CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — An Island senior will feature in an upcoming documentary airing on national television later this month.
Olive Bryanton will be the subject of a new documentary, “Never Too Old’’, on CBC Docs POV on CBC and the free CBC Gem streaming service on Thursday, Aug. 22, at 9 p.m.
It shows Bryanton, pushing hard to finish her research and defend her doctoral thesis at UPEI. She graduated with her PhD this past May.
Bryanton, who has been an activist for seniors her whole life, continued to stay involved with various agencies, associations and committees while pursuing her PHD.
“As you grow older, you realize you need the evidence to be an activist,’’ Bryanton said. “So, you go back to school to learn how to be a better activist.’’
Bryanton is focused on older women because Canada has a rapidly aging population and there is not enough research being done on aging.
She is convinced that most octogenarians and those who are older defy the stereotypes. To prove her thesis, she recruited 10 women, aged 85-91, who choose to live in rural P.E.I. and gave each of them a camera to photograph how they are doing it.
“Never Too Old’’ follows Bryanton through the final stages of writing and defending her PhD thesis. The documentary also features the women who opened up to Bryanton and made themselves vulnerable by documenting some of their most intimate moments and sharing the stories behind them.
The film introduces audiences to 89-year-old Nan, who admits she still feels sexual.
“You pick a day when you are no longer going to be interested in sex . . . go ahead,’’ Nan chuckles.
The film also goes for a drive with 87-year-old Ruby as she shops for her first car and 91-year-old Theresa, who is still happy to cut the grass on her ride-on mower.
“I think I’m back farmin’ again when I get on that tractor," said Theresa.
For more information on “Never Too Old’’, visit DreamStreetPictures.com.
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