It wasn’t until her seventh decade of life that Joyce Young decided to pose for topless pictures.
Young was one of 26 residents of Fountains of Mission who posed for the retirement residence’s 2010 music-themed calendar, which features models as old as 100 years taking off their tops for charity.
“I’m January!” exclaimed Young as the calendar was revealed on Nov. 19. She proudly pointed to the photograph of her, impishly cradling a stand-up bass next to a piano being played by another topless resident, Lois O’Connor.
Young and O’Connor, collectively making up Ms. January, were both first time models in the fourth calendar issued by Fountains of Mission.
“It was a marvellous experience and for such a good cause,” said O’Connor, who had been at the retirement residence for only a month before she was persuaded by other residents to bare all.
“We had so many residents wanting to do it that we had to make the calendar 18 months just to fit them all in,” said Patty McGathorn, marketing manager for Fountains of Mission.
McGathorn fondly recalls watching the residents poising with instruments in Western Canada High School’s band room.
“The kids were dropping off their instruments for summer and they walked in and saw our ladies and their jaws just hit the floor.”
Proceeds from the sales of the $13 calendar will go to The Mustard Seed Street Ministry.
