than the surface.
91裸聊视频淛ust seeing their faces when they came in, and seeing them look at their picture (afterwards) on the camera was like, unbelievable,91裸聊视频� said Houston.
91裸聊视频淭hey were tearing up and just so proud91裸聊视频� and a lot of shock. People were surprised that they could pull it off. There was one person that even did a bathing suit91裸聊视频� and she91裸聊视频檚 close to 80. I was like, 91裸聊视频榊ou go, girl!91裸聊视频� And she looks great, she looks like Marilyn.91裸聊视频�
Initially planned by the seniors as a fun photo-shoot activity, the pin-up session evolved into something more at the suggestion of program participant Judy Higginbotham. The former longtime City of Surrey councillor 91裸聊视频渨anted to turn it into something philanthropic,91裸聊视频� Houston explained.
91裸聊视频淪o originally, we were just doing it for fun, but now the calendars are going to be $25 and every time somebody buys one, there91裸聊视频檚 $6 that will go towards keeping Surrey Shares 91裸聊视频� the program 91裸聊视频� alive.91裸聊视频�
First launched in 2020 with funding from the federal government91裸聊视频檚 New Horizons for Seniors Program, Surrey Shares, hosted by UNITI, is an initiative of the Surrey Intercultural Seniors Social Inclusion Partnership Network. Participants work with a life coach and a speaking coach, ultimately recording a personally meaningful story on video.
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With funding running out in March 2024, just two more eight-week cohorts are currently on the schedule: one that begins Oct. 2 and another that begins in January.
Higginbotham 91裸聊视频� who posed for the calendar in a vintage-style bathing suit that she purchased a few years ago 91裸聊视频� took the course some 18 months ago. She described working with a life coach as an opportunity to 91裸聊视频渢ry and figure out where you91裸聊视频檙e going, what areas maybe you could fix and what was possible that you could do, and what your strengths are.91裸聊视频�
While the process of aging can make some people doubt their abilities and sometimes even their own usefulness, the course was a reminder that not only does everyone have a story to tell, but that possibilities and potential abound at every age and stage, she said.
91裸聊视频淭his kind of made everybody think, 91裸聊视频楪ee, I can still do all those things. There91裸聊视频檚 certain things that I can do and I will continue to do them,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� said Higginbotham, now 80.
91裸聊视频淎nd it gave the strength to do that, and sort of the guts to go out and put a bathing suit on and have your photograph taken.91裸聊视频�
The connections formed through the program have also been priceless, she added. While at times it can seem easier to just stay home and cocoon, maintaining a social network throughout life is both important and positive.
91裸聊视频淓verybody doesn91裸聊视频檛 need 91裸聊视频榟elp.91裸聊视频� Everybody needs connection,91裸聊视频� she said.
Houston said the program 91裸聊视频�100 per cent91裸聊视频� made a difference in the lives of participants. For some, it brought them out of the isolation that so many people struggled with during the COVID-19 pandemic. In one woman91裸聊视频檚 case, it connected the newcomer to a circle of people who immediately offered to help when she 91裸聊视频� during one of the group91裸聊视频檚 social outings 91裸聊视频� expressed concern about how she would manage following an upcoming knee surgery.
Houston said she listened as fellow Surrey Shares members 91裸聊视频渁ll took her phone number and took turns.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 tearing up91裸聊视频� because I91裸聊视频檓 thinking, what a difference that91裸聊视频檚 made in her life.91裸聊视频�
So far, around 70 people have been through the program. Anyone interested in participating in an upcoming cohort, or looking for more information, may visit or email citysurreyshares@gmail.com
The pin-up calendar is just one initiative that91裸聊视频檚 hoped to help the program continue. Part proceeds from sales of an anthology of participants91裸聊视频� stories will also benefit the cause.
The book, in the works for about 18 months and due for release in October, features 27 stories; most from Surrey Shares participants, plus a couple from community members including UNITI91裸聊视频檚 chief executive officer, Doug Tennant.
For information about the book launch, or about ordering a book or calendar, email citysurreyshares@gmail.com
