Nearly a dozen Surrey seniors are debuting a slightly saucy side of themselves this fall B次元官网网址� 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 B次元官网网址� developed with a goal of connecting and guiding Surrey residents aged 55 and older in identifying and achieving some personal goals B次元官网网址� the calendar features images of the seniors in and around vintage cars, adorned in everything B次元官网网址�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 groupB次元官网网址檚 social-activities committee. Houston, noting she has B次元官网网址渁lways loved the B次元官网网址�50s,B次元官网网址� has done pin-up modelling for the past five years.

B次元官网网址淚 was showing a few of them some pictures one day, and a few of them just said, B次元官网网址榃hy donB次元官网网址檛 we do a pin-up shoot? We want to do that,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Houston said.

Using outfits from HoustonB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淛ust seeing their faces when they came in, and seeing them look at their picture (afterwards) on the camera was like, unbelievable,B次元官网网址� said Houston.

B次元官网网址淭hey were tearing up and just so proudB次元官网网址� and a lot of shock. People were surprised that they could pull it off. There was one person that even did a bathing suitB次元官网网址� and sheB次元官网网址檚 close to 80. I was like, B次元官网网址榊ou go, girl!B次元官网网址� And she looks great, she looks like Marilyn.B次元官网网址�

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 B次元官网网址渨anted to turn it into something philanthropic,B次元官网网址� Houston explained.

B次元官网网址淪o originally, we were just doing it for fun, but now the calendars are going to be $25 and every time somebody buys one, thereB次元官网网址檚 $6 that will go towards keeping Surrey Shares B次元官网网址� the program B次元官网网址� alive.B次元官网网址�

First launched in 2020 with funding from the federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 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 B次元官网网址� who posed for the calendar in a vintage-style bathing suit that she purchased a few years ago B次元官网网址� took the course some 18 months ago. She described working with a life coach as an opportunity to B次元官网网址渢ry and figure out where youB次元官网网址檙e going, what areas maybe you could fix and what was possible that you could do, and what your strengths are.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淭his kind of made everybody think, B次元官网网址楪ee, I can still do all those things. ThereB次元官网网址檚 certain things that I can do and I will continue to do them,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Higginbotham, now 80.

B次元官网网址淎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.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淓verybody doesnB次元官网网址檛 need B次元官网网址榟elp.B次元官网网址� Everybody needs connection,B次元官网网址� she said.

Houston said the program B次元官网网址�100 per centB次元官网网址� 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 womanB次元官网网址檚 case, it connected the newcomer to a circle of people who immediately offered to help when she B次元官网网址� during one of the groupB次元官网网址檚 social outings B次元官网网址� expressed concern about how she would manage following an upcoming knee surgery.

Houston said she listened as fellow Surrey Shares members B次元官网网址渁ll took her phone number and took turns.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 tearing upB次元官网网址� because IB次元官网网址檓 thinking, what a difference thatB次元官网网址檚 made in her life.B次元官网网址�

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 thatB次元官网网址檚 hoped to help the program continue. Part proceeds from sales of an anthology of participantsB次元官网网址� 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 UNITIB次元官网网址檚 chief executive officer, Doug Tennant.

For information about the book launch, or about ordering a book or calendar, email citysurreyshares@gmail.com