Friends and loved ones mourn the passing of John Alexander Hryniuk — photographer, artist and storyteller — who died on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 in Toronto at age 53.

John was born in September 1968 in Timmins, Ontario where he lived before moving to Ottawa with his family at age 11. With money saved from delivering newspapers, he purchased his first camera at age 12 and quickly immersed himself in his new-found craft, scouring for subjects in the city’s streets and neighbourhoods. His determination and confidence opened many doors. At just 16, John began freelancing for major news organizations, establishing connections while learning from some of the most seasoned news photographers in Ottawa. A few years later, he went on to earn his journalism diploma at Algonquin College.

In the 2000s, career opportunities brought John to Toronto where he established himself in both professional and social circles. His commercial photography business flourished, while he also pursued personal projects fueled by his insatiable curiosity for characters from all walks of life. He was deeply inspired by people's unique experiences, and telling their stories through his lens. While many of his projects both personal and professional were based locally, John’s love of travel and meeting new people led him to all corners of the globe – Lebanon, Iceland, Tibet, Egypt, China, Costa Rica, Chile, Peru, and Russia, to name a few. During his 30+ year career, he never missed a chance to embrace and document the world's wealth of diversity from his backyard to points further afield. The resulting body of work is a testament to John’s phenomenal talent and will live on as his legacy.

John’s editorial and portraiture work received international recognition, garnering praise for their revealing humanity in all its touching and quirky ways. His most recent project that documented the resiliency of Torontonians during the COVID-19 pandemic showcased his unique visual style. John’s iconic pandemic portraits signaled a longing for human connection in a time of isolation, and inspired hope for a return to social gathering beyond current challenges.

Much like his own mentors, John loved to share his wealth of knowledge and experience with the next generations of talent in his industry. He often made himself available to speak with young photographers embarking on their career, and participated as a speaker in a number of seminars for junior photographers.

John’s humour, vibrancy, quick wit and friendly personality were some of his greatest assets, allowing him to establish a rapport with his subjects that helped to put them at ease, resulting in compelling portraits that could tell character stories in a single frame. John easily brought out the best in people, and to those who knew and loved him, this was a trait they recognized and cherished deeply. He was a warm, caring and fiercely loyal friend who never missed an opportunity to force a smile from those he loved. His unflinching sarcasm and propensity for lighthearted mischief brought laughter to friends who were also often vexed to be the object of his pranks. John also had a deeply compassionate side and showed great concern for people he loved facing life challenges. He, too, shared his ambitions, hopes, and struggles with those closest to him, and only in recent years spoke more publicly about his personal battles with mental health.

Those who knew John are heartbroken by his untimely passing. He leaves behind a large group of friends who loved him dearly and cherish the time they had with him. He shared a significant talent with a vast audience that is grateful to have seen the world through his viewfinder. John will be deeply missed and never forgotten.

Anyone wishing to pay tribute to John is encouraged to give generously to the Canadian Mental Health Association in his memory. A link to their website can be found under the “Donations” tab in the menu at the top of this page.