“Last year’s was so amazing, that we didn’t know how to top it,” said member Norene Smiley. “That’s why we decided to ask the artists in our community to get involved.”
Working with photographer Catherine Bussiere, a different area artist worked with the subject for each month of this year’s calendar, creating an artistic image combining some of the community’s many volunteers with props and settings appropriate for the Communities in Bloom theme.
Gary Mundle posed with driftwood from a local beach, Paul deVries was decked out with enough foliage to be nicknamed Mr. Salad Head. One couple posed in a cornfield.
“It was nothing like getting naked, but we really upped the quality of the photograph to have the artists involved,” said Smiley.
Last year’s calendar project made headlines when community folk posed – or at least appeared to pose – nude for the photos.
Proceeds from the calendar will go towards Communities in Bloom projects such as the food bank garden, as well as beautification activities around the village.
The 2018 calendar was unveiled in an event that served a second purpose as a volunteer appreciation luncheon, with more than 40 organizations having representatives on hand.
Communities in Bloom efforts have been a tremendous success in Pugwash, with the latest honour coming from the national competition, with a five-bloom silver rating from the Class of Champions category.
