Nearly a dozen Surrey seniors are debuting a slightly saucy side of themselves this fall 香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播� developed with a goal of connecting and guiding Surrey residents aged 55 and older in identifying and achieving some personal goals 香蕉视频直播� the calendar features images of the seniors in and around vintage cars, adorned in everything 香蕉视频直播�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 group香蕉视频直播檚 social-activities committee. Houston, noting she has 香蕉视频直播渁lways loved the 香蕉视频直播�50s,香蕉视频直播� has done pin-up modelling for the past five years.

香蕉视频直播淚 was showing a few of them some pictures one day, and a few of them just said, 香蕉视频直播榃hy don香蕉视频直播檛 we do a pin-up shoot? We want to do that,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� Houston said.

Using outfits from Houston香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淛ust seeing their faces when they came in, and seeing them look at their picture (afterwards) on the camera was like, unbelievable,香蕉视频直播� said Houston.

香蕉视频直播淭hey were tearing up and just so proud香蕉视频直播� and a lot of shock. People were surprised that they could pull it off. There was one person that even did a bathing suit香蕉视频直播� and she香蕉视频直播檚 close to 80. I was like, 香蕉视频直播榊ou go, girl!香蕉视频直播� And she looks great, she looks like Marilyn.香蕉视频直播�

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 香蕉视频直播渨anted to turn it into something philanthropic,香蕉视频直播� Houston explained.

香蕉视频直播淪o originally, we were just doing it for fun, but now the calendars are going to be $25 and every time somebody buys one, there香蕉视频直播檚 $6 that will go towards keeping Surrey Shares 香蕉视频直播� the program 香蕉视频直播� alive.香蕉视频直播�

First launched in 2020 with funding from the federal government香蕉视频直播檚 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 香蕉视频直播� who posed for the calendar in a vintage-style bathing suit that she purchased a few years ago 香蕉视频直播� took the course some 18 months ago. She described working with a life coach as an opportunity to 香蕉视频直播渢ry and figure out where you香蕉视频直播檙e going, what areas maybe you could fix and what was possible that you could do, and what your strengths are.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淭his kind of made everybody think, 香蕉视频直播楪ee, I can still do all those things. There香蕉视频直播檚 certain things that I can do and I will continue to do them,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� said Higginbotham, now 80.

香蕉视频直播淎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.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淓verybody doesn香蕉视频直播檛 need 香蕉视频直播榟elp.香蕉视频直播� Everybody needs connection,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Houston said the program 香蕉视频直播�100 per cent香蕉视频直播� 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 woman香蕉视频直播檚 case, it connected the newcomer to a circle of people who immediately offered to help when she 香蕉视频直播� during one of the group香蕉视频直播檚 social outings 香蕉视频直播� expressed concern about how she would manage following an upcoming knee surgery.

Houston said she listened as fellow Surrey Shares members 香蕉视频直播渁ll took her phone number and took turns.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 tearing up香蕉视频直播� because I香蕉视频直播檓 thinking, what a difference that香蕉视频直播檚 made in her life.香蕉视频直播�

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 that香蕉视频直播檚 hoped to help the program continue. Part proceeds from sales of an anthology of participants香蕉视频直播� 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 UNITI香蕉视频直播檚 chief executive officer, Doug Tennant.

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