Help-Portrait hits Vancouver's Downtown Eastside for Christmas

Christmas music, cheery hellos and loving care met a group of Downtown Eastside residents invited for free portraits at the seventhannual Help-Portraitevent at Vancouver's Union Gospel Mission Saturday.

The event is part of aglobal movement of photographers and makeup artists whoprovideprofessional quality portraits forpeople who may not be able to afford the extravagance.

"It brings a lot of joy into their lives, and it really brings a lot of joy into all of our lives to be able to make this happen," saidEvanPowroznik,Help-PortraitVancouver's executive director.

SusieQ was amused by all the fussing from the make-up artists and hair stylists.

"I've been down here [living on the Downtown Eastside]since Iwas 14, and I'm51 now, ... and every yearyou guys put me in the Christmas spirit," she said.

I feel like a movie star!- Susie Q, a residential school survivor

Susie Qslowly transformed while chatting with thestylists.

She spoke proudlyof her seven-year sobriety, and herplanto start a button blanket group.

In the end, she was handed a mirror, and she laughed with joy.

"I feel like a movie star!"

Susie Q plans to send her photo to her family for Christmas, because she says they can't always be togetherfor the holiday.