Intimate portrait series honours the role of Canada's more than 8 million family caregivers
MARKHAM, ON, April 5, 2016 /CNW/ - To celebrate National Family Caregiver Day today, Elizz has partnered with acclaimed celebrity photographer Christopher Wahl, to create a series of powerful and intimate portraits featuring family caregivers.
Known for his striking images and magnetic personality, Toronto-based Christopher Wahl has photographed some of the most recognizable faces in the world – from Sean Penn to Queen Elizabeth II to the Rolling Stones. But for this 13-image portrait series, he trained his lens on family caregivers.
The "Faces of Caregiving" portrait series features a diverse set of families, friends and loved ones, each captured in stunning detail to tell their own unique caregiving story. Throughout the photoshoot, Wahl brought out many of the complex and varying emotions that caregivers experience everyday.
"When I was approached by Elizz about this project I knew that I wanted to be a part of it," said Christopher Wahl, Portrait Photographer. "We all know family caregivers in our lives, and I understand what a service like Elizz can mean to people. I hope these images will help raise awareness, while shining a light on the human side of caregiving."
Currently, one out of every four Canadians is a family caregiver. Powered by Saint Elizabeth, Canada's largest social enterprise, Elizz is a breakthrough service dedicated to bringing positive change and support to the millions of caregivers across Canada. From comprehensive home care services and DIY resources, to caregiver coaches and nurse advisors, to personalized social networks, caregivers can find it all in one convenient place at elizz.com.
"We are thrilled to partner with Christopher Wahl for this inspiring project," said Shirlee Sharkey, CEO at Saint Elizabeth and Elizz. "Caregiving is a very personal journey and at the same time, a significant social issue. Research confirms that caregivers today need more support and this is one of the ways Elizz is having an impact."
"It was an incredible experience to meet Christopher and be a part of this experience," Joanne Sacks, a family caregiver and subject for the collection. "I am grateful that he captured our complex relationship in such a beautiful way, and I hope it helps bring awareness of support services like Elizz to other family caregivers out there too."
This evening, the one-of-a-kind collection is being privately unveiled at an art gallery in downtown Toronto. Canadians are encouraged to visit elizz.com to view the collection and share their own personal photos and caregiving stories. You can also follow the hashtag #ElizzCaregiving on social media.
About Saint Elizabeth and Elizz
Saint Elizabeth is a national health care provider that has been opening the door to new possibilities and care experiences for more than a century. Recognized as Canada's largest social enterprise, we employ 8,000 people and visit 18,000 clients every day. With Elizz, our breakthrough brand dedicated to all things caregiving, we are bringing fresh thinking, exceptional services and positive change to caregivers nationally. Through the Saint Elizabeth Research Centre, our Health Career Colleges and the Saint Elizabeth Foundation, we are helping to make the future of health care brighter and stronger. Learn more at www.saintelizabeth.com and www.elizz.com or find us on social media.
About Christopher Wahl
Christopher Wahl is a Toronto-based photographer. His work has been seen in Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone Magazine, and Maclean's to name a few. From portraits of Sean Penn to Queen Elizabeth ll, Christopher's work is collected privately and publicly – most notably as part of the Art Gallery of Ontario's permanent collection.
SOURCE Saint Elizabeth Health Care
Image with caption: "Alexandra and Eleanor Campbell, photographed by acclaimed portrait photographer, Christopher Wahl, as part of the Faces of Caregiving series by Elizz. Canadians are encouraged to follow #ElizzCaregiving on social media and visit elizz.com to view the collection and share their own personal photos and caregiving stories. (CNW Group/Saint Elizabeth Health Care)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160405_C1160_PHOTO_EN_656813.jpg
Brandi Rees, North Strategic (for Elizz), 416-786-4038, [email protected]
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