Mission Statement
Irene's seeks to capture the inner essence of a person with her lens. A beautiful photograph is a gift that you can give to yourself and can be left as a legacy for future generations. As a professional social worker, her training and experience tremendously influence her photography.

Irene is a professional portrait photographer, counsellor and public speaker, visiting many groups about positive aging. Her speaking engagements are well received and her audience is immediately engaged by Irene's thoughtful reflections on aging and emotional slide presentation. Irene is interested in the power of photography to tell stories as well as make social statements that contribute to and influence the way people think about themselves and the world around them..

Biography

Irene Borins Ash is a portraiture photographer specializing in studio and environmental portraits. She photographs people of all ages and uses both colour and black and white film. Irene has studied at are the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Ontario College of Art & Design, the Avenue Road Art School and Image Works and the International Centre of Photography in New York City as well as apprenticing with several master photographers. Irene is a member of the Toronto Camera Club and a Member of the International Centre of Photography in New York City.

Irene’s interest in aging grew out of her social work practice where she interacted with seniors who were aging with a healthy attitude despite life’s challenges. At this time she was also working as a weaver and created some beautiful and unique tapestries celebrating the images of a multitude of older people. This interest in seniors and creating positive, life-affirming images eventually led Irene to photography as a medium. She undertook a project of formal interviews and photography of these individulas which resulted in a paper presented at the Fourth Global Conference of the International Federation on Aging, focusing on healthy, gracious and meaningful aging. Ultimately, the publication of her book, “Treasured Legacies: Older and Still Great” presents many of these photographs, biographies and words of wisdom that are inspirational, educational and offer hope in the aging process.

Irene earned a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) at Yeshiva University in New York City in 1987 and is a Registered Social Worker (R.S.W.) She has worked in numerous health care facilities in the Toronto area including York Community Services, The Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Providence Centre and St. Clair West Services for Seniors. Irene has been engaged to speak about her research at numerous facilities and presents her thoughts to people of all ages.She has presented papers at the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, the Ontario Gerontology Association as well as the Fourth Global Conference of the International Federation on Aging, focusing on healthy, gracious and meaningful aging.

Irene has had successful exhibitions of her work at the Loggia Koffler Gallery, the Cecile and Harry Pearl Gallery, the Rotunda of Toronto City Hall. Irene's most recent exhibition was at Appleby Place in Burlington. Irene is currently working on the photography forOntario Long Term Care Association magazine which is an association representing all of the nursing homes in the province. For more information on upcoming events, speaking engagements and workshops please visit the Public Speaking page.