Prince George, B.C. – The Prince George members of  the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 1372,  have produced a  calendar for 2017  which is a return to the  typical  type of  firefighter calendar.

The last calendar,  produced for 2015,  featured  members of the local doing their  jobs,  “The last one was successful and we appreciate the community’s support, but it was a  bit of a tough sell “says  Bryan Burleigh, Local 1372 Burn Fund Rep and Chair of the Calendar Committee.  The 2017 version goes back to featuring  ripped bodies with six packs. “It  was  something our demographic told us they wanted.”

He knows there are some  who   will   say the calendar is ‘sexist’  but  he says it’s  a project the  members of  Local 1372  wanted to do,  and  it is in keeping with similar calendars produced by  other locals in Vancouver and in Kamloops.

( at right, behind the scenes  image of  one of the photo shoots )

All of the  models featured in the calendar  are  local  firefighters  and their images  have been  captured by photographer Philomena Hughes.  ” I really  have to give the guys credit” says Burleigh “they all  worked really hard in their exercise and diet to be  in top shape for this calendar, and I think the public will be really happy with the product.”

The  calendars cost $20 each, and  Burleigh  says all the funds go towards  the  BC Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund  to  complete the commitment made by Local 1372  to fund a suite at the  Burn  Centre in Vancouver “Three years ago we made a pledge to  raise $100 thousand dollars to have Prince George’s name  on one of the eight accommodation suite, and this is going to finalize  that  pledge.”

If you miss  getting the 2017 calendar,  there may not be another until  2019 says Burleigh “We’re trying to make this a biannual event, mostly because it’s  a tremendous amount of work  and we only have a limited amount of models.”

The calendar  will be officially launched Saturday evening at the Fore Bistro  at  the Prince George Golf and Curling Club.  That event will kick off at 6:30  with a cash bar, and for those who want to  dance,  there will be a DJ.