There goes the Octegenarian Club

I always say each new photo shoot is the funnest shoot ever, but this one really was, when I photographed the ever so lovely and naughty Linda Fillmore for her 80th birthday feature in Xtra newspaper.

Linda is the Matriarch of the Fillmore Family Foundation. The Family is a non-profit foundation that raises money for organizations such as Out in Schools, A Loving Spoonful, Camp Out and McLaren Housing Society. I posted last month about the raucous Prairie Fairy Fowl Supper event the Family puts on each fall to raise these funds.

This was an amazing experience as it was the first time I 'pitched' a cover and story idea to Xtra and they accepted. I wanted to honour all that Linda Fillmore and her Family have done for our Community and create some beautiful images for her. We all had a blast in the studio and even did a 'Commando' run out to the Bull Statue downtown.

You're in good hands Linda Fillmore.

I'm aging myself, but does anyone remember the series Dallas?

Such wonderful folks to play with.

It takes a TEAM:

Assistant: Robin Toma
Assistant: Jason Blais
Stylist: Stephen Fahlman
James Goranko (dark beard)
Shayne Forster (red beard)

Check out more of my LGBT portraiture at belleancell.com

Cover #4 for Xtra !!!

Prairie Fairies Fowl Supper 2013

A fun time was had at the 14th Annual Fillmore Family Prairie Fowl Supper and Barn Dance.

Over $70,000 was raised for worthy receipients, A Loving Spoonful, McLaren House and Out in Schools.

This year was a special event as the Matriarch of the Fillmore Family, Linda Fillmore was turning 80 years old. Here are a few of my favorite images I shot of the evening.

Linda is welcomed into the Octogenarian club by longtime pals.

The Boomchix entertained and Kate Reid worked her magic.

Verna and her winning Jello Salad entry. Frightening really.

Mayor Gregor Robertson and City Councellor Andrea Reimer serving up dinner.

Park Board Commissioner Trevor Loke (middle) and Vision Vancouver team members.

Derek.....

will you.....

marry me?

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Awesome hots Linda Fillmore and Barb Snelgrove. (that's a typo and I'm leaving it in)

The Mary Tyler Moore HAT TOSS!!

Just the Mayor of Vancouver singing her Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday Linda Fillmore

The Mr/s. Movember Project story

by Aileen Penner

Vancouver photographer Belle Ancell had a vision of handsome queer women in moustaches. For Movember, she made it happen. On a fall day as the rain poured outside, and Madonna reverberated on the stereo inside, six queer women sat for their close-up. The camera clicked and the first queer Movember Project in Canada, "Mr/s. Movember", was born.

The Movember art campaign is a series of six queer female models ranging in age from early twenties to late forties, photographed in portrait, and in a moustache. Movember is a global campaign to raise funds and awareness about men's health - specifically prostate cancer. This year, the organization has added mental health to the campaign.

Belle Ancell is a celebrated child of the 70's and loves moustaches. She heard about the Movember campaign when she relocated to Vancouver two years ago. "I thought it was a fabulous way to create dialogue about prostate cancer and to support men's health. I kind of wished I could participate and grow a moustache myself. And that is how the idea for Mr/s. Movember came about," Ancell explains. She thought it would be fun to get a group of handsome queer women together to rock their own moustaches.

The photos in "Mr/s. Movember" are about identify, playing with identity, and raising awareness by prompting private and public conversations in the GLBTQ community about health. Some of the models in the project identify as lesbian, butch, male, female and all of the above. Yet all queer women have men in their lives - whether they are partners, brothers, fathers, uncles, nephews, or sons who are dealing with prostate cancer and mental health issues.

"One of the great things about Movember is that having a moustache starts conversation and gets Canadians talking about their health", said Peter Bombaci, National Director, Movember Canada. "It's the power of the moustache that has raised awareness and reduced stigma surrounding prostate cancer and it's exciting to have the opportunity to do the same for mental health."

"I am very happy to see this year's Movember campaign focusing on the LGBTQ community more and for including anti-bullying and mental health in its funding for this year", says Ancell. She says this is just the beginning for the Mr/s. Movember photo project. Over the next year she will be photographing more women and having a fundraising gallery opening of all the images in support of the 2013 Movember campaign.

Mr/s. Models are: Chris, Rina, Kaylee, Robin, SD and Palmer. Isabelle Champigny (Visual Effects Makeup Artist), and Katrina Gurr and Kelsey-Ann Derksen-Hatt (Assistants).

 Gratitude extended to Aileen Penner for the above article on the Mr/s. Movember Project.

Visit Aileen's BLOG to read the more in depth article on the Mr/s. Project and the Movember Campaign.

PLEASE DONATE TO THE Movember Campaign AND/OR SUPPORT A GROWING MO.

 To see more of my Personal Projects please visit my LGBT portraiture websitebelleancell.com