This story is from Black PressB次元官网网址� special publication, Living 60+ which .

Don Denton, 66, and recent retiree from the magazine/photography department at Black Press is back in the building. But this time, as an interviewee.

Old working comrades gather around him, smiles and laughter abound. Denton jokes about how even still, when heB次元官网网址檚 out with his wife, heB次元官网网址檒l tell her they need to get home by a certain time. SheB次元官网网址檒l ask him why theyB次元官网网址檙e on such a tight schedule, and heB次元官网网址檒l realize he doesnB次元官网网址檛 know B次元官网网址� heB次元官网网址檚 just so used to working in a deadline atmosphere that life after a 9-to-5 takes some getting used to, he laughs.

But just because Denton is B次元官网网址榬etiredB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� though he doesnB次元官网网址檛 like to call it that B次元官网网址� doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean heB次元官网网址檚 not hustling and bustling. One of his recent projects was showcasing his punk rock photography in 2023 in New York.

Denton is also facing the stereotypes of aging and coming to grips with them.

B次元官网网址淎s soon as people hear youB次元官网网址檙e quitting work after 60, they assume youB次元官网网址檙e going out to pasture, essentially,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hat youB次元官网网址檙e no longer going to be creative or give back.B次元官网网址�

But Denton is using this time to pursue his passion projects aplenty, B次元官网网址渙r self-creation, whatever you want to call it.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭he job here was fabulous. IB次元官网网址檓 still fully capable of doing the work. But I had these other projects that I really wanted to do. And in the end, we all have limited time to achieve things.B次元官网网址�

A couple of times a month, if not a couple of nights in a row, Denton finds himself elated to be back again in a sweaty pit of bodies at a rock concert. ItB次元官网网址檚 a return to his roots as a photographer in the early punk scene (heB次元官网网址檚 also shot bands like Queen, AC/DC and Bryan Adams).

B次元官网网址淨uite often IB次元官网网址檓 pretty sure IB次元官网网址檓 the oldest guy in the room, but I can still get in the pit and handle myself in there. I just find it interesting and a challenge,B次元官网网址� he said.

His work has grown B次元官网网址渟omewhat influential in that world,B次元官网网址� as Denton says. Apart from the sense of fulfilment that band photography gives him, the punk scene also arguably inspires his defiance towards the stereotypes of aging. For instance, Denton highlights one of hardcore punkB次元官网网址檚 founding bands, D.O.A., who he has photographed and followed along their 45-plus-year journey.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 one original member left whoB次元官网网址檚 the main songwriter, singer and guitarist: Joe Keithley, who is a year older than me. He went into politics. HeB次元官网网址檚 been a Burnaby council member. HeB次元官网网址檚 in his second term, but he didnB次元官网网址檛 do that until he was in his 60s. HeB次元官网网址檚 a good example, too, of breaking stereotypes.B次元官网网址�

Speaking out against ageism

While aging looks different for everyone, what frustrates Denton is when he sees ageism.

B次元官网网址淚 really notice it in books,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t will refer to somebody whoB次元官网网址檚 62 as elderly.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淏ut thereB次元官网网址檚 that saying, age is only in your mind. Which is not entirely true because weB次元官网网址檙e affected by how our bodies react B次元官网网址� I just think that you run into people making assumptions that you are this age so you must be that.B次元官网网址�

An example: his friend in her 80s is selling her home up Island and renovating a condo in Oak Bay.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 the kind of person somebody would probably look at and say, B次元官网网址楥an I help you across the street?B次元官网网址�

Denton speaking out against ageism is part of helping society to grow in a healthy way. While ageism can reduce life expectancy and have long-term effects on mental health (according to the World Health Organization), it also downplays positive realities. Take the fact that in an AARP survey with National Geographic, about 2 out of 3 of the oldest adults, age 80 and older, say theyB次元官网网址檙e living their B次元官网网址渂est possible lifeB次元官网网址� or close to it, compared with just 1 in 5 younger adults.

B次元官网网址淭alking about it is always a good thing, I think you just have to show by doing,B次元官网网址� Denton said. B次元官网网址淚f people have certain expectations or stereotypes and they look and see the stereotypes are not there then hopefully they will learn from that. And maybe gently correcting people.B次元官网网址�

The opportunities that open up

When Denton talks about his projects, he has no shortage of a list; selling prints, compiling books (including a photography history project that captures photographers from different generations), building an online presence and teaching Continuing Studies at UVic.

The majority of Continuing Studies students are retired and Denton says itB次元官网网址檚 a great option for people who want to continue learning and trying new things.

He notes that many retirees are doing things not just as a hobby but also in pursuit of new business ventures.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 looking at guitar lessons with the goal of playing in a band, not just to have a new skill. And IB次元官网网址檓 learning new layout design software in order to publish books,B次元官网网址� Denton said.

B次元官网网址楻etirementB次元官网网址� has also afforded him the time to pursue adventure. At the end of June, he is seeing family in Alberta and tacked on a road trip with his son. The trip concludes with seeing 15 punk bands in one day in Edmonton.

B次元官网网址淚 wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be able to do that if I had my job to come back to,B次元官网网址� he said.

As Denton navigates this new chapter, heB次元官网网址檚 reminded that this time can be a springboard for creativity, exploration and personal fulfilment. And, that a healthy sense of defiance towards ageism allows one to embrace the richness that each stage of life has to offer.

Perhaps pop punk band Blink-182 said it best: B次元官网网址淢y friends say I should act my age. WhatB次元官网网址檚 my age again?B次元官网网址�